“I THINK PASSOVER
IS JUST REALLY FUN.”
— EMMA GRANT
Passover:
Passover:
PASS IT ON!
KAREN SCHWARTZ CONTRIBUTING WRITER
JUST FOR KIDS
Y
ou may have already seen it on grocery store shelves. Boxes of
matzah, rows of ring gels and jars of gefilte fish are on display as
Passover approaches. The holiday, which starts Monday, April 22,
means many kids will be trading in the usual snacks and sandwich bread
for crunchy sheets of matzah.
During this spring holiday, we have seder meals, sit together with
family, friends and our community, and retell the story of the Jews’
exodus from Egypt.
• Ready to go. Some Syrian Jews have the tradition of putting matzah in a bag — like
a backpack — and putting it over their shoulders, then reciting a Hebrew verse about leav-
ing the desert quickly.
• A heavy load. In Romania, during the retelling of the Passover story, it’s common to fill a
pillowcase with heavy objects and carry it around, illustrating the weight of slavery.
• Realistic re-enactment. In one part of Poland, some Jews reportedly re-enact the Red Sea
crossing, even pouring water on the floor and naming the towns they’
d pass.
• No seder plate here. Yemenite Jews are less likely to have a seder plate. Instead, the items
are either put right on the table or in front of each person individually in bowls.
• A little bit of bricks. In Gibraltar, they mix a little bit of brick dust into their charoset. Its color
and texture serve as a reminder of the mortar Jews used for building when they were slaves.
Did you know?
Did you know?
If you showed up for a seder in another country, you might
be in for a surprise. That’s because although the story’s the
same, some of the traditions can be quite different. You might
find some of them have made their way here, too. They might
have been brought here by people coming from another place, or
added by someone who learned the tradition and chose to make it
theirs, too.
Fact:
Fact:
Some people celebrate for seven days, and
others for eight, depending on your custom. In
Israel, it’s seven. And they only have one seder.
It’s also a great time to find out more about your family
and where you come from, says Ayala Kohn, director of
education for Aish Detroit. While you use the Haggadah to
recount the communal story of the Jewish people’s journey, you
can also ask the people around your table about their stories.
You can ask them how they celebrated Passover when
they were younger, and even find out who sat around
their tables. Maybe they have a favorite tradition, story
or food they want to tell you about. This is a great
holiday for questions, so ask away!
Fact:
Fact:
Haggadah means “telling.”
The Haggadah helps you make
your way through the seder.
But no two families’ seders are
exactly the same. Building your
own traditions is part of
what makes your seder
special.
54 | APRIL 18 • 2024
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