The Story: A Six-Minute Play
modified from the original play by Rabbi Daniel Brenner

CAST: NARRATOR, JOSEPH, BENJAMIN, PHAROAH, ADVISOR, HEBREW 1, HEBREW 2, HEBREW 3, BOSS, BAT PHAROAH, MOSES, G-D, AARON

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

 

JOSEPH: So, brother, tell me. How are things back in Israel?

BENJAMIN: Terrible! Our gardens and crops are dying. There is no rain this year. That is why we had to come down to Egypt!

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

BENJAMIN: But, what does the Pharaoh think of us Hebrews?

JOSEPH: He loves me and would welcome all Hebrews. Bring the entire family! We’ll make a great life here.

 

NARRATOR: So, the Hebrews moved to Egypt, had many children, and lived well. But many years later, after Joseph and his brothers had died, a new Pharaoh rose to power.

 

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

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

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

ADVISOR: Yes, your highness! And, they’re growing in number. They are strong workers.

PHAROAH: Do you think that might be a danger? Perhaps they will challenge my rule – make demands, rise up against me!

ADVISOR: Yes, you are right! We must break their spirits!

PHAROAH: Start by forcing them to make more bricks each day. Next, make them haul more rocks. Then, take away their breaks. If that doesn’t break their spirits, we’ll turn to harsher measures.

NARRATOR: The Hebrews struggled to keep up with Pharaoh’s demands.

 

HEBREW 1: My hands are killing me. And my back! I can’t take the 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.

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

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

 

NARRATOR: Meanwhile, Pharaoh’s daughter adopted a baby, a first-born Hebrew male whose sister, at her mother’s request, had sent him down the river in a basket to escape his fate. The child, Moses, was raised with the finest Egypt had to offer.

 

BAT PHAROAH: Here, sweetheart, eat your honey cakes before your flute lesson.

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

BAT PHAROAH: 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. Why?

BAT PHAROAH: Never mind what goes on outside, sweetheart.

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

 

NARRATOR: One day, Moses snuck away to witness the Hebrew’s plight.

 

HEBREW 1: I can’t work. I’m sick! My arms ache from lifting stones!

BOSS: No excuses! This pyramid must be finished by Thursday! Today is Wednesday! So get moving!

HEBREW 1: I can’t work. Please, listen. Have some compassion!

BOSS: Quiet!

HEBREW 2: Give him a break, boss!

HEBREW 3: Don’t get involved!

BOSS: Enough! [Boss pushes Hebrew 2 to the ground.]

HEBREW 3: Stop! One of Pharaoh’s princes is coming!

MOSES: What is happening?

BOSS: Your honor, I’ll give this man the beating he deserves! Watch!

MOSES: No! [Moses hits the Boss, who falls to the ground.]

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

MOSES: Oh no! What have I done? What have I done?

 

NARRATOR: Moses ran away, far into the wilderness, where he met a shepherd named Jethro and married his daughter Zipporah. One day, taking care of Jethro’s sheep, Moses stumbled upon a burning bush.

 

G-D: Moses, Moses!

MOSES: Who is that? What is happening?

G-D: It is me, the G-d of your ancestors, Abraham, Issac, and Jacob. You must go back to Egypt and ask Pharaoh to let your people leave Egypt! Then you will lead them back to their homeland!

MOSES: How will I do that? The people don’t know me! And, I have no power now that I have run away!

G-D: I will be with you. Take your brother, Aaron. Stand up to Pharaoh!

 

NARRATOR: So Moses and Aaron returned to Egypt to see Pharaoh.

 

PHAROAH: What do you want?

AARON: Please let my people leave Egypt. We need to go outside of the city so that we can pray to G-d in our own way.

PHAROAH: Why not wait for the festival of the pyramids? Then your people can pray with everyone.

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

PHAROAH: You must be joking. The gods have made Egypt a great nation. What has your G-d done for you?

MOSES: You’ll see what our G-d can do! Then you’ll let us go!

PHAROAH: Don’t count on it!

 

NARRATOR: So, G-d sent plagues. Water turned to blood, so fish died, and everyone was thirsty; frogs swarmed every inch of space in Egypt; lice and other bugs crawled to cover the land; wild animals came and destroyed all that was built; disease struck sacred livestock; painful boils broke on the skin of people and animals; hail pelted from the skies; and darkness fell over the land. Still, Pharoah would not let the Hebrews go ... until a fatal illness killed the firstborn child of every Egyptian ...

 

ADVISOR: Your highness, why aren’t our gods protecting us?

PHAROAH: Don’t you see? All we did to the Hebrews is happening to us!

ADVISOR: Maybe their G-d IS powerful!

PHAROAH: Quickly, tell all of my guards to let the Hebrew people go!

 

NARRATOR: And so, Moses, spoke to the people.

 

MOSES: Put on your sandals, we have no time to bake tomorrow’s bread! Tonight we leave Egypt and set out for a new land! Our children, and our children’s children will remember this night! They’ll tell the story of how we stood up to Pharaoh, and how G-d helped us to be free!

AARON: Pharoah’s men are chasing us! He must have changed his mind!

HEBREW 1: But the Red Sea is ahead! Such high waters!

HEBREW 2: How can we possibly cross?

HEBREW 3: I can’t swim!!

G-D: Moses, raise your staff!

 

NARRATOR: Moses did; the waters of the Red Sea parted long enough for the Israelites to cross over onto dry land. And thus ends our play. 


haggadah Section: -- Exodus Story
Source: Rabbi Daniel Brenner