Why Do We Celebrate Passover?
Passover has been celebrated in Jewish homes for thousands of years as a way of passing on the important story of Moses and of the exodus from Egypt. Some Christian families celebrate Passover as well, because Jesus was Jewish. The famous Last Supper in the Christian tradition was actually a Passover Seder meal. We come together again as one family today. Whether we are Jewish, Christian, Muslim, Buddhist, Bahá’i, Unitarian-Universalist, Humanist or from another faith, on Passover we can all be inspired by one of the most famous stories from the Hebrew Bible, or Torah. As we read it, we appreciate our freedom and we renew our commitment to working for justice all over the world.
The Seder
At the Seder we tell the Biblical story of the Exodus together. Seder means “order” in Hebrew, which tells us that people all over the world tell the story in the same order on the very same evening. The special book that we read the Passover story from is called a “Haggadah”.
The Passover story is about the relationship between the Jewish people of the Bible with God. Our goal is to feel a common spiritual bond, to be grateful for our everyday freedoms, and to be reminded of our commitment to make the world free for all of humanity.
You may wonder why we say, “We were slaves and now we are free.” It is important when we remember this story to feel like it happened to each one of us, ourselves. That is why you will hear many Jewish families tell the story as if it happened to them personally, as if they were really there. When we say, “We were slaves and now we are free”, we remember that all people are one big family. We are connected to all of the living people today, just as we are connected to the people who lived before us, and to the people who are not yet born.
Until we are all free, we are none of us free.
- Emma Lazarus
Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed.
- Martin Luther King Jr.
Miss Giddy: We are not things. We are not things!
Immortan Joe: Where is she taking them? I want them back! They're my property!
- Mad Max: Fury Road
Lighting the Candles
First, we light the holiday candles. Together we say, “Thank-you, God, for the festival lights, and for bringing our family and friends together to celebrate Passover.”
ָבּרוְּך אַָתּה יְיָ ֱאלֵֹהינוּ ֶמֶלְך ָהעוָֹלם ֲאֶשׁר ִקְדָּשׁנוּ ְבִּמְצוָֹתיו וְִצוָּנוּ ְלַהְדִליק נֵר ֶשׁל )ַשָׁבּת וְֶשׁל( יוֹם טוֹב·
“Baruch ata Adonai elohenu melech haolam asher kidshanu b’mitsvotav v’tzivanu l’hadlik ner shel Yom Tov.”
Blessing the Children
Blessing one’s children originates in the Bible. On Shabbat, the Sabbath, and on holidays, parents lay their hands on the heads of each child and bless them. Let us bless all of the children in our midst. As we bless them, we commit ourselves to the dream of a world where all children are free to go to school, are safe from violence, have loving adult supervision, and have the basic necessities they need in order to grow up to be their best selves.
Adults, please first place your hands on the heads of the children with you today, as we read together:
“May God bless you and keep you.”
“May God’s face shine upon you and favor you”.
“May God’s face turn to you and grant you shalom (peace)”.
Kiddush - Blessing the Wine
Next, we sing the Kiddush, or blessing over the wine. The cup of wine stands for the sweetness of life and the joy we feel when we are together. We say, “Thank-you, God, for the grapes that grow to make wine for our holiday celebration.”
ָבּרוְּך אַָתּה יְיָ ֱאלֵֹהינוּ ֶמֶלְך ָהעוָֹלם בּוֵֹרא ְפִּרי ַהגֶָּפן·
“Baruch ata Adonai elohenu melech haolam borey p’ri hagafen.”
During our Seder, we will drink from four cups of wine.
Passover Seders have helped us to identify oppression for thousands of years. During the civil rights movement in America, for example, Jews, African-Americans, Native-Americans, LGBTQ+, and many other people gathered together at Passover Seders to renew their commitment to their fight for equality. Just like the Hebrews in the Bible, African-Americans have been, Asian, and Native-Americans have been enslaved and persecuted in our own country. While we read the story of the Exodus, we should remember there is still work to do to guarantee justice and equality for all people.
