Searching for the afikoman is a favorite part of the seder. The rabbis instituted the afikoman hunt to keep the children engaged during the long seder.
In this activity, the students will search for the afikoman by solving 5 puzzles. At the end, they will find the afikoman.
Here is how to run the activity.
- Give the students the link to the first sheet (www.sefaria.org/sheets/226315). You can send the URL via your LMS or put it on the board for the students to type. They can also search for it by name (Finding the Afikoman: A Haggadah Scavenger Hunt) in Sefaria.
- Students open the sheet and read the clue for something to find in the haggadah.
- The students search the Passover Haggadah on Sefaria to find the section that contains the answer.
- When they find the section, they click on the text to open the resource panel and click on "Sheets".
- Scroll down to find a sheet with the title "Finding the Afikoman". This sheet will contain the next clue.
- Students continue from clue to clue until they find the afikoman at the end.
The clues, with the solutions and the links to the sheets are found below.
(ד) שְׁמַ֖ע יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵ֖ינוּ יְהוָ֥ה ׀ אֶחָֽד׃
(4) Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD alone.
Answer to clue #2
וְשֶׁאֵינוֹ יוֹדֵעַ לִשְׁאוֹל – אַתְּ פְּתַח לוֹ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר, וְהִגַּדְתָּ לְבִנְךָ בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא לֵאמֹר, בַּעֲבוּר זֶה עָשָׂה ה' לִי בְּצֵאתִי מִמִּצְרָיִם.
And [regarding] the one who doesn't know to ask, you will open [the conversation] for him. As it is stated (Exodus 13:8), "And you will speak to your son on that day saying, for the sake of this, did the Lord do [this] for me in my going out of Egypt."
Answer to clue #3
לְשָׁנָה הַבָּאָה בִּירוּשָלָיִם הַבְּנוּיָה.
Next year, let us be in the built Jerusalem!
Answer to clue #4
בּמוצאי שבת מוסיפים: בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה', אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, בּוֹרֵא מְאוֹרֵי הָאֵשׁ. בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה', אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם הַמַּבְדִיל בֵּין קֹדֶשׁ לְחֹל, בֵּין אוֹר לְחשֶׁךְ, בֵּין יִשְׂרָאֵל לָעַמִּים, בֵּין יוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי לְשֵׁשֶׁת יְמֵי הַמַּעֲשֶׂה. בֵּין קְדֻשַּׁת שַׁבָּת לִקְדֻשַּׁת יוֹם טוֹב הִבְדַּלְתָּ, וְאֶת־יוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי מִשֵּׁשֶׁת יְמֵי הַמַּעֲשֶׂה קִדַּשְׁתָּ. הִבְדַּלְתָּ וְקִדַּשְׁתָּ אֶת־עַמְּךָ יִשְׂרָאֵל בִּקְדֻשָּׁתֶךָ. בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה', הַמַּבְדִיל בֵּין קֹדֶשׁ לְקֹדֶשׁ.
On Saturday night add the following two paragraphs: Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who creates the light of the fire. Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who distinguishes between the holy and the profane, between light and darkness, between Israel and the nations, between the seventh day and the six working days. You have distinguished between the holiness of the Sabbath and the holiness of the Festival, and You have sanctified the seventh day above the six working days. You have distinguished and sanctified Your people Israel with Your holiness. Blessed are You, O Lord, who distinguishes between the holy and the holy.
Answer to clue #5
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה', אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹֹּתָיו וְצִוָּנוּ עַל סְפִירַת הָעֹמֶר. הַיּוֹם יוֹם אֶחָד בָּעֹמֶר.
Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments and has commanded us on the counting of the omer. Today is the first day of the omer.
Link to the end of the scavenger hunt and the afikoman. https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/226398.1?lang=bi
Chag Sameach! Happy Holiday!