A Modern Twist on an Ancient Holiday

It’s been more than 3,000 years since Moses led the Jews out of Egypt and, looking around the table during some of our longer Seders, we get the idea that — to the kids, at least – well, the story’s getting old.

So, because it is the responsibility of Jewish parents to continue to tell this story every Passover, we were excited to find a new way to present the classic tale. Google Exodus is a two-minute video from Aish.com that asks what is likely to become the latest addition to the traditional Four Questions: “What if Moses and Pharoah had Facebook?” The video went viral immediately, registering more than a million views on YouTube within its first five days.

In this clever video, Moses emails Pharoah at pharaoh@egypt.gov, chats with God via Skype, purchases plague materials at Amazon.com and Tweets the upcoming Exodus. He uses Google Translate to learn to say, “Let my people go” in Egyptian, uploads a video of the locust plague on YouTube, and uses Google Maps to show the miraculous parting of the Red Sea.

“This film enables us to communicate Jewish values in a language that everyone can understand,” says Rabbi Shraga Simmons, senior editor of Aish.com.

The real miracle will come if teachers find a way to use these same tools to bring history into the 21^st century for their students.

P.S. Speaking of miracles, Sprinkles is offering flourless chocolate cupcakes for Passover and its HOP box of spring goodies (brown sugar praline, anyone?) for Easter. YUM!