Engaging Children in the Seder: Resources from Debbie & John Orenstein

Ideas for a fun Seder

Tent Set up a “tent” and have the first part of the Seder away from the table, sitting on the floor or on th comfortable couches. Serve food to avoid the 5 question “When do we eat?”

Costumes You are slaves fleeing Egypt! You’re leaving in the middle of the night with your neighbors’ jewelry! What would you wear? Middle-eastern costumes? Maybe pajamas (unless that’s what you’ve been wearing for weeks).

Seder plate song Hold Seder plate above each person’s head, move in a circular motion and sing Bivhilut yatsanu mimitzraim / Ha lachma anya b’nei chorin (In haste we left Egypt This is the bread of affliction … free people) (sheet music attached)

Egg game (last person with uncracked egg wins) Decorate the eggs beforehand. Or not.

Dayenu Whack each other with scallions as you sing.

Candy For answers to questions or assignments.

Afikomen Write a clue or draw a map leading to the place where the afikomen is hidden and cut it into puzzle pieces. When a child does something – answers a question, participates, sings a song, the leader passes out clues or puzzle pieces. After the meal, the kids get together, put together the puzzle or clues and find the afikomen.

Chad Gadya Each person, including kids, can play a part in the story. Stop for the sound effect each time.

Some creative ideas ● Write skits for different parts of the story. ● Do your own Passover coloring book, or use The Orenstein Family Passover Coloring book. Feel free to put your own cover on. Don’t forget washable crayons! ● Dress up your puppets or dolls and let them tell or help you tell the story. ● Tell parts of the story using musical instruments for music or sound effects. ● Write a commercial for a Passover product. ● Do a video in advance, interviewing the 4 types of children.

A NEW KING WHO KNEW NOT JOSEPH . . . A Passover Play by Debbie & John Orenstein

[Optional: Egyptians enter singing from Les Mis “Uh a, Uh a, don’t look’em in the eye...Uh a, Uh a you’re here until you die”]

Egyptians: (Sing) Way, way back, many centuries ago . . .

Pharoah: You, there! What is this you sing?

Egyptian 1: It’s a song from the hit show about Joseph.

Pharoah: Hit show? What hit show? If it’s not “Wicked,” I’m not interested.

Egyptian 2: But it’s about Joseph! He was our hero, don’t you remember? (all Egyptians sing) “Joseph, how can we ever say/All that we want to about you . . .”

Pharoah: Silence! Clearly this was not Andrew Lloyd Weber’s best work!

Egyptian 3: The old pharoah liked it.

Pharoah: Silence!! I’m sick of hearing about the old pharoah, and I’m sick of hearing about Joseph! I don’t know any Joseph! You there, do you know “Don’t Cry for Me, Abbysinia”?

Egyptian 4: O great and powerful Pharoah, I must talk to you about the Children of Israel.

Pharoah: Oh, yes. The ones with the high birth rate.

Egyptian 4: That’s just what I need to talk to you about. There are too many of them.

Egyptian 2: They’re stronger than we are!

Egyptian 1: They’re cuter!

Egyptian 4: They’re taking over!

ALL Egyptians: They write better music!!!

Pharoah: Silence!! I see your point. Work them harder!!’;l ______ALL EXIT______

Narrator: So Pharoah made the Jews slaves. He made them perform backbreaking labor and embittered their lives. But still the Jews multiplied, prospered and sang show music. Therefore, Pharoah decreed that every newborn son of the Hebrews must be thrown into the river to die.

______BABY MOSES

Baby Moses is screaming non-stop]

Amram: I’m telling you, we can’t hide him any longer! He won’t stop crying and screaming for two seconds!

Yochebed: But he’s so adorable! Just look at the little precious! Kootchy kootchy koo!

Amram: Get rid of him or I’ll throw him in the river myself!

Yochebed: Oh, what am I going to do!? I know . . . I’ll put him in a basket in the river! Then at least he’ll have a chance! [TRIES TO GET BABY INTO BASKET]

Narrator: And so, the baby in the basket was placed in the river, little knowing that someday he would be Moses, leader of the Jewish people and star of a blockbuster motion picture and a new animated feature from DREAMWORKS. ______

Narrator: Time passed. Moses, adopted by the Egyptian princess, grew and, after an unfortunate homicide, fled to Midian, where he became a shepherd. One day, while tending his father-in-law’s flock, he saw a strange thing.

Moses: My tunic looks like a bathrobe.

Narrator: No, not that. Something else.

Moses: Oh . . . look at that bush! It’s on fire. Come to think of it, it’s been on fire for hours. I think I’ll take a closer look.

God: Moses!

Moses: (Looks around.) Who said that?

God: Moses!

Moses: If I didn’t know better, I’d say the burning bush was talking. That’s ridiculous. Burning bushes don’t talk.

God: Moses!! Stop jabbering like an idiot!

Moses: Holy Toledo!

God: Take off your shoes, for you are on holy ground.

Moses: Sure, sure, just give me a minute . . .

God: Moses, I have heard the outcry of my people in Egypt. I am going to rescue them and lead them to a land flowing with milk and honey. And I am sending you to Pharoah to lead my people out of oppression.

Moses: I’m sorry, I don’t take orders from a bush.

God: Moses!! The bush is just a symbolic representation!! Don’t you know who I am?

Moses: Well, you haven’t told me your name.

God: My name is: “I shall be as I shall be.”

Moses: Ask a silly question . . .

God: You will go to the children of Israel and tell them, “I shall be” has sent you. You will go to Pharoah, and I shall strike Egypt with wonders, and you and your people shall leave with silver, gold and clothes.

Moses: I already have clothes.

God: What, that bathrobe?

Moses: Look, give me a break. I work with sheep. I never took public speaking. In Egypt, all I had to do was smile and nod.

God: Moses, don’t be such a kvetch! Look, if you’re going to be that way, I’ll get your brother Aaron to do the talking. You put the words in his mouth, he’ll talk. Got it?

Moses: Will you do the bush trick for him too?

God: Forget about the bush, already! Oy vey, does this guy have a stiff neck . .

THE FOUR CHILDREN (to the tune of "Sit Down, You're Rockin' the Boat")

I dreamed last night I was at the Rabbi’s seder, And by some chance I had brought my kids along. The first one said, "Tell me all about the seder, Every nuance, every detail, every song!"

And the people all said, "Let's eat! Let's move this seder ahead." The people all said, "Let's eat! We're almost ready for bed. If we make it to dayenu, We can have some brisket before we're dead. Let's eat, let's eat, let's eat, let's eat!" That's what the people all said.

The second child sneered as she said, "What's all of this for? This seder stinks, I've got better things to do!" I told her, "God took my people out of Egypt. God took me, but God would not have taken you."

And the people all said, "Let's eat! Your child is wicked and rude." The people all said, "Let's eat! It's shocking -- now for the food. Some charoses and chopped liver Should improve that negative attitude. Let's eat, let's eat, let's eat, let's eat, Let's eat 'cause we're in the mood."

Not every Jewish child will grow up to be an Einstein. The next one said, "What is all this crazy fuss?" I told him, "Son, you are really not a genius. This is all because of what God did for us."

And the people all said, "Let's eat! We've had enough of this song." The people all said, "Let's eat! This all is taking too long. Put the dumb one in the corner, If we all agree is it really wrong? Let's eat, let's eat, let's eat, let's eat, We've had enough of this song."

[Hum first line] The last one sat there as quiet as a mouse. I took her hand as I whispered to her gently, "I think you ended up in the wrong house."

-- Debbie & John Orenstein