Host: Now we must tell the Passover story. What better way to tell a story than with a play with a little contemporary flavor. But first, we will have our second cup of wine slightly out of order. In drinking it we reflect on God’s promise that we will be saved. In freedom we remember not only the narrowness of our bondage but also the freedom of our liberation. ֵֹ

Baruch atah Adonai Eloheinu ruach ha’olam borei p’ri hagafen.

Blessed are You God, Spirit of the universe, creator of the fruit of the vine.

LET MY PEOPLE GO! A short play for the seder

NARRATOR/Host: Our story begins in the land of Egypt where Joseph, once a prisoner and slave, is now the Pharaoh’s chief advisor.

JOSEPH: So how are things back in Israel?

BENJAMIN (Joseph’s brother): Oy! Terrible. Our gardens and crops are dying. There is no rain this year. That is why we had to come down to Egypt!

JOSEPH: Well, don’t worry..life in Egypt is fantastic. Playstation 3 in every house, High Definition Television, Lincoln Navigators in the driveway, This is the most powerful nation on the planet!

BENJAMIN: Did you have rain this year? Are the gardens and crops doing well?

JOSEPH: We don’t have to worry about that. I’ve stored away tons of food in giant warehouses. The Pharaoh will be able to feed the people for three years at least, even if we get no rain.

BENJAMIN: What does the Pharaoh think of us Hebrews?

JOSEPH: He loves me. He welcomes the Hebrews into his land. Bring the entire family, we’ll make a great life here.

Narrator: The Hebrews all moved to Egypt and had many children and lived a successful life. But after many years, after Joseph and his brothers had died, a new Pharaoh rose to power.

PHARAOH: Advisor, bring me the latest census report. I want to know all the people who I rule over!

ADVISOR: Yes, you’re Royal Highness. I have the numbers here.

PHARAOH: Let’s see..Nubians, Midians, yes, very good. Are there really that many Hebrews?

ADVISOR: Oh yes, your highness. They are growing in number. They are very strong workers.

PHARAOH: Do you think that might be a danger? Perhaps they will challenge my rule – make demands. You know how these workers are always complaining about the size of the rocks for the new Pyramids. I am worried that they will rise up against me!

ADVISOR: Yes, you my be right.

PHARAOH: First, let us begin with something small. Have them make more bricks each day. If that doesn’t work, eliminate their fifteen-minute breaks. If that doesn’t work, I'll think of something else. 

Narrator: The Hebrew workers struggled to keep up with Pharaoh’s demands.

HEBREW 1: My hands are killing me. And my back, oy! I can’t take this pace.

HEBREW 2: We can make a thousand bricks a day—but two thousand? No team can work that hard! We’ll fall over!

HEBREW 3: Get back to work, the boss is coming!

BOSS: Efficiency, people! We have got to make 900 more bricks by sundown! Come on, let’s work faster!

HEBREW 1: We are working as fast as we can, boss.

BOSS: Listen, I’ve got a lot of pressure on my shoulders. If Pharaoh doesn’t get his bricks, I’m out of a job. I got a family to feed, too, you know. So get back down in the pit and start working!

HEBREW 2: We haven’t had a break all day!

BOSS: And you are not going to get one! Work!

HEBREW 3: No!

BOSS: What’d you say?

HEBREW 3: You heard me.

Narrator: The BOSS walks over and shoves Hebrew 3.

BOSS: Now get back to work before I get angry!

Narrator: Meanwhile, Pharaoh’s daughter adopted a young Hebrew child. The child, Moses, was raised with the finest Egypt had to offer.

PHARAOH’S DAUGHTER: Here, sweetheart, eat your honey cakes before your flute lesson.

MOSES: I’m so excited about the party this evening.

PHARAOH’S DAUGHTER: Your new robe looks lovely, dear. I just hope that the Pyramid is finished. Your grandfather has the workers working double time just to get the place finished before the great assembly.

MOSES: I heard that the Hebrews were complaining.

PHARAOH’S DAUGHTER: Complaining? Don’t worry about that. We take care of the needs of all our workers, dear. They are fed, given homes, and we give them a new pair of shoes each year. We are very generous. They don't know how good they have it.

