In many Jewish traditions, the shank bone represents the sacrifice of the Passover lamb. It is one of the six ritual items on the Seder plate.
While the shank bone is not eaten during the seder, it is usually reused on the Seder plate. The lamb shank bone represents the sacrifice made to God on the night the Hebews fled Egypt. .
In addition to the shank bone, the Seder plate also contains other items, each revolving around different themes of the holiday. These include the roasted egg, the Charoset, and the karpas. For a selection of Seder Plates, go to a site such as cazenovejudaica.com
The charoset is a fruit and nut spread that is made from wine, spices, and nuts. The charoset is an important part of the Passover Seder. However, the charoset can be customized to fit any needs.
The karpas are fresh vegetables, and they represent the new life of spring. They can be substituted with onion, celery, radish, and even potatoes.
Some people substitute the karpas with other leafy greens. Another substitute is beets. Beets are another alternative for the shank bone. If you do not want to use the bone, you can substitute a chicken neck instead.
Maror is a bitter herb that is commonly used. Other types of maror are romaine lettuce, horseradish, and green onion.
In the past, the zeroa was made from the shank of the lamb. But, after the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem, the Jews no longer performed animal sacrifices on Passover. Thus, they are no longer required to eat the zeroa.