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SEDERS

If you want to sing along to karaoke versions edited for the songs listed here or within the seders, email me:   Murray Spiegel <info{at_sign_here}WhyIsThisNight.com>. (I don't have everything as karaoke files, but will share all I've got.)

Jump to: The Crypto Seder     The Archeology Seder     The Aliyot Seder     The Flight to Freedom Seder     The 30th Anniv Highlights Seder     The Unseder     The Slavery-Emancipation Seder     The Miracles of Exodus Seder     The Oliver Twisted Seder     My Fair Seder     West Side Seder     The Moss Seder     Fiddler at the Seder     The Honoring Scholars (40th Anniv) Seder     Seder Pacific     The Great Women Seder     The Immigrants and Refugees Seder     Seder at the OK Choral (pun intended)     The Kaifeng/Chinese Jews Seder     The Wizard of Har Sinai Seder     The Guys and Dolls Seder     The Porgy and Bess Seder    

Each participant gave voice to actual people in New Mexico, Portugal and Brazil (readings were from interviews with these folks), as they discussed the revelation when they found out they weren't Catholic, but Jewish; how they felt about the discovery; the response to this news from their families, local community, and the Jewish community.

I created an altered Haggadah:  when there was a Brazilian or Portuguese custom for the prayers, we performed it; I rewrote the 10 plagues, counting the horrors of the Inquisition; a new Dayenu, giving honor to those who kept customs alive over 500 yrs; etc. My wife and I played the roles of, and dressed as, Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand. We also served foods aligned with the Crypto-Jews theme: salsa for the dips, gazpacho soup, chicken mole.

All sources have provided permission to distribute these materials for private non-profit use.  If you'd like a copy for a ready-made creative Seder, download the files below.  Warning: The readings and discussions could easily take 1-2 hrs!!

Download the Crypto Haggadah   and the  Crypto Readings

The room was decorated with hundreds of poster copies of Egyptian tombs and statues, hieroglyphs and, yes, a 5-foot high inflatable sarcophagus. The hosts were dressed as Pharaoh and Queen. We sang the themed parody, Walk like an Egyptian (in song parodies below), and transformed Bill Cosby's "Noah" skit into a Moses skit, with Cosby's voice now answering commands from a newly scripted God of the Exodus. (Download new Moses skit audio or text). The skit played while a bush burned in our fireplace.

The Egyptian Archeological Haggadah (download below) explores archeological evidence related to the Passover story.

Does the conventional timeline of Egypt conform to archeological evidence? Was Ramesses II really the Pharaoh of the Slavery and the Exodus? (No.) Is there evidence of the Joseph's settlement in the Nile Delta, the path through the Red Sea, chariots and the whole lot? For these questions, our Egyptian Archeological Seder followed issues and evidence described in David Rohl's book Pharaohs and Kings (also published as A Test of Time) and a video Exodus Revealed: Search of the Red Sea Crossing, (ISBN 1-56855-735-3. Distributed by Questar, Box 11345, Chicago 60611 800-844-8422).

Sources provided permission to distribute these materials for private non-profit use.  If you'd like a copy for a ready-made creative Seder, download the files below.  The readings and discussions might take 2 hrs.

Our favorite parody song in this seder: Walk like an Egyptian

Download the Leaders Guide   and   Participant Readings

The Aliyot Seder Haggadah (download below) explores the lives and contributions of the early Jewish pioneers (Chalutzim) - eg, the story of the Exodus from Europe to early Palestine. We discuss the people behind the establishment of modern Hebrew (Ben-Yehuda), the idea of Zionism (Herzl), its Labor movement (Aharon Gordon) and the first Jewish Legion (Jabotinsky), to the poet Rachel working on the Galilee, the establishment of Hadassah (Szold) and Israel's most famous Prime Minister (Ben-Gurion).

We also included a lot of the music of the time period or of its themes. We also had a funny play on how the 10 plagues were chosen. The readings might take 1-1/2 hrs.

Our decorations included copies of vintage posters of early Zionism and its pioneers.

Download the Aliyot Haggadah

We all travel for business or pleasure, so why not imagine the ancient Israelites taking off from the Red Sea runway at midnight plus 18 minutes (the matzah, right?).   Outside your house, you can have a sign: "International customs, residents [go one way], non-residents [go another]"   And in your bathroom: "As a courtesy to other passengers, please wipe basin ..."   Everyone gets a boarding pass.   Your esteemed seder leader can arrive dressed as a pilot; you can have snacks assembled like airplane food; and best of all, at Urchatz, distribute individual warmed towelettes. Use a clever Air Canaan logo for blankets, pillows, napkin rings, and much more.

Download everything you need – including a goofy Captain's announcement – from our Flight to Freedom seder page.

The Seder Highlights Haggadah (download below) celebrated our 30th different-each-year Seder, with selected highlights from past Seders. We had over 50 (stuffed animal) frogs drop out of our skylight in a funny enactment of the Plague of Frogs; we staged a "sacrifice" of a stuffed animal lamb, held upside down on a spit suspended over (dry ice) steam pouring out of a cauldron; we acted a funny skit from friend Fred Kaimann about Pharaoh talking with each of the 10 plagues; we sang songs of freedom, song parodies based on Beatles music, songs from Disney's Prince of Egypt, and favorites of our own parodies below; we explored different depictions of the 4 Sons from Noam Zion's A Different Night; and played Passover games based on different language translations of the 4 Questions.

It has been our tradition to ask an initial question of each participant: what's a favorite Passover memory; who was an influential person in your life; relate a joyous event in your life that you're thankful for; who would play the role of Pharaoh / Moses in your life; what songs are especially meaningful to you; how would you react if faced with the prospect of leaving home (Exodus/Explusion/Holocaust/Immigration). This time, participants brought their own questions, which other participants answered.

The Afikomen hunt centered on finding and then assembling pieces of a map of the Exodus to reveal a hint on the Afikomen's location. The map pieces were on objects keyed to the first 10 Steps of the Seder (Blessing over Wine, Washing Hands, Eating Karpas; etc), as well as being hidden elsewhere throughout the house, in fake Afkikomens. The hunt was a rambling message that wound its way across the back of the map; I took care to insure no single puzzle piece contained the words that were key to the afikomen location.

Download the XXX Highlights Haggadah

The inspiration for this Seder, credited to Larry Denenberg, is that most people skim, or skip altogether, the 2nd half of the Seder, those portions following the meal. As a way of focusing on those frequently neglected portions, an inverted or reverse Seder was conceived. When viewed from a different perspective, sometimes interesting relationships are revealed.

Of course, running the Seder completely backwards isn't feasible, but we played with an idea of a reverse Seder in several ways. In our reverse Seder, the Afikomen gradually appears, with a nod toward modern quantum mechanics; the Dayenu is even more humble; we observe one example of how the Haggadah has grown over time; and the animals in Chad Gadya come back to life! Oddly, a reversed Seder puts some activities close to their original location in the Seder.

As Seder means "order," and as this was a very disorderly Seder according to traditional guidelines, this was the un-Seder, so to speak.

Download the general outline for an Un-Seder

This Seder had fun, pop quizes throughout the evening. We gave out replicas of S&H Green Stamps for good answers, which were pasted in a "Book of Redemption"(!) Stamps and Redemption Book – Easy-to-use stamp glue. The quizes were keyed to everyone's interests – sports, music, Seder trivia, whatever - and stamps rewarded good participation (leading Birkat, finding the Afikomen, etc).

As people entered, they saw their own pictures mounted on sticks along the tables – many pictures were crossed out. Came time for the plagues, we revealed that the crossed out pictures represented the first-born within our guests. This dramatized the devastation and disaster brought on by the Plague of Killing of the First-Born Egyptians.

On the theme of slavery, we played roles in a skit of modern-day slavery in NJ, drawn from actual court transcripts and depositions; and read Sweet Honey in the Rock's poem about Harry Moore, a civil rights organizer blown up on Christmas eve, his 25th anniversary, by KKK murderers who were never tried.

The Afikomen hunt used personalized fake afikomens for each person to find; the hints had been hiding behind their 10th-plague pictures. When everyone found their afikomen, it was revealed one remained to be found. Hints behind the Seder Leader's picture led to short puzzles leading to the actual Afikomen.

This Seder explores possible scientific explanations for Exodus' miracles: The Burning Bush, water from the rock at Horeb, the Pillar of Cloud and Pillar of Fire that guided the Israelites, Mt Sinai's location and, of course, each of the 10 plagues.

Our Miracles Seder followed Colin Humphreys' The Miracles of Exodus: A Scientist's Discovery of the Extraordinary Natural Causes of the Biblical Stories, which shows that science can enhance our faith. By discovering the likely interlocking causes for the plagues, he reveals it would not make sense, for instance, if the plagues had been listed in another order.

The author provided permission to distribute these materials for private non-profit use. Download the file below. Readings and discussion take an hour.

Download the Miracles Haggadah

This Seder draws parallels between Dicken's Oliver Twist, with its enslavement of orphans in the poorhouses of dusty London, 1850, and our ancestors in the slavehouses of dusty Egypt, 1850 BCE. The inspiration was 12 parodies of the songs of "Oliver", the 1968 movie, written for me by Robyn Shoulson. The amazingly good parodies are contained in the downloadable Haggadah below.

We also played "Dayenu Madness!", where each verse of Dayenu was done in a different manner or melody ('shouting', 'women over 65', 'men under the table', 'holding your nose', 'while leaning to the right', 'to the tune of Happy Birthday', 'Frosty the Snowman', 'I have a little Dreidel', etc). We started the evening with a tag-team, speed enactment of Michael Rubiner's 2-minute Haggadah (in Games section below), and were very proud that our beginner's luck time was 1:48.