MOSES: I know so little about the world. Someday I’d like to go out of the palace and see how they live.

PHARAOH’S DAUGHTER: They are not like us, dear. I don't think those slaves have much to teach us.  Stay with me in the palace, Moses.  

Narrator: But Moses was curious and one day he sneaks out of the palace to see for himself.

HEBREW 1: I can’t work, today, I’m sick! And I hurt my arm yesterday lifting stones!

BOSS: I don’t want to hear excuses. This pyramid has got to be finished by Thursday! Today is Wednesday! So get moving!

HEBREW 1: I can’t work. Please, listen to me, have some compassion!

HEBREW 2: Give him a break, boss!

BOSS: Shut up!

HEBREW 3: Don’t get involved!

HEBREW 2: I’m tired of this, boss! My cousin there is hurt. He can’t work today. And he’s not working. So go tell Pharaoh that he’ll have to hire some more workers or this isn’t getting done!

BOSS: Shut up!

Narrator: Boss shoves Hebrew 2.

HEBREW 1: Stop it! Stop! One of Pharaoh’s princes is coming!

MOSES: What is happening?

BOSS: I am going to give this man a beating! Watch this!

MOSES: No!

Narrator: Moses shoves the Boss and the Boss falls to the ground.

HEBREW 3: Oh no! What did you do to the boss? We’ll be blamed for this! We’ll be punished!

MOSES: What have I done? What have I done?

Narrator: Moses ran away, far off into the wilderness. Where he is taken in by Yitro, and marries one of Yitro’s daughter’s Zipporah. One day, as Moses is taking care of yitro’s sheep, he stumbles across a burning bush.

GOD: Moses, Moses!

MOSES: Who is that? What is going on? What is happening?

GOD: It is me, the God of your ancestors, Abraham, Issac, and Jacob.

MOSES: Those aren't my ancestors. You must have the wrong number.

GOD: This is no time for jokes, Moses, and Abraham, Issac and Jacob are your ancestors. You must go back to Egypt and stand up to Pharaoh! Then you will lead your people back to their homeland!

MOSES: How will I do that? The people don't know me! I have no power. And I stutter when I talk. I can't argue with Pharaoh.

GOD: I will be with you. Go to your sister, Miriam, and your brother, Aaron. They will help you prepare to stand up to Pharaoh!

Narrator: Moses returns to Egypt and is welcomed home by Aaron and Miriam. Aaron and Moses approach Pharaoh.

PHARAOH: What do you want?

AARON: Our people need a three-day vacation. We need to go outside of the city so that we can pray to God in our own way.

PHARAOH: Why can’t you wait for the festival of the pyramids? Then your people will have a chance to celebrate with everyone.

MOSES: We do not wish to pray to your gods. We have one God, who is mightier than all of your gods.

PHARAOH: You must be joking. The gods have made Egypt a great nation. What has your God done for you?

MOSES: You’ll see what our God can do! And then you will let us leave Egypt.

PHARAOH: Don’t count on it, Hebrew!

Narrator: Pharaoh was a stubborn man. Even after plagues of blood, frogs, lice, disease, hail, and darkness, he would not let the Hebrews take a day off. It wasn’t until disease struck and Egyptians died, that Pharaoh changed his mind.

PHARAOH: Don’t you understand what is happening?

ADVISOR: No, your highness, I don’t know why our gods are not protecting us.

PHARAOH: Everything we did to the Hebrews is now happening to us!!!

ADVISOR: Maybe their God is powerful!

PHARAOH: Tell the police that  surround their neighborhood to let the Hebrew people leave Egypt.

Narrator: That night, Moses, spoke to the people.

MOSES: Put on your sandals, gather what you can carry. 

Woman: What about baking bread for the journey tomorrow?

MOSES: There is no  time to bake the bread for tomorrow! We leave tonight! Our children, and our children’s children will remember this night! They will tell the story of how we stood up to Pharaoh, and how God helped us to be free!

Narrator: Thus ends our little play.


haggadah Section: -- Exodus Story
Source: Rabbi Daniel Brenner, www.rabbidanielbrenner.blogspot