Wednesday, October 21, 2026
Students at the Jewish Early Learning Center at the Chabad Center for Jewish Life celebrated Passover early by participating in a model Seder. Passover officially began this year on April 12, and the model Seder allowed the students to take part in a “practice run” before experiencing the actual holiday with their families.
Passover, or Pesach in Hebrew, is a Jewish holiday that commemorates the Israelites’ exodus from slavery in Egypt, as told in the Book of Exodus. It typically lasts eight days and begins with a ceremonial meal called a Seder. The Seder follows a special book called the Haggadah, which guides participants through the retelling of the Exodus story with prayers, songs, and discussion.
Central to the Seder is the Seder plate, which holds symbolic foods. Some components of these plates include bitter herbs to represent the bitterness of slavery, a mixture of fruit and nuts symbolizing the mortar used by the slaves, a vegetable, usually parsely, dipped in salt water to represent tears, and an egg, representing mourning and the cycle of life. Each of these components were on the students’ plates during the model Seder.
Matzah, or unleavened bread, is eaten throughout Passover to recall how the Israelites left Egypt in such haste that their dough didn’t have time to rise. Participants also drink four cups of wine at designated points in the Seder, each symbolizing a stage of redemption and freedom. One of the most well-known moments of the evening is the asking of the Four Questions, traditionally recited by the youngest person at the table, prompting a discussion about why this night is different from all other nights. The Seder is a time of storytelling, reflection, and celebration shared with family and community.
Chabad preschool teachers led their students through the Seder, explaining different parts of the meal and the holiday in general. After, they walked through the “Red Sea” — another significant part in the Passover story, because it marks the dramatic moment when the Israelites were finally freed from slavery in Egypt. According to the Book of Exodus, after Pharaoh refused to release the Israelites, God sent a series of plagues to convince him. After the tenth and final plague, the death of the Egyptian firstborns, Pharaoh relented and allowed the Israelites to leave.
As they fled Egypt, the Israelites found themselves trapped between the Red Sea and the Egyptian army, which Pharaoh had sent to recapture them. In one of the most iconic moments of the Exodus story, God parted the waters of the Red Sea, allowing the Israelites to cross on dry land. This miraculous event is seen as a symbol of divine intervention and liberation. It highlights the themes of freedom, salvation, and God’s protection, which are central to the Passover celebration.
Gayle Benno, the director of admissions to the Jewish Early Learning Center, said they have a model Seder every year, adding that the kids are always excited for it. Benno said they explain the significance of the Four Questions, as it’s a pivotal role that the youngest members of the family ask during the Passover story.
“The whole reason we do Seder like this is to tell the story for children,” she said. “We keep reminding the children of what happened, of the story, in a kid friendly way.”
