Short Passover Poems

Passover is one of the most important festivals of the Jews. It is celebrated by entire Jewish community with much pomp and fanfare across the globe. This festival commemorates the release of the Jewish people from years of slavery under the ancient Egyptians. Passover or Pesach begins on the 15th day of the Hebrew month of Nisan. This falls in the month of March or April according to the Gregorian calendar. Since the festival occurs during the spring season, people consider the occasion as a new beginning. Celebrations include reciting of verses from the Isaiah book, lighting candles at night and feasting on traditional food for the first two nights. To add a spark of Passover in the festivities, here are some short poems pertaining to Passover. These poems are sung during Passover celebration to add more meaning to the festival. Read on to know them and let everyone learn the message of Pesach.

Why Is This Night Different?
Why is this night different
now that we are older
and our children are with us
each one of us crosses the same desert
helping the stragglers
lifting the forlorn and lost
helping life into life
helplessness into healing hope
we are here together
hearing each story as if it were our own
committed to keeping the story alive
the journey going. - Ray Shankman

The Telling
Why is this night unlike all others
Are questions the youngest must say
We recline, we pray, we ask the Almighty
Please deliver us from Egypt this day.

Bitters and herbs are ours to consume
To remember the Exodus then
We eat, we drink, we cross the waters
Are pursued by Pharaoh and his men.

The Haggadah reading commands that we tell
How our ancestors toil, how they cry
We plead, we bend, we climb with Moses
And receive the tablets at Mount Sinai.

Elijah is here my father sings out
ALl bear witness as he flies
We tremble, we hide, we wait as he nears
We peer down through his ancient eyes.
- Brenda Spigelman Ajzenkopf

Part of Being Jewish Is a Choice
Part of being Jewish is a choice
As one becomes an act of preservation.
Seders start the stream of admonition,
Stories meant to bind one to the past.
On words alone the exiles had to last,
Verses reified by repetition,
Each an heirloom of a generation
Reared to give those ancient words a voice. - Nicholas Gordon

Passover Celebrates That Glorious Day
Passover celebrates that glorious day
After the Lord passed over our first born,
Striking out in freedom on that dawn
So long ago, with God to lead the way.
Over 3,000 years have passed since that bright day:
Vicissitudes have died, and new ones born;
Each night of terror brings a brave new dawn,
Recalling us to our eternal way. - Nicholas Gordon

Seder Renewal
Brothers and Sisters
let us order ourselves around this table
to negotiate new covenants;
let's rewrite our tragedies;
let's renew history;
let's translate our enslavement into the freedom of this moment.
Together we endured suffering; now
let's share a certain future:
past afflictions can be transformed
into renewed blessings;
let us break bread and sing praises to life;
let our Hallelujahs resonate deeply as a tikkun nefesh.
Heal my soul. O Lord heal others so I can be healed.
Let us sing on each cup of wine that zest for life
that brings us home to this table,
to the singing of this story,
our arms about one another
Dancing into freedom.
Dancing Into Freedom

Why is this night different
from all other nights?
Tonight we found Israel
in each other
and I danced with Deena
first daughter of Israel giggling at our miracle
dancing leaps joyous
before the Lord
The wine was sweet
our eyes drank to eternity
every sip warmed our love
gave us life.
Even Elijah stayed for a dram
saying, "Your fare is simple, mere matzot and cheese
but that's the way it used to be
when we truly wondered
in our freedom."

The Seder
We chewed the hand-made bread
of redemption
and wine specially made
children primed for performance… performed
and wonderful guests came and prayed
yet his eyes were sad and her skin showed strain
We left Mitzraim
but in pain we stayed.