Why on This Night?: A Passover Haggadah for Family Celebration
What’s inside...
Includes the basic elements of a traditional seder as well as many creative facets intended to involve children in this Jewish liturgy through song, dance, drama, explanation, and action. Enhanced with full-color illustrations, this holiday book presents and explores the symbols and traditions of Passover through a collection of poems, songs, and activities.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
7-11
Length
112 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
What are some traditions your friends celebrate that might be different from ours?
How do you feel when our family comes together during Passover?
Why is it important to remember and tell the story of Passover each year?
What is one new thing you learned about Passover from this book?
Can you think of a way we can make our Passover celebration special or different this year?
Tip: Role play these questions
Use open-ended questions that prompt children to think deeply about the themes and traditions discussed in the book.
Relate the story and its celebrations to your child’s everyday experiences to make the concepts more tangible.
Encourage children to express their feelings and thoughts about family traditions, fostering a deeper personal connection to the narrative.
Share your own memories and experiences related to Passover to model open conversation and deepen the shared experience.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Understanding and appreciating cultural traditions
Explanation: The book depicts the significance of the Passover celebration, teaching children about the customs and stories associated with this important Jewish holiday.
Real-World Application: Children can apply this lesson by showing respect and interest in different cultural celebrations and traditions they encounter, fostering a sense of global awareness and inclusivity.
Example Lesson: Importance of family gatherings
Explanation: Through the ritual of the Seder meal described in the book, children see how family members come together to celebrate and share stories, emphasizing the value of family bonds.
Real-World Application: Children learn to value and look forward to family gatherings, understanding these moments as opportunities for connection and learning about family history.
Example Lesson: The power of storytelling
Explanation: The book uses the story of the Exodus to convey historical and spiritual lessons, showing how storytelling is a powerful means of education and transmission of values.
Real-World Application: Children can embrace storytelling as a way to express themselves and share important lessons with their peers, enhancing their communication skills and emotional intelligence.
Example Lesson: Questions encourage learning
Explanation: In the book, the ritual of asking questions during the Seder is highlighted, teaching children that asking questions is crucial for learning and understanding.
Real-World Application: This lesson can be applied in a child's everyday life by encouraging them to be curious and inquisitive, both in academic settings and in daily interactions, boosting their learning and critical thinking skills.
Example Lesson: Values of freedom and resilience
Explanation: The Passover story is a testament to the struggle for liberation and resilience against adversity, themes that are explored through the family’s retelling of the historical events.
Real-World Application: Children can relate these values to personal challenges, learning to appreciate the freedom they have and developing resilience in the face of difficulties.