Jewish Children Learn of Their Heritage

San Antonio, TX — Parents and grandparents sat behind youngsters in small classroom chairs as the children lifted their arms in the air and sang.

They washed their hands and recited psalms led by their teachers. Then they feasted on matzo bread.

“Why do we eat something that’s not yummy?” assistant teacher Tziporah Schtroks asked.

“Because of slavery?” said a little girl.

“That’s right, it reminds us of slavery,” Schtroks said.

The lesson for the children last week at the Gan Gani Preschool was on the proper way to conduct a Seder, the customary meal commemorating the liberation of enslaved Jews from Egyptian rule, as described in the book of Exodus.

The activities prepared the children to join and understand the celebration their families would hold at their homes as thousands of members of the Jewish faith in San Antonio and around the world began the seven-day observance of Passover.

The Seder is held on the first and second evenings of Passover, which will end next Tuesday night. This year, Passover began at sundown Monday.

With the help of their teacher Robin Schneiderman and Schtroks, the students got started with “My First Haggadah,” a book featuring each child’s individual photograph. It explained Passover, step-by-step, with interactive guides.

“This gives children the foundation and love and identification with their heritage,” said Rabbi Chaim Block, director of Chabad Lubavitch. “They’ll have a reference point and a whole different perspective.”

The teachers encouraged the children to ask questions about the meal.

They talked about the Book of Exodus and Moses’ appeal to Pharaoh to free the Jews. They reviewed illustrations in their books of the 10 plagues God set upon the Egyptians.

They placed 12 individual plate settings on three small desks set with food that reminded them of slavery and freedom.

Haroseth, a mix of apples, wine (grape juice for the children) and chopped nuts, symbolized the texture and color of mortar the slaves used to build monuments. Saltwater stood for the tears wept during their bondage. Parsley, grown and picked by the children, was to be dipped into a bowl of water. They broke matzo bread — the bread that Jews made without yeast when they fled Egypt — into halves.

Winslow Swart sat down beside his 5-year-old daughter, Chava, turning the laminated pages with her. “Is this yours?” he asked, pointing out the different features. “This is really innovative.”

“Until all people are free, how can we consider ourselves free?” he asked.

“Daddy, do you want a bite?” Chava asked, offering her father a piece of matzo bread. After the meal, he asked her to explain the Seder to a visitor.

“We do it to remind us of people working hard, they were slaves,” she said. “Pharaoh was the bad guy. Moses led us out of Egypt and that’s all.”

“When we focus on the children, it’s fun for us too,” Swart said. “It’s a celebration of freedom.”

Mike Sowry helped his son Aidan, 5, clean up his area before sitting on the floor to play with a few toys.

“Everything is cool at Seder,” Aidan, said, fiddling with a stack of tiny fences. “Except for the bitter herbs.”

Rivkie Block director of the preschool, walked through the rooms watching the children and parents interact just as she has for the past 19 years. She said former students still thank her for lessons that have had an impact on their lives.

“This ties school and home together,” Block said of the lessons. “It shows we can pull together for children as one unit.”