Teaching Our Children

To build a faith in the child that is strong, we must teach him by word and deed the Bible. Children always enjoy the thrilling stories of the Bible and they can be taught to memorize some of the great passages so easily.

Parents have the responsibility to pass along their spiritual faith and understanding to their children. When G-D gave Moses the law in the wilderness, he included a section we call - the "Shemah" -, addressing specifically the family and its responsibilities. It includes a declaration of who G-d is, the commandment to love him with all of our heart and being, the command to teach these truths diligently to the children. The family is to talk of these matters frequently, post reminders of them upon the walls and wear them on their bodies, to reinforce them with continuous reminders, so that the Word of G-D remains in our hearts.

“Therefore , you are to store up these words of mine in your heart and in all your being, tie them on your hand as a sign; put them at the front of a headband around your forehead; teach them carefully to your children, talking about them when you sit at home, when you are travelling on the road, when you lie down and when you get up; and write them on the door-frames of your house and on your gates--- so that you and your children will live long on the land Adonai swore to your ancestors that he would give them for as long as there is a sky above the earth.” (Deut.11:18-19)

The children's participation in the celebration of Passover begins with preparations for the holiday. They can help to prepare the Seder plate - grating the maror (bitter herbs), burning the shank bone, roasting the egg and preparing the charoset (nut and apple mixture). Time spent together in the kitchen can help make this a special time. Parents may set the table with their children; they might share in the cooking.

Children should also be made responsible for cleaning their rooms, so they can enjoy the “Bedikat Hametz", the Search for Leaven. In the darkened house, they help search for bread and bread crumbs using flashlights or candles. When they finally find a few hidden crumbs, the father uses a feather to sweep up the crumbs, a wooden spoon to catch them, and a paper bag to hold them. The next morning, they search again to assure that there is no bread in the house. Upon accomplishing this, the feather, spoon, and paper bag are burned.

G-D, our master teacher, came up with the perfect method. He wanted to make sure that his people never forgot that first Passover night. He therefore commanded us Jews to celebrate a yearly ceremony that would appeal through the senses to each person of every generation. It is an object lesson we teach our children, through acts of seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting and touching.

Just in recent years educators discovered that children learn in different ways. One of the most popular theories deals with four modes of learning: visual, auditory, kinesthetic and tactile, based upon the use of the five senses involved with the learning process.

This is exactly what’s happening at the Passover table. The large plate in the center holds some unusual foods, foods that are symbolic of the Passover story. Children are encouraged to ask the Four Questions:

1. Why is this night different from all other nights? Because on other nights we eat matzah and bread, but on this night we eat only matzah. -- We explain our children that the matzah, unleavened cracker-like bread, is the main symbol of Passover, representing the Israelites’ departure from Egypt. They were in a hurry and did not have time for the bread to rise.

2. Why on all other nights do we eat many herbs and on this night only bitter herbs? -- We discuss the eating of Maror. This is a bitter herb, usually horseradish or Romaine lettuce symbolizing the bitterness of slavery in Egypt.

3. Why on all other nights do we dip our food only once, and twice on this night? It is our custom to dip once on other nights. -- We explain that the term Passover comes from the final plague of Egypt. God sent the Angel of Death to each house to kill the first-born child. The Children of Israel were told to smear their door posts with lamb's blood so that the Angel would "pass over" their house. - We dip a second time to remember that our ancestors dipped a leafy branch to smear lamb's blood on their doorposts.

4. Why on all other nights do we sit up to eat, but recline on this night? --Because free people reclined in ancient times, and our ancestors became free on this night.

The Passover story is told with lots of opportunities for kids to interact. The illustrations are simple and engaging - perfect for any child!

For most children the Afikoman is the highlight of the Passover Seder. In fact, its whole purpose is to keep children awake, alert and attentive throughout the ceremony as they look forward to the game at the end. The child who finds the Afikoman, the hidden piece of Matzah, is rewarded with a prize. What will probably stick with them is the game where a Matzah is hidden and a prize given to the winner.

After reciting the Kiddush over the 3rd cup, children are told we are welcoming Elijah, in case he wants to join our Seder; his cup is already waiting on the table! Perhaps he will bring some glad tidings for us, fulfilling what was read a bit earlier in the "Birkat Hamazon," the grace after meal? We have finished the meal and now the excited youngster says "It's time to open the door to Elijah. He comes to every Jewish house." The parents smile, and everyone rises as the child rushes to open the door. Of course, there's a bit of drama around this cup. When opening the door for Elijah, the children gather round to watch the quivering liquid ripple, hoping to detect some sign of its sampling by the visiting prophet.

When it is done well, the memories of childhood Passovers are what keep people connected to their heritage.