Our favorite parody songs in this seder: "Consider yourself at home" (Ha Lachma), "I'd do anything" (Four Questions), "Food, glorious food" (Shulchan Orech).

        Passover! – The Musical     (A new "twist" on an old story)
Download the Oliver Haggadah – a seder with a twist

This Seder creates parallels to Lerner and Loewe's My Fair Lady. GB Show's story pits the underclass (Eliza) against the entitled, powerful ruling class (Professor Higgins). The Seder, too, pits the underclass (the Israelite slaves) against a powerful ruler (Pharaoh).

Rabbi Sidney Greenberg calls God "the Divine playwright. We descendants of ex-slaves reenact this ancient drama, making it the longest running play in history." The inspiration was a dozen parodies of My Fair Lady's songs written for me by Robyn Shoulson. The amazing parodies are contained in the downloadable Haggadah below.

We used a "Form 1040-EGY" – from the Internal Revenge Services at the Department of Egyptian Treasuries – that our guests filled out to get the Afikomen.

Our favorite parody songs in this seder: "The street where you live" (Four Questions), "I could have danced all night" (B'nei Brack), "Just you wait" (Ten Plagues), "Wouldn't it be loverly" (Dayenu), "Get me to the church" (Elijah), "With a little bit of luck" (Hallel).

        Passover! – The Musical #2
Download the My Fair Seder Haggadah     Download the Afikomen hint-puzzle Form 1040-EGY

This Seder weaves together two themes – parodies of Leonard Bernstein's West Side Story, with a commemoration of signing of the Emancipation Proclaimation. The inspiration again was Robyn Shoulson's wonderful parodies written to this play for our Seder. Although the proclaimation connection is particularly poignant for 2013, which was the 150th anniversary of Lincoln's signing the Proclaimation, the slavery connections and discussion are appropriate any year.

We also played Silly Seder Surprises, where guests responded to phrases ("an outstretched arm","wicked son", any Rabbi's name) with silly actions or shouted phrases, which triggered other guests to respond with their own actions. Find in Games section below. Hillarious!

Our favorite parody songs in this seder: "Tonight" (Four Questions) "Officer Krupke" (Ten Plagues), "America" (Dayenu), "I feel pretty" (Chad Gadya).

        Passover! – The Musical #3
Download the West Side Seder Haggadah    

This Seder explores the art and learning within the famous Moss Haggadah. Created as a private commission 1980-1983, the Moss is considered by many as one of the finest Haggadahs ever created. It has beautiful artwork, micrographic printing, gold and silver inlays, with eloquent explanations of the artwork that provide unique insights and perspectives on Passover, Jewish history, and our place in the world. For historical context, we also explored art in the 1526 Prague Haggadah – its woodcuts established conventions followed for hundreds of years. To enhance our Seder scene, we surrounded our guests with 19 blow-ups of Moss' artwork around the room.

[Right] "Halleluyah" – Lameds caress the outline of a Kiddish cup. From the Moss Haggadah (c) David Moss 2014, Courtesy of Bet Alpha Editions Berkeley, CA. To look into getting one of your own: www.bet-alpha-editions.com   www.davidmoss.com

Download the Mossy Haggadah

This Seder celebrated the 50th anniversary of the iconic Jewish-but-universal play, Fiddler on the Roof. We looked at the lives of the creators – lyricist, composer, book and directory/choreographer – as well as some of Tevye's most famous actors. We sang wonderful parodies again written for us by Robyn Shoulson.

We had secret activity cards for the kids – taped to the bottom of their chairs – which were revealed at key times during the seder. Example: Ask everyone to suggest an advertising slogan to get people to come to Egypt during the plagues. We also played quizes based on multilingual versions of Fiddler performances, and our guests had to guess which quotes were actually used in the show and which were made up. (Download the Tevye or Consequences quiz.)

The Afikomen hunt was a search for clues that involved phrases to be found in copies of the Bible, Book of Mormon and the Qur'an. When the phrases (all relating to Passover, Moses, slavery, freedom and redemption) were copied to the quiz sheet, specific letters were highlighted, which spelled out one of the clue sentences. A second, necessary, clue sentence (to be found by other pair on one's team) was assembled in a simliar way from phrases found on a copy of Israel's Proclamation of Independence and America's Declaration of Independence.

Best limerick on the topic of Fiddler, from our Limerick Laureate:
    Is edict from terrible czar.
    We go to America. Far!
      Is test of our mettle.
      Abandon the shtetl.
    Some day, me on Broadway, a star!

Our favorite parody songs in this seder: "Anatevka" (Kol Dichfin/Ha Lachma), "Sunrise, Sunset" (Four Sons), "If I were a rich man" (Ten Plagues), "Matchmaker" (Echad Mi Yodea). Watch on YouTube

        Passover! – The Musical #4
Download the Fiddler at the Seder Haggadah

To celebrate 40 years of desert wandering, no, leading novel seders, I honored those individuals who've inspired my own seder creativity, shared their own mishegas and given me suggestions they dared not do themselves. Our seder sampled interviews of 7 scholars and friends, plus we sang great parody songs from a few others. A few things we did: we started the seder with an ending song (Chad Gadya), folded origami plagues, had plague symbols on the wine glasses, moror in little silver wheelbarrows, read The New Yorker's hilarious Four Questions parody, launched "El Al"-themed paper airplanes during L'shana Haba'a B'Yerushalayim, and the entire evening was punctuated by secret Silly Seder Activities that the kids created for the adults (ex: When lice is mentioned, scratch your head vigorously). Clues for the Afikomen hunt were given in an NPL (National Puzzler's League)-take off of Wheel of Fortune.

Our favorite parody songs in this seder: Pharaoh of the Israelites (tune of The Captain of the Pinafore); Dear Passover Seder (tune of Officer Krupke; Egyptian Rhapsody (tune of Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody).

Download An XLent Haggadah

Full text of interviews with scholars and friends: Noam Zion Michael Nelson Mark Simon Larry Denenberg Hinda Bodinger Barry Ivker Barry Kling

We discussed the story of South Pacific, one of the first musicals to address the topic of discrimination and intolerance. The song "You've got to be taught" is one of the most searing musical indictments against prejudice, hatred and intolerance. South Pacific's first performance (Apr 7) is usually around Pesach time, so that anniversary can be observed.

As in years past, most of the parodies were written Robyn Shoulson. Our favorite in this seder: Happy Talk: "We will talk – Hagaddah means to talk; talk about things we have to do. We talk about our dreams, we talk of Pharaohs schemes, how he thought to rid himself of Jews." Another great parody is "You've Got to be Taught", now repurposed for the Four Children.

We also used bananas for Karpas (legit: Rabbi Teitz and Rav Elozor Preil point out that any food is appropriate if the blessing ha'adama is used). We dipped in chocolate sauce. (Also halachically acceptable.)

We hid a drop of red dye in a few glasses: when people poured themselves water, only some of the water turned – reminiscent of how only the Egyptian's water turned into blood.

The Afikoman search was aided with hint cards that contained events in Jerusalem's history, celebrating the 50th anniversary of Jerusalem's re-unification. A time-line was consulted to put the hints in the proper order, and letters on the reverse side spelled the Afikoman's location.

Download the Seder Pacific Haggadah

This Seder – the first written by Randi – celebrated influential women, from historical figures through modern times. No traditional "women's seder", this focused on the accomplishments, activities and lasting impact of women such as: civic and political leaders and activists (Dolores Huerta, Sojourner Truth, Eva Peron, Malala Yousafzai, Golda Meir), leaders in science (Marie Curie, Margaret Sanger, Grace Hopper), writers (Agatha Christie, Maya Angelou), and firsts in their field (Julia Child, Muriel Siebert, Sandra Day O'Connor, Valentina Tereshkova, Wonder Woman). Each participant played the role of a person, identified by their name on a headband, answering questions posed by others: What are you known for? What obstacles did you encounter? What are your lasting contributions? and the like. (Each person received a brief informational bio about their life.)

Several people wore "Who Am I" headbands, and guests tried to ID them via a '20 questions' format.

We connected our women's lives to the Maggid, as in: how might they have aided the revolution in Bnai Brak, or how might they approach Pharaoh to release the Israelites. The text and prayers of the Haggadah were altered to match the theme. We also have a funny Passover skit with famous women as the characters. (Julia Child prepared the Manna, for example, and Wonder Woman does, um, wonders).

Of course, we celebrated our matriarch Miriam with a beautiful poem and readings.

We also connected the ancient struggle for freedom to the modern civil rights movement, as this year was the 50th anniversary of the assassination of Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. (The anniversary happened during the week of Passover.)

Download the Great Women Haggadah    Great Women: All Bios   Great Women: The Play

Inspired (though perhaps the wrong word) by recent anti-immigrant tirades, restrictive laws and Wall-building, this Seder focused on immigration, xenophobia, refugees and asylum seekers. After all, the ancient Israelites were immigrants: Our daily prayers tell us "You shall love the stranger, for you were once strangers in the land of Egypt." Some of the traditional seder texts were re-written. For example: "Had He brought us out of Egypt, but not given us the appropriate travel documents / but not sufficient safe havens along the way / no legal assistance for our entrance into the Promised Land ..." The Four Children were The Activist, The Nativist, The Indifferent and The Uninformed; Pesach/Matzah/Maror were cast into symbols appropriate to the topic. And of course, Elijah had something to say about this as well.

We also read heart-rending stories of real people waiting for asylum, deported immigrants, people crossing borders.

Our favorite parody songs in this seder: God with No Name, The Story of Passover to the Beverly Hillbillies theme.

