Passover and kids

[OnederWoman]

Hi all,

As we approach Passover we have some new questions this year.

As a family we celebrate the Passover week, and not Easter (no bunnies, no eggs, etc). We are still new to this, this will be our 2nd year. Last year we went to a large Seder at a church. This year we will do the same and we are considering having one at home as well, though we aren't sure if we're ready to venture out on our own yet.

Last year we bent for our son and the grandparents and let him do the church Easter egg hunt. This year we are standing firm and have decided not to compromise... no egg hunts or Easter candy (we've never done the bunny or allowed others to tell our son the thing is real).

Now, for us, this is the most exciting holiday of the year... with the most significance and meaning... but, I'm not sure our son will be as excited as we are. He's just 6 and this will be very new to him as well.

I'm wondering if anyone here does special things for their kids to make the holiday meaningful and exciting for their little ones.

I've considered telling my parents they can give our son a small gift for Passover, maybe candy (non-Easter) and a small toy (and next year when the new baby is here, we are due in Sept., they can get them a little stuffed lamb or something)? Just no eggs, Easter candy, bunnies or baskets. That way the grandparents are pacified. But I'm just not sure.

We don't go to a Messianic church (we are friends with the Rabbi and his wife though and have learned a lot from them... I'll be asking their advice on this as well), it's about 30 minutes away and with the husband having to finish his degree through Saturday courses... it's not practical. We are going to a Southern Baptist church. I'm concerned that our son may not understand why all his friends get baskets and candy and egg hunts while he doesn't get anything. I don't want him to resent the fact that we do things differently. Mind you we aren't in to making sure our son is "happy" all the time and has all the "stuff" he wants... by no means... but there are times you want to make things special for kids.

Is there anything that is traditional to Passover that is a special treat for kids? Or something you've made a tradition in your home?

Your feedback would be much appreciated...

Thanks

 

[Henaynei]

Hi all,

As we approach Passover we have some new questions this year.

As a family we celebrate the Passover week, and not Easter (no bunnies, no eggs, etc). We are still new to this, this will be our 2nd year. Last year we went to a large Seder at a church. This year we will do the same and we are considering having one at home as well, though we aren't sure if we're ready to venture out on our own yet.

Last year we bent for our son and the grandparents and let him do the church Easter egg hunt. This year we are standing firm and have decided not to compromise... no egg hunts or Easter candy (we've never done the bunny or allowed others to tell our son the thing is real).

Now, for us, this is the most exciting holiday of the year... with the most significance and meaning... but, I'm not sure our son will be as excited as we are. He's just 6 and this will be very new to him as well.

I'm wondering if anyone here does special things for their kids to make the holiday meaningful and exciting for their little ones.

I've considered telling my parents they can give our son a small gift for Passover, maybe candy (non-Easter) and a small toy (and next year when the new baby is here, we are due in Sept., they can get them a little stuffed lamb or something)? Just no eggs, Easter candy, bunnies or baskets. That way the grandparents are pacified. But I'm just not sure.

We don't go to a Messianic church (we are friends with the Rabbi and his wife though and have learned a lot from them... I'll be asking their advice on this as well), it's about 30 minutes away and with the husband having to finish his degree through Saturday courses... it's not practical. We are going to a Southern Baptist church. I'm concerned that our son may not understand why all his friends get baskets and candy and egg hunts while he doesn't get anything. I don't want him to resent the fact that we do things differently. Mind you we aren't in to making sure our son is "happy" all the time and has all the "stuff" he wants... by no means... but there are times you want to make things special for kids.

Is there anything that is traditional to Passover that is a special treat for kids? Or something you've made a tradition in your home?

Your feedback would be much appreciated...

Thanks

Children are involved in the Seder like they never can be in "Easter" - The very heart of the Seder is the Four Questions - and even the youngest can learn to ask one question in Hebrew. The Seder is all about visually telling the story of the Exodus and Deliverance. As parents I bet you have more than a little ability to leap from such a spring board and use it to create a really memorable time.

Here are some sites to help you:

Passover Fun Stuff
Pesakh at Torah Tots
What are the Four Questions

Mah Nishtanah (Why is it Different?)​

Hear them.....>
The youngest participant recites or sings the Four Questions
Followed by a group recitation (singing) of the follwing:​

Why is this night different from all other nights, from all other nights?

Mah nishtanah ha-lahylah ha-zeh mi-kol ha-layloht, mi-kol ha-layloht?

