It’s very nearly Passover! On Monday night we’ll start
Recalling plagues and slavery and Pharoah’s hardened heart
For many years ago the Jews were bound as slaves in Egypt
They catered to King Pharoah’s whims; built pyramids and huge crypts
Their lives were hard and miserable. They lived in fear and pain
Until one day the Pharoah’s men saw they’d be free again!
The king got mad and told the Jews to make more bricks and mortar
He told the Jewish midwives to drown newborns in the water
But – you know the story – one small Jewish boy survived
He lived in Pharoah’s palace where he grew and learned and thrived
Till he killed a cruel taskmaster with a great, almighty push
And fled into the desert where he found a burning bush
The bush could talk. It said, “Moses, I’m God and you will be
The messenger I send to bring the Jews from slavery”
And thus to Pharoah Moshe went; said, “let my people go!”
Cruel Pharoah just laughed in his face: “What? No, never! No!”
The king’s lack of compassion saw God’s mighty wrath unleashed
The Pharoah’s heart was hardened and God’s 10 plagues were released
One by one each plague struck down: blood and frogs and lice;
Animals and pestilence, boils and fiery ice
Locusts devoured everything; the dark turned Egypt blind
But only when his firstborn died did Pharoah change his mind
Finally the Jews were free! They grabbed their stuff and fled
(and that’s why we have matzah – no time to bake their bread)
They charged into the desert and at long last reached the sea
But realized they were being chased by Pharoah’s huge army!
The panicked people cried out but God knew just what to do –
He performed a miracle: the water split in two!
The grateful Jews accepted God and soon received His Torah
And now this story we retell with matzah, wine and marror
So pour out your four glasses (no-one leaves the Seder sober)
Wishing you and yours a happy and kosher Passover!