Download the Immigrants and Refugees Haggadah

In traditional seders, we talk about our ancestors being enslaved and persecuted, we have an Exodus, we cross a punishing desert, and we enter the Promised Land of Eretz Yisroel. A modern Exodus refers to our ancestors leaving Eastern Europe, its pogroms, persecutions and poverty, crossing the desert of a treacherous ocean, often in 4th class steerage, and entering the Promised Land, the Golden Medina, that Americans now enjoy. This Seder explores the early years of starting the new state, Jewish America.

We explore the stories of the earliest Jews who came to America: the Sephardim, first wave establishing communities in the East coast; the 2nd wave, German Jews leading the way across the continent – from the deep south to the west coast; the largest 3rd wave, mostly European Jews starting as peddlers; and the 'Save Soviet Jewry' 4th wave.

It also blends in parodies from the ground-breaking musical Oklahoma!, the first play by the most successful songwriting team that Broadway has ever seen. (When the government voted 'Oklahoma!' as the state song, one legislator said "How can two Jews living in New York know anything about Oklahoma?!" The resolution passed.)

As this was our first online seder, due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Afikomen hunt was similarly themed: it was (and still is) hidden on the web. It was first found in 11 minutes. Then again 2 hrs later, by a coworker who wrote a Python script to scrape appropriate sites.

Our favorite parody songs in this seder, written by Robyn Shoulson, our good friend and scholar: 10 Plagues to "I Cain't Say No", the story of the Exodus to "Surrey with the Fringe on Top", and L'Shana Haba'ah to the tune of "Oklahoma!".

Download the Seder at the OK Choral Haggadah   and   Leader's Guide

As this seder was held online (and joined by at least 165 people from 4 countries), a recording can be viewed at tinyurl.com/SpiegelSederRecorded. 'Show More' in the YouTube description shows time points for highlights.

This Seder focused on the Jews of China, a small remote community that thrived in the center of China for at least 700 years in Kaifeng, once the capital of China. They had high respect from their community, even had Emperors follow their holidays, and never faced discrimination or persecution. Their challenge was flooding – the city's Yellow River was nicknamed "China's Sorrow" – their synagogue was rebuilt at least 9 times. The Jews of Kaifeng were totally isolated from the rest of the world; they thought they were the last of their kind, and were panicked that if they were to die out Judaism would be lost – stone inscriptions in front of the synagogue showed their prayers and history.

Our seder told their history and followed some of their customs.

When the synagague was rebuilt the last time (in 1653), the townspeople celebrated with a congratulatory procession, with trumpets and drums. The community's clans carried dui-lian with honorific couplets honoring the synagogue's completion. Behind us were calligraphied banners containing these same couplets (on left).

Our favorite parody song from this seder: God's Grand Scheme, to the tune of a popular song from Flower Drum Song (the first Broadway play and film to feature an Asian-American cast).

Download the Chinese Jews Haggadah

Our second seder held online. (Over 190 people joined.) A recording can be viewed at tinyurl.com/SpiegelSederRecorded2. 'Show More' in the description shows time points for highlights.

The inspiration for this seder was Yip Harburg's lifelong commitment to social justice. "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" was aspirational for Jews. Throughout Yip Harburg's career, he always wrote about justice and freedom. The seder is devoted entirely to fight for freedom. Jews, being an oppressed minority, have always known that if anyone is enslaved anywhere, it too is their fight.

We explored the connections between WoZ and the seder story: the Munchkins were enslaved by the Wicked Witch of the East, eg Pharaoh; Dorothy is like Moses; Emerald City is like the Promised Land; and L Frank Baum's quest for the heroine and her sidekicks reflected the path for spiritual realization.

Of course, the object of our attenion has many superlatives: many considere the movie as the most influential film of all time. 72 TV broadcasts made it the most-watched film in movie history. "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" is ranked as the greatest film song, with Judy Garland's rendition also considered the #1 recording of the 20th C.

The Plagues, Dayenu, Four Sons were all rewritten in accordance with the theme, and we sang six parodies written by Robyn Shoulson to songs from the musical.

Our favorite parody songs in this seder: Dayenu to Ding Dong the Witch is Dead, and Somewhere Over the Desert.

Download the Wizard Haggadah

For one of the most beloved musicals from Broadway's Golden Age, we explored several Jewish connections (the amazingly talented Frank Loesser, a child prodigy who wrote so many memorable songs and shows; the Broadway actor for Nathan Detroit), and had fun rewriting the traditional texts to match the theme – even the Rabbis at Bnai Brak were gambling all night. But most fun of all were Robyn Shoulson's clever seder parodies for the show's songs.

For the Afikomen hunt, our guests had to roll dice in a "floating craps game" to win "Broadway Bucks" (denominations imprinted with pics of Loesser, Runyon and Sinatra). The bucks purchased horse-racing tips that were put on a master tip sheet. The tips clued where the Afikomen was hidden.

Our favorite parody songs in this seder: Fugue for Seder Symbols ("I've got the shank bone here, its meaning's pretty clear"); Luck be Dayenu Tonight; Sit Down, We're Crossin' ("And the devil will drag them under, as the Red Sea drowns them, they'll never float!")

Download the Goys and Idols Haggadah

We explored the parallels between two love stories (between the Israelites & God, and Porgy & Bess), two stories of underdogs (the downtrodden slaves and the downtrodden tenement community of Catfish Row), and the remarkable groundbreaking play/folk opera/musical by the brothers Gershwin. You want superlatives? The musical with the most revivals on Broadway, containing the most-covered song of all time, by a composer who wrote up to six songs a day, creating music for over 80 shows and 9 films, totaling over 500 songs in less than 22 years.

Our favorite parody songs in this seder: Pesach Time ("Summertime"), I've got Plenty of Chometz ("Plenty of Nuttin'"), and a Dayenu to the tune of "It Ain't Necessarily So."

Download the Forty or Less Haggadah

ORIGINAL PASSOVER SONGS – BY US AND OUR FRIENDS

If you want to sing along to karaoke-style music files for most of the songs listed here or within the seders, email me:   Murray Spiegel <info{at_sign_here}WhyIsThisNight.com>

by Randi and Murray Spiegel, Passover 1994
Gonna tell you all a story, 'bout the Jews in Egypt,
They had a good thing goin', there was no complaint.
But then there came this Pharaoh, who was mean and nasty,
He worked them night and day, from the heat they did faint.

They pleaded unto God, "Save us all, your children"
And God looked down to them, he was quite distressed.
So God appeared to Moses through a bush on fire,
He said "Go back to Egypt, go clear up this mess."

Chorus: Tell the story, find the matzah, drink the cups of wine.
               It's all in celebration, so let's sing and dine.

So Moses went to Pharaoh, saying "God's real angry,
They've suffered many years, Le-let my people go."
But Pharaoh didn't listen, he had no intentions
Of giving up his servants, and he HUHp said "No."

So God sent down 10 plagues, which were quite horrendous,
They started out with water being changed to blood.
And then there came the frogs; Third, the lice persisted,
Then wild beasts everywhere left a ... trail of crud.

Chorus: Tell the story, find the matzah, drink the cups of wine.
               It's all in celebration, so let's sing and dine.

The cattle were all killed, and the boils were torture,
The hail came down in torrents, heads were really woozie.
From the sky there came the locusts, number 9 was darkness,
But God was not yet done, number 10 was a doozie.

All the first-born dropped like flies in their tents and temples,
Every bird and beast in Egypt, only Pharaoh was spared.
Such a wailin' in Mitsrayim, there was such commotion,
Pharaoh couldn't comprehend, he just ... stopped and stared.

Chorus: Tell the story, find the matzah, drink the cups of wine.
               It's all in celebration, so let's sing and dine.

The Jews ran out of Egypt with their herds of cattle,
Pharaoh followed with his armies, they were very near,
But then Moses stretched his hand, and The Sea was parted,
Our people walked on through, they were ... free and clear.
So here we are tonight, sitting 'round this table,
We tell this tale again, never with a gap.
When our ancestors were slaves, God reached out to help them,
The Jews are now a people, 'cause we HUHp beat the rap!

Words copyright (c) 1994 by Randi and Murray Spiegel.
Permission is hereby granted to reproduce this material in any non-profit medium provided that its content is not altered and this notice is appended. We would appreciate receiving a copy of any publication in which it appears: Randi Spiegel, 48 Roosevelt Street, Roseland, NJ 07068 / rspieg{at_sign_here}yahoo.com

by Randi and Murray Spiegel, Passover 1995

Just lean right back and you'll hear a tale, a tale of a fateful trip
That started back in ancient times while under Pharaoh's whip.
Well Moses was a pious man, God made him brave and sure
Though Pharaoh was a mighty man, his heart was not pure,
his heart was not pure.

Old Pharaoh started getting tough, the Jews were harshly bossed
If not for the courage of the fearless few our people would be lost,
our people would be lost.

They cried to God please rescue us, conditions here are vile.
Send Moses, and Aaron, too, to save our children and wives.
We'll leave this land at God's behest
Here on Pharaoh's Nile.

So God said Moses take your staff and with your brother go
To Pharaoh you will plead your case to let my people go.
Well Moses, he sure did his best, but Pharaoh was not moved
Til God sent down ten dreadful plagues and His power was proved,
His power was proved.

The frogs, the lice, and even boils, could not make Pharaoh bend
'Til slaying of the first born males threatened Pharaoh's life to end,
threatened Pharaoh's life to end.
The Jews escaped miraculously, when God helped them to flee,
Egyptian armies followed them, but drowned in the deep Red Sea.

So this is a tale of our ancestors, they wandered a long, long time.
They had to make the best of things, it was an uphill climb.
So join us here each year my friends, it's sure to be worthwhile
Retelling how the Jews escaped, far from Pharaoh's Nile.