1) On all other nights, we may eat chametz and matzah, chametz and matzah. On this night, on this night, only matzah.

She-b'khol ha-layloht anu okhlin chameytz u-matzah, chameytz u-matzah. Ha-lahylah ha-zeh, ha-lahylah ha-zeh, kooloh matzah.

2) On all other nights, we eat many vegetables, many vegetables. On this night, on this night, maror.

She-b'khol ha-layloht anu okhlin sh'ar y'rakot, sh'ar y'rakot. Ha-lahylah ha-zeh, ha-lahylah ha-zeh, maror.

3) On all other nights, we do not dip even once. On this night, on this night, twice.

She-b'khol ha-layloht ayn anu mat'bilin afilu pa'am echat, afilu pa'am echat. Ha-lahylah ha-zeh, ha-lahylah ha-zeh, sh'tay p'amim.

4) On all other nights, we eat either sitting or reclining, either sitting or reclining. On this night, on this night, we all recline.

She-b'khol ha-layloht anu okhlin bayn yosh'bin u'vayn m'soobin, bayn yosh'bin u'vayn m'soobin. Ha-lahylah ha-zeh, ha-lahylah ha-zeh, koolanu m'soobin.


These are answered in The Telling, in the hagaddah

May HaShem grant us favor that you find help in these and other resources

 

[flyfishing]

Children are involved in the Seder like they never can be in "Easter" - The very heart of the Seder is the Four Questions - and even the youngest can learn to ask one question in Hebrew. The Seder is all about visually telling the story of the Exodus and Deliverance. As parents I bet you have more than a little ability to leap from such a spring board and use it to create a really memorable time.

Here are some sites to help you:

Passover Fun Stuff
Pesakh at Torah Tots
What are the Four Questions

Mah Nishtanah (Why is it Different?)​

Hear them.....>
The youngest participant recites or sings the Four Questions
Followed by a group recitation (singing) of the follwing:​

Why is this night different from all other nights, from all other nights?

Mah nishtanah ha-lahylah ha-zeh mi-kol ha-layloht, mi-kol ha-layloht?

1) On all other nights, we may eat chametz and matzah, chametz and matzah. On this night, on this night, only matzah.

She-b'khol ha-layloht anu okhlin chameytz u-matzah, chameytz u-matzah. Ha-lahylah ha-zeh, ha-lahylah ha-zeh, kooloh matzah.

2) On all other nights, we eat many vegetables, many vegetables. On this night, on this night, maror.

She-b'khol ha-layloht anu okhlin sh'ar y'rakot, sh'ar y'rakot. Ha-lahylah ha-zeh, ha-lahylah ha-zeh, maror.

3) On all other nights, we do not dip even once. On this night, on this night, twice.

She-b'khol ha-layloht ayn anu mat'bilin afilu pa'am echat, afilu pa'am echat. Ha-lahylah ha-zeh, ha-lahylah ha-zeh, sh'tay p'amim.

4) On all other nights, we eat either sitting or reclining, either sitting or reclining. On this night, on this night, we all recline.

She-b'khol ha-layloht anu okhlin bayn yosh'bin u'vayn m'soobin, bayn yosh'bin u'vayn m'soobin. Ha-lahylah ha-zeh, ha-lahylah ha-zeh, koolanu m'soobin.


These are answered in The Telling, in the hagaddah

May HaShem grant us favor that you find help in these and other resources

Thanks, this is cool.. I would like our small family church to perhaps do something low scale... Great material..

 

[1Faith1]

Hi! We've been celebrating Passover for about 3 years now and each year it gets better! Our daughter is 4, so thankfully she doesn't know too much about easter. We've gotten her so excited about Passover each year, she could care less about the bunnies and stuff. There are some great ideas in the Family Guide to Biblical Holidays book by Sampson and Pierce. We do a lot of fun things with the plagues, like hiding toy and candy bugs, grasshoppers and frogs in funny places. For the plague that turned water to blood, we put red grape juice in our water. For the darkness plague, we play blindfold games. This year, I might even buy some chocolate lambs as a yummy teaching tool. Etc. It's a lot of fun for me to learn each year just how Passover relates to Yeshua's death and resurrection.

