Miracles Happen

Pesach

Pesach is the celebration of the exodus of the Hebrew slaves from

Egypt. It is a major holiday in the Jewish religion. We celebrate it by

retelling the story of the exodus (the Hagaddah), eating a meal full of

symbols of the Hebrew slaves experience (the Seder), and singing lots

of songs. Traditions of how exactly the holiday is celebrated and what

foods are eaten vary greatly depending on the ethnic background of

each family.

Miracles Happen – words and music by Joanie Calem

When I do this song with children, I use two large blue sheets

for the “water.” We act out the story, some children playing the

Egyptians, some holding the water, some being the Israelites

passing through the two walls of water on the chorus. This song

generally inspires discussion of how this story relates to our

everyday lives.

Chorus:

And the water parted, oh the water parted,

A miracle happened, down by the sea.

Yes the water parted, oh the water parted,

A miracle happened, down by the sea.

Pharaoh said go, after ten plagues,

Then he changed his mind, tried to keep us slaves.

So with chariots coming, we stood on the shore,

Egypt behind us, the sea before.

But the water parted…

Gotta cross that water, how will we do it,

Moses says trust, watch a path go through it.

And so we walked, dry land through the sea

This cannot happen, this cannot be.

But the water parted…

And when we stood on freedom land,

We knew a hard journey, was still at hand.

But now we know, when there’s trouble in view,

You just keep on walkin’, just go on through

’Cause the water parted…