Words copyright (c) 1995 by Randi and Murray Spiegel.
Permission is hereby granted to reproduce this material in any non-profit medium provided that its content is not altered and this notice is appended. We would appreciate receiving a copy of any publication in which it appears: Randi Spiegel, 48 Roosevelt Street, Roseland, NJ 07068 / rspieg{at_sign_here}yahoo.com

by Randi Spiegel, Passover 1996

Roasted shankbone
Hard-Boiled Egg
Karpas and Charoseth
Bitter Herbs

by Randi and Murray Spiegel, Passover 2000

All our bags are packed, we're ready to go
We're standing here outside our doors
We dare not wake you up to say goodbye
But the dawn is breakin' this early morn'
Moses is waiting, he's blowing his horn
We're planning our escape so we won't die

You'll miss me, as you will see
You've been dealt a harsh decree
You held us like you'd never let us go
We're leaving from this great strain
We pray we won't be back again
God knows, can't wait to go.

There's so many times you've let us down
Your many crimes have plagued our town
I tell you now they were all mean things
Every place I go, you'll shrink from view,
Every song I sing will be 'gainst you
I won't be back to wear your ball and chain

You'll miss me, as you will see
You've been dealt a harsh decree
You held us like you'd never let us go
We're leaving through a wet plain
We hope we won't be back again
God knows, can't wait to go.

Now the time has come to leave you
One more time, let me diss you
Close your eyes, we'll be on our way
Dream about the days to come
When you'll be left here all alone
About the time when I won't have to say

You'll miss me, as you will see
You've been dealt a harsh decree
You held us like you'd never let us go
We're leaving all our bread grain
We know we won't be back again
God knows, can't wait to go.

Words copyright (c) 2000 by Randi and Murray Spiegel.
Permission is hereby granted to reproduce this material in any non-profit medium provided that its content is not altered and this notice is appended. We would appreciate receiving a copy of any publication in which it appears: Randi Spiegel, 48 Roosevelt Street, Roseland, NJ 07068 / rspieg{at_sign_here}yahoo.com

Had he saved us, saved us, saved us,
Saved us from the mean Egyptians
And not given them conniptions, Dayenu

Had he given those Egyptians
Unforgettable conniptions
Without smashing all their idols, Dayenu

Had he smashed up all their idols –
Pulverized those gal- and guy-dolls
Without killing all their first-born, Dayenu

Had he killed all of their first-born
(Made the families so forlorn)
Without giving us their riches, Dayenu

Had he given us their riches
Split the sea (we walked with fishes)
But not drowned the Pharaoh's army, Dayenu

Had he drowned the Pharaoh's soldiers
Forty years we hiked 'round boulders
But had given us no manna, Dayenu

Had he given us that manna
– Go eat as much as you wanna –
But had kept the Shabbas from us, Dayenu

Had he given Shabbas to us –
This day's for rest, not for commerce
But not brought us to Mount Sinai, Dayenu

Had he brought us to Mount Sinai
Through the desert, it was so dry
And not given us the Torah, Dayenu

Had he given us the Torah
Where we sang and danced the Hora
And not led us into Israel, Dayenu

Had he led us into Israel
(So far this is quite a long tale)
And not built for us the Temple, Dayenu

Had he built for us the Temple
So to pray we do assemble
But had not made Manischewitz, Dayenu

(c) Singlish Publication Society, 14140
Sherwood, Oak Park, MI 48237
Scansion modifications and additional verses by Randi and Murray Spiegel, Passover 2000

by Randi Spiegel, Passover 2001

Moses followed all of God's commands, helped the Jews escape from
Pharaoh's hands. Egypt was where the Jews all lived, and happy with
their lives, until the Pharaoh came, and made them slaves; he worked
them night and day, and held them all at bay, they had to get away.

Moses, saw a bush, burning bright, God appeared, told him he must
save the Jews. "Moses, you must go to Egypt speak to Pharaoh tell
him I am not amused. Yes you must go, and tell him tell him he must
let the Hebrews go yes he must let my people go. Their pleas I can't
ignore, they will be slaves no more. You tell Pharaoh he will be
punished if he doesn't listen and won't let my people go."

Moses went to Egypt land, went to see old Pharaoh. Threatened him on
God's behalf. Instead it, just made Pharaoh laugh. He said "I will
not free them, they are my slaves forever. So go back where you came
from, give up on your endeavor. I am strong. You are weak, so turn
around go on home and stay there 'cause I never will give in."

So Moses said to Pharaoh, "I have my God behind me. You will release
my people, or you'll be very sorry. Plagues will come, horrid plagues
so be aware what'll happen to you if you don't release the Jews.
I've warned you for the very last time the plagues will come and
God won't be kind as you will soon find." Pharaoh said "I have
not changed my mind."

This is where the tale gets really good. First, God changed the water into blood.*

"A trick," said his magicians, endorsed Pharaoh's position. But Pharaoh
hadn't reckoned, that God would send a second. Frogs hopped around
the city, the picture wasn't pretty. The people were surrounded, the
croaking noise resounded. Well Pharaoh still resisted, what Moses
had insisted. A third plague was enlisted, and so the lice persisted.
It seemed as if the Jews could never leave, Pharaoh's land. It seemed,
as if they'd never leave, but, they knew, they'd just have to believe.

All of, a sudden it looked bleak, with wild beasts ev'rywhere, the
people ran and shrieked. The cattle all died where they had been
grazing and the boils were torture they could not endure. People,
were in pain, they agreed, that the Jews, should be free from
slavery. Pharaoh, would not listen to them Moses said a seventh
plague had been decreed. The hail came down, down from the sky in
torrents, hail fell down so hard. And such was Pharaoh's fate, God
sent plague number eight the swarms of locusts filled the sky to terrify.
Soon the sun's rays were suppressed. Egypt was in darkness
Then the tenth plague was begun, and Pharaoh, at last was, undone.

"Put lamb's blood on your doorposts," the Jews were all instructed.
Egyptians did not know this, an awful plague erupted. Death appeared,
at their door and ev'ry first-born in Egypt died including Pharaoh's
fav'rite child. The Jews all followed Moses, they made a swift
departure. But Pharaoh's armies followed, intending to recapture.
Just ahead, was the sea so Moses stretched out his hand to part it
and they walked through carefully. The armies followed foolishly,
the waters closed the soldiers were drowned the Jews were then free.

Now, we celebrate our freedom ev'ry Passover and this, is why we dine
on mostly matzah, pasta we do not, ingest. Consuming mostly matzah
which the rabbis blessed. We tell this story all about the Hebrews' quest,
at, this matza fest.

Notes: Do not repeat the first musical theme in the original Eine Kleine Nachtmusik.
    Punctuation is provided only to help sing phrases and is not gramatically correct.
    Highly recommend downloading the written music to match words to the music.

Words copyright (c) 2001 by Randi Spiegel.
Permission is hereby granted to reproduce this material in any non-profit medium provided that its content is not altered and this notice is appended. We would appreciate receiving a copy of any publication in which it appears: Randi Spiegel, 48 Roosevelt Street, Roseland, NJ 07068 / rspieg{at_sign_here}yahoo.com

by Randi Spiegel, Passover 2003
(Recorded by "The Bangles," Columbia album "Different Light," 1986)

A long time ago, it is told
The Jews were slaves unto Pharaoh
If they moved too slow (oh way oh)
They'd be whipped to keep the status quo.

What was found floating in the Nile?
A child in a wicker basket
Found by the queen (oh way oh)
And raised in the Pharaoh's palace

Moses left 'cause he did not want to
Ay oh way oh, ay oh way oh
Walk like an Egyptian.

God spoke through a burning bush
Said that Pharaoh needed to be pushed
To free the Jews (oh way oh)
Or terrible plagues they'd undergo.

Moses returned to the land he'd fled
But Pharaoh laughed at what Moses said
He did not believe (oh way oh)
Kept talking like an Egyptian.

First the blood made Pharaoh harden and
Ay oh way oh, ay oh way oh
Walk like an Egyptian.

Frogs and lice, they were the next two plagues
Wild beasts trampled in the marketplace
Then the cattle died (oh way oh)
But God was not done with Pharaoh yet.

Next there were the boils and the hail
The locusts swarmed, causing crops to fail
Darkness then fell (oh way oh)
The first-borns were killed by God's hand.

Moses led the Jews that dark night
The Red Sea was where they crossed in fright
Pharaoh's armies drowned (oh way oh)
They walked the line like Egyptian.

Jews were saved and never had to
Ay oh way oh, ay oh way oh
Walk like an Egyptian
Walk like an Egyptian.

Download the annotated version to help you match the words to the music.

Words copyright (c) 2003 by Randi Spiegel.
Permission is hereby granted to reproduce this material in any non-profit medium provided that its content is not altered and this notice is appended. We would appreciate receiving a copy of any publication in which it appears: Randi Spiegel, 48 Roosevelt Street, Roseland, NJ 07068 / rspieg{at_sign_here}yahoo.com

by Randi Spiegel, Passover 2005
A personal celebration of a milestone

It was thirty years ago tonight,
Murray held a Seder with delight,
Now we all know that they last a while,
But they're guaranteed to raise a smile.
So may I introduce to you,
The act you've known for all these years,
Murray Spiegel's Second Seder Gang

We're Murray Spiegel's Second Seder Gang,
We hope you're in a festive mood.
Murray Spiegel's Second Seder Gang,
Sit back and just enjoy the food.
Murray Spiegel's Second, Murray Spiegel's Second,
Murray Spiegel's Second, Murray Spiegel's Second Seder Gang.
It's wonderful to be here,
It's certainly a thrill.
You're really great participants,
We know you'll feel at home with us,
We know you'll feel at home.

