This upcoming Saturday night, March 27, begins the holiday of Passover. In Jewish Enrichment, your kiddos are continuing to study The Book of Yonah. They will learn that Yonah got stuck in the belly of the whale and prayed. “He said: In my trouble I called to God, and he answered me” (Yonah 2:3). We will reflect on the similarities of Yonah calling out to God like the Hebrew slaves did before leaving Egypt. Our learners will discuss who they call out to when they are seeking help. This last year has had many challenging moments. Thank you for all the ways you have helped as we called out and heard each other through this year! We want to share some ideas for how you might add something special (on or off screen) to your seder!
Passover is also called Hag Ha’Aviv (Festival of Spring). After a very long year, spring is finally on its way! Jewish Tradition has a special blessing that we say during Nissan (this Hebrew month) when we see the first blooming fruit trees. Jewish wisdom is offering us an opportunity to prepare and enjoy these bright moments. This week, (Tuesday for Shorashim and Nitzanim & Wednesday for Garinim), your kiddo(s) will be going on a nature scavenger hunt. We will ask them to look around and find a first blossoming of a flower or tree, or any other piece of nature or object that symbolizes growth, spring, or renewal.
Our hope is that they will be able to bring this item home and add it to your Passover seder plate, or add it to your family’s conversations around Passover. We also invite you to go on a nature walk with your families and see if there is anything you find together to bring home to your seder. If you do, please email us with a picture and share what new object you’re adding this year.
Here are some additional Passover resources for your families:
As we celebrate the holiday of Passover, we are provided the opportunity to see ourselves as if we came from Egypt. This Passover provides us with the chance to take a deep breath, and start to reflect on who has helped us, and what is giving us bright moments of joy in our lives. These bright moments during this season of freedom are times when we are so aware of what it means to be free people. May this Passover be just the start of a spring of new beginnings.