Creative tips on how to make the pre-Pesach preparation fun and memorable for your children

Chaya Steinman

“Dust is not hametz and your kids are not the korban Pesach.” This sage advice from the Lubavitcher Rebbe, zt”l, is perfect for shifting our perspective as we prepare for Passover. Anyone who has tried to clean for Pesach with little ones underfoot knows the frustrations of making Pesach with kids in the picture. And on top of that, there is the added challenge of feeding a hungry brood whilst the house is in the throes of Pesach cleaning. Based on the Rebbe’s poignant words, we can assume that due to unnecessary stringencies and stressed-out parents, some children experience the cleaning frenzy as unpleasant and burdensome.

Yet, all of this cleaning is leading up to the seder night, and the main mitzvah of the evening is “vehigadta lebincha” – telling the story of the Exodus to the next generation. Ironically, these children who seem to make the entire process so much more difficult are the “stars of the show” when we arrive at the seder. The seder is set up in a way to engage children with questions, stories and games, so they should remain awake and be excited to experience the narrative of our nation’s birth. On this special night, we try to imbue our offspring with our holy history so that they may carry on the torch of our traditions.

Most families are aware that at a Pesach seder they are creating memories and giving over their core values. The warmth of family coming together, the splendor of a sparkling home, the opulence of the beautiful dining ware, and the intrigue of new customs and strange foods create a charged atmosphere. Abuzz with fun and excitement, children are swept up in the novelty of the night and receptive to participating. This unique event will truly make an imprint on our children’s minds that will stay with them throughout their life. Indeed, most adults can vividly recall fond memories of their childhood Pesach experiences. Yet, while it is true that a Passover seder done right is a precious opportunity to transmit Judaism to our small charges, it’s important to realize that this task is upon us all year long.

In the weeks prior to the big event, when we’re in the midst of cleaning and preparing – and possibly feeling overwhelmed to boot – it’s easy to lose sight of this lofty goal. Of course we know that Pesach is a chance to present our children with a Judaism that is beautiful and alive, but are we conveying this message when we clean? Just as the seder night is a way to give our children memories and inculcate them with Torah values, so too, we can use the pre-Pesach time to achieve the same objective.

Words That Come From the Heart

Many organized housewives have mastered the technicalities of making Pesach, writing down lists of cleaning schedules and menu plans the second Purim departs. I’d like to

suggest, though, that as much as we prepare and plan for our home and food, we should also consider our children and make sure they are ready for the holiday. I learned from a renowned educator in Jerusalem that the mitzvah to prepare oneself 30 days prior to a festival includes preparing children, as well. And thus, my pre-Pesach to-do list for this year will also include a list of fun, Pesach-related projects and games to keep my children happy and occupied whilst we rid our home of hametz.

Pesach crafts have an added benefit of providing parents an opportunity to discuss the story and themes of the holiday. Certainly, children will hear the story of Pesach from their teacher, yet, this doesn’t exempt the parents from teaching their children about the holiday. With a pre-Pesach activity as a springboard, parents can give over Pesach in their own unique way, sharing their memories and telling the stories that they connect to. One mother might overflow emotionally to her children describing how the Almighty went above and beyond when He took the Jews out of Egypt and expound on all of the incredible miracles that occurred during the Splitting of the Sea. Another parent could wax poetic about the meaning of freedom and how being servants of Gd is the ultimate expression of true freedom. The story of the 10 plagues could be presented in colorful detail and humor. When parents express a story in a way that is exciting and meaningful to them, then, “devarim hayotzim min halev nichnasim el ha’ev – words that come from the heart enter the heart.” With a bit of forethought, these projects segue into a platform to transmit our own personal feelings towards Pesach.

Do-It-Yourself Seder Paraphernalia

A fun way to both entertain your children pre-Pesach and also engage them at the seder is by having them create things that will be used at the seder. Entice your kids to stay up till the end with a fun afikoman bag. You’ll need a piece of fabric that is sewn in an envelope style, making sure that there is enough room to fit the piece of matzah. There are endless ways to decorate the bag, so let your kids get creative and come up with cute messages like “Find Me!” Display their artwork front and center by letting kids make a seder plate. For the little ones, it can be as simple as crayons and a paper plate. For older, artistically inclined children, give them some oil-based sharpie markers and an oven-safe ceramic platter to design and decorate as a seder plate, and then put it in a 350° oven (cleaned for Pesach, of course) for 30 minutes to set their work. Another way to incorporate children’s art on the seder table is with a kiddush cup for Eliyahu. A plastic goblet can transform into a masterpiece with glue and colored tissue paper, plastic jewels and stickers, to add an extra dose of fun to the seder table.

