Fun Passover ideas for kids!

We spent most of yesterday morning at the JCC-South, where the Passover Bingo game was featured as a "station" at the Jewish Community Center's "Passover Sampler."  Kids has the chance to play the game, which resulted in a lot of running back and forth to get mom or dad's credit card and buy the game so they could play it more later.  We especially loved one of the kids who quietly approached us while families were still registering, so he could take a sneak peek at the game.  Then, when it was time for the first small group to play the colorful bingo board game, he already knew the answers to several of the clues we called out.  For instance, before I could even finish asking the name of the leader who led the Israelites out of Egypt and split the Red Sea, he called out "MOSES!" and marked a square on his bingo board.

First winner claiming her prize at the JCC-South Passover Sampler!

The great thing about Passover Bingo is that every kid is a winner!  Whether you play the game while reading through the Hagaddah at the seder, or quiz each other like we did yesterday on the key words associated with the holiday, eventually everyone will fill up at least a horizontal, vertical, or diagonal line and get a BINGO. 

We were very impressed with the other stations and creative ideas expressed at the Passover Sampler.  There was a "Tiger Tales" story time featuring a story about Sammy the Spider who wanted to celebrate Passover rather than spinning a web; a room where kids could make pyramids out of sugar cubes and styrofoam cups, another room with tools to grate fresh horseradish and stir up ingredients for charoset; and finally a room to decorate festive (plastic) wineglasses.   What struck me most about the day was that everything was low-tech but high in the fun factor.  For a few precious hours, we just played games and used our creativity and imagination without the assistance of electronic devices.  How often does that really happen anymore . . . in my world, not very often!

One week and counting till the first Seder of 2013 . . . are you ready yet?

Sephardic Charoset

Compliments of Eve Levy/The Jewish Experience Denver:
1 cup of pitted dates
1/2 cup raisins
1/2 cup walnut
1/4 tsp. dry ginger
1/4 cup sweet wine

Combine all ingredients in a food processor.  Pulse a few times until a coarse paste is formed.
Alternatively, cut the ingredients into very small pieces and mash for several minutes, then add wine, after all ingredients are combined.

DIY plague kit

So last night at the Jewish Experience's Rosh Chodesh group, we heard from the brilliant and eloquent Eve Levy about women's role in the Exodus (way to go, Miriam!!) and also some tips on making the seder more fun for kids.

You know how there are those plague kits all over the place now?  Well, Mrs. Levy made some good suggestions about creating a plagues out of inexpensive items.  For instance: for the plague of BLOOD, make shot glasses filled with jello.  For hail, you can use marshmallows (much softer impact than golf or wiffle balls), and so on . . .   She also shared one family's trick to getting kids involved in the Seder and the story of Exodus:  they get two long, thick streams of ribbon (or you can use blue bed sheets or other fabric) to simulate the sea.  Adults hold the fabric in two parallel lines, and kids can run down the line on the carpet as they "cross the sea."  Then, if someone dressed up as Pharaoh tries to cross, the sea closes (the sheets or fabric get thrown over him) and he drowns!  A multi-sensory experience to get us all in the Passover spirit.

We also acquired a recipe for delicious Sephardi Charoset that was sampled at the event, but that will have to wait for another time . . .

Passover Bingo beats plague bags any day

Love this shout-out from Our Tribe & Joy, a great Jewish mom blog!


Passover Bingo beats plague bags any day

Upcoming Events featuring Passover Bingo

Passover Bingo will be around town in the next few weeks leading up to Passover.  On Tuesday, March 12, we'll have the game at the Jewish Experience's Rosh Chodesh Ladies' Night Out.  

Then, on March 17, we will be demonstrating the game at the JCC-South Denver's Passover Sampler:

9:30-11:30 a.m.
$15/family
JCC South Denver: 9625 E. Arapahoe Road, Greenwood Village, 80112 (NW corner of Arapahoe and Dayton)
Designed for children 3 years – first grade.
Children and their families are invited to experience an interactive Passover program. Learn about the traditions of Passover through storytelling, art, delicious holiday food, and Passover Bingo. JCC South Denver is partnering with Hebrew Educational Alliance, Denver Jewish Day School’s Tiger Tales for storytelling program, and Passover Bingo. To register, contact Dani Wynn or Melissa Hoch at southdenver@jccdenver or 303-799-6975.

Spice Up Seder with Passover Bingo – Jew and the Carrot – Forward.com

Great article about Passover Bingo by the brilliant Denver writer Nina Snyder!
Spice Up Seder with Passover Bingo – Jew and the Carrot – Forward.com