The Exodus Story | Passover haggadah by Jeffrey Rothman

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The Exodus Story

The Torah tells us the story of our forefather, Jacob. A long time ago, Jacob led his people from Canaan to Egypt, due to a severe drought in Canaan. He believed that he would find more food and water to feed his people in the dry, hot desert. The Pharaoh, leader of the Egyptians, welcomed the small group of Jewish people into Egypt. The Jewish people (called Hebrews in those old days) worked very hard, and earned the respect of the Egyptians. In fact, Jacob’s son, Joseph worked for the Pharaoh and helped the Egyptians to become a great community!

One day, the Pharaoh died, and a new ruler, re-named Pharaoh, took the throne. He was very scared of the Hebrews, because there were so many of them living in Egypt. The new King thought that the Hebrews might hurt him one day, so he made them slaves. The King wanted to know where the Hebrews were at all times, so he made them work day and night, building huge pyramids and buildings to the Egyptian gods.

Pharaoh was very mean to the Hebrews. He didn’t give them enough food to eat, he had the Hebrews beaten, and he took away many important things in their lives.

The Hebrews were not allowed to celebrate Shabbat, and had many things taken away from them like their homes, important animals like cows and goats and sometimes, their family. The Jewish people were very unhappy, and cried out to God to save them.

When the Jews were slaves in Egypt, the Pharaoh decreed that every new born baby boy be drowned in the Nile River. The King decreed this terrible fate on Jewish baby boys so there would not be as many Jews in Egypt. One couple, Amram and Yocheved, hid their newborn at home for three months, but knew he would be killed if he was found. When the baby’s cries became too loud, Yocheved placed him in a basket on the river. Their daughter Miriam watched to see what would happen. When the Pharaoh’s daughter came to bathe in the river, she discovered the basket. Feeling pity for the helpless child, she decided to take him as her own and named him Moshe (Moses), meaning “drawn from the water.”

Bravely, Miriam asked the princess if she needed a nurse to help her with the baby. The princess said yes, and so it happened that Yocheved was able to care for her own son and teach him about his heritage.

Moses grew up into a man. One day, he saw an Egyptian kill a Hebrew slave. Moses was so angered he killed the Egyptian and ran into the wilderness. He became a shepherd under the care of some Hebrews, and the Pharaoh he knew died during this time. A new Pharaoh took his place.

One day, while out shepherding, Moses saw a burning bush. The fire did not consume the bush and a voice spoke to Moses, telling him to deliver the Hebrews from slavery.

With his older brother Aaron as spokesman, Moses went before Pharaoh asking him to free the Israelites. The Pharaoh refused. He made the Israelites work harder.

Finally, God brought ten plagues on the Egyptians. After each plague, Moses came to the Pharaoh and demanded the Hebrews be set free. After each plague, the Pharaoh promised to free the slaves, but did not keep his word.

This part of our Passover story is best described in this familiar song:

Go Down Moses

When Israel was in Egypt's land,

Let my people go;

Oppressed so hard they could not stand,

Let my people go.

Chorus

Go down, Moses,

Way down in Egypt's land;

Tell old Pharaoh

To let my people go!

"Thus saith the Lord," bold Moses said,

Let my people go;

"If not, I'll smite your first-born dead,"

Let my people go.

Chorus

No more shall they in bondage toil,

Let my people go;

Let them come out with Egypt's spoil,

Let my people go.

Chorus

Finally, God sent a terrible plague down to Egypt. Before he did this, he said to Moses: Tell the Hebrews to sacrifice a lamb on the fourteenth day of the month of Nisan. The Hebrews were to take the blood of the lamb, and mark their door-posts of their house, and roast the flesh of the lamb. That evening, God passed over the houses with the Angel of Death, and did not enter the Hebrews’ homes. When the Angel of Death came to Egyptian homes and saw the homes were not marked, the first born male of each family was taken and died that evening. It was only after this plague that Pharaoh agreed to let the Israelites go.

haggadah Section: -- Exodus Story