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.”

9. A LONG ANSWER: A MIDRASH ON "MY FATHER WAS A WANDERING ARAMEAN …" 10. THE ROLE OF GOD A. “GOD BROUGHT US OUT OF EGYPT—NOT BY AN ANGEL …” B. GOD'S PUNISHING MIGHT: THE PLAGUES IN EGYPT AND AT THE SEA C. GOD’S SAVING MIGHT: DAYYENU 11. SUMMING IT ALL UP … A. SYMBOLS OF THE NIGHT: PASSOVER, MATZAH, BITTER HERBS B. THE ESSENCE OF THE NIGHT: “IN EACH AND EVERY GENERATION …” C. … TO PRAISE AND REDEMPTION 12. “PRAISE”—HALLEL, PART ONE, PSALMS 113–114 A. AN INTRODUCTION TO HALLEL B. PSALM 113 C. PSALM 114 13. REDEMPTION: BLESSING AND MEAL A. THE BLESSING OF REDEMPTION AND THE SECOND CUP B. BLESSINGS OVER THE MEAL: THE SECOND WASHING (ROCHTSAH); MOTSI; MATZAH; MAROR; AND HILLEL’S SANDWICH (KOREKH). C. THE MEAL D. CODA TO THE MEAL: THE “HIDDEN” AFIKOMAN (TSAFUN); GRACE AFTER MEALS (BAREKH); AND THE THIRD CUP D. YEARNINGS AND HOPES 14. MEDIEVAL ADDITIONS A. WELCOMING ELIJAH. B. GOD’S TRIUMPH OVER EVIL: “POUR OUT YOUR WRATH …”. 15. “PRAISE”—HALLEL, PART TWO, PSALMS 115–118, 136 A. PSALMS 115–118 AND CONCLUSION B. PSALM 136 (THE GREAT HALLEL) AND CONCLUSION 16. FORMAL CONCLUSION A. THE FOURTH CUP AND FINAL BLESSING B. PRAYER FOR “ACCEPTANCE” OF THE SEDER (NIRTSAH) C. A MESSIANIC HOPE: “NEXT YEAR IN JERUSALEM!” 17. FOUR SEDER SONGS A. KI LO NA’EH, KI LO YA’EH (“FOR IT FITS AND BEFITS HIM”) B. ADIR HU (“HE IS MIGHTY”) C. ECHAD MI YODE’A (“WHO KNOWS ONE?”) D. CHAD GADYA (“ONE KID”) APPENDIX I Two Early Seders: Mishnah and Tosefta APPENDIX II A Haggadah from the Cairo Genizah Notes List of Abbreviations Glossary Annotated Select Bibliography About the Contributors Index

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.”