Passover Play - a ten minute script for all ages

Haggadah Section: -- Exodus Story

Here is a kid and adult friendly alternative to for the Maggid section (the Passover story section) of the Haggadah. This short play is in the style of "sedra scenes" -- a contemporary take which makes the story current but stays true to the Exodus narrative. I've written it for large crowds -- so there are 13 parts, but if you have a smaller gathering you can easily double up. 

For more Passover resources, check out www.rabbidanielbrenner.com

LET MY PEOPLE GO!

A short play for the seder

 

By Rabbi Daniel Brenner

 

www.rabbidanielbrenner.com


CAST: NARRATOR, JOSEPH, BENJAMIN, PHAROAH, ADVISOR, HEBREW 1, HEBREW 2, HEBREW 3, BOSS, BAT PHAROAH, MOSES, GOD, AARON  (13 parts)

 

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

 

JOSEPH: So how are things back in Israel?

 

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

 

JOSEPH: Well, don’t worry..life in Egypt is fantastic. Playstation 3 in every house, High Definition Television, Lincoln Navigators in the driveway, This is the most powerful nation on the planet!

 

BENJAMIN: Did you have rain this year? Are the gardens and crops doing well?

 

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

 

BENJAMIN: What does the Pharaoh think of us Hebrews?

 

JOSEPH: He loves me. He welcomes the Hebrews into his land. Bring the entire family, we’ll make a great life here.

 

Narrator: The Hebrews all moved to Egypt and had many children and lived a successful life. But after many years, 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 who I rule over!

 

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:

 

Oh yes, your highness. They are growing in number. They are very strong workers.

 

PHAROAH:

 

Do you think that might be a danger? Perhaps they will challenge my rule – make demands. You know how these workers are always complaining about the size of the rocks for the new Pyramids. I am worried that they will use their strength in numbers to rise up against me!

 

ADVISOR:

Yes, you are right, we must do something to break their spirits.

 

PHAROAH:

 

First, let us begin with something small. We’ll get them to make more bricks each day. If that doesn’t work, we’ll eliminate the fifteen-minute breaks. If that doesn’t break them, then maybe we’ll turn to harsher measures.

 

Narrator: The Hebrew workers struggled to keep up with Pharaoh’s demands.

 

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

 

BOSS: Listen, smart aleck, I’ve got a lot of pressure on my shoulders. If Pharaoh doesn’t get his bricks, I’m out of a job. I got a family to feed, too, you know. So get back down in the pit and start working!

 

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

 

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

 

HEBREW 3: You know what, boss; you have become a real pain in the backside!

 

BOSS: What’d you say?

 

HEBREW 3: You heard me.

 

[The BOSS walks over and pushes Hebrew 3 to the ground]

 

BOSS: Now get back to work before I get really angry!

 

Narrator:

 

Meanwhile, Pharaoh’s daughter adopted a young Hebrew child. 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.

 

BAT PHAROAH: Complaining? Don’t worry about that. We take care of the needs of all our workers, dear. They are fed, given homes, and we give them a new pair of shoes each year. We are very generous. The only problem is that there are simply too many Hebrews. For that reason, we are cutting down their number. I know that it is sad that we have to kill off their baby boys, but we are really doing it for their own good.

 

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

 

BAT PHAROAH: They are not clean like us, dear. Especially the Hebrews. They throw garbage on the streets, and the smells are truly horrible.

 

Narrator: One day Moses decides to sneak out of the palace, and see for himself the plight of the Hebrews.

 

HEBREW 1: I can’t work, today, I’m sick! And I hurt my arm yesterday lifting stones!

 

BOSS: I don’t want to hear excuses. This pyramid has got to be finished by Thursday! Today is Wednesday! So get moving!

 

HEBREW 1: I can’t work. Please, listen to me, have some compassion!

 

HEBREW 2: Give him a break, boss!

 

BOSS: Shut up!

 

HEBREW 3: Don’t get involved!

 

HEBREW 2: I’m tired of this, boss! My cousin there is hurt. He can’t work today. And he’s not working. So go tell Pharaoh that he’ll have to hire some more workers or this isn’t getting done!

 

BOSS: Shut up!

 

[Boss pushes Hebrew 2 to the ground.]

 

HEBREW 1: Stop it!

 

BOSS: I’m going to hurt you bad, you whiny Hebrew!

 

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

 

MOSES: What is happening?

 

BOSS: I am going to give this man the beating he deserves, your honor! Watch this!

