Passover honors that time in the past when
the Jews escaped slavery in Egypt –
it honors freedom.
This holiday is celebrated every year in the spring.

Every Passover a special meal called Seder is prepared
with special dishes and silverware.
In the center of the table is the Seder plate,
which contains five foods that remind us how the Israelites
struggled to freedom and escape from slavery.

In a cloth or cloth envelope called the Matzoh Cover,
three pieces of Matzoh are placed.
Before the meal starts, the middle piece of matzoh is
removed and broken in half.
One piece, the Afikomen, is hidden somewhere in house.
This will be hunted for by the children when the Seder meal
is finished. The other piece stays in the Matzoh Cover.

**Finding the Afikomen means you win a special prize!
It is all right to break the Afikomen into many pieces so
that every child can find a piece of it and receive a prize.

Each food on the Seder plate has special significance.
The Seder plate foods are:
1. Haroseth – plate of mixed chopped apples, walnuts,
cinnamon and wine. This represents the mortar the slaves
used to make the Pharaoh’s bricks

2. Parsley (dipped in salt water)- represents the
tears slaves shed

3. Roasted egg – symbolizes Spring

4. Shank Bone –symbolizes the sacrificial lamb
(can be turkey or chicken)

5. Bitter herbs- represents the bitterness
of slavery, that it is horrible

During the Seder 4 glasses of wine are poured.
These represent the stages of Exodus from Egypt.
1. freedom
2. deliverance
3. redemption
4. release

A fifth cup of wine is poured.
This is placed on the Seder table.
This is the Cup of Elijah, an offering
for the Prophet Elijah.
During the Seder the door to the home is opened
to invite the prophet Elijah in – Welcome to Elijah!

After the meal is eaten,
the children search for the Afikomen.
The Seder is over when the children have found
the Afikomen and everyone has eaten a piece.
This is a family celebration.
Many Jewish families all over the world
get together to celebrate Passover.

The story of the Jews leaving Egypt is told
during the meal,
and there are songs and special prayers.

We at Kidswork wish you a joyous Passover
and
hope that you love freedom as much as we do.