Pesach
This resource has many aspects of Pesach which we can incorporate into Jewish youth activities. Some of the activities can be run leading up to Pesach. You might also want to consider having a special Seder which can be run anytime during Pesach. (It's not as scary as it sounds!)
Pesach is a festival which celebrates freedom! Pesach celebrates change and new beginnings! We hope you can find new and interesting ideas to bring to your madrichim (leaders) and chanichim (participants).
Please feel free to adapt any of the activities to best suit your needs. If you would like to discuss any of the ideas you find here or would like additional help in developing or running your programmes, please contact Shelley Marsh at Reshet
If you would like to share your Pesach resources, please email them to Shelley.
How does the story start?
Moses the Main Man
Leadership - Moses the Madrich
How you can plan a Seder
Seder Table talk (discussions for Seder)
Spice up your Seder
Rock Seder
The Ten Plagues Game
Pesach Art
Pesach Cookery
The first part of this resource is designed to give the Pesach story a context. Often many young people know the story of Pesach, or know parts of it. There are also many different levels of knowledge in a club setting. Some young people may have a very thorough knowledge of festivals, others may not. Our role as informal Jewish educators is to give our young people as much information as we can about this part of our collective history.
The following section can be used for discussion and drama. It has been set out with key questions and they can be answered in any of the following ways.
Here are some questions you might want to ask in order to give the background story of Pesach
WHAT WERE THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL DOING IN EGYPT IN THE FIRST PLACE?
WHY WERE THEY SLAVES?
WHO WAS MOSES'S REAL FAMILY?
WHY WAS MOSES CALLED THE PRINCE OF EGYPT? HOW DID MOSES END UP LIVING IN THE DESERT?
WHY DID PHAROAH FINALLY ALLOW THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL TO LEAVE EGYPT?
Take these questions & choose one of the following methods...
Method 1
Write the questions on large sheets and put them around the club. In small groups, have chanichim (participants) go around together and read the questions. They need to answer them by discussing the questions. (This may be too hard for some chanichim. If so, use suggestion number 2)
Method 2
Write the questions on large sheets and put them around the club. Copy the answers to the questions onto separate sheets of papers. Send the groups around to each question station.
See if they are able to find the QUESTION to the ANSWER they have for their group. When they have found their question, they return to the main group and together, as a group, they feedback what their questions and answers were. This way, the entire group will hear all the questions and all the answers. Follow on with a discussion for the whole group.
Method 3
Copy the questions and the answers onto A4 sheets of paper. Mix up the questions and the answers. Have the group match the questions with the answers. Have them read them out to the whole group.
Method 4
The madrichim could act out the narrative as a story. The narrative could be worked on with chanichim and performed as a Pesach play (It would fit in beautifully as an introduction of background information to a group Seder).
WHAT WERE THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL DOING IN EGYPT IN THE FIRST PLACE?
At the end of the book of Genesis (Bereshit) Joseph (maybe still wearing his coat of many colours) was living in Egypt. There was a desperate famine in the land of Israel and so all his brothers and their extended families decided to head for Egypt and try and live there for a while until things were easier in Israel. They didn't intend to stay and settle in Egypt forever. But they did well, built homes and the extended family grew and grew..
WHY WERE THEY SLAVES?
Initially, they weren't slaves. The Children of Israel were given land to work on by Pharaoh because of Joseph's help to the infra-structure in Egypt. As time went on, and another generation was born, the Children of Israel became rich and powerful and the next Pharaoh on the throne felt threatened by their sheer numbers. So he changed the law. He took away their rights as free men and ordered the children of Israel to work as slaves. He made their lives very difficult, taxed them heavily and limited the types of work they could do.
The next Pharaoh, the newest King/political leader, then decided that all the hard labour stuff wasn't enough, the Israelites seemed to be toughening up quite well since they were still having kids and coping with the pressure they were under. So, that Pharaoh made yet another law:-
every son that is born you shall cast into the River, and every daughter you shall save alive (Exodus 1:22)
Not much to argue with there really?
So let's meet...
Moses the Main Man
WHO WAS MOSES' ‘REAL’ FAMILY?
Little is known about Moses' family background. His father, Amram, is only mentioned as being from the tribe of Levi. But the book of Exodus tells us that Moses' mother, Yocheved, placed him in a woven basket and sent him off down the River Nile with the hope that he could be saved from Pharaoh's decree.