Kids can also get crafty with DIY napkin holders and place cards to adorn your seder table.

Creating props to make the seder more dynamic will help create a festive atmosphere leading up to Pesach and ensure participation during the seder. One cute idea is to make signs for the Mah Nishtanah to add a fun visual aid. With some popsicle sticks taped to decorated construction paper or oak tag, kids can draw images to accompany the four questions. Hold up a picture of hametz and matzah, and then a sign of just matzah, for a cute way to contrast seder night and all other nights. The next question would require one sign with a variety of vegetables and the next sign with only bitter herbs, and so on. Older children can get more creative and turn this into a photography project, whereby they are challenged to style unique

photos to be made into signs. This concept can be applied to other points throughout the seder, like the plagues or the four sons.

Bingo, “Pesach Land,” and “Pyramids and Sand Dunes”

Another great DIY project is Pesach bingo. There is an actual board game called Passover Bingo which can be purchased online, but with some markers, paper and creativity, you and your children can make your own. The bingo cards can contain images and words related to the seder, such as “Haggadah,” Egypt” or “Frogs.” But since you’re personalizing this game, you can also add squares with family inside jokes. For example if a certain relative frequently says a certain catch phrase, put that on the board.

Make it humorous by including squares for a wine spill or for someone asking, “When do we eat!” Give each person at the seder a customized bingo board and something to place on squares as they are filled – candy or nuts will work – and enjoy!

There are many other classic games that can also be turned into Pesach-themed fun. Memory match games are easy to make and appropriate for even very young kids. Decorate the cards with images of the plagues, foods on the seder plate, and other Pesach symbols. Along the same lines, you can create a deck of Pesach cards that can be used for “Go Fish” (which can be renamed, “Go Gefilte Fish”) or “Old Maid” with a Pharaoh card instead of the Old Maid. Recreate Candy Land as “Pesach land” with delicious Pesach treats along the colorful path leading to Macaroon Mountain – just don’t get caught in the Marror Marsh or the Lake of Salty Tears! Chutes and Ladders becomes “Pyramids and Sand Dunes.” Land on Pesach-related mitzvot to climb the pyramid, while bad “Mitzri” behavior will send you sliding down a sand dune. Treat your kids to a new batch of poster boards, markers, glitter glue and stickers to get them excited about making their own Passover game.

Perhaps in our efforts to prepare and inspire our children for Pesach, some of that enthusiasm will rub off on us. Wishing everyone a Hag Kasher V’Sameach!

Last month we celebrated Purim, wherein a day of potential grief and annihilation was transformed into a day of celebration and laughter. This turn-around was so miraculous, that our sages mandated that we increase joy during the entire month of Adar. In the finale of Megillat Esther we read that Mordechai was “highly regarded by the Jews and popular with most of his brethren. He sought the good of his people and interceded for the welfare of all his kindred.” David “Hurdle” Tawil, a”h, was a man who embodied the spirit of Purim – full of joy and laughter. Like Mordechai, Mr. Tawil was highly regarded by our community, sought the good of his people through his hesed efforts, interceded for the benefit of peace between business partners and spouses, and was a popular public speaker and mentor.

Family Background

Born in Brooklyn in 1936, David “Hurdle” was the third of six children and was a phenomenal athlete. At 6’3,” he was a natural on the basketball court, which he shared with players of all ages for many years. Married to Renee, a”h, for 55 years, the couple raised a beautiful family, with Ralph, Eddie, Eliot, Pauline Wahba, and Lena Waingort. The children were imbued with the values of work hard and don’t stop until the job is done. When the family moved to the Bedford area in 1972, Mr. Tawil worked to create the Kol Israel congregation, and was chosen to be the first President.

Six years ago, he married Joyce Tawil, who was, as one of the children related, “an angel of a woman who took such good care of our father and to whom we are so grateful.” Mr. Tawil was long ago dubbed the nickname “Hurdle” although no one seems to remember why.

Love of Laughter

Hurdle Tawil loved an audience. It provided him with the opportunity to mediate for shalom, teach a skill, such as public speaking, encourage others to do hesed, and most importantly to make people laugh. Rabbi Ralph Tawil, Mr. Tawil’s eldest son, recalls, “The two highest values my father taught us were to help others and to make them laugh. Laughter was such an important element of my father’s life. And he was very ‘machmir’ on telling a joke correctly.”