I don't really want to stop the show,
But I thought you might like to know,
That the leader's gonna tell a tale,
Of our ancestors who did prevail.
So may I introduce to you,
The one and only Murray S.
And Murray Spiegel's Second Seder Gang.

by Randi Spiegel, Passover 2006 Watch on YouTube

We're here to tell the story of the Israelites in general
They were the slaves of Pharaoh, who was really quite tyrannical
We read in the Haggadah of the tale that is historical
And that is what a Seder is, in order categorical

The Jews were slaves in Egypt and their lives were very tragical
At least that's how we tell all of our stories that are biblical
If we were living way back then, our fate would make the front page news
With many sullen facts including killing all the male-born Jews

All: With many sullen facts including killing all the male-born Jews (2x)
With many sullen facts including killing all the male-born, male-born Jews

Now Moses went to Egypt with a mission very serious
Told Pharaoh he must free the Jews and not to be nefarious
They were the slaves of Pharaoh, who was really quite tyrannical
We're here to tell the story of the Israelites in general

All: They were the slaves of Pharaoh, who was really quite tyrannical
We're here to tell the story of the Israelites in general

When Pharaoh didn't listen, God sent plagues that were just like a pox
Upon the people and the land and animals as large as ox
God hoped that Pharaoh would concede and show he was not merciless
Instead the slaves were beaten more, while Pharaoh stood emotionless

So Moses raised his staff which changed the waters into blood with ease
They heard the croaking chorus from the frogs a'croaking in the breeze
Then lice infested everyone, wild beasts stampeded with a roar
The cattle died, they all were killed, until there weren't any more

All: The cattle died, they all were killed, until there weren't any more (2x)
The cattle died, they all were killed, until there weren't any, any more

So Moses came back with demands in Babylonic cuneiform
God sent the plague of boils in hopes that Pharaoh would, at last, reform
We were the slaves of Pharaoh, who was really quite tyrannical
We're here to tell the story of the Israelites in general

All: We were the slaves of Pharaoh, who was really quite tyrannical
We're here to tell the story of the Israelites in general

Egyptians and their Pharaoh waited for the next plague to begin
The hail came down in torrents with the sharpness of a javelin
The locusts swarmed, the blackened sky you could see from Mount Ararat
Then darkness overcame the land, folks couldn't see where they were at

The Jews put lambs' blood on their doors and packed their clothes and finery
Egyptians' first-born sons were killed; these are the plagues in summary
And then the Pharaoh did comply, told Moses that he would agree
The Jews could now leave Egypt, he would let them live and set them free

All: The Jews could now leave Egypt, he would let them live and set them free (2x)
The Jews could now leave Egypt, he would let them live and set them, set them free

We're here tonight to tell about our ancestors in slavery
We'd not be here today without their courage, strength and bravery
We were the slaves of Pharaoh, who was really quite tyrannical
And now we've told the story of the Israelites in general

All: We were the slaves of Pharaoh, who was really quite tyrannical
And now we've told the story of the Israelites in general.

Words copyright (c) 2006 by Randi Spiegel.
Permission is hereby granted to reproduce this material in any non-profit medium provided that its content is not altered and this notice is appended. I would appreciate receiving a copy of any publication in which it appears: Randi Spiegel, 48 Roosevelt Street, Roseland, NJ 07068 / rspieg{at_sign_here}yahoo.com

House of Martyrdom (tune of "House of the Rising Sun")

by Randi Spiegel, Passover 2008

Each year our house is made pristine
So Seders can be run
And it's been the ruin of many a woman
And Lord I know I'm one.

The Seder happens ev'ry year
You can wear your new blue jeans
The leader is a ramblin' man
And to the left he leans.

Now the only thing this rambler needs
Is the Seder with two dunks
And the only time he's satisfied
Is when he's four cups drunk.

Oh mother tell your children
Not to do what I have done
Spend your life in tearful misery
In the house of martyrdom

Well, I got one fork in the brisket
Another one in the chrain
I'm goin' back to the kitchen now
To wear that ball and chain.

Well, each year our house is made pristine
So Seders can be run
And it's been the ruin of many a woman
And Lord I know I'm one.

Words copyright (c) 2008 by Randi Spiegel.
Permission is hereby granted to reproduce this material in any non-profit medium provided that its content is not altered and this notice is appended. I would appreciate receiving a copy of any publication in which it appears: Randi Spiegel, 48 Roosevelt Street, Roseland, NJ 07068 / rspieg{at_sign_here}yahoo.com

Miss My Warm Pecan Pie (tune of Don McLean's "American Pie")

by Randi Spiegel, Passover 2008

Testing Sing it yourself:   Low fi karaoke accompanyment
Debut performance:   Watch on Youtube

A long, long time ago ...
Israelites had to kowtow
To Pharaoh who they knew was vile
And they knew if they had a chance
That they would have to take a stance
And maybe they'd live happy by the Nile
But Moses was put in the river
To Pharaoh's palace was delivered
Bad news on the doorstep
The Hebrews toiled 'til they wept
They prayed to G-d to hear their cry
And to save them from this monstrous guy
Something touched Him deep inside
The day our people cried
So ...

Why, why must we slave 'til we die
Need a miracle to free us from this life gone awry
We can't fight back 'cause we'll be killed if we try
Pharaoh scares us so that we must comply
Scares us so that we must comply

Did you read the book of Shmot
And do you have faith in what they wrote
If the Bible tells you so
Moses went to Pharaoh to cajole
And maybe save his mortal soul
And asked him just to let our people go
Well the chances they were pretty slim
That Pharaoh would give in to him
But Pharaoh wouldn't lose
His slaves, so he refused
Our people suffered so when they were struck
'Cause they were the slaves of Pharaoh and were stuck
And they thought they were out of luck
The day our people cried
They started saying ...

Why, why must we slave 'til we die
Need a miracle to free us from this life gone awry
We can't fight back 'cause we'll be killed if we try
Pharaoh scares us so that we must comply
Scares us so that we must comply

Moses threatened Pharaoh on the throne
Said he knows that G-d'll send plagues down
And that's the way it had to be
First the waters in the Nile pristine
Were turned to blood and made unclean
And then frogs hopped around for all to see
Oh, and while Pharaoh was looking down
The lice made the Egyptians frown
The people were concerned
That plagues were sent in turn
And while Pharaoh was no easy mark
The wild beasts trampled in the park
The cattle died, the land was stark
The day our people cried
They were saying ...

Why, why must we slave 'til we die
Need a miracle to free us from this life gone awry
We can't fight back 'cause we'll be killed if we try
Pharaoh scares us so that we must comply
Scares us so that we must comply

Helter skelter in the desert swelter
Now boils, then hail, there was no shelter
Plagues on high and coming fast
Then locusts in the air en masse
Egyptians were in a deep morass
With the Pharaoh on the sidelines standing fast
Total darkness hit the land with gloom
There was no sun, no stars, or moon
G-d showed omnipotence
Oh, Pharaoh never had a chance
The plague of slaying first-borns was revealed
Pharaoh was beat and had to yield
Now all the slaves could leave the field
The day G-d turned the tide
And they were singing ...

Bye, bye, we'll no longer comply
Drove our people to the Red Sea but the Red Sea was high
Then G-d split the water and the passage was dry
Bringing Jews across to the other side
Safe across to the other side

Oh, and now we are all in one place
For generations to relate
The story that's retold again
So come one and come all, please make it quick
It's time to light the candle's wick
'Cause Seders are the means to comprehend
Oh, and as we read and turn the page
Our Seder guests we do engage
The story we do tell
So come and sit a spell
And as we tell of our ancestors' plight
The Ma Nishtanah we recite
In the ceremony we delight
The day G-d turned the tide
And He was singing ...

Bye, bye, we'll no longer comply
Drove our people to the Red Sea but the Red Sea was high
Then G-d split the water and the passage was dry
Bringing Jews across to the other side
Safe across to the other side

I met a gal who sang the blues
Because she had fewer foods to choose
So she just smiled and turned away
I went down to the groc'ry store
Where I'd bought a challah days before
And I filled my basket for the holiday
And back at home the house was clean
No speck of chametz could be seen
The middle matza broken
Go find the afikomen
And the three foods we will miss the most
Are popcorn, pizza and French toast
But this is true from coast to coast
The day the Jews defied
And so we're singing ...

