Once in a while, we come across a guest Expert who has something impactful to contribute to the Savvy Auntie Community. Jewish Treats, a popular daily email and blog, offered us some wonderful Passover traditions to share with our nieces and nephews:

The holiday of Passover is a time of reunion, a time when everyone comes together to celebrate the Seder. The festival is rife with rituals and customs, making Passover a great opportunity for everyone in the family to get involved.

Passover, more than any other Jewish holiday, is focused on the children. The retelling of the story of the Exodus from Egypt to the next generation is actually a Biblical commandment. “And you shall tell it to your child on that day saying: ‘Because of this that G-d did for me in my going out of Egypt’” (Exodus 13:8).  

Why do we dip vegetables in salt water on Passover? More than remembering the tears of enslavement, we dip the veggies to inspire the children to ask us why we do it. This is also the reason that it is left to the youngest seder attendee(s) to recite the Four Questions (Mah Nishtana).

For all Savvy Jewish Aunties, Passover offers a wealth of opportunities to share their Jewish heritage with their nieces and nephews. Here are just a few suggestions:

Arts and Crafts: The seder has lots of opportunities for hands on preparation. Spend an afternoon decorating Matzah covers and pillowcases for the Seder night. Draw pictures of the story of the Exodus from Egypt.

The Gift of Laughter: Sharing the seder with your nieces/nephews? Prepare the plagues in advance (or order one of the many plague kits available on line) to make the telling of the 10 plagues a dramatic affair.

Practice Makes Perfect: This is one is especially useful for the far away Auntie. Help your nieces/nephews rehearse the Four Questions. Whether your family sings it in Hebrew, English, Yiddish or Ladino (or any other language), guide the young performers so that they feel confidant to stand up and sing at the seder.  

Serious Questions/Serious Answers: Here’s one for more mature nieces/nephews, and the more prepared Savvy Aunties. Take a quiet moment and ask your niece/nephew if he/she has any questions about Judaism or Jewish life. If they ask something you can’t answer, that’s ok. Just smile and tell them you’ll get back to them on it.

Passover is a celebration of freedom, a national redemption from slavery and finding our true selves. Every Savvy Jewish Auntie can help their nieces/nephews learn what being a Jew is really about and why it is important for themselves and for their family.

For more Passover ideas, Follow Jewish Treats on Twitter at Twitter.com/JewishTweets.