We attend a Messianic seder about two hours away. It's a lot of fun with food, dancing, and worship. I'm hoping to help out this year with more games for the children. We still get together with my parents for what we all call a Resurrection Celebration, which goes along just fine with Passover. I've asked my parents to please not to do anything with eggs, bunnies, baskets, etc. Besides, our daughter has already enjoyed hunting for candy and toys for the plague activities. Educating my parents and family has been a challenge and they don't agree with all that we're doing, but so far it hasn't been too confrontational. They don't want to celebrate Passover with us, but once I told my parents what "easter" really means, they were happy to change the name to "Resurrection Day."

 

[WildCelt]

1Faith1:

It is a blessing to have the support of your family! My wife and I have been following this path for about six months now, and it has been rather difficult. My mother-in-law (who is staunchly fundamentalist Baptist) is always giving my wife the third degree on any number of issues, and my brother, when we discuss visiting continues to ask, "Well, what are you guys not eating now?"

I know its a process of education and reliance on the Ruach to reveal truth when He chooses, but it is discouraging nonetheless.

We don't have children yet, so we have some time to continue to work on them!

 

[1Faith1]

Well, we made a lot of mistakes with our family and friends at first--and sometimes we still do. It's like being a new Christian. You tell everyone b/c you're so excited and then you find out that most people think you're a freak. We now say very little about our Torah convictions. We're trying to be led by Ruach Ha'Kodesh in which teachings and instructions apply to us today and which do not--and we certainly are not trying to be legalistic about telling others what they should or should not do.

When it comes to celebrating Passover, our friends and family know a little about what we do and when they ask questions, we try to answer without ruffling their feathers. When it comes to food, we keep silent now. We just quietly choose to skip eating certain foods served at family gatherings--like bread with yeast. Celebrating Yeshua's resurrection with my family is fine, but I don't like it when my brother and sister-in-law bring their eggs and baskets, etc. I'm dreading it, but thinking of asking them if they could please keep that stuff at home. My parents can back me on this, b/c they too want the day to be more focused on the Savior.

Overall, celebrating the feasts at this time of year is not nearly as confrontational and volatile as the whole "christmas" dilemma. That time of year causes so much tension, I'm thinking it might be a great time to go on vacation to get away from all of our family each year. (But this topic probably belongs in a different thread.)

 

[ShirChadash]

We love Pesach/Passover! We also, in years past, have acknowledged Resurrection Day. If I can find it... one of the things we do is to make "resurrection cookies" on the evening before Resurrection Day (I don't know if you will find this helpful -- but in case you might)...


(looking).............




Okay -- found the link. As with all things of faith, glean the pearls and make sure to teach your children as you go...

http://www.annieshomepage.com/resurrectioncookies.html

Shalom!

 

[Henaynei]

We love Pesach/Passover! We also, in years past, have acknowledged Resurrection Day. If I can find it... one of the things we do is to make "resurrection cookies" on the evening before Resurrection Day (I don't know if you will find this helpful -- but in case you might)...


(looking).............




Okay -- found the link. As with all things of faith, glean the pearls and make sure to teach your children as you go...

http://www.annieshomepage.com/resurrectioncookies.html

Shalom!

I reviewed this recipe and if you use all kosher for passover ingredients (depending on your level of observance) this recipe qualifies as kosher l'pasakh!! Good going Zemi!!!

 

[ShirChadash]

YAY! Hen we aren't following kashrut closely (yet ) ... as in all things, we're learning... and it is SO nice to know that this recipe is kosher for pesach!!! YAY! I love this recipe... the first year we did this... it was so awesome to open the oven in the morning

 

[1Faith1]

I love the cookie recipe! I know a number of children who will enjoy it this year! Thank you!

 

[ShirChadash]

You're welcome!

 

[OnederWoman]

Thanks everyone for your responces

(I haven't been around much lately... we're pregnant yeah! And I haven't been out of my first trimester that long, I feel like I slept 3 months of my life away... it made me that tired... that and the nausea! But, I'm 4 months along now and feeling much better. We are very much looking forward to Passover... but not sure we want to go it alone yet and will probably go to a big Seder with our friends from the Messianic church... which is fine. I'm still tired a lot, though not needing as much sleep... and with dh working lots of hours and going to school 9 hours this semester, neither of us are thinking we have the energy to put on a Seder at home. Again... thanks so much for your responces. I think this year we may try those Resurrection cookies... I've heard of them before, but never tried them. All the games that teach about the plagues and the first Passover sound like a fun way to teach children about the story )