PASSOVER POEMS

Slavery smells like smelly armpits
Slavery feels dumb
Slavery sounds like sad people
Slavery looks stupid

Freedom smells like brownies
Freedom feels like soft stuff
Freedom sounds like jumping people
Freedom looks like happy people

Slavery smells like pollution
Slavery feels jail
Slavery sounds like kids crying
Slavery looks hard work

Freedom smells like cookies
Freedom feels like running around
Freedom sounds like peace and quiet
Freedom looks like no work and you can recline

Slavery smells like sweat
Slavery feels torture
Slavery sounds like screams
Slavery looks suffering

Freedom smells like sweet fruit
Freedom feels like happiness
Freedom sounds like dancing and singing
Freedom looks like smiles and joy

FROM SLAVERY TO FREEDOM

Next week at this time all of us will have had our fill of matza and the memories of another Seder will be gently stored.  However, we still have plenty of time to explore the many laws and traditions Passover in our classroom, and that is exactly what we have been doing.   We know we are commanded to teach the story of our Exodus to our children, and all future generations.  We also know we are not to eat any leavened bread for seven days.  These are indeed biblical laws, and commandments from the Torah.  Then, the story gets a bit more vague.  Of course we have the haggadah, a rubric for the evening, but we are free to use it as we see fit.  We are encouraged to waiver from the ordered pages in order to include our children, and make the experience meaningful for all of those at the table.  So, this year, we encourage to ask the children as many questions as you can, put them on the hot seat and make them think.  They are well prepared to participate and they have a wealth of information to share.

Here are a few appetizers to get the ball rolling....

Why did GOD send 10 plagues, when the last one would have been enough?

Which finger is best used when spilling out the wine to remind us of the plagues?

Why do we spill out the wine from our full cup?

What might be ten modern day plagues?

Why did Moses chose to go from freedom to slavery? 

How many different times do we see the number four in the Haggadah?

Wishing you and those you love a kosher Passover, and a wonderful holiday!  

PASSPORT TO PASSOVER

Welcome Back!  

This afternoon we worked like slaves and began to unpack the story of Passover. We talked about the commandment to celebrate the holiday, and the importance of passing down this narrative from one generation to the next.  We deconstructed the Haggadah and looked for the many ways numbers play an important role at the Seder.   We found three forefathers, three matzot, and the four questions, four mothers, four cups of wine, and the ten plagues.  

The ten plagues were a bit distressing, and we spent some time exploring them in great detail. Our students were a extremely troubled by the severity of the punishments afflicted on the Egyptians, and questioned the necessity of being so destructive.  We also talked about what is fact and what is fiction, and the importance of learning from our past to make sure we don't make mistakes in the future.  As our afternoon came to an end, we had a brief but interesting discussion about slavery.  Students questioned how Jews had the audacity to have slaves in America, when we were slaves to Pharaoh.  I guess this is a great question to get a Seder going, and I encourage you to broach this subject at your own holiday table.  

Next week we continue our travels from slavery to freedom, and look forward to enriching your family Seder with well versed participants.  See you Sunday!