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This is the story of how the Israelites decided to gain freedom from slavery in Egypt. They were led by Moses and his vision of a life of freedom in the ‘Promised Land’. Your challenge is to help the Israelites escape from slavery. To achieve freedom you need to bring together all the items needed for the Pesach (Passover) celebration meal. next back Escape from SlaveryEscape from Slavery

The Israelites had lived happily in Egypt for many generations. After hundreds of years the King of Egypt (Pharaoh) decided to make the Israelites into slaves. He ordered that they build temples and houses for the Egyptians. The Egyptians made the Israelites work extremely hard and treated them badly. God could see how hard the Israelites had to work and how they suffered. Question 1 Why were the Israelites slaves? Escape from SlaveryEscape from Slavery

You now have the Haroset for your Seder plate. Haroset is made from a mix of apple and nuts. It serves to remind Jews today of the mortar the slaves used when they were building temples and homes for the Egyptians. next  Correct - Well done. The Israelites had grown in number and Pharaoh was now afraid of them. Escape from SlaveryEscape from Slavery

God did not want the Israelites to suffer any longer and chose a man called Moses to lead them away from Egypt. God spoke to Moses in mysterious ways. Moses was a poor speaker so he asked his brother Aaron to help him. Together Moses and Aaron asked Pharaoh to release the Israelites from slavery and allow them to worship their own God. Pharaoh did not know of the Israelite’s God. He refused to let them go and instead, he ordered that the Israelites should be made to work even harder. Question 2 What did God ask Moses to do next? Escape from SlaveryEscape from Slavery

You now have the Lettuce for your Seder plate. Lettuce (or other leaves) tastes sweet when you first start to eat it. After a few mouthfuls the taste becomes bitter. Lettuce on the Seder plate reminds Jews of how good life was before they became slaves. next  Correct - Well done. God told Moses to see Pharaoh and ask him again. Escape from SlaveryEscape from Slavery

The Israelites were working harder than ever before, Moses and Aaron went back to see Pharaoh. They wanted to show him the power of their God. Aaron threw his staff onto the ground in front of Pharaoh. Immediately the staff changed into a snake. Pharaoh however was not at all impressed. He knew his magicians could do the same. So then God sent ten great plagues, one after the after, to Show Pharaoh his power. next Escape from SlaveryEscape from Slavery

The ten great plagues: 1The river Nile filled with blood 2The houses swarmed with frogs 3The dust turned into gnats 4People were covered with flies 5The animals became sick and died 6Ugly sores covered the Egyptians’ faces 7Hail pelted hard on the land and the crops were flattened 8Locusts gobbled up any crops the were left 9Darkness engulfed the land for three long days Darkness engulfed the land for three long days next Escape from SlaveryEscape from Slavery

God spoke to Moses again. He told him of one final plague that would persuade Pharaoh to let the Israelites leave Egypt. This final plague would be the death of every male firstborn of both people and animals. Moses was to tell the Israelites to prepare a meal of roast lamb for their family and to use some of the blood to mark the doorway of their homes. Question 3 Why did the Israelites mark their doorways with lambs’ blood? Escape from SlaveryEscape from Slavery

You now have the Lamb shank for your Seder plate. The lamb shank reminds Jews of the temple where they would make sacrifices to God. next  Correct - Well done. So God would know not to kill anyone in that house. Escape from SlaveryEscape from Slavery

That night, at midnight, God took the life of all the male firstborn of Egypt’s people and animals. A loud cry rose up from the Egyptians because so many of their people had died. Now Pharaoh and all of the Egyptians wanted the Israelites to leave. Some even gave the Israelites gifts of gold, silver and clothing to help them on their way. The Israelites rushed to leave Egypt. Question 4 Why did the Egyptians give the Israelites gifts of gold, silver and clothing? Escape from SlaveryEscape from Slavery

You now have the Parsley for your Seder plate. Parsley represents the new spring and the initial flourishing of the Israelites. In the Seder meal the parsley is dipped in salt water or vinegar to taste the tears the slaves shed over their suffering. next  Correct - Well done. They were afraid that everybody else would be killed if the Israelites stayed any longer. Escape from SlaveryEscape from Slavery