The old adage that “laughter is the best medicine” is actually a proven fact. Research shows that laughter gets rid of tension, strengthens the immune system, and like chocolate cake, helps the body release feel-good endorphins. Having a sense of humor is a sign of maturity because it demonstrates a sense of perspective about what is truly important. Mr. Tawil may have balked at all the clinical data, “too fussy” he might have said, because he knew instinctively that while a person is laughing, life seems easier. Ikey Ades, who considered Mr. Tawil his best friend, concurs. “I never saw David as a comedian. He really was a serious and intelligent person. The jokes and stories were for us. He knew how tough life could be so he took us away for a while – from all the stress and pressure and made us laugh. It was his way of giving tzedakah.”

Mr. Tawil’s son Eliot says, “Laughter was more important than money to my father.” Mr. Tawil said repeatedly that he “has never seen a U-Haul behind a hearse” to illustrate that the only thing you can take with you to the Next World are your good deeds. Eliot continues, “My father believed that success was not defined by the amount of money in your bank account, but by the amount of good deeds you can tally up. In this sense, my father was the most successful man in the world.”

Natural Sportsman

Mr. Tawil’s work hard/play hard ethic made him a major player in the leagues at the Sephardic Community Center and he was the first member inducted into their Sports Hall of Fame. Mr. Tawil’s athletic prowess extended to softball where he was, according to son Eddie, renowned as a quick pitch artist who confused many a batter. He played basketball until he was 65 and softball until he was 74. When his “knees and hips gave out” he played golf. His talents extended off the court and field as Mr. Tawil also played the violin. In all these arenas Mr. Tawil did what he did best – made connections, gave advice, and made people laugh (except for all the batters who couldn’t get a hit when he was on the pitcher’s mound).

Whether on or off the court, on stage, or in gemara class, one of Mr. Tawil’s greatest talents was bringing energy and excitement to everything he did. Rabbi Avi Harari credits Mr. Tawil with teaching him “how to live a life of meaning, purpose, and impact.” Rabbi Harari describes Mr. Tawil as “wise and well intentioned. He was confident enough to offer advice while being humble enough to laugh at himself while he did so. He understood people and used creative

thinking to problem solve. At the same time, he would say, ‘If my advice doesn’t make sense to you, don’t follow it.’ He gave people space to grow.” These qualities made Mr. Tawil a much sought-after mentor and advisor.

Dedication to Hesed

It was easy for Mr. Tawil to educate others in living a life of meaning because that is exactly how he chose to live his life. His daughter Paulie recalls that, from a young age she received the message to always be involved in hesed. “My father always believed that hesed is what makes you who you are.” From SAFE to the Mitzvah Man, almost every organization in our community benefitted from Mr. Tawil’s involvement. He considered men like Joe Beyda, Morris Bailey, and Michael Cohen visionaries, who created organizations that continue to serve our community. Mr. Tawil involved himself with these organizations, being fully present and on the front lines, wherever and whenever he was needed.

Mr. Tawil’s son Eddie remembers him saying, “I went out and sought people who needed help and didn’t think of the next day until I found a mission of who I could help.” Mr. Tawil used another one of his great talents, public speaking, le shem shamayim. “The rabbis are teaching Torah and they need to deliver a message, so I went to all the yeshivot and kollels to teach them public speaking.” In fact, Mr. Tawil spent two weeks at the Shehebar Sephardic Center in Yerushalayim teaching the rabbis how to grab the audience’s attention and keep it by using the proper inflection, pauses, and format for delivering the speech. Following the rules of good comedic delivery, which he applied to all his public speaking engagements, Mr. Tawil encouraged the rabbis to have a strong voice, read the room, and adjust the content based on the audience’s reaction.

Dedication to Learning Torah

Rabbi Edmund Nahum learned daf yomi with Mr. Tawil at 5:30am every day for 12 years. Rabbi Nahum recalls that Mr. Tawil accompanied him to pay shiva calls and visit people in the hospital. “Hurdle was very helpful to me in my work mediating financial disputes. He understood business and technology more than I did and would explain business concepts to me.” Mr. Tawil attended the morning class religiously and while he always had a funny joke to share, he took his learning very seriously, focusing on every word of the gemara and absorbing its meaning. “Hurdle came to our classes with what he called ‘western thinking,’ a secular mindset. But over the years he acknowledged that he had a new understanding of everything as seen through the teaching of the gemara.”