Bye, bye, miss my warm pecan pie
Drink some heavy Manischewitz and eat matza so dry
No bagels, pancakes or some nice Jewish rye
Eating macaroons and fried matza brei
Thankful that the Jews did not die
They were singing ...
Bye, bye, we'll no longer comply
Drove our people to the Red Sea but the Red Sea was high
Then G-d split the water and the passage was dry
And our people crossed to the other side

Words copyright (c) 2008 by Randi Spiegel.
Permission is hereby granted to reproduce this material in any non-profit medium provided that its content is not altered and this notice is appended. I would appreciate receiving a copy of any publication in which it appears: Randi Spiegel, 48 Roosevelt Street, Roseland, NJ 07068 / rspieg{at_sign_here}yahoo.com

The Plagues – The Musical!

by Johanna Drickman (additions/modifications by Randi & Murray Spiegel), Passover 2009

BLOOD: "Old Man River" Hebrew slaves work by the old Nile River, Hebrew slaves work while the Pharaoh plays. Pullin' those stones from the dawn til sunset, Gettin' no rest til Redemption Day. Don't look up and don't look down, You don't dare make Egyptians frown. Bend your knees and bow your head, And pull that rope until you're dead. Let me go way from the big Nile River, Let me go way from the slave man boss, Show me the way through the Red Sea water, That's the one stream that I long to cross. Ol' Nile River, that Ol' Nile River, To blood it's turnin', It keeps on churnin' It keeps on spewin', It just keeps flowin' a-long. FROGS: "Jeremiah was a Bull Frog" Jeremiah was a bull frog, had a lot of friends you know   He called every one, said, "Let's go have some fun We'll crawl right out of the Nile, and Egypt we'll defile. Singing Frogs of the world, all the boys and girls now Forget all the fishes of the deep blue sea No one's slimier than you and me. LICE: "To Life!" The Lice, The Lice, I gottem I gottem, I gottem, the Lice Pharaoh, O, Pharaoh, O, please give in We want to save our skin Lice – I gottem, the Lice. WILD BEASTS: "Music of the Night" Daylight's fading, night's almost upon us, Creature's waiting, maul and stomp upon us. Try to run away, but without the light of day, They can smell and see us with nocturnal sight, The power of the wild beasts of the night! CATTLE DISEASE: "Ticket to Ride" The Pharaoh's gonna be sad, I think it's today, Our cows are gonna be mad, and dying away. It's not due to the fleas, They're falling down on their knee-ee-ees * They've got Mad Cow Disease, And we're all scared! * Alternate, less tasteful verse: It's not due to the fleas, They've got Mad Cow Disee-ee-ease, They're walking in B.V.D's, And we're all scared!

BOILS: "Go Away Little Girl" Go away little boils, Go away little boils, It's hurting me more each minute that you delay. When you are on me like this, You're much too hard to resist. So go away ugly boils, And never come back to stay. HAIL: "Hello, Dolly" Hailstones Dolly, well, Hailstones Dolly, They are falling fast and hard upon your head. You don't look well, Dolly, I can tell, Dolly Your face has several bruises, you should be in bed. I feel the room swaying, for as I was saying, We have all sustained a lot of head trauma, so Children, dads, and mothers, Quick we have to duck and cover, Make these Hailstones go away, Make these Hailstones go away, Make these Hailstones go away, for good. LOCUSTS: "Luck, be a lady tonight" Luck, be a locust tonight (2x) Luck, if youve ever been a locust to begin with. Luck, be a locust tonight. A locust doesnt fly off solo. Hes in a swarm, that flies at night. And when they hit the fields, they consume all they see! There wont be a green leaf in sight! So whats on the menu tonight? When we are done theyll be blight. Luck, if youve ever been a locust to begin with, Luck, be a locust — Luck, be a locust! (2x) Luck, be a locust tonight! DARKNESS: "Night and Day" Day and night, they're all the same. Night and day, our Pharaoh's to blame. Because he won't let the Hebrews go, We're suffering with the sun's warming glow. For three whole days, and nights. DEATH OF FIRSTBORN: "Tonight, Tonight" Tonight, tonight, won't be just any night, Tonight there will be blood in the air. Tonight, tonight, first-borns will die tonight, The Egyptians will be unprepared. Tonight, the angel will descend on, The Pharaoh and his people, And no one will be spared. Oh moon, grow bright, And let G-d show his might, End our plight, tonight!

Permission granted by authors for private use.

Hey There Elijah (tune of Plain White T's "Hey There Delilah")

by Barry Kling (Scansion adjustments by Randi & Murray Spiegel), Passover 2008/2009

Sing it yourself:   Low fi karaoke accompanyment

Hey there Elijah
What's it like at all those Seders
You will drink a lot of wine tonight
But tonight you're permitted yes you are
We can't continue without you,
Oh yes it's true

Hey there Elijah
We believe you'll be here someday
And will bring the world together
Give us hope for what the future will provide
Hear our prayers and our cries,
You're by our side

Chorus: Oh it's what you mean to us (4 times)
What you mean to us.

Hey there Elijah
Share your vision of the world to be
Where G-d is one for everyone
And Seders 'round the world are being done
Next year may we all celebrate,
In Jerusalem

Hey there Elijah
With our friends and fam'ly gathered here
Just as they do year after year
Now we have only one task left to do,
You know it's all because of you,
We open our door to welcome you,
Hey there Elijah, here's to you,
This cup's for you

Repeat Chorus

Permission granted by authors for private use.

If I Only Had Some Chrain (tune of "If I Only Had A Brain")

by Martin Eiger, Passover 2009

We are sitting at the Seder,
More food is coming later,
But now I am in pain.
It would help my digestion,
I could get through all four questions
If I only had some chrain.

The hosts would speed it up if they knew,
We'd get through the Dayenu
And not do each refrain.
It would ease my neurosis,
I'd enjoy all this harosis
If I only had some chrain.

Oh I would tell the tale,
I'd recount the plagues and parting of the sea.
How glorious and wondrous it would be.
We'd drink some wine
And then we'd dine.

But now my stomach is off-kilter.
The fish is too gefilte.
The parsley sprigs seem plain.
I'd be happy eating lotsa
Food. I'd chow down all the matza
If I only had some chrain.

Shulchan Orech (tune of "Food, Glorious Food" from Oliver)

by Robyn Shoulson, written for the Spiegels, Passover 2010
Many, many parody songs from Oliver are located in the Oliver Twisted Haggadah, downloadable above.

Is it worth the waiting for?
What were salivating for?
First we slog through the Haggadah!

Kiddush first,   Four questions next
All that long Rabbinic text,
How much more to the Haggadah?

We said Four sons, and Ten plagues, and Three things, and we've
Finished off Two cups of wine
With our tongues hanging out and our stomachs agrowl,
Have we finally come to the time for ––

Food, glorious food!   No more just wine sipping!
Food, glorious food!   All done with just dipping!
Let's start with gefilte fish, I'll pass you the chrayn.
Then chicken soup – what a dish – with knaidlach or plain.

Food, glorious food!   Roast brisket with gravy,
Boiled flanken or stewed, roast turkey – and maybe
Sweet kugel and kishka too, we're feeling renewed
By Food, glorious food, wonderful food, fattening food!!

Words copyright (c) 2009 by Robyn Shoulson.
Permission is hereby granted to reproduce this material in any non-profit medium provided that its content is not altered and this notice is appended.

Dayenu Rap

by Randi Spiegel, Passover 2011 Watch on YouTube

Gonna tell you all now how God helped our people with the favors that He did for which we are grateful It would have been enough, yeah, it would have been enough Now gimme some percussion for this discussion (Undertone: Slavery, Slavery ...) If He brought us out of Egypt and that's all He'd done we'd be free to find our destiny of fame and fortune Pharaoh thought he was tough so God called his bluff   Let's say it all together while we huff and puff It would have been enough, yeah, it would have been enough Now punish those Egyptians for their superstitions Don't encourage their magicians with their high ambitions   I got a premonition, they're gonna get afflictions So believe with conviction, this here ain't science fiction It would have been enough, yeah, it would have been enough We're bettin' on the odds God'll judge their gods And ride 'em outta town in some old hot rods Hey don't just nod, this ain't no facade Do I have to prod so you believe the word o' God? It would have been enough, yeah, it would have been enough Hey Yo, Pharaoh, first-born sons are dead Are you seeing red? Go ahead, check the bed Death has spread a web of dread It's weakened your position; you got no coalition It would have been enough, yeah, it would have been enough We got our health, we got your wealth Don't give a hoot, we'll take your loot Now be astute, we gotta scoot 'Cause up ahead's a long commute Egyptian soldiers in hot pursuit Our trust in God is absolute It would have been enough, yeah, it would have been enough (Undertone: Miracles, Miracles ...) God split the sea so we could flee Be footloose then and fancy-free Don't need no degree from MIT To know we gotta move ASAP We can't sightsee, but we guarantee there'll be plenty o' time for a jubilee It would have been enough, yeah, it would have been enough Cross on dry land on God's command we're headed for the Promised Land Will there be oil, will there be sand? Won't know until we see firsthand Whatever's ahead we can withstand so our people and nation will expand It would have been enough, yeah, it would have been enough

Do not break down, don't even frown God made the Pharaoh's army drown They tracked us down but were struck down and all the people, they danced around It would have been enough, yeah, it would have been enough God was our provider and our Red Sea divider But now we got to ponder What's that desert over yonder? That's where we're gonna wander? Is God our first responder? It would have been enough, yeah, it would have been enough We searched for some banana but God fed us with manna No hocus pocus, we gotta keep our focus And so to shield the sun we wore bandanas It was hotter than hot, crossing that savanna It would have been enough, yeah, it would have been enough (Undertone: Be with God, Be with God ...) We need a break, give us a rest Shabbat Shalom, this day is blessed With God's command from up in heaven we work six days and rest on seven It would have been enough, yeah, it would have been enough We testify, we can't deny, that God led us to Mount Sinai The desert's dry, but we won't die Won't sigh, won't cry, and won't defy If we stand by God, He will supply It would have been enough, yeah, it would have been enough Don't forget Sodom and Gomorrah just 'cause God gave us the Torah It's too damn hot to wear angora So instead let's all just dance the Hora led by Miriam and sista Tzipporah It would have been enough, yeah, it would have been enough Now don't you wail, and don't derail Our God's brought us to Is-ra-el Hey, do not flail, we will prevail With God above we cannot fail It would have been enough, yeah, it would have been enough And in the end, when God was done He'd built the Temple so we could pray as one Our ancestors lives had just begun without fear of oblivion Without oppression or intimidation the Jews could flourish as a nation It would have been enough, yeah, it would have been enough It would have been enough, yeah, it would have been enough Dayenu, Dayenu, Dayenu, DAYENU

Words copyright (c) 2011 by Randi Spiegel.
Permission is hereby granted to reproduce this material in any non-profit medium provided that its content is not altered and this notice is appended. I would appreciate receiving a copy of any publication in which it appears: Randi Spiegel, 48 Roosevelt Street, Roseland, NJ 07068 / rspieg{at_sign_here}yahoo.com

Seder Limericks

by Limerick Laureate (granted by the Annals of Improbable Research), Martin Eiger, Passover 2011

The plagues, there were nine of them, yo,
But every time Pharaoh said no.
  Then came plague number ten.
  Would he do it again?
He decided to let them all go.

