The Haggadah’s tale of Jewish freedom leaps off the pages and into real life for 500 lucky children each Passover. Passover Camp is so popular that children willingly endure train and bus trips up to 48-hours long to reach the campgrounds in the bucolic outskirts of Dnepropetrovsk. What is the secret to the Passover Camp that has made it the paradigm for other Jewish organizations to duplicate?

Unbridled enthusiasm. The excitement begins with the Seder. Each child receives his or her own Seder plate with eggs, horseradish, and all the traditional symbols. Eyes widen as the hand-baked matza is passed around. Many campers have never seen this special flat bread before. The exodus from Egypt is vividly recounted, and the campers quickly learn the Passover songs. Their happy voices echo through the night.

It’s hard to tell if the children are more thrilled by the trips to the circus, zoo, and ice skating rinks or by the availability of nutritious food at every meal of the day. By the end of the 10-day camp, the children are energized. They have lived the wondrous history of the Jewish people and experienced its modern day application. In years to come, they will have the ability and desire to help their families observe this holiday, a cornerstone of our People.