--- title: Passover: A Cappella Parody of Thriller by Michael Jackson description: Passover themed music video parody of Thriller by Michael Jackson by Y Studs, the Jewish a cappella group at Yeshiva University. canonical: https://time.com/4292008/passover-michael-jackson-thriller-acappella/ author: Olivia B. Waxman article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2016-04-13T15:01:49.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-10-05T08:50:04.568Z og:title: Here's a Passover Parody of Michael Jackson's 'Thriller' og:description: "'Cause this is Seder, Seder night" og:url: https://time.com/4292008/passover-michael-jackson-thriller-acappella/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltc5e17613a6033184/69888ee9a988caa0196b7637/screen-shot-2016-04-13-at-9-52-32-am.png?branch=production&width=602&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 602 og:image:height: 339 og:image:alt: Screen Shot 2016-04-13 at 9.52.32 AM og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Here's a Passover Parody of Michael Jackson's 'Thriller' twitter:description: "'Cause this is Seder, Seder night" twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltc5e17613a6033184/69888ee9a988caa0196b7637/screen-shot-2016-04-13-at-9-52-32-am.png?branch=production&width=602&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 video:duration: 04:38 video:published: 2016-04-13 section: entertainment topics: Passover, Seder, Jewish holiday, parody song, Exodus, Red Sea, Moses, Elijah genre: parody, music video tones: playful, celebratory, irreverent, devotional emotions: joy (high), humor (medium), reverence (medium) sentiment: positive audience: Jewish families, holiday viewers, music fans, religious community people: Moses, Elijah content_suitability: violence [02:28-02:34] transcript_source: automatic transcription transcript_reviewed: not applicable ---  # Here's a Passover Parody of Michael Jackson's 'Thriller' > Sponsored content. 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Terms and conditions apply. * Savings buckets are a feature of Ally Bank's Savings Account. * No ATM fees from Ally Bank at Allpoint and Moneypass ATMs plus we reimburse for fees charged by other ATM owners nationwide up to $10 per statement cycle. * Early direct deposit offers eligible direct deposits up to two days sooner. * Spending buckets are a feature of Ally Bank's Spending Account. ## Video: Passover Parody of Michael Jackson's [Watch (HLS stream): Passover Parody of Michael Jackson's](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/crnkSDkw.m3u8) (4:38)  _Published 2016-04-13. Passover Parody of Michael Jackson's_ Description, summary, key points, chapters, key quotes, questions and transcript, where present, were produced automatically from the video or its captions and were not reviewed. ## Summary A parody song set to the tune of Michael Jackson's style reworks the Passover Seder into a sung performance. It covers preparing for the Seder meal, washing hands and blessings, dipping greens in salt water, and the Exodus story including the Red Sea crossing and Pharaoh's pursuers. The song ends with praise to God and singing through the night. ## Key points - The song opens by announcing the Seder and that guests are arriving for the Passover meal. (00:00) - Participants are told to wash hands with a blessing before the food, and to dip greens in salt water. (00:49) - The lyrics reference Moses as a leader and the Torah as a guide during the Seder. (02:04) - The Exodus story is recounted, with the Red Sea splitting so the people can cross to the other side. (02:10) - Pursuers are swallowed as the sea closes behind the fleeing people. (02:28) - The Seder includes eating matzah and herbs, and filling up on food at the table. (02:39) - The song references Elijah at the door, inviting the audience to open the door for him. (03:05) - The performance closes with the singers praising God together through the night. (03:16) ## Chapters - [00:00 to 00:56] Guests arrive and Seder begins. The song sets the scene as guests arrive for the Passover Seder meal and wine and cups are prepared. - [00:56 to 02:39] Hand washing and the Exodus story. The lyrics cover washing hands with a blessing, dipping greens in salt water, and the Moses and Red Sea account. - [02:39 to 03:53] Eating, Elijah and praising God. The song describes eating matzah and herbs, opening the door for Elijah, and closing with praise to God. - [03:53 to 04:38] Closing. The performance ends with the final line of the song. ## Key quotes - [00:00] performers: "Seder, Seder Now" - [02:04] performers: "With Moses as a leader and the Torah in our sight." - [02:10] performers: "Now at the Red Sea it splits so we rush to the other side" - [03:16] performers: "We're praising God together, and we're singing through the dark night" ## Questions this video answers - What happens during the Seder meal in this song? [00:30] - What blessing and ritual actions are described for washing hands before the meal? [00:49] - How does the song retell the Red Sea crossing? [02:10] - What does the song say the family does at the end of the Seder? [03:16] ## Content suitability - violence [02:28-02:34]: Pursuers are described as being swallowed by the sea in the Exodus retelling.  by [Olivia B. Waxman](https://time.com/author/olivia-b-waxman/)  ## Olivia B. Waxman Staff Writer Apr 13, 2016 3:01 PM UTC Passover Parody of Michael Jackson's  by [Olivia B. Waxman](https://time.com/author/olivia-b-waxman/)  ## Olivia B. Waxman Staff Writer Apr 13, 2016 3:01 PM UTC Yeshiva University’s all-male a cappella group [Y-Studs](http://www.ystuds.com) has released a [Passover](http://time.com/3769657/coke-passover-kosher/)\-themed [parody](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tzrrk2ToFr0&feature=youtu.be) that retells the history of the holiday and seder traditions to the tune of Michael Jackson’s “Thriller.” Sample lyrics: ‘Cause this is Seder, Seder night and break the middle Matzah, hide it somewhere out of sight You know it’s Seder, Seder night It’s when we tell the story of our labor Seder tonight, yeah … ‘Cause this is Seder, Seder night With Moses as our leader and the Torah in our sight Yeah this is Seder, Seder night We’re running from our lives from the enslaver, hater, tonight ## Transcript [04:13] [ MUSIC ] Passover is tonight. All the guests are coming [04:16] through the door. 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