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When Moses commanded Pharaoh to, “Let my people go,” Moses told the Jewish people to grab their things and run.

During the Exodus from Egypt of 40 days and 40 nights, Moses and the Jewish people reached the Red Sea.

How would the Jewish people be able to cross the large sea?

Moses took his staff, stuck it in the water, and as the Jewish people began to walk into the water, the sea split apart, allowing all to walk through.

As Pharaoh and the Egyptian army approached this miraculous display, the water began to cease. Pharaoh and his men were drowned by the water and the Jewish people were never slaves of Pharaoh again.

When Moses was told he was born a Jew and raised by Pharaoh’s kingdom, Moses had to make a decision about his future.

Did he continue to watch the Jewish people as slaves under Pharaoh or did he help the Jewish people become free from slavery?

The answer came to Moses one day when he was herding the sheep. One sheep got away from the pack and Moses went after it.

While Moses was alone, he heard the voice of G-d as a bush was burning blue flames. It said to Moses he was chosen to free the Jews from slavery.

The burning bush is said to have been G-d speaking to Moses. Moses is considered a prophet since G-d chose to speak to him.

The 10 Plaques were thrown upon Pharaoh and the Egyptians after Moses confronted Pharaoh about holding the Jewish people as slaves.

Moses warned Pharaoh G-d would punish the Egyptian people but Pharaoh did not heed his warning.

Upon Pharaoh not letting the Jewish people go, G-d brought 10 plagues to the Egyptians.

1)Blood

2)Frogs

3)Lice (vermin)

4)Wild Beasts(flies)

5)Cattle Disease

6)Boils

7)Hail

8)Locusts

9)Darkness

10)Slaying of the First Born

The Passover story begins with the Pharaoh of Egypt ordering a decree that all male born Jewish babies be killed. He feared the Israelites were taking over Egypt and wanted to ensure this could not happen.

This happened around the same time Moses was born. Yocheved, Moses’s mother, placed him in a basket on the Nile River and he floated away.

Pharaoh’s daughter found Moses floating and took him home to raise him as her own. Little did they know, Yocheved was hired to be Moses care taker in the castle and continued to teach Moses about the Jewish religion.

Moses was raised in Pharaoh’s castle as an Egyptian.

The holiday of Passover was named Pesach in Hebrew since the word translates to “Passing Over.”

When the 10 plagues were thrown upon the Egyptians, the last plague, “The Slaying of the First Born,” was directed only to the Egyptians. Pharaoh’s first born son was killed when G-d commanded this order.

For the plague to not kill the Jewish first born males, the Jews took the shankbone’s blood and spread it on their doorpost. This allowed the Jewish homes to be passed over.

The four questions are recited during the Passover Seder by the youngest member at the table. They can be sung in Hebrew or read in Hebrew or English. Many families will sing the questions together with the youngest member.

Another name for the four questions is “Mah Nish-tah-nah.”

In English, the questions asked are:

Why is this night different from all other nights?

1) Why do we only eat Matzah on Passover?

2)Why do we eat Maror or Bitter Herbs on this night?

3) Why is the Karpas or Green Vegetable dipped twice on this night?

4)Why do we lean on a pillow at the Passover Seder?

At the Passover Seder, why do Jews recline while drinking the four cups of wine or eating Matzah?

The whole celebration of Passover is to remember the freedom the Jewish people fought for. The Exodus from Egypt or the fleeing from slavery was an important part of Jewish history.

Anytime wine is drank or Matzah is eaten during the Seder, reclining symbolizes the luxury of freedom. In ancient times, the only people who could recline while eating or drinking were people who were free.

Before Passover begins, many families will go around placing 10 pieces of bread around the home to symbolize the cleaning of yeast products or Chametz.

Many Jews will go around the home with a brown bag, a candle, a feather, and a wooden spoon. This kit can be found at any Judaica shop.

The bread is placed on the spoon and put into the brown bag and any crumbs left over is picked up using the feather. Once all the bread is found and placed in the brown bag, the Chametz then is burned.

By the night before Pesach begins, all bread should be out of the home.

During the part of the Passover Seder when the 10 plagues are recited, there are a few customs done.

A sign of remembering each plague is when the plague is recited, taking your pinky finger and dipping it into the wine and dripping it onto your plate. By taking some wine out, represents never forgetting the Exodus from Egypt.

For children, the Passover Seder can be a long time to sit. During the time the plagues are recited, some families will have objects symbolizing each plague.

For example, the plague of darkness can be shown by wearing sunglasses. For frogs and locusts, small plastic toys can be thrown around the Passover table.

Judaica shops sell bags of plagues. Besides being fun for the children, the adults can have a good laugh.

During the Passover Seder, the middle matzah is broken. One half is left on the table and the other half is hidden.

The larger hidden half is called the Afikoman. The word Afikoman literally means “dessert.”

This tradition was done since many children would have a difficult time staying awake for the entire seder, it became a game of hide and go seek.

Usually the leader of the Passover Seder will sneak away and hide it sometime throughout the meal without anyone knowing. The Seder cannot end till the Afikoman is found and eaten.

The Afikoman is the last thing to be eaten at the Seder table.