The Israelites rushed to leave Egypt as quickly as possible. Question 5 Why do you think the bread dough they took with them had no yeast? Escape from SlaveryEscape from Slavery

You now have the Matzot for the Seder meal. Next to the Seder plate will be 3 pieces of matzah wrapped or covered in a cloth. Matzot are made from unleavened bread dough. They are used to remember the haste in which the Israelites left Egypt. next  Correct - Well done. They didn’t have enough time to wait for the bread to rise before they left. Escape from SlaveryEscape from Slavery

All the Israelites, maybe two million of them, decided to follow Moses out of Egypt that very night. Moses told the Israelites that God would bring them into the land he had promised them – a land flowing with milk and honey. Question 6 Why do you think the Israelites followed Moses? Escape from SlaveryEscape from Slavery

You now have the Egg for the Seder plate. A roasted egg symbolises the cycle of life – even in the most painful of times there is always hope for a new beginning. next  Correct - Well done. Because they believed that Moses had been appointed by God to lead them to their promised land. Escape from SlaveryEscape from Slavery

The land around Egypt was full of enemies that they needed to avoid. As Moses led the Israelites away from Egypt and into the desert God sent some signs to guide them. Question 7 What did God send to guide the Israelites? Sweet Publishing distantshoresmedia.org Escape from SlaveryEscape from Slavery

You now have candles for the Seder meal. Candles are lit to bring light and joy to the occasion of the Seder meal. It may remind Jews of the light that guided the Israelites through the wilderness. next  Correct - Well done. A pillar of cloud during the day and a pillar of fire at night. Escape from SlaveryEscape from Slavery

But Pharaoh had changed his mind and wanted the Israelites to return to Egypt. He set out with horses and chariots to recapture them. The Israelites had reached the shores of the Red Sea when they saw Pharaoh’s army coming towards them. The Israelites were terrified. Question 8 What should the Israelites do next? Sweet Publishing distantshoresmedia.org Escape from SlaveryEscape from Slavery

You now have Horseradish for the Seder plate. Horseradish represents the bitter taste of slavery. This is dipped into the Haroset to associate the bitterness of slavery with the hard work that went with it. next  Correct - Well done. Trust that Moses will come up with an answer to save them from the Egyptians. Escape from SlaveryEscape from Slavery

Moses raised his staff and stretched out his hand. God parted the waters of the Red Sea and the Israelites went across on dry land; a huge wall of water on either side of them. As the Israelites reached safety on the other side the Pharaoh’s chariots tried to follow them. The wheels and heavy armour weighed them down in the mud. Suddenly, the water crashed in on top of them and they were all drowned. The Israelites had escaped. Question 9 What did Moses and the Israelites do next? Escape from SlaveryEscape from Slavery

You now have Wine for the Seder meal. A sip of wine is drunk, even by children, four times during the Seder meal. Wine symbolises how the Israelites celebrated their escape and their new freedom. Jews say, ‘Next year in Jerusalem’ at the end of the meal. next  Correct - Well done. They sang a song of thanks and praise to God for saving them from slavery. Escape from SlaveryEscape from Slavery

After many trials and tribulations over the next forty years the Israelites finally reached their promised land. Moses saw the Promised Land from the top of a mountain but he did not go with the Israelites into the land. There were many disputes amongst the Israelites along the way. Some wanted to turn back but each time God saved them from hunger, thirst and enemies. There were also arguments about how they should live a good life and how they should resolve their differences. Question 10 What do you think God gave Moses that would help them live a good life? Escape from SlaveryEscape from Slavery

You now have Cushions for the Seder meal. Each seat has a cushion or pillow. At the Seder meal Jews can sit back in comfort and relax. This may remind them of the freedom the Israelites experienced when they finally escaped from slavery. Now they were free to live according to their own laws and commandments. next  Correct - Well done. He gave Moses ten commandments for the Israelites to keep. Escape from SlaveryEscape from Slavery