Oppression does not always mean slavery or punishment. Sometimes it means discrimination against someone because of a person’s race, or religion, or age, whether or not they own a home, or the people they choose to live with and to love. The land, air and water can become polluted, which is a kind of environmental oppression. Inequal access to resources like healthcare is a kind of oppression. Sometimes oppression means other people do not seem to care enough about problems that hurt people, like AIDS or child abuse. We can say these problems are our “Pharoahs”.
Sometimes, Pharoahs are outside of us, and sometimes, they are inside of us. Being addicted to something, or feeling depressed, or having bad habits can feel like we have a Pharoah. To break the chains of our own slavery, we have to admit that it feels like we are in chains. Let’s ask ourselves the following questions. You can answer the questions to yourself, or out loud to the group.
“What does oppression mean to me?”
“In what ways are people being oppressed today?”
“Can animals be oppressed?” How?
The Seder Plate
On the table, we have a special plate called a Seder plate. The Seder plate has very special foods on it that help us to tell our story. (Point to the foods.) The traditional items are:
Parsley, or another green vegetable such as lettuce or celery
Bitter herbs (usually horseradish or endive)
Chopped apples and nuts with wine, called “charoses”
Celery
A bone
A roasted egg
A separate plate or basket with Matzah (unleavened bread)
Also on the table, are two special cups, and some salt water. You will soon learn their role in telling the Passover story.
Karpas – Dipping Greens
Green vegetables like parsley, celery and lettuce are symbols of the new life that grows in the spring. The salt water reminds us of the tears we cried when we were slaves. We dip the green vegetables in the saltwater, to bring together our celebration of spring with the telling of the story of the exodus from the Torah, or Bible. Before we eat it, we say a blessing. “Thank-you, God, for the vegetables that grow in the ground.”
Those of us who are familiar with the Hebrew, let us say together:
ָבּרוְּך אַָתּה יְיָ ֱאלֵֹהינוּ ֶמֶלְך ָהעוָֹלם בּוֵֹרא ְפִּרי ָהֳאָדָמה·
“Baruch ata Adonai elohenu melech haolam borey p’ri ha’adamah.”
Yachatz – Breaking the Middle Matzah
The leader reads: I will break the middle matzah and save one half of it for dessert. I will hide it, and later, the children will help us find it so we can end our Seder when it is time. I am returning the other half of it to the table to be eaten later. As I do, I say (hold up the remaining Matzah):
“This is the bread of our affliction.
Let all who are hungry, come and eat.
Let all who need, share the hope of Passover.
The Four Questions
This night is different from all other nights of the year, but why? Before the story is read, the youngest child who can read asks the “Four questions”. (Identify the youngest reader and ask if they wish to read these.)
“On all other nights, we eat all kinds of bread and crackers. Why do we eat only matzah on Passover?”
“On all other nights, we eat many kinds of vegetables and herbs. Why do we eat bitter herbs, at our Seder?”
“On all other nights, we don’t usually dip one food into another. At our Seder, we dip the parsley (or celery) in salt water and the bitter herbs in charoses. Why do we dip foods twice tonight?”
“On all other nights, we eat sitting up straight. Why can we lean on a pillow tonight?”
Now, let’s read the story, in a way that children can understand. Gather ‘round children! If you listen carefully, you will find the answers to all of our questions!
The Story of the Jewish People in the Land of Egypt
Our story comes from the Hebrew Bible, which is called the Torah, in the book of Exodus.
Long ago, there was a king named Pharaoh, who ruled the land of Egypt. The Hebrew people who lived in Egypt were Pharaoh’s slaves. He made them work very hard to build cities, pyramids and palaces. Sometimes the slaves made up songs to sing to make their work easier.
Pharaoh was worried that a Jewish boy might grow up to be a leader of the Hebrew slaves, and fight against him. So, Pharaoh ordered that all little Jewish boy babies were to be killed. He told the midwives, women who helped babies to be born, to kill the Hebrew babies. The midwives loved all babies, so they refused to obey his orders. Two midwives, Shifrah and Pu’ah, told Pharaoh lies to protect the little babies. Children, do you think it is okay to tell a lie if it saves someone’s life? (Wait for a few answers.)
