INTRODUCTION:

Eating matzah is an essential part of Passover. In fact, if you don’t eat at least an olive’s worth at the seder you don’t fulfill the commandment.  But eating matzah for 8 days can get old, and preparing programs with Kosher for Passover foods during the 8 days can sometimes be an obstacle. This movement inspired program is a way to capture the sounds and themes of Passover while inspiring some energetic exercise to get us moving during the intermediate days of Passover – no matzah required!  

MATERIALS:

• Speaker to play music 
• Moving after the Matzah Passover Playlist  
• List of song/artists and Jewish connection (below) 
• Space/venue to move (This can be done to a walk, a hike, a slow run, exercise class or spin class.) 

PROGRAM OUTLINE (60 minutes):

• [part one] Explanation of program/movement 
• [part two] Movement 
• [part three] Wrap-up 

Part One (4 minutes) 

• Explanation of exercise 
• Explanation of music – all songs are either from Jewish content related movies or by artists who have Jewish ancestry. The music goes in an arc; it starts slower for a warm-up and evokes the idea of the Israelites wanting a better life. Then, the music picks up the pace, goes through the idea of having to flee and the themes of the seder. Finally, the music slows down and thinks about hope, spring, and the future.  

Part Two (52 minutes) 

• Exercise. While each song plays, you can share the name of the song, the artist, and their connection to Judaism.  
• This can be done to a spin class, a hike, a walk, or a slow run

Part Three (4 minutes) 

• As people cool down, reflect on the music. 

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Consider using these or other questions:

• Have you done a Jewish themed workout before? 
• Were you introduced to new artists, or artists you didn’t know were Jewish? 
• Were there songs that you think fit better than others? 
• What other songs would you have included? 
• Does a playlist like this elicit elements of Jewish pride for you? 

List of Songs:

• Somewhere – Barbra Streisand. Barbra Streisand’s family is Jewish, with her grandparents coming from Galicia and the Russian Empire. Her grandfather was a cantor. She was in Yentl, a movie about a female disguising herself as a male to study Talmud. She is openly Jewish, even having the prayer Avinu Malkeinu set to music on one of her albums. This song was chosen to think about the feelings of the Israelites while still in Egypt, perhaps dreaming about somewhere better.
• When You Believe – The Prince of Egypt. No Passover playlist would be complete without at least one song from the iconic children’s movie, The Prince of Egypt, which tells the Passover story. The musical composers are Hans Zimmer and Steven Schwartz, both of whom are Jewish.
• Dayenu – Maccabeats. Dayenu literally means, it would have been enough. We read the words Dayeinu during the seder to offer thanks to God for the miracles. The Maccabeats originally formed in 2007 as a capella group at Yeshiva University’s. They have amassed a huge following with more than 50 million views on Youtube.
• Movin Out – Billy Joel. Billy Joel describes himself as a secular Jewish atheist. Both his father and his mother were Jewish, though he wasn’t raised religious. He was Baptized at the age of 11. The song Moving out was chosen because of the idea of the Israelites moving out of Egypt.
• Raise Your Glass – Pink. Born Alecia Beth Moore, Pink’s mother was Jewish and Pink identifies as Jewish. She has labeled herself as Irish-German-Lithuanian Jew. This song was chosen as a nod to the 4 glasses that we drink at the Passover seder.
• Memories – Maroon 5. Adam Levine’s Father was Jewish, as well as his mother’s father. He considers himself spiritual not religious and chose not to have a Bar Mitzvah. The song ‘Memories’ was chosen as a nod to the memories of Passover that we cherish, and that we create through the rituals of Passover.
• America – Neil Diamond. Neil Diamond was born to Jewish immigrant parents from Poland and Russia. He is sometimes nicknamed the Jewish Elvis. This song was chosen to focus on the immigrant experience of Passover, the Israelites needed to flee from Egypt and search for a better land. So much of our Jewish stories focus on the immigrant experience.
• Hallelujah – Leonard Cohen. He grew up religious in Montreal, CA. His family was Orthodox and his mother’s father was a rabbi. His dad’s father founded the Canadian Jewish Congress. Cohen passed away in 2016. Hallelujah means praise God and fits well with the idea of thanking God for letting the Israelites leave Egypt.
• April Come She Will – Simon and Garfunkel. Both Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel have Jewish ancestry. They were both born Jewish in Queens (Forest Hills) and had Bar Mitzvah’s. One of the names for Passover is Chag Ha-Aviv, the spring holiday. This song is a nod to the hope of spring.
• It’s a Miracle – Barry Manilow. Born Barry Alan Pincus in Brooklyn, his mother’s family were Russian Jewish immigrants, and he had a Bar Mitzvah. This song reminds us of the miracles needed to help the Jews leave Egypt, and that we still pray for each Passover.
• Believe – Lenny Kravitz. His father, Sy Kravitz was Jewish. Lenny has been public with his Jewish ancestry on Insta. He describes himself as “Half-Jewish, Half-Black”. Even when times are difficult, we need to keep our faith and believe.
• Beautiful – Carole King. Born Carol Joan Klein, she was raised in Jewish house in New York. She has said that her Jewish and cultural connections have influenced her music.
• Season of Love – With Idina Menzel. This popular song from Rent reminds us to count our minutes, make them last, and cherish the seasons of love. Idina Menzel is Jewish, born in New York to Jewish parents. She speaks openly about her Judaism and worked as a Bar/Bat Mitzvah singer before she became famous with such roles in Rent and Wicked.
• One Day – Matisyahu. Born Matthew Paul Miller, Matisyahu is the stage name for this American rapper, singer, beatboxer and musician. His family were Reconstructionist Jews and he has been public about his Judaism, and his struggles. He attended Alexander Muss in Israel. He also affiliated with Chabad and has stated that Hassidus has influenced his music. His song One Day has themes of hope for the future, just as the Passover seder ends with the same idea –Next Year in Jerusalem, meaning that next year there should be peace and we should all be free.