Bitter herbs, spring greens – these plants contain nutrients and flavors that are essential to our springtime bodies, and hold the wisdom of liberation in their tiny beings. In this class, we will explore the physiological wisdom of the plants Jews place on our Seder plate at Passover, our springtime holiday of liberation. We will delve into the bitter flavor as we discuss why neither horseradish nor lettuce – the foods typically included as “bitter herbs” on the Seder plate – are particularly bitter. We will learn about the vital importance of the flavors on the Seder plate for the functioning of our body systems, and explore what they have to do with liberation.

In this class, we will discuss how our springtime bodies' needs differ by climate and how that difference shows up in diasporic Jewish traditions. What does your body crave in springtime, and how is (or isn’t) that reflected in the ways you practice? Through exploring the wisdom of the Seder plate, we can embody the liberation of a diasporic Passover this spring.

This class is centered around the Jewish tradition, but is open to all.

Though you will still be able to participate fully and are welcome if you only bring yourself, if you would like to engage in real time tasting, please bring:
- A bitter herb: there are so many to choose from, and they come in many forms. Dandelion greens, chamomile or motherwort tea, mugwort or gentian tincture…use what you have!
- Horseradish, or garlic if you can’t find horseradish.
- A spring green: parsley, scallions, dandelion, nettles, chickweed, etc. 

Mo Katz-Christy (they/them) is a queer Ashkenazi Jewish clinical herbalist and educator in Boston, MA on unceded Massachusett land. They approach herbalism by connecting folks to the knowledge they already have about their body and herbs through working with kitchen medicine, ancestral traditions, and mulberries falling on the sidewalk!

Mo teaches herb classes and programs at over 40 different sites in New England. They work one-on-one with clients, in Somerville and virtually, to address the root imbalances that are causing dysregulation and to promote long-term healing, focusing on gut health. You can find out more about their work at mokatzchristy.com.