In Every Generation—A Text Study for Grandparents and Grandchildren Early Childhood Students
A ‘text’ is a sentence or paragraph taken from a Jewish book, such as the Torah or the Talmud. As Jews, we study texts together and ask questions about the texts to give us a better understanding of our tradition and of ourselves. We invite grandparents and their grandchildren to read the following texts and think about the questions provided in order to prepare for a more meaningful Passover festival!
Exodus 1:13‐14 The Egyptians made the Israelites work as slaves. The hard work made the Israelites sad. The Israelites worked with mud and bricks and other work in the hot desert sun.
Exodus 13:3 Moses told the Israelites: Remember today. You were freed from Egypt. You were freed from slavery. God made you free.
Babylonian Talmud Pesachim 116B In every generation, a person must look upon themselves as if they, personally, have gone out of Egypt, as it is written in the Torah, “You shall tell your child on that day, ‘[We celebrate Passover] because of what God did for me when I left Egypt.’”
Questions for Study 1. What does freedom mean? 2. Can you draw a picture of what you think freedom looks like? Who and what is in the picture? Who or what is not? 3. What is your favorite way to celebrate?
In Every Generation – A Text Study for Grandparents and Grandchildren Grades K‐1
A ‘text’ is a sentence or paragraph taken from a Jewish book, such as the Torah or the Talmud. As Jews, we study texts together and ask questions about the texts to give us a better understanding of our tradition and of ourselves. We invite grandparents and their grandchildren to read the following texts and think about the questions provided in order to prepare for a more meaningful Passover festival!
Exodus 1:13‐14 The Egyptians made the Israelites work as slaves. The hard work made the Israelites sad. The Israelites worked with mud and bricks and other work in the hot desert sun.
Exodus 13:3 Moses told the Israelites: Remember today. You were freed from Egypt. You were freed from slavery. God made you free.
Babylonian Talmud Pesachim 116B In every generation, a person must look upon themselves as if they, personally, have gone out of Egypt, as it is written in the Torah, “You shall tell your child on that day, ‘[We celebrate Passover] because of what God did for me when I left Egypt.’”
Questions for Study 1. What might it feel like to not have freedom? Do you know anyone who wasn’t always free? What did it feel like for them? 2. What do you think it felt like for the Israelites to become free? What might it feel like for others who were once not free to become free?
In Every Generation – A Text Study for Grandparents and Grandchildren Grades 2‐3
A ‘text’ is a sentence or paragraph taken from a Jewish book, such as the Torah or the Talmud. As Jews, we study texts together and ask questions about the texts to give us a better understanding of our tradition and of ourselves. We invite grandparents and their grandchildren to read the following texts and think about the questions provided in order to prepare for a more meaningful Passover festival!
Exodus 1:13‐14 The Egyptians brutally made the Israelites work as slaves, making their lives sad with hard work at mortar, bricks, and all types of work in the hot desert sun. All of their work was harsh.
Exodus 13:3 Moses told the Israelites: Remember this day, the day you were freed from Egypt, the day you were freed from slavery, for God rescued you with a mighty hand.
Babylonian Talmud Pesachim 116B In every generation, a person must look upon themselves as if they, personally, have gone out of Egypt, as it is written in the Torah, “You shall tell your child on that day, ‘[We celebrate Passover] because of what God did for me when I left Egypt.’”
Questions for Study 1. What might it feel like to not have freedom? Do you know anyone who wasn’t always free? What did it feel like for them? 2. What do you think it felt like for the Israelites to become free? What might it feel like for others who were once not free to become free? 3. Why do you think the Talmud tells us that we must remember Egypt as if we had been slaves there? What does it teach us?
In Every Generation – A Text Study for Grandparents and Grandchildren Grades 4‐6
A ‘text’ is a sentence or paragraph taken from a Jewish book, such as the Torah or the Talmud. As Jews, we study texts together and ask questions about the texts to give us a better understanding of our tradition and of ourselves. We invite grandparents and their grandchildren to read the following texts and think about the questions provided in order to prepare for a more meaningful Passover festival!
Exodus 1:13‐14 The Egyptians brutally made the Israelites work as slaves, making their lives bitter with hard work at mortar, bricks, and all types of work in the hot desert sun. All of their work was harsh.
Exodus 13:3 Moses told the Israelites: Remember this day, the day you were freed from Egypt, the day you were freed from slavery, for God rescued you with a mighty hand.
Babylonian Talmud Pesachim 116B In every generation, a person must look upon themselves as if they, personally, have gone out of Egypt, as it is written in the Torah, “You shall tell your child on that day, ‘[We celebrate Passover] because of what God did for me when I left Egypt.’”
“A Caged Bird,” Maya Angelou A free bird leaps his wings are clipped and on the back of the wind his feet are tied and floats downstream so he opens his throat to sing. till the current ends and dips his wing The caged bird sings in the orange sun rays with a fearful trill and dares to claim the sky. of things unknown but longed for still But a bird that stalks and his tune is heard down his narrow cage on the distant hill can seldom see through for the caged bird his bars of rage sings of freedom. his wings are clipped and his feet are tied The free bird thinks of another breeze so he opens his throat to sing. and the trade winds soft through the sighing trees The caged bird sings and the fat worms waiting on a dawn bright with a fearful trill lawn of things unknown and he names the sky his own but longed for still and his tune is heard But a caged bird stands on the grave of on the distant hill dreams for the caged bird his shadow shouts on a nightmare scream sings of freedom.
Questions for Study 1. What might it feel like to not have freedom, according to the Torah? According to Maya Angelou? Do you know anyone who wasn’t always free? What did it feel like for them? 2. How might Maya Angelou’s poem help us understand what it means to become free? What do you think it felt like for the Israelites? For someone today? 3. Why do you think the Talmud tells us that we must remember Egypt as if we had been there? Why is it important?