Why Did Pesach Seder Begin With Karpas

Why does the pesach seder begin with karpas?

While Kadesh and Urchatz begin the Seder, Karpas is the first component of the seder that is truly unique to Pesach.I believe the reason the seder begins with karpas is that it represents the beginning of Israel’s downfall into exile in Egypt : The sale of Joseph. It is therefore an appropriate introduction to the seder. The word karpas appears just once in the Chumash, in the phrase חור כרפס ותכלת. In this context it means a fine linen. Surprisingly, the word karpas isn’t hebrew, it’s borrowed from the Persian or Sanskrit kirpas.The Talmud uses the word karpas as “fine white linen”, similarly it and the mishnah never use karpas referring to Pesach. We all know the story of the sale of Joseph,The link between the bondage in Egypt and the episode symbolized by

This gift made the brothers jealous and eventually caused our forefathers to go down to Egypt.” The Ba'al HaTurim (Jacob ben Asher) and Radak also make the same point. Rashi in his commentary on this, explains ketonet passim as “keli milat karpas” also meaning fine wool. It is also used as fine wool in Esther and in Samuel II . That is why Rashi translates it as