MAGGID

God (          ): I have promised Abraham and Sarah and later Isaac and Rebecca, and Jacob, Rachel, and Leah that their children would become a great people.  

Now the children of Israel are slaves in Egypt.  A new pharaoh has come to rule Egypt.  He has forgotten how Joseph, the son of Jacob, helped the Egyptian people by predicting and planning for the years of famine.  This Pharaoh only fears that the Israelites will become too numerous and too powerful.

Children:  Act out the building of the pyramids.

Pharaoh (     ):  Alright you Israelite slaves get to work.  I need my cities built.  Mix that clay and straw for bricks.  And hurry up.  There will be no rest for you and never forget my decree that every one of your baby boys is going to be drowned in the River Nile.

Children lead singing of "Bang, Bang, Bang" song.

Amram (     ):  We have kept our baby boy safe in our hut for three months.

Yocheved (     ):  Yes, but now his cries have become too loud.  We cannot safely hide him any longer. We have no choice but to place him in a basket on the river and hope for his rescue!

Miriam (    ):  I will go to watch over my little brother and see what becomes of him.

Pharaoh's daughter (       ):  What is this?  A baby floating on the river!  I cannot leave this innocent, helpless creature.  I will bring him to the palace and raise him as my own.  I will call him Moses which means "drawn from the water."

Miriam (      ) (to pharaoh's daughter):  Madam, you will need a nurse to help you care for the baby.  May I help you to find one?

Pharaoh's daughter (     ):  Yes, please if you know of anyone I would be most grateful.

Narrator (      ):  So Miriam brought Moses to his mother Yocheved who was able to care for him and teach him about his heritage.

Moses would have lived at the Pharaoh's palace forever, but he could not ignore the suffering of his people.  Once he saw an Egyptian beating an Israelite slave.  He could not control his anger, and he killed the Egyptian.  Knowing his life would be in danger, Moses fled to the land of Midian where he became a shepherd.

One day while tending sheep on Mount Horeb, Moses saw a bush that seemed to be on fire, but was not burning up. From the bush, he heard God's voice calling him.

God (      ): "I am the God of your ancestors.  I have seen the suffering of the Israelites and have heard their cries.  I am ready to take them out of Egypt and bring them to a new land, a land flowing with milk and honey.  Return to Egypt to tell the Israelites that I am going to free them with an outstretched arm and warn Pharaoh that I will bring plagues on Egypt if he does not let the slaves go free."

Moses (       ):  You want me to what?  I don't think I can do it?  Who am I that I should have this big job? I'm really not qualified!

God (      ): I will be with you.  

Moses (      ):  Aaron you have to come with me to the Pharaoh.  You know I have a bad stutter and don't like speaking up!  

Aaron (      ):  Okay bro...I got your back.

Moses and Aaron (            ):  Pharaoh, the God of the Israelite says you better let us go or you are going to suffer some horrible plagues.

Pharaoh (      ):  Uh, no...I don't think so!  I don't care what your god says.

All Sing "Listen, King Pharaoh."   

Narrator(        ):  When Pharaoh refused, God brought the ten plagues on the Egyptians.
Put a drop of wine or juice on the plate for each plague.

Together:

BLOOD  (Dahm)
FROGS   (Tz'fardaya)
LICE    (Kinim)
BEASTS (Arov)
CATTLE DISEASE  (Dever)
BOILS  (Sh'chin)
HAIL  (Barad)
LOCUSTS  (Arbeh)
DARKNESS  (Choshech)
PLAGUE OF THE FIRST BORN  (Makat B-chorot)

Sing the Frog Song

Pharaoh (      ):  Okay, I give up...get away from here go and take all the slaves with you.

Narrator (         ): We fill our wine cups to remember our joy in being able to leave Egypt.  Yet our happiness is not complete, because the Egyptians, who are also God's children, suffered from Pharaoh's evil ways.

A little while later...

Pharaoh (      ):  What have I done!  Why did I let those slaves go?  Now there isn't anyone to complete my magnificent cities and pyramids.  We're going after them.  Come on, Army, let's get them.  

Israelite 1(       ):  Here comes the Egyptian Army what are we going to do?  We have the Army on one side the sea on the other!

Israelite 2 (       ):  Thanks a lot Moses.  Why did you bring us here, to let us die in the wilderness.
 
Israelite 3(     ):  Yeah.  Didn't we tell you back in Egypt to "Let us be and let us serve the Egyptians." 

Isrealite 4(       ): We told you it is better for us to serve the Egyptians that to die in the wilderness.

Moses(        ):  Have no fear.  Stand by and see what the Lord will do for you today. 

God(       ):  Moses, why do you cry out to Me?  Tell the Israelites to go forward.  Lift your rod and your arm to the sea and split it.

Narrator(      ):  When Moses lifted his rod a strong east wind drove back the sea, leaving space for the Israelites to cross.  When the Egyptians tried to follow, Moses again lifted his rod and the waters rushed back covering the Egyptians.

Once safe from the Egyptian army, Moses' sister Miram led the women in joyous dance and song.

Sing "Dayenu"