Passover is almost upon us on — the first night is coming up on April 1 (yes, it’s April Fools’ Day! But we promise that’s not a prank!).
Here at Kveller, we always want to help make your Passover seder the most joyful experience possible, which is why we’re offering Kveller’s Guide to Hosting a Passover Seder this year, and why we’re always here to answer all your seder-related questions.
Whether or not you’re hosting this year, here are some answers to all your burning bushes last-minute questions!
Wait, what? Seder is tomorrow?! I had no idea! What do I make?
First of all, breathe! You’ve got this. Second of all, did you know that you can cook an entire seder meal in one hour?? Here’s how.
I’ve procrastinated cleaning for Passover and now feel overwhelmed, help?
Yes, we can help! Here’s a great My Jewish Learning guide that helps make cleaning more manageable, letting you hone in on what you need and don’t need to do.
What should I bring for my seder host?
No one ever complained about some flowers and a bottle of wine, but if you’re looking for more creative ideas, we have a list with some of our favorite Passover host gifts.
Help! I forgot to buy a shank bone.
Nearly everyone we know has had this happen. The expert solution is to buy one at any time and just keep it in your freezer. Forever. But if you can’t make that happen by seder, we know people who have used a Milkbone, a stuffed lamb, and even a last-minute drawing of a bone.
How much brisket do I make per person?
According to the experts at Food52, you need one pound of raw brisket per adult and half a pound per kid. We do suggest adding a few extra pounds in there to account for surprise guests and for leftovers (you can make some brisket matzah nachos!).
I’ve given up on making the kids sit through the whole seder, but how do I make sure we can retell the Passover story together?
We’ve got a fun, two-page document that will help you retell the Passover story in a mostly age-appropriate way. Then you can let those kids go feral.
How do I make sure said feral kids don’t destroy my house at the seder?
How about a plastic frog treasure hunt? Hide a bunch around your house and give an extra prize to the kid who finds the most! Our guide to hosting a Passover seder has a whole section on how to keep kids entertained with even more ideas. You can also try obstacle courses, crafts or books, toys and games that help keep kids entertained.
If that’s not enough (dayenu?), we also have amassed the best Passover videos on the internet, Passover parodies, TV episodes and movies all about the holiday that you can keep on for the kids. Sometimes you just have to resort to screen time, so let’s at least keep it somewhat educational?
What are some fun Passover songs we can add to our seder?
You simply have to download Kveller’s Passover Parody Songbook and find seder-ready hits from every decade and genre.
How much wine do I need at my seder?
Half a bottle per person should be enough for the amount of wine you need to drink on seder night — those cups really don’t need to overflow!
How do I talk about the story of Passover with my 4-year-old who is afraid of everything?
While we’re big fans of the “Rugrats” Passover special and “The Prince of Egypt” here at Kveller, we know that they may be too scary for sensitive kids. There are a ton of other, more sensitive kid-friendly Passover videos out there (we have an article full of them!). For the particularly scared-of-everything kiddo, a Passover board book or kids’ book might be the best idea, but also, it’s OK to censor the scary parts and wait until they’re ready to take them in.
What should I give to the kid who finds the afikomen?
Honestly? Cash. What kid can resist it? But if you’re looking to change things up, we have some ideas for fun afikomen gifts that don’t break the bank.
What are some kid-friendly seder dishes for my pickiest guests?
The best answer here for the non-dairy/vegetarian seder is kosher for Passover schnitzel, but here’s a list of kid-friendly dishes for the seder if that doesn’t quite cut it.
What are some fun Passover pranks for my seder?
We thought you’d never ask! We love a seder prank, whether or not the night falls on April Fools’ Day like it does this year — so we’ve assembled a list of our favorite Passover pranks.
Where should I hide the afikomen?
Here are a few options from the Kveller Guide to Hosting a Passover Seder:
Underneath someone’s chair, Oprah style
Hidden in plain sight (taped to the refrigerator or somewhere else obvious but unexpected)
Between books on the bookshelf
How can I get my youngest to practice the Four Questions?
We feel you on this — in fact, we dedicated a whole section in our Passover guide to it and have an article full of fun videos and tricks on the topic.
I said I’d bring a dish to the seder but I’m not super skilled in the kitchen. Help?
We love these 25 super-easy Passover recipes from The Nosher. Like, these fudge cups are literally three ingredients.
What should I wear?
Short answer? Something comfortable and appropriate. Long answer? We asked some of our stylish friends to weigh in here.
Creating Jewish Connection All Year. We may have closed the door on Passover, but our doors stay open thanks to you! Your support ensures that laughter, community, and Jewish joy remain accessible for all.