One Jewish mother, named Yocheved, was very worried about her new baby boy, and she put him in a basket and set the basket on the river. When Pharaoh’s daughter, the Princess, came to the river to swim, she found the baby, and took him home to the palace. She named the baby “Moses”, and adopted him as her own son.
Moses’ sister, Miriam, watched the Princess take the baby out of the water, and told her, “I know a woman who can help you take care of your baby.”
Miriam ran home, and brought back her Mom, Moses’ birth mother. The Princess asked Yocheved to help her take care of the baby, not knowing who she was. Yocheved agreed. We can imagine Miriam giggling happily, knowing her baby brother was alive, free, and safe with his adopted mother and his birth mother.
As he grew, Moses watched the Jewish slaves working hard for Pharaoh. One day, he saw a Hebrew slave being badly beaten by an Egyptian guard, so Moses killed the guard. He knew Pharoah would be very angry at him, so he left Egypt to be a shepherd in a far-away place. There, he married a woman named Zipporah and they started their own family.
One day, Moses saw a burning bush. When he got closer to it, he heard a voice coming from it. It was the voice of God. God told Moses to go back to Egypt and to free the Jewish people. Moses knew that it was wrong that the Jewish people were slaves. He felt in his heart that they were his own people, just as God told him.
Some people believe Moses really heard the voice of God, just like we hear our friends or our parents talking to us. Other people believe that the voice Moses heard was his own small voice coming from within his heart. It told him something wasn’t right, and he should try to fix it. The voice within his heart told him that all people are part of the human family, and that all people should be treated kindly and fairly.
Here is another question for the children: “Have any of you heard a small voice inside telling you to help someone who needs your help?” “When?” (Wait for answers.)
Moses went back to Egypt, just as God told him to do, with his birth brother, Aaron. Since Moses had left the palace, the Pharoah had died and a new Pharoah was in charge. He went to the new Pharaoh, and said, “Let my people go!” But Pharaoh didn’t like Moses telling him what to do. Guess what Pharoah said to Moses?
Everyone say together, “No, Moses!”
Now, we will sing the traditional spiritual, “Let My People Go”. Jump in when you feel comfortable singing with those who already know the song. Try to sing the “Let my People Go!” with great enthusiasm.
Let My People Go (Traditional Spiritual)
When Israel was in Egypt land
Let my people go Oppressed so hard they could not stand Let my people go.
Chorus: Go down Moses, Way down to Egypt land Tell old Pharaoh
To let my people go!
And God told Moses what to do Let my people go!
To lead the children of Israel through Let my people go!
Chorus: Go down Moses, Way down to Egypt land Tell old Pharoah
To let my people go!
According to the Bible, God was mad at Pharaoh. Moses warned Pharaoh that if he didn’t let the Jewish slaves go free, bad things might happen to him. According to Jewish tradition, God was punishing Pharaoh. Others believe it was Pharoah’s conscience, or bad karma, that was affecting him. Still others believe they were all scientifically explainable coincidences. Whatever caused the ten plagues, they were unbearable!
Let’s read a list of all of the plagues that occurred. Each time, dip your pinky finger in your wine and touch it to the rim of your plate or onto your napkin. The wine is sweet, and the plagues were not. By taking a tiny bit of wine with each dip of our fingers, we remember that this was a sad time for everyone. We do not like to see bad things happen to anyone; even the people we think of as enemies. With each bad thing that happened, the
Bible says God gave Pharaoh a chance to change his mind, and to let the Jewish people go free.
The River Nile turned red like the color of blood. And still Pharaoh said, “NO!”
One day, Pharaoh woke up and there were frogs all over the palace! And still Pharaoh said, “NO!”
Little bugs (like lice or gnats) infested the people and made them itch. And still Pharaoh said (loudly), “NO!”
Flies came and ate up all the food and spread diseases. And still Pharaoh said (loudly), “NO!”
The cattle got sick and died, so people did not have meat to eat (and they didn’t have soy substitutes, either!) And still Pharaoh said, “NO!”
There was a big storm with lots of thunder and hail. And still Pharaoh said, “NO!”
Just when Pharaoh thought it couldn’t get any worse, locusts (like grasshoppers) were everywhere! And still Pharaoh said, “NO!”
