Celebrating Passover with Shalom Sesame: The Story of the Exodus

The Passover story is re-enacted each year at the seder table. Part of what is so unique about this experience is that each person is supposed to find relevance and personal connections to the Passover story.

Watch the Shalom Sesame video below with your children to explore the story of Passover, then try some of the discussion ideas and activities below recommended by Reform Jewish educators. 

Discuss

That is the question. The seder is not just a meal, it's an event! People at the seder are encouraged to do more than just read from the Haggadah; it is part of the tradition—and the fun—to ask questions and add your own commentary. The four questions read at the seder are not meant to be the only questions of the night, but rather the warm-up questions. Everyone can ask questions; you can ask about the story, the customs, and how the story is relevant today.

As if you were in Egypt. It's important to try to put ourselves in the shoes (or sandals!) of our ancestors to truly appreciate one of the central messages of Passover: empathy. How do you think it felt for the people to leave Egypt after living there for so many years? Why do you think it was so hard for the Pharaoh to let them go? If you had lived in Egypt and had to leave in a hurry, what would you have taken with you?

Asking questions. The Passover story unfolds at the seder table through questions. Write down some questions on index cards that you can share with your kids—the answers are less important than the questions themselves, so ask your children what questions they have, and add them to your list.

Activities

Leaving in a hurry. Yes, it can often be a challenge to keep your kids engaged during the seder. Try this to help them understand the struggle and the journey out of Egypt: Give them knapsacks and ask them to fill them with their favorite toys in thirty seconds. Ask them why they chose what they did. How did it feel to have to pack up so quickly? What might they miss?

Storytelling chain. Try telling the Passover story in a storytelling chain. You can begin, then go around the table with each person continuing the story. You may be surprised at how each retelling is slightly different! Once you've told the story, see if you can "see yourselves as if you left Egypt" and talk about favorite Passover characters.

Different words, same story. In the video below, “Kids Talk About Passover,” Israeli children tell the Passover story in their own words. Some of the words they use, such as Mitzrayim (Hebrew for Egypt) or Moshe (Hebrew for Moses) may be unfamiliar to your children. Talk about how Jews around the world might use different words to describe the same story.

Watch

Kids Talk About the Passover Story
Kids explain the story behind the celebration of Passover and why the Israelites needed to make matzah so quickly.

 
For more Shalom Sesame videos, activities, and other materials, visit our friends at Shalom Sesame.