F8: Pesach

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Ice Breakers

Each one is relevant to a different topic:

- Brainstorm on Pesach symbols/names: matza, Hagadah, maror, seder, the four names etc. They call out words, you write them on the board.

- Brainstorm for feelings on seder night: boredom, family unity or arguments, 'I'm too old for this kids stuff', excited, tired etc. Alternatively, you could tell the story of the four generations.

- Describe your favourite film and why you love it so much. Get passionately technical.

- Announce three or four different definitions of history. e.g. optimist, pessimist, individual, global, valueless, vital. etc. Get group to vote on their favourite definition.

- Quote Dr King, with feeling.

- Be totally surprising! A magic trick. A silly walk. A mime. An impression. (Only do this if you know you can get away with it.)

Symbols

- Explain the point of symbols. Give some modern day examples e.g. clothes labels, army or school uniforms and a C.N.D logo. They remind us of manufacturing companies, group identities and an ideological organisation. Talk about a few Pesach symbols and the impact they are supposed to make.

- Have we forgotten what the Pesach symbols, or any of the Jewish symbols, stand for? Do they work? Can we make them work?

Seder Blues

- There are mixed feelings about seder night. Only discuss if you can handle the wide range of responses. In a discussion like this it's OK to let people talk negatively. You don't need to argue back. Just listen. Then explain your point. Suggest that the seder is a story of stories...

- Ask: how we can make the seder more relevant or interesting? By acting it out? Using modern day translations or terminology? Turning it into a quiz with prizes? (tradition has done this to the afikoman already) Discuss why stories are more interesting than textbooks. Apply this to the Hagadah.

- The four generations story is a modern commentary on the Hagadah. Discuss what it means, if it is true and how other bits of the Hagadah can be modernised.

Moviewatch

Talk about or discuss why films are so popular. Escapism, excitement, love of stories etc. Describe how the seder can be a type of movie. Different versions are different commentaries. The method of telling the story is just as important as the plot. When very young the seder is a kiddie movie. How can it be made into a mature film for teenagers? It has to be more convincing. How can you make it powerful and moving?

Living Historically

It's a deep idea and difficult to explain. If you feel confident then do it, maybe apply this attitude to every day life e.g. show how annoying situations can turn into learning experiences ("With every mistake we must surely be learning..., "The Beatles, The White Album) Get the group to give examples with what may have happened to them.

Explain the premature matza and time ideas. You could check out the relevant texts: Exodus 12:8 Ft 12:39 for matza and 12:1-2 for counting time.

Making History is more than optimism. Optimists make the most of a situation. Makers of history, see history put there especially for them. Therefore there must be a way to deal with it. God does not ask the impossible. Optimists do their best in the circumstances. History makers embrace situations as chances to do something worthwhile, they are always eager. What is the group eager about? Does that help understand the idea?

Let Freedom Ring

- Explain the different kinds of freedom: movement, speech, sexuality, religion, politics. etc. Mention countries that inhibit these freedoms.

- Discuss how democracy and free choice are intimately linked.

- Self government and self determination are when an entire country acts in freedom. Explain how central this is to world affairs: Israel, Ireland, Bosnia etc. The freedom issue is live and relevant. Pesach is the origin of all this Should world issues like this be discussed at the seder?

- What are the limits on freedom? Should society let Nazi groups have free speech? How about the IRA? How can freedom be abused?

- In the Torah, God never says, 'Let my people go'. God, through Moses, always says 'Let my people go so that they can serve me' i.e. freedom needs direction otherwise it can turn to anarchy.

- Should Jews be extra conscious of world injustice to freedom causes because it has happened so many times to us? Do we understand better?

Surprise Surprise

Talk about how embarrassing or nerve wrecking it can be to sing Mah Nishtana. Explain the mistranslation. You could write Why and What on big pieces of card to help you. (In Hebrew, Lamah = Why; Mah = What. Hence the mis-translation)

Why do people like surprises? Why is magic so exciting? It gets you thinking... How do they do that? When you think, you get involved in the show. That is what the Hagadah is trying to do to us.

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