Chocolate Seder — an idea worth trying

By Rabbi Ariel Boxman, Director of Lifelong Learning

Temple Shalom Preschool and YESh students are getting very excited to celebrate Passover this month! For weeks now, the students have been preparing for the holiday with songs, food, crafts and dramatic play.

On Sunday, April 2, students in YESh will enjoy a special Chocolate Seder led by myself and Miss Jane Galler. This annual tradition has become beloved and one that our students wait all year for! Instead of the traditional Seder foods, the students will enjoy a whole Seder experience with chocolate Seder alternatives. Instead of 4 cups of grape juice, students will enjoy four small cups of chocolate milk. Instead of matzah, students will have chocolate-covered matzah, and so on.

By adding the element of chocolate into the Seder, students experience the excitement of the holiday and have a positive association with the Seder ritual. From our rabbinic literature, we learn that Rabbi Akiba would give treats and snacks to his children during the Seder so that they would not fall asleep and take an interest in the Seder. A chocolate- filled Seder is surely a good way to keep children’s attention!

If you want to also enjoy a chocolate Seder at home (or even do a chocolate Seder instead of a traditional one), you may access the Chocolate Haggadah at https://tinyurl.com/chocolatesederhaggadah. Listed in the Haggadah are the chocolate substitutions for the traditional Seder foods.

We wish you and your family a wonderful Passover holiday and look forward to hearing how you enjoyed the chocolate Seder experience!