Skip to main content
Read Time: 6 min

From Text to Table: A Schechter Passover Journey

At Schechter, the weeks leading up to Passover are more than just holiday prep—they’re a living, joyful expression of our values, our mission, and our unique approach to learning. Across every grade and classroom, students have been bringing the Haggadah to life, engaging with its themes through creativity, curiosity, and connection.

This is what learning looks like at Schechter: grounded in tradition, inspired by inquiry, and elevated by joy.

Learning Through Discovery

Fifth graders explored two Mishna texts about bedikat chametz (the search for leaven) and then brought the text to life with a chametz search of their own in their Kehillah classrooms. “It’s always powerful when students can embody what they learn in the text,” shared Rachael Gray-Raff, 5th & 6th Grade Judaic Studies Teacher.

They also studied the four cups of wine, uncovering how each one reflects a stage in the journey of Yetziat Mitzrayim. With this understanding, students created original “Four Cups Haggadot” to bring new meaning to their family seders. “It makes me so happy to see the students connecting the learning to their own Pesach table — it is very special,” said Pnina Mazor, 5th & 6th Grade Judaic Studies Teacher.

Simcha and Celebration

The energy of Passover is contagious in our classrooms, especially in the Early Childhood Center. Alim is preparing Pesach: The Musical, a full-on retelling of the Exodus story through drama and song. Over in Eitzim, students are running their own matzah factory, kneading and rolling dough as they learn how matzah is made. In Alonim, children are deepening their understanding through storytelling, play, and art.

This joyful, hands-on learning brings the value of Simcha / Celebration to life. As Rabbi Nachman teaches, “It’s a great mitzvah to always be joyful.” At Schechter, we embrace joyful Judaism—celebrating our traditions with heart, music, and movement.

B’tzelem Elohim: Every Voice Matters

Our kindergarten students are decorating their own Haggadot, filling each page with vibrant stickers, colors, and love. In 3rd grade, students are exploring the Arba’at HaBanim—the Four Children—asking deep questions and interpreting what each child might represent.

These moments affirm our belief in B’tzelem Elohim, that every child is created in the image of God. At Schechter, we see the worth and wisdom of each learner, and we create space for every voice, every question, and every creative expression to be valued.

Global Perspectives, Local Joy

Our all-school celebration, Pesach Around the World, was a shining example of our value of Kehillah / Community. Students journeyed through interactive stations highlighting global Passover traditions:

Use scallions to playfully tap each other during Dayenu—just like Persian Jews around the world

Discussing how Turkish Jews share prayers in Arabic

Talking about the ways in which Moroccan Jews bring the post-Pesach celebration of Mimouna to life

Students even began crafting their own Omer counters, preparing for the spiritual journey from Pesach to Shavuot

By experiencing the diversity of Jewish life around the world, students gained a richer, deeper appreciation for their own place in a global Jewish story. It’s learning rooted in identity and inclusivity.

Teaching Responsibility Through Ritual

Passover is a time of reflection, freedom, and responsibility—a core theme at Schechter. As students learned about the Four Cups, the mitzvot of the seder, and the journey from slavery to freedom, they also explored how each step of the seder is a call to action. Their original “Four Cups Haggadot” are not just personal reflections—they’re tools to bring new meaning to their family tables.

Through this, students live out the value of Achrayut / Responsibility, learning that our history asks something of us: to care for others, to pursue justice, and to carry the story forward.

Education that Sets the Standard

Schechter’s integrated curriculum—blending rigorous text study with hands-on projects and creative exploration—is a living example of our commitment to Dugma / Exemplary Education. Whether it’s creating a play, writing commentary, or baking matzah from scratch, students engage in meaningful, multi-sensory learning that brings Jewish tradition into conversation with 21st-century thinking.

Each moment is intentional. Each moment is filled with purpose.

Why It Matters

At Schechter, we believe that Jewish learning should ignite the soul. That the Haggadah is not just a book we open once a year—but a blueprint for lifelong growth, community, and reflection.

From our youngest learners in the ECC to our 8th graders, Passover is more than a holiday—it’s an opportunity to embody our values and grow as engaged Jewish citizens.

As we enter the holiday, we are proud of the ways our students are using their knowledge, skills, and creativity to enrich their families’ seders—and the world beyond.

Wishing our entire Schechter family a Chag Pesach Sameach! As we gather with loved ones this Passover, we’re holding tight to what matters most: community, connection, and hope for brighter days ahead. Wishing you a holiday full of meaning, joy, and plenty of matzah.

Schedule a Sager School (K-8) Tour Today

Schedule a Tour Today