The sun didn’t shine for many days. There was only darkness. And still Pharaoh said, “NO!”
Finally, although Moses pleaded with Pharaoh to give in, the most terrible punishment of all came to Pharaoh. The first-born, or oldest, child in each family died. The Jewish families painted a mark on their door with lamb’s blood, so that the last curse would “pass over” their homes. That is why we call this holiday Passover.
Pharaoh’s own son died, and he was very, very sad. This time, Pharaoh said, “Go!” “Leave!” “Get out of here quick before I change my mind!”
Moses was relieved that Pharaoh finally said the Hebrew slaves were free to leave, but he was worried that Pharaoh would change his mind. He told the slaves to hurry and to follow him. They didn’t have time to bake bread to eat on their trip, so they put raw dough on their backs. It baked into hard crackers just like the matzah you see on the table.
The Jewish people followed Moses until they arrived at the sea. They could tell Pharaoh had changed his mind since his army was following them. Moses put his walking stick in the sea, and the water miraculously moved to make a path for them to walk through. They crossed to the other side just in time! Before Pharaoh’s army could cross the sea, the water returned to normal.
Pharoah’s army and their horses perished.
According to one legend, when Pharoah’s Army drowned in the sea, Angels started to sing. It is said that God told them not to sing, because it is always sad when people are hurt or die, even if they are people we don’t like. The legend says God would have preferred for the Jewish people to have been freed without the loss of life. God was sad that Pharoah’s army was killed, but happy that Moses and the Jewish people were finally free.
When the Jewish people reached the desert on the other side of the sea, they started a new life. Miriam, Moses’ sister, led the women in a freedom celebration of singing and dancing. Moses told the Jews to tell their children and their grandchildren the story of how they became free. We are those grandchildren, and this is our story. That is why we still celebrate Passover today.
Miriam’s Cup for Water
There is a special cup on the table, called Miriam’s Cup, which is for water. Water has sustained us all for generations, in the most difficult environments. It is a symbol of purity and sustenance in many faiths around the world.
Miriam’s cup is also a symbol of compassion. Miriam, Moses’ birth sister, watched out for Moses when he was in the water as a baby. She provided water to the Jews when they were in the hot desert. Miriam’s cup reminds us we are to be kind and thoughtful to the people around us. It also reminds us of the way life tends to work out in miraculous ways when we are doing what we think is right. It is by helping each other that we do great things. Let us drink from a glass of water to honor Miriam’s compassion, and doing what we know is right. (Take a drink of water.)
Answering the Four Questions
Now that we have heard the Passover story, we can answer the “Four Questions”. When we are finished, we will share our special foods.
Why do we eat matzah on Passover?
We eat matzah to remind us that the Jews had no time to bake their bread before leaving Egypt. The raw dough they put on their backs baked into matzah.
Why do we eat bitter herbs at the Seder?
We eat bitter herbs to remind us of the bitter life the slaves had while working for Pharaoh in Egypt.
Why do we dip foods twice at the Seder?
We dip the parsley or other green vegetable into salt water to remind us that spring is here and new life is growing all around us.
The salt water reminds us of the tears of the Jewish slaves. By dipping one in another, we remember the happy and the sad times together. We also link together the ancient celebrations of springtime with the retelling of this important story from our Biblical tradition. We dip, or rather combine, the apples and walnuts with wine to remind us of the clay and mortar that the slaves used to make the bricks for building the cities and palaces for Pharaoh.
Why do we lean on a pillow, or sit in comfort, at the Seder?
We lean on a pillow to be comfortable and to remind us that once our ancestors were slaves, and now we are free! We are free to relax and to be comfortable, and we do not take that for granted!
The Four Children
At traditional Seders, it is customary to speak of four different types of children who may be present at a Seder: the wicked or rebellious child, the wise child, the simple child, and the mute child. Today, instead, we look within ourselves and we notice four different child-like parts within us all. We can think of them as parts of our “inner- child”.
Our Independent inner-child wants Biblical stories to be relevant, spiritual, uplifting and personal. This part will not settle for easy answers, leaps of faith, or a lack of depth. We remind this inner-child that we are connected to all who came before us. We have an obligation to hear their story.
