American Heritage Haggadah [Hardcover]

David Geffen (Editor), Moshe Kohn (Translator), Stuart E. Eizenstat (Designer)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 1997

A profound and meaningful addition to the Passover seder, this unique Haggadah showcases the inherent respect for religious diversity in American society, and is a moving and timely tribute to the values of freedom and liberty. First published in 1992, and compiled and edited by David Geffen, this reprinted edition includes an attractive new cover featuring what has recently come to be the most poignant symbol of freedom – the Statue of Liberty. The back cover displays the proposed seal for the United States submitted by the committee of Franklin, Jefferson and Adams in 1776. With the image of the splitting of the Red Sea, and the words ‘Rebellion to tyrants is obedience to God’, it is a fitting tribute to the current world situation and also highlights the tenacious link between Jewish and American values.

The Hebrew text of the American Heritage Haggadah is an exact replica of one of the earliest Haggadot published in the States. Combined with anecdotes and images sourced from Chicago to California, this Haggadah provides an inspiring historical framework in which to contemplate the meaning of slavery and freedom.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Any American Jewish home will be delighted to have such a work -- The Jerusalem Post

Wonderful for stimulating discussion around the Passover table!" -- Rabbi Maurice Colson

Language Notes

Text: English, Hebrew

Product Details

• Hardcover: 120 pages
• Publisher: Gefen Books (January 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 9652290831
• ISBN-13: 978-9652290830
• Product Dimensions: 11.9 x 9.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,778,501 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars excellent addition to your collection, interesting history 2, March 13, 2001

By 

Larry Mark "editor of MyJewishBooks.com" (nyc) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: American Heritage Haggadah (Hardcover)

This hardcover Haggadah is a great addition to anyone's collection. It is in RIGHT TO LEFT format. In Hebrew text, and English translation. No transliterations. The Hebrew text is a direct copy of an actual American Haggadah from 1857. In addition to presenting a traditional haggadah, Rabbi Geffen presents stories, illustrations, and tidbits from American Jewish Passover history. He includes copies of Passover products' ads and Haggadahs that were offered by banks, butchers, soft drink companies, other beverage companies, and other commercial concerns. For example, there is a matzah baking illustration from 1858, an ad for Dr Brown's Celery Tonic from 1924, a 1935 Passover cruise ad from Cunard, a photo of Rabbi Philip Goodman conducting a seder for the U.S. Army in 1942, a photo of an Army seder aboard a Pullman train car in 1920, color photos of American seder plates, a label from a pesach wine bottle from San Francisco in 1875, a suggested seal of the United State from 1776 that showed the Hebrews crossing the Sea, a label from matzahs that are permitted to be eaten on Wheatless days (by order of an administrator named Herbert Hoover in 1918), handbills for Passover Coca Cola in the 1930's, a copy of Georgia Governor Eugene Talmadge's Passover Matzah Pardon of a Jewish prisoner in 1933, and a copy of an ad for a 1921 State Bank Passover Savings club (let a savings plan free you from financial bondage). For the Four Sons, Geffen shows renderings of the four sons from haggadahs dating from 1879, 1920, 1950, 1972 (Soviet Jewry movement), and children's model seders

5.0 out of 5 stars Relevant and Inspirational, April 12, 2009

By 

Richard Hammerman "Rabbi Richard Hammerman" (Caldwell, NJ) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: American Heritage Haggadah (Hardcover)

David Geffen's American Heritage Haggadah brings the ancient lessons of the Bible and insights of the Rabbis who formed the Hagadag into the 21st century by linking the timeless lessons of freedom with America's own beginnings and vividly teaches how the Exodus narrative inspired the founding of America. A wonderful gift for yourself or your friends who are interested in American Jewish history and sociology.