Why is this Hebrew School Seder different from all other Hebrew School Seders? On Sunday, thousands of kids around the world will join a virtual model Seder that has them traveling the globe. Kids will meet children from Russia, India, Mexico, and many more locations in the first-ever Ckids International Model Seder.
“We’re taking advantage of the current situation to create a top-quality Pesach experience,” says Rabbi Zalmy Loewenthal, director of Ckids. With Hebrew Schools across the country going virtual amid the coronavirus outbreak, the educational headquarters of CKids took this as an opportunity to develop an online program that would get kids excited for Pesach in a whole new way.
“As individual shluchim, none of us would have been able to pull off such an interactive and informative model seder,” says shlucha Sara Bluming of Potomac, Maryland. Bluming is one of the Hebrew School directors on the Ckids vaad of shluchim, helping to develop cutting-edge content that tailors to the needs of modern-day kids. She is joined by Rabbi Dovid Weinbaum, from Dix Hills, New York, and Chavie Ash, of Gilbert, Arizona. Together, the team developed the model seder’s curriculum, then directed and produced the video.
“For each of the 15 Seder steps we have a different family joining us from a country around the world,” explains Rabbi Dovid Weinbaum, who coordinated the acting and scriptwriting. Short videos of real families going through the Seder brings Pesach to life. Seder challenges and a Pesach scoreboard keep kids on the edges of their seats as they race to earn the most points.
Using a specially-designed Ckids Haggadah (created by New York Hebrew) and seder plate for the program, kids follow along through a hilarious Pesach rap, a Dayenu singing contest, and fun games like “Pharoah says.”
The International Mock Seder is a project of Ckids, an initiative that inspires children through programs exploring the richness of Judaism. “Every year, we relive our freedom from slavery with Pesach programs developed by individual Hebrew School directors around the world,” Rabbi Mendy Kotlarsky, executive director of Merkos 302, explains. “This year’s unique circumstances give us the chance to unite with a shared goal: giving kids an excitement and love for Pesach.”
Join the international Seder this Sunday, April 5th, at ckids.net/hslive.
Thank you Ckids for putting together such wonderful Hebrew school lessons during these trying times!