Summary
Every spring, Jews around the world celebrate a holiday that's all about freedom. Families gather for special meals called seders, where they say prayers, sing songs, and retell the story of how God freed the ancient Israelites from slavery in Egypt. It’s all laid out in a book called a Haggadah. A special plate on the seder table features ritual foods, like bitter herbs as a symbol of the bitterness of slavery. A stack of matzah, an unleavened flatbread, is a reminder of the Israelites’ speedy departure from Egypt. They didn’t have time to let their bread dough rise. Different gatherings celebrate in different ways, but the focus is always on liberation, and expressing gratitude for the freedom folks enjoy now. Press “play” to learn more about Passover’s origins and traditions.
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Teaching resources
Discussion questions
A few questions to talk through after watching Passover:
- What is one new thing you learned about passover?
- Can you explain it to a partner in your own words?
- Where might you see this in the real world?
- What is one question you still have?
Quick work-a-long
Try it:
- Write one sentence explaining passover.
- Draw or give one example of your own.