To the Red Sea the Hebrews were led.
As they fled, they brought with them their bread.
  Pharaoh hardened his heart.
  The sea started to part,
And now we eat matzah instead.

Moses departed the fold
To receive the commandments, we're told.
  But he broke them in half
  Upon seeing that calf,
So take care what you do with your gold.

Four Questions (tune of "The Street where you live," from My Fair Lady)

by Robyn Shoulson, written for the Spiegels, Passover 2012
Many, many parody songs from My Fair Lady are located in the My Fair Seder Haggadah, downloadable above.

I have often sat for a meal before,
But there's something here tonight I didn't feel before,
And so what has changed
That it feels so strange?
What makes this meal so different tonight?

Where're the fluffy rolls that I like to eat,
That I always like to dip in gravy with the meat?
Now there's Matza – flat,
Dry and crumbly.   That's
Just one way this meal's different tonight.

And oh! Those wonderful greens plates –
Steamed, sauteéd, or frittered or plain.
Tonight, we remember our mean state,
We eat bitter herbs – horseradish or romaine.

We have dips tonight – not the salsa kind.
And we're sitting at an angle (not on our behind).
These are only four,
And I'm sure there's more
Things so strange and so different tonight!

West Side Seder (Four Questions and Dayenu)

by Robyn Shoulson, written for the Spiegels, Passover 2012
Many, many parody songs from West Side Story are located in the West Side Seder Haggadah, downloadable above.

Four Questions: "Tonight" Tonight, tonight, is not just any night, Tonight we will eat no bread at all. Tonight, tonight, our greens are not just greens, Bitter herbs will help us to recall. Tonight, we have two special dippings – Our veggies in salt water, Maror in charoset. We'll lean, not sit, because we will observe Pesach night –   Tonight!

Dayenu: "America" Freed us from slavery Dayenu! Slaughtered their progeny Dayenu! Split open wide the sea Dayenu! Drowned all our enemies Dayenu! How many favors has God wrought? All of our battles that He fought? So much thanksgiving that we owe God rules on High and down below. Gave us the ten commands Dayenu! 40 years through the sand Dayenu! Led to our promised land Dayenu! Built us our Temple grand Dayenu!

Words copyright (c) 2011-2012 by Robyn Shoulson.
Permission is hereby granted to reproduce this material in any non-profit medium provided that its content is not altered and this notice is appended.

Many more phenomenal Four Questions parodies are in our book:  Rap, Reggae, Gilbert and Sullivan, "Dough" Re Me, Shakespearean, Lawyerese, Klingon, and of course Valley Girl.

Pharoah of the Isralites   (tune of G&S's "I am the Captain of the Pinafore")
by Randi Spiegel, Passover 2016 Watch on YouTube

Pharaoh: I am the Pharaoh of the Israelites! Slaves: And a bad-ass Pharaoh, too! Pharaoh: I'm very, very mean And I like to cause a scene And I get my own way, too. Slaves: He's very, very mean And he likes to cause a scene And he gets his own way, too. Pharaoh: Though Moses did insist The slaves should be dismissed I will not set them free. No matter what they say They will never get their way Even if they plead on bended knee. Slaves: What, never? Pharaoh: No, never! Slaves: What, never? Pharaoh: Well...   No, never! Slaves: The slaves will never get their way! Then give one boo, no! make that two, For the hateful Pharaoh over all the Jews! Then give one boo, no! make that two, For the Pharaoh over all the Jews!

Pharaoh: I do my best to make life hard for you. Slaves: We are beaten 'til our backs are bent. Pharaoh: You complain about your plight And I think it only right To increase your discontent. Slaves: We complain about our plight And he thinks it's only right To increase our discontent. Pharaoh: Bad temper and abuse Is how I treat the Jews So they will feel my wrath each day. Though plagues will fill our land I won't meet their demand And I'll never let them get away! Slaves: What, never? Pharaoh: No, never! Slaves: What, never? Pharaoh: Well...   No, never! Slaves: The Jews will never get away! Then give three boos, no! make that four, For the spiteful Pharaoh who we all abhor! Then give three boos, no! make that four, For the Pharaoh who we all abhor!

Words copyright (c) 2016 by Randi Spiegel.
Permission is hereby granted to reproduce this material in any non-profit medium provided that its content is not altered and this notice is appended. We would appreciate receiving a copy of any publication in which it appears: Randi Spiegel, 48 Roosevelt Street, Roseland, NJ 07068 / rspieg{at_sign_here}yahoo.com

You'll Be Back   (from "Hamilton")
by Robyn Shoulson (c) 2017

You say – your work is so hard and you're not getting overtime pay.
You cry – that the sun is so hot, yet you'll go to the desert to pray!
Why so sad?
Remember we worked out a deal when you came here to stay.
Now you're making me mad!
Just think of how bad you will feel with no straw to make clay!

You'll be back.   Soon you'll see!
You'll miss all the goods you got for free!
You'll be back.   Time will tell.
You'll find marching in the desert hell!
Moses came, so you'll go!
But I warn you, you're just courting woe!
For when push comes to shove,
I will send my many charioteers to remind you of my love!
Da da da da da ......

You say I'm too demanding and you can't go on.
Let's see who'll still be standing after you've gone.
And no – threats won't deter me!
You'll never massacre me!
And soon you will prefer me.
You'll come back here to serve me
Forever     and ever     and ever and ever ...

You'll be back here for more.
And you'll labor as you did before!
And my fame and renown
Will endure – we'll build another town.
So don't think I am mad!
I employ you so you should be glad!
For when push comes to shove
I will kill your slaving children to remind you of my love!
Da da da da da ......
EVERYBODY!
Da da da da da ......

Words copyright (c) 2017 by Robyn Shoulson.
Permission is hereby granted to reproduce this material in any non-profit medium provided that its content is not altered and thisnotice is appended.

Just Wait and See   (Duet song to tune of Irving Berlin's "You're Just in Love")
by Randi and Murray Spiegel, Passover 2017 Watch on YouTube

Pharaoh: I am Pharaoh over all the land Hebrew slaves, they do what I command All day long I sit and designate I am revered. I am so great. Gods I worship cause the sun to rise It's ordained I'll be immortalized See my cities that were built for me I will make history, just wait and see.

Moses: I am Moses, you know me I once lived very nobly Brought up here in these palace walls But the slaves – how you treat them I have witnessed you beat them Now I'm here to see your downfall. So God sent me to tell you You must free all the Hebrews Plagues will come if you disagree There is nothing you can do To prevent God's wrath on you Pharaoh, just you wait and see.

(Now sing together)

Words copyright (c) 2016 by Randi Spiegel.
Permission is hereby granted to reproduce this material in any non-profit medium provided that its content is not altered and thisnotice is appended. We would appreciate receiving a copy of any publication in which it appears: Randi Spiegel, 48 Roosevelt Street, Roseland, NJ 07068 / rspieg{at_sign_here}yahoo.com

The Story of Passover   (tune of "Beverly Hillbillies")
by Randi Spiegel, Passover 2019

Come and listen to my story 'bout the Hebrew slaves They worked so hard, nearly put them in their graves But God told Moses to act on His behalf So he headed off to Egypt where he met the chief of staff Pharaoh that is, mean guy, hated Jews. The first thing Moses said was "Let my people go or plagues will come from the heavens to below" But Pharaoh didn't listen and he scoffed and gave a shrug So Moses held his staff out and the Nile turned into blood No more drinking water. Poor Egyptians. Old Pharaoh was not one to frighten easily Though plagues would be brought upon him ceaselessly First frogs, then lice then flies swarmed all around But he stuck to his guns and then double downed No redemption for the Hebrew slaves.

Five more plagues the Pharaoh would withstand Wild beasts, boils, hail, locusts out of hand Darkness came and covered all the land But the worst was yet to come by God's great command Killing of the first-born Egyptians, that is. One night the Jews put lamb's blood on their doors The Angel of Death knew just who to ignore First-born males were slaughtered where they slept And this time Pharaoh knew he must accept God's command to free the slaves, that is. Moses led his people far away from Pharaoh's grip When they reached the Red Sea he raised his staff and made it split Pharaoh's Army drowned and the Jews were free and clear So they cheered with happy tears then wandered 40 years But that's another story, for another time.

Y'all come back now next year, y'hear?