His commitment to learning continued during Covid with daily daf yomi classes via zoom with his son Rabbi Ralph Tawil. Son Eliot acknowledges that, “even while my dad was in the hospital he would say, ‘get Ralphie on the phone – I want to get started on the class.’ Those classes were his sustenance, his medicine. It was so vital that he had that time with Ralphie.”

A Laughing Good Time

Masechet Taanit relates the story of when Rabbi Beroka Hoza’a asked Eliyahu HaNavi if anyone in the marketplace would merit a place in the World-to-Come. Eliahu HaNavi pointed out two brothers who he claimed would be going straight to the World-to-Come. When asked their occupation they replied: “We are jesters, and we cheer up the depressed. Alternatively, when we see two people who have a quarrel between them, we strive to make peace.” It is said that for these deeds one enjoys the profits of his actions in this world, and yet his reward is not diminished in the World-to-Come. Mr. David “Hurdle” Tawil lived his life by these principles – cheering us up and resolving our quarrels. Rabbi Ralph Tawil quotes Rabbi Hanina ben Dosa, “‘Anyone who people are pleased with – Hashem is pleased with him.’ When we live our lives to make people happy, resolve conflict, and do good for people, people are pleased with us and Hashem is pleased with us. In this way I know Hashem loves my father.”

While we have lost a man of indomitable spirit, resilience, dedication, and kindness, up in shamayim they must be having a laughing good time with “Hurdle” at the mike.

The MSB softball league is bringing up this season’s games to a whole new level. We all know what amazing work the hesed organizations of our community do for us all. Now MSB is giving back to them in a great new way. Each team in the league will be named after one charity, giving them major publicity.

The exposure will be multi-pronged. Each organization’s logo will be featured on MSB’s social media and website, which are highly trafficked by the Syrian community. MSB’s Instagram page alone has a few thousand followers. The charities will also be featured on all league shows, videos, and highlight reels. The league has multiple shows a week, which get four to five hundred views per show. The league’s broadcast list has about two hundred fifty people. They also have thousands of readers like you following our game articles right here in Community Magazine. To further advertise these organizations, MSB is working on a promotional video. This will encourage support for the incredible work the organizations do. And representatives will be welcomed down to the field to fundraise.

The Seven Featured Hesed Organizations and Their Team Captains

The organizations to be featured this season include seven amazing charities. One is SFF (Sephardic Food Fund), a charity that gives money for food to the needy. This enables them to sustain themselves and their families in a dignified manner, without any shame. The captain for team SFF is Mordechai Grazi.

Also featured is Bnei Melachim, an organization that supports widows and orphans with whatever they may need. The captain for this team is Ralph Shama.

CARE is an acronym for community, advocacy, resources, and encouragement. The team at CARE live up to their name as they help special needs children and their families with tremendous dedication. Team CARE is captained by Mordy Chrem.

The Safe foundation featured as well. This charity well known for their life saving work. They provide clients and their families with counseling and support in dealing with addiction. Their goal is to educate all members of our community on the dangers of addiction and its prevention. Leo Esses is captain of Team Safe.

Another group that will be publicized is the Community Assistance Fund. It is the first organization people call when in need. They comfort callers and help to stabilize the situation, making sure the callers get whatever they need for the moment. They then guide them to the organizations best suited to help them long term. This team will be captained by Yanky Itzkowitz.

Also included is the Maskeel El Dal Society, which helps the needy as well as helping brides that cannot afford to make a wedding. In addition, they have a full day Hacham Baruch Kollel and a Bet Hora’ah. Team Maskeel El Dal’s captain is Dan Braun.

Another group that will be featured is the one and only SBH (Sephardic Bikur Holim). SBH helps our community in countless ways. Their food pantry provides food for anyone struggling financially. These families can also receive financial counseling to get back on their feet. SBH also offers mental health services and has a medical line for anyone seeking help in finding a suitable doctor. To keep our seniors connected and active in an enjoyable atmosphere, SBH has fantastic senior programs as well. Of course, all of these services are offered free of charge. Edmund Beyda will be the captain of team SBH.

This new endeavor will help raise money and heighten awareness for the beautiful work of these organizations. Bezrat Hashem each of these charities will gain tremendously through this initiative. MSB is helping to build our community’s future in hesed – one game at a time.

Team sponsorships are available. For more information please email Samjsutton@gmail.com.