Is Passover incomplete without the lamb course? (Vegetarian substitution?)?

Question

I'm not Jewish and was part of a campus group more than 20 years ago who partook in a Christian-Jewish Passover meal that was with the meat - - do any orthodox or tradition-based Jewish families make any sort of non-meat substitutions? Thanks for answering if you think this is a relevant question for a Gentile to raise!

Answer 1

Most seders do have a meat entree as the main course, but it's not always lamb. The only place that lamb is required is a shank bone on the seder plate, it was lamb's blood that was used to mark the doors of the Jewish homes. But a meat entree is not required. In fact at our seder we have brisket and chicken in the soup but that is the only meat. There are ample roasted vegetable recipes you could make, potato kugel, you can even do matzo balls in a vegetable broth if you'd like. I do have one vegetarian at my seder each year and she eats plenty just skipping the brisket.

Answer 2

Actually you touched on a few issues.



Certainly "vegetarian substitution" is ok to do.



But what you said about "incomplete without the lamb course" is very terribly wrong. Whoever told you back in the "campus group more than 20 years ago" gave you very terribly wrong information.



Meat is permissible to be served at the Passover Seder (ritualistic meal) but that it is strictly prohibited to serve roasted meat. By what you suggest of "lamb" it appears you're attempting to replicate the "Passover Sacrifice". Because the "Passover Sacrifice" is strictly prohibited except in the Holy Temple, it is strictly prohibited to eat it or to serve any meal item that resembles it.



The Holy Temple hasn't stood for approximately 1,950 years. No "Passover Sacrifice" has been made since then.



There is however a ritualistic "roasted shank" item utilized for the Passover Seder but that item is not eaten.



Also very recently another Y/A R&S member asked:

"How can a christian celebrate passover & hanukkah?"



by "bhk91210"

https://answersrip.com/question/index?qid=20080411085347AAECLX1&show=7#profile-info-EVEJFBQ6aa

Answer 3

Its not alwase lamb but it is required to have meat.

Answer 4

The lamb which you are referring to is SYMBOLIC rather than being something eaten!