Words copyright (c) 2019 by Randi Spiegel.
Permission is hereby granted to reproduce this material in any non-profit medium provided that its content is not altered and thisnotice is appended. We would appreciate receiving a copy of any publication in which it appears: Randi Spiegel, 48 Roosevelt Street, Roseland, NJ 07068 / rspieg{at_sign_here}yahoo.com

Recommended songs from other folks

Download: Matzah Ball Tonight   (from A Funny Thing ... Forum)
Download: Super-kosher Manischewitz, Exodus and Moses   (tune of "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious") by Chicago's Eric Zorn
Download: Now We Are Free   (tune of Neil Diamond's "Sweet Caroline") by Barry Kling

Download karaoke version of Sweet Caroline / Now We Are Free

Download: Cross the Sea of Reeds   (tune of Adele's "Rolling in the Deep") by Lex Rofes
Download: Leader of the Jews   (tune of DJ Jazzy Jeff's "Fresh Prince of Bel-Air") by Lex Rofes
Download: It's a Seder!   (tune of Smash Mouth's "All Star") by Lex Rofes
Download: The round: Passover Desecration   (mash-up of "Eine Kleine Nachtmusik", Pepsi jingle, "There is Nothin' Like A Dame", "Winter Wonderland" and "Purple People Eater") Words by Sol Weber; musical arrangement by Jonathan Jensen
Download: Phenominal collection of parodies: "Broadway, Beatles and Beyond"   – over twenty years of creations by the very creative Barbara Sarshik
Download: Parody of "Under The Sea"   by Rabbi Howard Goldsmith
Download: Let Us Go   (tune of "Let It Go") by Rabbi Howard Goldsmith
Download: Passover Seder   (tune of West Side Story's "Officer Krupke") by Phil Trechak
Download: Soup and Turkey   (tune of "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious") by Phil Trechak – "Um diddle diddle diddle um diddle I; Yeast is gone? Call CSI"
Download: Passover Catastrophe   (tune of G&S's "Modern Major General") by Phil Trechak – hilarious Passover story of multiple food mishaps
Download: Pharoah   (tune of Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper's "Shallow" from A Star Is Born) by Barry Kling (2019)

Excellent Karaoke version by the Brooklyn Duo

Download: God With No Name   (tune of America's " Horse With No Name") by Jim Propp-Gubin

PASSOVER GAMES AND PUZZLES AND SKITS

Most of these are not original with us, but were created by highly talented friends.   Want to play Passover Jeopardy, Hocus-Pocus, 50-50 Trivia, Plagues word-search, Pass-around Categories, Picture puzzles, or Passover Jewish Mad Libs?   Pesach plays and Passover skits, let's read on!   Thanks to Kenneth Citak, Bob Doniger, David Dranikoff, Martin Eiger, Lori Freeman, Jonathan Greene, Howie Feiwus, Joe Gelles, Lynn Greene, Dara Horn, John Kador, Fred Kaimann, Suzanne Kayne, Barry Kling, Diane Perlman and Mirah Kriger, Greg Pliska, Jim Propp-Gubin, Simcha Rafael, Jerrold Rapaport, Martin Rosenbaum, Eliezer Segal, Carin Shiloh, Scott Sokol, and Zal, Jacob and Eliana Suldan.

Plagues Word Search Puzzle
Various Games – Jeopardy, Hocus-Pocus/Higgly-Piggly, Family Feud, Hangman, 50-50 Trivia
Passsover Jeopardy Game Board (Template) – The real deal, the TV show's design, with fun categories: "Jew Speak", "By The Numbers", "When Do We Eat", "Rim Shots"   Also print one of these: Small version Q&A's (print 1- or 2-sided) Large Q&A's
Passover Categories and M-words Puzzle
A fun 10 Plagues Picture Puzzle, with a few Hints (and answer) – A challenging, multilevel puzzle
10 Plagues Picture Puzzle – This one's more direct, but relies on few fun puns
A fun Exodus word puzzle game – Lead Moses from Egypt to the Promised Land – discover the special Parting gift
A clever Afikomen word-search puzzle – Find the missing trios to discover what Pharaoh's army received
Passover Seder Mad Libs – Hilarious; have the kids request the words to be filled in
Abbott and Castello "Who's on First?" parody
The Match Game
Two Minute Haggadah, done as a tag team seder
Dayenu Madness – Turn Dayenu into a fun, participatory game
Read the Plagues or the Steps of the Seder in Haiku style!
Four Children and their Four Parents – A different perspective: Four types of parents
An Afikomen puzzle – Form 1040-EGY from Department of Egyptian Treasuries, Internal Revenge Services – Customize for your use (seders are often near tax time)
Fun and easy "Wordlets" Passover picture puzzles
Freedom cookies – Put famous quotes about freedom in meringue cookies or macaroons.   Voila!   Kosher Fortune, er, Freedom Cookies
The Newly Freed game – Fun take-off of the Newlywed Game
Silly Seder Surprises – Guests do silly stuff when they hear certain phrases or see each other doing silly stuff
El Al paper airplanes – Complete with a 'Charlton Heston' Moses and teaming Israelites on the wings. Toss during L'shana Haba'ah B'Yerushalayim
Passover Skit: Town Meeting – Should we slaves stay or leave with Moses?
Passover Skit: Behind the scenes: How the 10 Plagues really were determined – Hilarious
Passover Skit: What if the Exodus were filmed today? (Based on original by John Kador)
Passover Skit: Egypt's Got Plagues! – The various plague contestants compete for fame and prizes
Passover Skit: The Four Teenagers – Act out an updated Four Sons
Wanna be a Seder Millionaire? – Quiz game
Passover Skit: Who wants to be a Seder Millionaire – A "SlaveDog Millionaire" parody (skit, not game)
Passover Skit: From Slavery to Freedom – Straightforward play about the plagues, language and actions particularly appropriate for young kids
Passover Skit: The Passover story – With reflection questions and traditional songs
10 Plagues – Funny alternate plagues story: "God smote all breakfast cereals, not sparing the Pop-Tarts"
Points cards – Hand out these cool points cards to keep score on puzzles and games.   (Traditional Jews don't write on the Chag)
Slavery to Freedom Maze – Cleverly designed pattern to keep the youngins occupied
Rent-a-Chariot poster – Israelites need wheels for the long desert trek, why not do it in style?   Posterize it! (Created by Jacob Suldan.)
Passover Bingo Cards (kids) – Dena Ackerman's wonderful and colorful cards (30 different ones) to keep little ones occupied during the seder (print as ~5"x6")
Passover Bingo Cards (kids and adults) – Eliana Suldan's Passover Bingo cards for different age levels (young, teens, adults) to keep everyone engaged during the seder (print as ~5"x6")
Funny Customer Satisfaction Survey – Help us continue to bring the highest level of Divine interventions
Overly Legalistic Waiver – I hereby agree to assume all risks arising from liberation from Egyptian bondage and its reenactment
Passover Equations Puzzle – 4=Cups of Wine.  Fill-in-the-blanks puzzle based on a popular Games Magazine puzzle.   No fair peeking at the answers :)
Seder Fortune Teller – Customizable "fold-em-ups" to pose fun Passover questions.  Print one for each kid.  (Some people call these cootie catchers, and can be used to play-act catching plague-insects such as lice.)
Flight from Egypt – Find a Sinai path that visits each Israelite campsite just once: the Traveling Salesman, er, Israelite Problem [Explanation of pics on Sinai puzzle]
Jewpardy! – Questions on topics such as sports, Israeli technology, culture, quotes
Matzah Farfel – Clever little Passover-themed math puzzles – No fair peeking at the answers :)
Passover Mad Gab – Identify the "mis-heard" Passover phrases, like "Tie Tie Hay Knew" [for legal-sized paper; can reduce magnification or print left side on regular paper]

Board games for little kids from CAJE:*   Get from Egypt to Israel   –   Moses' Life Story   –   Collect All Five Symbolic Foods for a Seder Plate
        * CAJE (Central Agency for Jewish Education) in St Louis

SEDER TRADITIONS AROUND THE WORLD

Many people like to enact some seder customs and traditions of Jews living in foreign lands.   Learn (and do!) interesting and fun Passover practices of Jews around the world.   Persian scallions during Dayenu – Moroccans tap the seder plate on their heads – the Afikomen as good luck charm – Beets added to the seder plate – Leaving the table to act out leaving Egypt – and many more.   We've collected several dozen.

Click here for a comprehensive list of customs from many countries.   It's one way of educating about traditions used elsewhere and celebrate the diversity of Jews around the world.

OTHER USEFUL RESOURCES

Handout of "Seder Suggestions" for Parents

Based on our highly acclaimed Passover Prep Workshops, this handout contains many suggestions from our Passover Alerts: games, themes, songs, crafts, activities and more – for parents of kids.  (Fun for adult groups too!)     Download the family-friendly handout here We also have a one-page resource sheet – suggested Haggadahs, music and resources     Download the one-page resource sheet Book our workshop for your venue here

The 1526 Prague Haggadah, interpreted

The 1526 Prague Haggadah is one of the most famous illustrated Hebrew books. It was the first printed, illustrated Haggadah, decorated with sixty woodcuts and illustrated Hebrew letters. The commentary on the text provides interesting views into the culture and traditions of the 16th century.

On my request, scholars Robyn Shoulson and Saul London produced an English translation and interpretion of the commentary in the Prague Haggadah.   Get the interpretive translation here

While the commentary is interesting reading on its own, it's much more interesting to use with one of the recently published facsimile editions. These are available from the Bialik Institute, the Education Dept (Pedagogical Institute) of the Jewish Agency for Israel, Robinson Books and several other places. Ask your local Jewish bookstore to get it, or do a web search for Prague Haggadah.

Other Web Resources for Novel Seders

Joe Gelles markets Noam Zion's wonderful haggadahs: A Different Night and A Night to Remember

Pesach Fun! has many wonderful family-friendly games and quizzes to engage children. From Pesach Bingo, 20 Questions, Charades, Taboo, ImaginIff, Categories, and Headlines to Treasure Hunts, Letter Rip and Compatibility, these games teach creativity, knowledge and joy for Passover. With ready-to-use game boards. Perhaps their best suggestion is asking older kids to create questions, boards and puzzles for their younger siblings. By Miriam & Ephrayim Naiman and their children, in Ramat Beit Shemesh.

JewBelong contains resources for leading a kickass seder with a lighthearted attitude.

Thanks for visiting Seders for You.   I hope you found many useful suggestions.   Don't forget to tell your friends about us also!