The Pharaoh Costume in the Closet
Description
When Tali is packing away her Purim costumes, she finds something that definitely doesn't belong in a pretend dress-up box: a heavy, glowing Pharaoh crown! But wait, Purim is about hidden miracles and pretend masks, while the story of Pesach is about open miracles and real history. How are they connected? To find out, Tali, Noam, Lama, and Sabba power up the chariot for a double-stuffed historical adventure! First, the gang travels to the dusty Royal Record Room in ancient Shushan to search for a tiny, quiet scroll. Then, they fly to the muddy, frog-filled banks of the ancient Nile River to watch a brave big sister named Miriam make a very important basket. Join the crew as they learn how small, brave steps and hidden clues lead to giant, open miracles! Plus, play along with the Lama Quiz and get a special take-home water mission to try with a grown-up. Warning: Time travel may cause ancient rivers to follow you home!
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Episode Summary
While cleaning up their Purim costumes, Tali and Noam discover a mysterious Pharaoh crown hidden in the dress-up closet. When Lama the Llama puts it on, something strange happens—the crown begins whispering and the closet turns into a time-travel portal.
Their adventure takes them first to the royal archives of Shushan, where they learn that the miracles of Purim were hidden miracles—quiet events that required people to notice clues and make brave choices.
Then the Time-Closet transports them to the Nile River in ancient Egypt, where they watch Miriam place baby Moshe in a basket hidden among the reeds. That tiny act of courage becomes the first step toward the great open miracles of Pesach.
By the end of the episode, Lama helps the kids discover the big idea:
Small, brave steps can lead to big miracles.
Big Ideas Kids Will Learn
Purim teaches about hidden miracles. Sometimes miracles happen quietly through ordinary events.
Pesach teaches about open miracles. Sometimes miracles are huge and everyone can see them.
Bravery starts small. Miriam placing Moshe in the river basket was a small step that helped start the story of redemption.
Jewish stories are missions. They teach us how to act with courage and pay attention to the world around us.
Hebrew Words From the Episode Hebrew Pronunciation Meaning נֵס Nes Miracle מְגִלָּה Megillah Scroll תֵּבָה Teivah Basket יְאֹר Ye’or River The Lama Quiz (Play Along!)
During the episode Lama asks three questions:
Why did the King’s Scribe tell us to look for small scrolls?
Why did Miriam hide Moshe’s basket in the reeds?
Why do we need both the Purim story and the Pesach story?
If you guessed the right answers, you probably shouted:
“That’s Lama!”
Try This At Home — Mission of the Week
Build a tiny floating basket or boat.
What you need:
Aluminum foil or paper
A sink or bowl of water
A small object to act as a “passenger”
Try to design a boat that:
Floats
Stays balanced
Doesn’t sink when the water moves
Think about Miriam’s challenge: How do you make something safe, simple, and hidden in the water?
Challenge Question for Listeners
Sabba asks:
Why do we still need to be brave and take action, even when a miracle is happening?
Send your ideas to:
Your answer might be featured on a future episode!
Sources & Jewish Text Connections
The episode is inspired by classic sources including:
Chullin 139b — The rabbis ask where Esther is hinted at in the Torah
Megillah 14a — Discussion of Esther’s role in the miracle of Purim
Exodus 2:3–5 — Miriam places Moshe’s basket among the reeds by the Nile
Coming Next Episode
Tali tries to make a smoothie…
…but suddenly all the water turns red.
What happened to the Nile?
Find out in:
“The River That Turned Red (The Lost Story of Pesach: Part 2)”