 

MOSES: No!

 

[Moses hits the Boss, who falls to the ground]

 

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

 

MOSES: What have I done?  What have I done?

 

Narrator: Moses ran away, far off into the wilderness. Where he is taken in by Yitro, and marries one of Yitro’s daughter’s Zipporah. One day, as Moses is taking care of yitro’s sheep, he stumbles across a burning bush.

 

GOD: Moses, Moses!

 

MOSES: Who is that? What is going on? What is happening?

 

GOD: It is me, the God of your ancestors, Abraham, Issac, and Jacob.

 

MOSES: You must have the wrong number.

 

GOD: This is no time for jokes. You must go back to Egypt and stand up to Pharaoh! Then you will lead the people back to their homeland!

 

MOSES: How will I do that? The people do not know me! I have no power now that I have run away!

 

GOD: I will be with you. Go to your sister, Miriam, and brother, Aaron, and stand up to Pharaoh!

 

Narrator: Moses returns to Egypt, with his wife and son, Gershom. Aaron and Moses approach Pharaoh.

 

PHAROAH: What do you want?

 

AARON: Our people need a three-day vacation. We need to go outside of the city so that we can pray to God in our own way.

 

PHAROAH: Why can’t you wait for the festival of the pyramids? Then your people will have a chance to celebrate with everyone.

 

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

 

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

 

MOSES: You’ll see what our God can do! And then you’ll give in to our demands!

 

PHAROAH:  Don’t count on it, Hebrew!

 

Narrator: Pharaoh was a stubborn man. Even after plagues of blood, frogs, lice, disease, hail, and darkness, he would not let the Hebrews take a day off. It wasn’t until a disease struck and killed the first born of every Egyptian, that the Pharaoh changed his mind.

 

PHAROAH: Don’t you understand what is happening?

 

ADVISOR: No, your highness, I don’t know why our gods are not protecting us.

 

PHAROAH: Everything we did to the Hebrews is now happening to us!!!

 

ADVISOR: Maybe their God is powerful!

 

PHAROAH: Tell the police that are surrounding their neighborhood to let them go.

 

Narrator: That night, Moses, spoke to the people.

 

MOSES: Put on your sandals, we will not have time to bake the bread for tomorrow! Tonight we will leave Egypt, and set out for a new land! Our children, and our children’s children will remember this night! They will tell the story of how we stood up to Pharaoh, and how God helped us to be free!

 

AARON: Let all who are hungry come and eat!

 

Narrator: And thus ends our little play.

 

 

 

 

Source:  
Original

Inspired to create
your own Haggadah?

Make your own Haggadah and share with other Seder lovers around the world

Have an idea
for a clip?

People like you bring their creativity to Haggadot.com when they share their ideas in a clip

Support Us
with your donation

Help us build moments of meaning and connection through
home-based Jewish rituals.

OUR TOP CONTRIBUTORS

contributor image
Esther Kustanowitz
4 Haggadahs44 Clips
contributor image
JQ International
1 Haggadah40 Clips
contributor image
MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger
5 Haggadahs109 Clips
contributor image
18Doors
1 Haggadah13 Clips
contributor image
JewishBoston
1 Haggadah78 Clips
contributor image
Truah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights
1 Haggadah36 Clips
contributor image
American Jewish World Service
1 Haggadah44 Clips
contributor image
JewBelong
3 Haggadahs57 Clips
contributor image
Repair the World
12 Clips
contributor image
HIAS
5 Haggadahs48 Clips
contributor image
Be'chol Lashon
2 Haggadahs27 Clips
contributor image
PJ Library
1 Haggadah17 Clips
contributor image
Jewish World Watch
3 Haggadahs42 Clips
contributor image
Secular Synagogue
10 Clips
contributor image
SVIVAH
1 Haggadah9 Clips
contributor image
The Blue Dove Foundation
20 Clips
contributor image
ReformJudaism.org
24 Clips
contributor image
Jewish Emergent Network
1 Haggadah22 Clips

Passover Guide

Hosting your first Passover Seder? Not sure what food to serve? Curious to
know more about the holiday? Explore our Passover 101 Guide for answers
to all of your questions.

Haggadot

Haggadot.com by Recustom, is a free resource for all backgrounds and experiences. Consider making a donation to help support the continuation of this free platform.

Copyright © 2024 Custom and Craft Jewish Rituals Inc, dba Recustom, dba Haggadot.com.
All Rights Reserved. 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. EIN: 82-4765805.