Cantor Kevin Wartell recently led a model Seder at the Religious School at in South Whitehall.
The first two nights of Passover, which are tonight, April 18, and Tuesday, April 19, are celebrated with a Seder or special service before the meal to recount the significance of the holiday.
The model Seder is a representation of what will occur on the first two nights of Passover.
Find out what's happening in South Whitehallwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Each student had a prayer book called a Haggadah, which relates the story of the theme of Passover, the Exodus of the Jewish people from Egypt.
Passover is the oldest continuously celebrated Jewish festival.
Find out what's happening in South Whitehallwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
The Passover begins at sunset with a Seder which is a short service, and following it, a traditional meal is served. The leader of the Seder usually calls on those seated around the dinner table to read from the Hagaddah.
Some of the traditions at the Passover Seder are the Seder plate, four cups of wine, the cup of Elijah, the four questions, the 10 plagues, salt water and the matzah. With the model Seder, the children become familiar with what to expect and learn the meaning of the various parts of the service. The Seder plate usually contains the symbols of Passover: a lamb shank, greens, charoses, a roasted egg and bitter herbs.
Instead of wine, the children drank apple juice. And of course there was a piece of matzah to symbolize the fact that the Jews left in a hurry and did not have time to allow the bread to rise.
One of the pivotal parts of the service is the asking of four questions by the youngest in attendance. The questions, usually read in English and Hebrew, are answered by the leader. Afterwards a small meal was served.