We also know that Moses had an older brother and sister, Aaron and Miriam. Miriam was sent to follow the basket, which she did. Miriam watched as Pharaoh's daughter saw the basket float up the River Nile and take the baby out.
Pharaoh's daughter felt sorry for the crying baby she had found and Miriam approached her and recommended the baby have a wet nurse, namely Yocheved (his natural mother). Pharaoh's daughter agreed and said the baby should be fed by his Hebrew mother until he was old enough to be weaned. When the baby grew, he was returned to Pharaoh's daughter and she raised him as her own son.
WHY WAS MOSES CALLED THE PRINCE OF EGYPT? (in the film??!)
Moses was brought up by Pharaoh's daughter in the Egyptian Palace. Moses must have had a privileged life, a good education, the best types of food and a luxurious place to live. Egypt was an advanced and wealthy country. It was a fertile land and it was sophisticated in its religious and cultural practise.
The Egyptians had a good standard of living, and the Hebrews were the slaves that enabled them to live it to the full. The Hebrews probably lived in shanty towns on the outskirts of the main cities. They had their own customs and traditions and were
strangers in the land of Egypt. (Exodus 2:22)
HOW DID MOSES END UP LIVING IN THE DESERT?
Moses was ashamed of the way the Egyptians treated the Hebrews. He saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew slave and he struck out and killed the Egyptian. After this violent incident, Moses ran away from Egypt. He met with the Medianites, a desert dwelling group of nomads. There he met and married Zippora, a Medianite woman. As time went on, Moses was content living in the desert with the Medianite tribe, and working as a shepherd. One of his sheep went off in the wrong direction and Moses went to bring it back to the flock. It was then that we are told that God spoke to Moses saying:
I have seen how oppressed the Children of Israel are by Pharaoh and I will send you to Pharaoh so that you may bring the Israelites out of Egypt. (Exodus 3:10)
DID MOSES THINK HE WAS UP FOR THE JOB?
To put it simply, no. Moses began his first of many arguments with God. Moses can’t understand why God has chosen him to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. He is certainly not thrilled at the prospect of facing Pharaoh again. Moses also doubts he will have much luck in convincing the Israelites to follow him. Moses also points out to God that
I am not an eloquent man. I am slow of speech and slow of tongue... (Exodus 4:11)
God began to get impatient with Moses and replied that Moses was clearly up for the job of leading the Children of Israel out of Egypt. Moses continued to have his doubts.
HOW DID MOSES GAIN THE ISRAELITES CONFIDENCE?
Moses' brother, Aaron, and the Israelite Elders all supported Moses. They thought it was a good idea that he approach Pharaoh and ask for the Israelites freedom.
And then Pharaoh said no. And Moses said please let my people go.
And again Pharaoh said no. So God sent 10 plagues, one by one, getting nastier and nastier until Pharaoh said yes, leave now!
Moses led the Israelites through the wilderness for 40 years. He received the 10 commandments at Sinai and then continues to lead the people to the brink of the Promised Land.
LEADERSHIP
The next part of this resource looks at leadership. We often undertake some leadership training for madrichim (leaders) pre-schemes or sometimes at other times of the year too. Pesach has some fantastic examples of leadership and the difficulties it can bring. This part of the resource may be a useful exercise for a Youth Worker to work with madrichim or trainee madrichim. Moses is often spoken about as the greatest leader of the Jewish people. However, Moses had to deal with many challenging situations.This is a great way of looking at our Jewish identities and making this work relevant to our young people. Who do they believe are their leaders?
Here are some key points you could use in a discussion with madrichim (leaders) about the way Moses reacted as a leader.
Did Moses feel part of the Egyptian people?
Did Moses feel part of the Children of Israel?
Did his ability to connect to his own group influence his leadership role?
Do you feel part of your community? Where or what is your community? Does this effect you as a leader?
Moses knew that one of his challenges was public speaking. He worked closely with his brother Aaron, who was an eloquent speaker, and at times asked Aaron to speak on his behalf.
Was this a good leadership technique?
What are your challenges as a leader? How do you deal with them?
God constantly tells Moses he needs to do things. Moses constantly challenges God on the decisions God makes.
In leadership, how do we reach a compromise?
Does Moses ever manage to compromise with God?
How do you reach compromises in your contexts?
You might want to work on additional leadership ideas during your training.
