It's Seder Time

Latifa Berry Kropf photographs by Tod Cohen

Latifa Berry Kropf photographs by Tod Cohen

Thank you. . . For my parents, Zelda Sheeskin Berry, of blessed memory, and Seymour Berry L.B.K. Most of the photographs in this book were not taken until a month after Passover. The children loved having another opportunity to dip parsley in salt water, have charoset and matzah for snack, sing Dayenu and act out the Passover story. Many thanks to Congregation Beth Israel: the staff for their support and enthusiasm, the parents for sharing their wonderful children and, of course, the children, who always remind me of the joy in life. Thanks to Ellen Dietrick, whose behind-the-scenes encouragement and cre­ ative solutions were to the making of this book what matzah is to Passover. For my precious children Gemma and Henry. I love you! T.C.

Text copyright © 2004 by Latifa Berry Kropf

Photos copyright © 2004 by Tod Cohen

All rights reserved. International copyright secured. No part of this book may be reproduced,

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Kropf, Latifa Berry. It's seder time! / by Latifa Berry Kropf ; photographs by Tod Cohen. p. cm. Summary: Photographs and easy-to-read text portray children in a Jewish preschool as they prepare for and participate in a Passover seder, then act out the Passover story. Includes directions for making Torah masks.

eISBN: 1–58013–135–2

1. Seder—Juvenile literature. 2. Passover—Juvenile literature. [1. Seder. 2. Passover. 3. Holidays.] I. Cohen, Tod, ill. II. Title.

BM695.P3K75 2004

296.4'5371—dc22 2003015260

Manufactured in the United States of America 1 2 3 4 5 6 – JR – 09 08 07 06 05 04

Spring is here! It’s time to play in the sunshine. It’s time to get ready for Passover.

We’ve collected the cookies and crackers we do not eat on Passover. We’ll take them to the food bank.

Let’s make matzah! We roll out the dough and punch holes with a fork so it won’t rise.

We chop apples and nuts for charoset, which reminds us of the mortar the Israelite slaves used to make bricks in Egypt.

Elly is filling Elijah’s cup with grape juice. Samantha will fill Miriam’s cup with water.

Sherry is covering the three matzah with a special cloth.

The seder plate has a bone, an egg, parsley, bitter herb, and charoset.

To begin the seder, we light candles and sing a blessing over the grape juice.

We dip parsley in salt water and remember the tears of the Jewish slaves.

Michael breaks the middle matzah. Cantor Alan will hide the bigger piece, called the afikomen.

Megan is chanting the Four Questions. “Why is tonight different from other nights?” Let’s tell the story of Passover.

Pharaoh’s daughter found Baby Moses floating in a basket in the river.

When Moses grew up, God sent him to free the Israelites. “Let my people go!” he told Pharaoh. Pharaoh refused.

God sent the Egyptians many punishments. One day when Pharaoh woke up, millions of frogs were jumping all over the place.

Finally, Pharaoh told the Israelites to leave. When they got to the sea, Moses raised his walking stick and the sea parted.

When they got to the other side, they sang, danced, and thanked God for their freedom.

Our story is finished. Now it’s time to eat. Matzah and charoset make the best sandwich!

Dina is happy because she found the afikomen!

Caitlin opens the door to see if the prophet Elijah is coming.

We finish our seder with our favorite songs. Happy Passover!

Torah Masks Torah masks are great props to use at classroom seders and at home. They encourage even the shiest child to take part in acting out the story. Large face holes are more child-friendly than traditional masks with small eye holes. The face holes also allow everyone to see the child’s facial expressions. What you do: On a piece of 24" x 36" poster board, draw each character in the story. We have made masks for Baby Moses, Grown-up Moses, Miriam, Pharaoh, the Princess, and the Burning Bush. You could also include Yocheved, the Jewish slaves, the Egyptian taskmasters, and frogs, wild animals, and other plagues. Decorate each mask using paint, markers, glitter, and fabric pieces. You can make them simple or elaborate. Laminate the masks and cut out large holes where the faces of the characters would be. You’re ready to go. Lights, camera, action!

About the Passover Seder Passover is a week-long holiday, celebrated in the spring, when we remember the exodus of the Jews from Egyptian slavery. It is ushered in with a seder, a festive meal of prayers, readings, songs, and the tasting of symbolic foods. Here is a brief explanation of Passover rituals: The Torah states that all hametz should be removed from the home during the week of Passover. Hametz includes foods made from a mixture of flour and water that has been allowed to ferment or rise, such as bread, rolls, cookies, and pasta. Before Passover, many Jewish families engage in spring cleaning to remove all hametz. Often packages of unopened hametz are donated to food banks. The centerpiece of the table is a seder plate with the following symbolic foods: Bone—recalling the Passover sacrifice in Biblical times Egg—a symbol of spring and renewal Parsley—a symbol of spring. It is eaten dipped in salt water which recalls the tears of the slaves. Maror—a bitter herb (often horseradish) to remember the bitterness of slavery. Charoset—a mixture of chopped apples and nuts that symbolizes the mortar used by the slaves to build Pharaoh’s palaces.

There are also three pieces of matzah—unleavened bread—on the seder table, covered by a decorative cloth. The matzah recalls the haste in which the Israelites fled Egypt. One matzah is broken into two pieces. The larger piece, the afikomen, is hidden to spark the interest of children. Later, it is ransomed and eaten for dessert. An extra cup of wine is set aside for the Prophet Elijah. Tradition says that Elijah will herald the messianic age. During the seder the door is opened to invite him in. A new tradition is to fill a cup or bowl of water for Moses’ sister Miriam whose efforts merited the spring of fresh water that followed the Israelites through the desert. After the traditional blessings over candles and wine, the Passover story is told, introduced with the Four Questions asked by the youngest at the seder. The seder continues with songs of praise and a festive meal.