My People’s Passover Haggadah
Traditional Texts, Modern Commentaries

In two volumes, this empowering resource for the spiritual revival of our times enables us to find deeper meaning in one of Judaism’s most beloved traditions, the Passover Seder. Rich Haggadah commentary adds layer upon layer of new insight to the age-old celebration of the journey from slavery to freedom—and makes its power accessible to all.

This diverse and exciting Passover resource features the traditional Haggadah Hebrew text with a new translation designed to let you know exactly what the Haggadah says. Introductory essays help you understand the historical roots of Passover, the development of the Haggadah, and how to make sense out of texts and customs that evolved from ancient times.

Framed with beautifully designed Talmud-style pages, My People’s Passover Haggadah features commentaries by scholars from all denominations of Judaism. You are treated to insights by experts in such fields as the Haggadah’s history; its biblical roots; its confrontation with modernity; and its relationship to rabbinic midrash and Jewish law, feminism, Chasidism, theology, and kabbalah.

No other resource provides such a wide-ranging exploration of the Haggadah, a reservoir of inspiration and information for creating meaningful Seders every year.

“The Haggadah is a book not just of the Jewish People, but of ordinary Jewish people. It is a book we all own, handle, store at home, and spill wine upon! Pick up a Siddur, and you have the history of our People writ large; pick up a Haggadah, and you have the same—but also the chronicle of Jewish life writ small: the story of families and friends whose Seders have become their very own local cultural legacy.... My People’s Passover Haggadah is for each and every person looking to enrich their annual experience of Passover in their own unique way.”

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS INTRODUCTION: HOW TO GET THE MOST OUT OF THIS BOOK Lawrence A. Hoffman and David Arnow PART I CELEBRATING PASSOVER: CONTEXTUAL REFLECTIONS 1. WHAT IS THE HAGGADAH ANYWAY? Lawrence A. Hoffman 2. PASSOVER IN THE BIBLE AND BEFORE David Arnow 3. PASSOVER FOR THE EARLY RABBIS: FIXED AND FREE David Arnow 4. THIS BREAD: CHRISTIANITY AND THE SEDER Lawrence A. Hoffman 5. THE SEDER PLATE: THE WORLD ON A DISH David Arnow 6. PEOPLEHOOD WITH PURPOSE: THE AMERICAN SEDER AND CHANGING JEWISH IDENTITY Lawrence A. Hoffman 7. WHERE HAVE ALL THE WOMEN GONE? FEMINIST QUESTIONS ABOUT THE HAGGADAH Wendy I. Zierler 8. MOVING THROUGH THE MOVEMENTS: AMERICAN DENOMINATIONS AND THEIR HAGGADOT Carole B. Balin 9. "GOOD TO THE LAST DROP": THE PROLIFERATION OF THE MAXWELL HOUSE HAGGADAH Carole B. Balin PART II THE PASSOVER HAGGADAH A. SETTING THE STAGE 1. PREPARING THE HOME A. “THE CHECKING OF LEAVEN” (B'DIKAT CHAMETS) B. PERMISSION TO COOK FOR SHABBAT: “THE MIXING OF FOODS” (ERUV TAVSHILIN) C. ARRANGING THE SEDER PLATE 2. THE ORDER OF THE SEDER: KADESH URCHATS … 3. BEGINNING THE SEDER A. LIGHTING CANDLES B. DEFINING SACRED TIME (KIDDUSH AND THE FIRST CUP) C. DISTINGUISHING TIMES OF HOLINESS (HAVDALAH) D. GRATITUDE FOR BEING HERE (SHEHECHEYANU) E. THE FIRST WASHING (URCHATS) AND DIPPING KARPAS F. “BREAKING THE MATZAH” (YACHATS) AND RESERVING THE AFIKOMAN G. “BREAD OF AFFLICTION,” HA LACHMA ANYA: BEGIN MAGGID (“TELLING”) 4. QUESTIONS OF THE NIGHT: MAH NISHTANAH, “WHY IS THIS NIGHT DIFFERENT?” B. FROM ENSLAVEMENT … 5. A SHORT ANSWER: ENSLAVEMENT IS PHYSICAL— AVADIM HAYYINU, “WE WERE SLAVES” 6. HOW WE TELL THE TALE A. EVERYONE TELLS THE STORY: “EVEN IF ALL OF US WERE SMART …” B. TELLING AT LENGTH: THE FIVE SAGES’ SEDER C. TELLING AT NIGHT? “ALL THE DAYS OF YOUR LIFE …” D. TELLING THE NEXT GENERATION: THE FOUR CHILDREN E. TELLING AT THE PROPER TIME: AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MONTH? 7. A SHORT ANSWER: ENSLAVEMENT IS SPIRITUAL— WE WORSHIPED IDOLS 8. PROMISES—PAST AND PRESENT A. THE PROMISE TO ABRAHAM: “BLESSED IS THE ONE WHO KEEPS HIS PROMISE …” B. THE PROMISE TO US: “THIS KEPT OUR ANCESTORS AND US GOING …” Notes List of Abbreviations Glossary About the Contributors

My People’s Passover Haggadah
Traditional Texts, Modern Commentaries

In two volumes, this empowering resource for the spiritual revival of our times enables us to find deeper meaning in one of Judaism’s most beloved traditions, the Passover Seder. Rich Haggadah commentary adds layer upon layer of new insight to the age-old celebration of the journey from slavery to freedom—and makes its power accessible to all.

This diverse and exciting Passover resource features the traditional Haggadah Hebrew text with a new translation designed to let you know exactly what the Haggadah says. Introductory essays help you understand the historical roots of Passover, the development of the Haggadah, and how to make sense out of texts and customs that evolved from ancient times.

Framed with beautifully designed Talmud-style pages, My People’s Passover Haggadah features commentaries by scholars from all denominations of Judaism. You are treated to insights by experts in such fields as the Haggadah’s history; its biblical roots; its confrontation with modernity; and its relationship to rabbinic midrash and Jewish law, feminism, Chasidism, theology, and kabbalah.

No other resource provides such a wide-ranging exploration of the Haggadah, a reservoir of inspiration and information for creating meaningful Seders every year.

“The Haggadah is a book not just of the Jewish People, but of ordinary Jewish people. It is a book we all own, handle, store at home, and spill wine upon! Pick up a Siddur, and you have the history of our People writ large; pick up a Haggadah, and you have the same—but also the chronicle of Jewish life writ small: the story of families and friends whose Seders have become their very own local cultural legacy.... My People’s Passover Haggadah is for each and every person looking to enrich their annual experience of Passover in their own unique way.”