Rabbi Russell Jayne: The Passover Seder is Judaism’s original classroom

By Rabbi Russell Jayne

Of all the rituals in the Jewish holiday cycle, the Passover Seder may be the most remarkable. It is not usually conducted in the synagogue, nor is it usually led by clergy. Instead, it unfolds around dining room tables, led by hosts and guests who transform an ordinary meal into one of Judaism’s most powerful acts of teaching.

For thousands of years, Jewish families have gathered every spring to tell the story of the Exodus from Egypt. Our journey from slavery to freedom, and our birth as a people bound together by memory and covenant. Yet the genius of the Seder lies not simply in the story we are telling, but in how the story is told.

Rather than presenting the Exodus as a lecture or historical account, the Seder turns this pivotal moment into an experience. We taste bitterness through the maror, recalling the harshness of slavery. We dip vegetables into salt water to remember tears. We recline like free people, celebrating a dignity restored. Every element of the table becomes a teaching tool.

The Seder is, in many ways, Judaism’s original classroom.

And, what makes this classroom unique is its emphasis on curiosity. The evening begins with questions, famously asked by the youngest participant, “Why is this night different from all other nights?” The Haggadah does not discourage these questions; rather, it invites them. Jewish tradition understands that identity is not formed through passive listening, but through engagement, wonder, and conversation.

In fact, the ancient rabbis structured the Seder so that children would notice things that seem unusual. Why are we eating matzah instead of bread? Why are we dipping food? Why are we reclining while eating? These small disruptions spark curiosity and invite discussion. The goal is not simply to transmit information, but to cultivate a living relationship with the Jewish story.

And that story is meant to feel personal.

The Haggadah teaches that in every generation, each person must see themselves as if they personally came out of Egypt. It is this instruction that transforms the Exodus from distant history into lived memory. The Seder asks us not only to remember our ancestors’ journey, but to imagine our own place within it.

And that act of imaginative empathy is one of the most powerful tools for preserving Jewish identity and for building a bridge between the generations. A child sitting at a Seder table in Calgary or Edmonton today is participating in the same ritual that shaped their grandparents and great-grandparents. Through this simple act of telling our story together, Jewish continuity is renewed and strengthened.

And, perhaps, that is the deeper wisdom expressed by the Seder. Identity is strengthened not only through belief, but through shared experience.

The Passover story reminds us that our people were not formed merely by ideas, but by a collective journey. And it is one that continues to shape our values today. The memory of slavery teaches empathy. The experience of liberation inspires gratitude. And the act of telling the story together reinforces the bonds of peoplehood.

In a world that often feels fragmented and fast-moving, the Seder invites us to slow down. It asks us to gather around the table, listen to one another’s questions, and remember the story that binds us together as a people.

May our Seders this year be filled with thoughtful questions, lively discussion, and the joy of sharing our tradition with the next generation. And may our people, through story, symbol, and conversation make our ancient journey from slavery to freedom come alive once again.

Chag Pesach Sameach.

Rabbi Russell Jayne is Senior Rabbi and Cantor at Beth Tzedec Congregation in Calgary