The Wise inner-child in us appreciates the traditions which have been passed on from generation to generation, for thousands of years. This part wants to know why we do what we do, and how our traditions have emerged. We teach this inner-child all that we can about our special heritage, and encourage him or her to add the newest chapter to our great story.
The Non-verbal inner-child wants learning to be lively and fun, not just reading from a book. He or she wants us all to connect emotionally and spiritually. We offer this inner-child food and song, love and family.
The Simple inner-child in each of us wants to hear the story a-new, as if we had never heard it before, with the wide-eyed wonder of a young child. As we share our story, we interact with it in a way that makes the story fresh and new each and every time. Each time we tell it, it as if we are there, again.
Ask amongst yourselves, who at the table best represents each child?
Then ask, who around the table seems most drunk already?
SHARING THE PASSOVER FOODS
Now, it is time to share the special Passover foods, one by one.
Matzah-Unleavened Bread
Before the maggid, or story, we broke the middle piece of matzah and put half of it away for dessert. This piece is called the Afikomen. It was hidden in a safe place so we can find it after our meal. We made sure the children could not see where it is hidden.
The idea of “breaking bread together” is found in many faiths around the globe. It is interesting to note that the Last Supper of the Christian tradition was a Passover Seder which included the sharing of bread. Today, we share this unleavened bread to show our unity as a group of people who come together, regardless of our backgrounds and beliefs. We come together to celebrate the hope we share for a world of peace and freedom.
We say a blessing over the matzah. “Thank-you, God, for the blessing of bread, and for the special matzah which reminds us of the Jewish people’s hurried flight from Egypt.”
ָבּרוְּך אַָתּה יְיָ ֱאלֵֹהינוּ ֶמֶלְך ָהעוָֹלם ַהמּוִֹצי ֶלֶחם ִמן ָהאֶָרץ·
“Baruch ata Adonai elohenu melech haolam hamotzi lechem min haaretz. Amen.”
Now, we eat the matzah.
The Second Cup of Wine
Now is the time to drink again from our wine or grape juice, remembering our responsibility to oppose oppression where we find it.
Sometimes, we have to take a good, hard look at ourselves, our own families, our own cultures, and our own countries to ask, “Can something we are doing be thought of as oppressing someone else? Moses grew up in a palace with servants and privilege. It must have been very difficult for him to look at the family that raised him with objective eyes, and admit to himself that they were all part of something that hurt others. To stand up to the life he had been leading meant risking all that he had, including his adoptive family.
Many people believe Moses obeyed the voice of God because he learned he was born a Hebrew. Others believe he did it because of his strong sense of social justice. He believed all people were his people, not just the family who raised him, nor the families who served him, but all people. We honor Moses today for his ability to be honest with himself, and for his commitment to living a life of integrity.
In the words of the great Chasidic leader and mystical Rabbi, Ba’al Shem Tov:
"If a man has beheld evil, it was shown to him in order that he learn his own guilt and repent. For what is shown to him is also within him."
The temptation to commit or to tolerate evil is within all of us. In honor of Moses, let us reflect and ask ourselves if we are part of anything that hurts, oppresses, persecutes or belittles another human being.
Let us also consider ways that we may be benefiting from oppresion, even if indirectly. For Moses lived in comfort and luxury with the Pahroeh that was provided by the slavery of the Jewish people, but Moses himself did not hold the whip. What systems of oppression might we be the beneficiaries of?
This is the time for us to have the courage of Moses, and to make a commitment to stand up for what is right, regardless of our own personal consequences. As we reflect, let us silently re-commit our lives to justice and peace. (Pause for a moment of silent reflection.)
Before we Eat
Let’s take a moment to appreciate the food before us and the men and women who are forced to sacrifice along the food chain. Especially during a Pandemic.
What are some structures that oppress in the chain of producing the food before us?
In what ways can we support food-pickers, meat packers, and all those who toil under food producers?