You may have already run a Pesach Seder with your young people. You may not have ever thought of running one before. You might want to try it, you might not. If you don't want to run a club Seder, you can still utilise the activities suggested. The discussions in the Seder Table Talk section as well as the activities to use during seder will work well as an activity in the lead up to Pesach.
TEAMWORK
Moses knew that to be a truly effective leader, he needed to work with others. He needed to delegate and take advice. There are many examples throughout the story of Exodus about how Moses did this. He asked his brother, Aaron, to speak on his behalf, since he found speaking, particularly in public, to be traumatic. Moses also relied heavily on his sister, Miriam. She is often referred to as a healer and was clearly a highly sensitive person. Moses included her into his team and utilised her skills. Later, we read that Moses turned to Jethro, his father in law, for advice since Moses realised that he was exhausted and needed to learn the art of delegation. Jethro gave him good advice and Moses followed it. Even though Moses could have said at any time that he had been directly chosen by God, and thus he knew everything he needed to know, we learn that Moses was a humble leader. He led his team as a part of the team. It's an important lesson for us to keep in mind whenever we are in a position of leadership.
THE HAGADAH - THE STORY BOOK
By reading through the Hagadah, we read the story of the Children of Israel leaving Egypt. The story begins with Moses asking Pharaoh for freedom for his people and takes us through the experiences in Egypt until the Israelites left their homes and began to wander through the wilderness.
The story never really ends! It leads us through to the idea of returning to the Promised Land. The Seder is a time for asking questions.
There is also a need for each person present to feel a connection to their Jewish past.
CHOOSING A HAGADAH
Next, find a Hagadah which you feel comfortable in using. There are many available in Jewish book shops. Look for something which has clear explanations and print. You could also ask chanichim to bring in their own Hagadah before the seder and then take a vote to choose the one you like the best.
Maybe you might consider running a competition to design a cover for your Hagadah. Once you have organised the Hagadah which everyone will follow, the rest of the Seder is left up to your creativity and imagination.
It really can be a fun and enjoyable experience. Firstly, think through the logistics of how many madrichim and chanichim can come. Introduce the idea as being a special event. Encourage people to feel relaxed about it. You can do as much or as little Hebrew as you want in your own Seder. So if people are put off by the idea of lots of intimidating Hebrew, re-assure them.
You might also want to invite other people in the community. Seder is a time for inviting people who are hungry to come and eat with you. You may want to consider this part of the Seder tradition and invite some elderly people or people from a homeless shelter who might really appreciate eating with you as well as being part of a
communal event.
PREPARING FOR YOUR SEDER
Arrange who will make the Seder food. People might choose to cook together and discuss levels of kashrut to ensure everyone is comfortable. It is also a good way for people to feel part of the group, creating a great sense of community.
The Seder has five essential parts. They are
DRINK THE FIRST CUP OF WINE
Welcome to the Seder (Kedesh) which is when we sanctify the holiday with some initial songs. We drink our first cup of wine (or grape juice) here.
DRINK THE SECOND CUP OF WINE
The story (Maggid) This main chunk is when we tell the story of how life was for our ancestors, we ask questions, we eat symbolic foods to make us feel more involved in the story and we sing songs of freedom and liberation. We drink our second cup of wine here.
DRINK THE THIRD CUP OF WINE
Dinner time! We always begin our Seder meal with matza and moror (bitter herbs). Then we eat a meal which is filling and satisfying. Part of your Seder could be everyone bringing a dish to share. Or maybe making a meal together before your Seder starts. We drink our third cup of wine here.
WELCOME ELIJAH
After dinner an extra cup of wine is poured in honor of Elijah and the door is opened to welcome him. The reason we welcome in Elijah is as follows:- Elijah represents the coming of the Messiah, the ultimate hope for world redemption. By welcoming Elijah to our Seder, we are acknowledging that we are still waiting for the Messiah
DRINK THE FOURTH CUP OF WINE
The last part of Seder is when we say Hallel, which is when we say thanks. Thanks to God for the freedom and redemption of the Jewish people. Thanks for the people we are having Seder with. Thanks for the meal we have just shared together.
It is traditional to then sing Seder songs and to enjoy being together at this festive time of year.
The idea behind Seder table talk is that during the story telling or Maggid part of the Seder, you bring in different ideas to discuss. You can give out something to read and then discuss the reading in small groups around the Seder table or as one big discussion (depending on the size of your seder group). The discussions can of course be led as discussions that link into the Pesach theme.