Enjoying Our Meal Together
Now that we have identified and shared the symbolic Passover foods, we may now eat the rest of our meal. When the meal is finished, the Seder is almost complete. While you eat with the people at your table, please have a discussion about freedom. Here are some questions to get you thinking:
“What does it mean to be free?” Freedom is much more than the absence of slavery. There are many different types of freedom including:
freedom to live where you want to live,
freedom to do the work you would like to do,
freedom to believe what you want to believe,
freedom to practice the religion of your choice, or no religion at all,
freedom to read and to study what interests you,
freedom to marry the person you would like to marry, or not to marry at all,
freedom to define “family” in a way that works for you,
freedom to vote,
freedom to express your opinions safely in public
Can you think of other types of freedoms? Which kinds of freedom are you thankful for?
Can you think of times in history when people were not free, like the Jewish people in our story? What did others do to help them? Can you think of any great leaders who helped people to be free? (This is a great time to mention such leaders as: Martin Luther King Jr., Mahatma Gandhi, Cesar Chavez, Nelson Mandela, Harriet Tubman, Susan B. Anthony, Gloria Steinem, Marian Wright Edelman, Abraham Lincoln, the Dalai Lama, Harvey Milk, or your personal favorites.)
How can we honor the legacies of these great men and women? What can we do to help others who are not free now?
After most of the guests have finished their meal, we will resume our Seder.
The Afikomen – The Final Matzah for Dessert
After dinner, the child who finds the Afikomen (the hidden matzah) is rewarded for bringing it back to the table, so our Seder can end. (A token gift is given to each child who helps return the Afikomen to the table.)
The Afikomen, as it is returned to the table, is a symbol of our collective will coming together to fight injustice in the world, wherever we may find it. We break it up and share it for dessert. (Pass around the broken matzah.)
Grace After the Meal
We hold hands and say together:
“We offer a blessing of thankfulness for the food we have eaten, for our friends and our families, and for the freedoms we cherish. Amen.”
The Third Cup of Wine Drinking from the Cup of Freedom
Now is the time to take another drink of wine or grape juice to remind us to take responsibility for the oppression that occurs around us, just as Moses, Miriam and the midwives did. We remember that freedom is something we must work for, for ourselves and for others.
Elijah’s Cup
There is an extra cup of wine on the table for a great teacher who lived many years ago, named Elijah. In Judaism, being a teacher is an honorable position because teachers pass on the important stories and lessons that guide us through life.
It is believed that Elijah visits every Seder to wish people a year of peace and freedom. We open the door to invite Elijah in to our Seder. (Ask the children to open a door, and leave it open until after singing Eliyahu Hanavi.) Just because you can’t see Elijah, it doesn’t mean he is not there! Watch his cup to see if any of the wine disappears!
As we open the door for Elijah, we also honor the many great teachers in our lives. If there are any teachers present in the room today, we ask them to stand so that we may honor them now, just as we have honored Elijah for centuries. (Teachers sit down after a moment or two.)
In some Jewish homes, there is an empty chair and place setting as a reminder of those people who cannot be with us to celebrate Passover. We think of all of the people who were murdered in the Holocaust and we honor their memory. We remember the African-American people who were forced into slavery, some of whom did not survive their hardships. We think of the victims of genocide in many other places and in many other times, as well. think of all of the veterans in our country who gave their lives for us to have freedom.
The Fourth Cup of Wine
Now is the time to take another drink of wine or grape juice to remind us to do what is right when there is oppression in our world, just as the many heroes of our story chose to do. When we do what is right, miracles can happen!
The fourth cup of wine is dedicated to Shekhinah, the feminine dimension of the Holy (or Whole-ly) who resides It is said that when the male and female aspects of creation are in harmony, we are whole. It is only then that we can have “tikkun olam”, or in us all. healing of the world.
“Next year in Jerusalem!”
In a moment, our Seder will be complete. We don’t say “It is finished” because we want to remember that working for oppression in the world is our never-ending responsibility. Instead, we recommit ourselves to the vision of a world filled with peace and justice for all. We wish for a world where “nation shall not lift up sword against nation, nor study war anymore.” We wish for a world where people are not treated differently because of their race, their religion, their gender, their age, their marital status, their skin color, the people they love, their profession, or their politics. We wish for a world that affirms the inherent worth and dignity of every person on our planet, and assures basic human rights for everyone, everywhere.