The Family Haggadah [Paperback]

Ellen Schecter (Author), Neil Waldman (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 5 and up | Grade Level: P and up

Now family members of all ages can participate in the Seder celebration with this traditional yet contemporary guide to the Passover ritual dinner. Illustrated step-by-step guidelines make participation a meaningful, hands-on experience for children and adults alike. Two-color illustrations.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 6This Haggadah makes the Passover Seder accessible to youngsters, regardless of their upbringing or educational background. After a brief introduction on how to use the book, Schecter jumps right in with a script to follow, from the night before the celebration until the end of the Seder. The book maintains an egalitarian standard without becoming didactic. God is never referred to as male, and both men and women are shown to have played large roles in the Exodus story. The traditional Four Sons have become the Four Children, and the recent tradition of Miriams Cup is included. The book ends with a list of ways in which youngsters can participate in the holiday celebration. Black-and-white paintings depict biblical characters and some of the items used during the meal. Unfortunately, half of the prayers are written in English only (the rest are in English, Hebrew, and transliteration). However, this is a small flaw in an otherwise excellent presentation.Yapha Nussbaum Mason, Brentwood Lower School, Los Angeles
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Although really intended for parents to use with their children at a family Passover seder, this attractive book may also be useful to children wanting to plan their own model celebration. Schecter gives instructions for setting the holiday table as well as a nonsexist, much simplified version (including a reference to Miriam's cup) of the Passover service, with the story and some of the traditional music and prayers accompanied by transliteration from the Hebrew. Portions of the text have been designated for a leader to read aloud. A final section contains suggestions for parents wanting to involve the children in seder preparation and participation. Black-and-white illustrations in Neil Waldman's signature graphic style complete an attractive package that introduces one of the Jewish calendar's most beautiful holidays. Stephanie Zvirin

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Paperback: 80 pages
• Publisher: Viking Juvenile (February 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0670883417
• ISBN-13: 978-0670883417
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 7.2 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.7 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,328,863 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hurray! A Passover Story Children can understand!, April 2, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Family Haggadah (Paperback)

When my son was two years old, I sat down to write my own haggadah so that the youngsters could really understand what the holiday is all about. Although I did an admirable job, this is the haggadah I wish I had written! This book is a must for anyone new to the seder experience, and anyone with young children at the seder table. The entire seder is written in easy-to-understand language. The references to God are non-sexist. The illustrations are simple, and beautiful. If you buy only one haggadah, please make it this one. No matter what the ages are of those at your seder table, this haggadah will guide you perfectly and your guests will love you for sharing it with them.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Immediacy, March 29, 2002

By 

Alyssa A. Lappen (Earth) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Family Haggadah (Paperback)

The first 15 pages of this Haggadah focus on preparations for the Seder, rather than the ceremonial meal itself. Anyone who has never before prepared a Seder will find this section extremely useful, for it offers many suggestions to involve the children even before the holiday begins. Children can help decide, for example, who should lead the meal, or themselves prepare to lead parts of the service. They can also help clean the home of Chametz (unleavened bread), make Charoset and prepare the Seder Plate. (The book even suggests substitutes for vegetarian families.)

Only 36 pages are devoted to the Seder itself, but they are easy enough for families with little or no Hebrew, and for small children to understand. All blessings--Lighting the Candles, Shecheyanu (Thanking God for life, sustenance and reaching this season), the Kiddush (Blessing of Wine), Dipping of Greens, HaMotzie (Blessing the Matzah), and Blessings over the Bitter Herbs and Charoset--are included in Hebrew and English transliterations. So are the Four Questions. Unfortunately, the recitation of the Ten Plagues is in English, with no Hebrew, transliterated or otherwise.

But the book includes Dayenu. In this song, the Jewish people thank God for the miracles that Pessach celebrates--granting our freedom, bringing us forth from Egypt, dividing the Red Sea, feeding us manna, leading us from the desert, giving us Shabbat, leading us to Mount Sinai, giving us Israel, building the Holy Temple.

In addition to Elijah's Cup, this Haggadah also includes Miriam's Cup on the Seder table. This egalitarian addition celebrates the women of the Pessach story--Moses' mother Yocheved, the midwives Shifrah and Puah, Pharaoh's daughter Thermutis, and Miriam, who watched over Moses, put him in the basket and led our song when we emerged from the Sea of Reeds.

Pessach has always been my favorite holiday. This book helps children understand that while Passover celebrates events that happened thousands of years ago, each person must remember them as if he or she was also redeemed from slavery, brought to Mount Sinai, and given the Torah. It infuses the holiday with the immediacy that makes it special. Alyssa A. Lappen

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The focus is on kids, and it is successful, March 11, 2001

By 

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

This review is from: The Family Haggadah (Paperback)

The authors created this Haggadah with children and teaching in mind. The colors and style draw you in. It reads from LEFT to RIGHT, not the hebrew right to left. With kids under age 12 in mind, it is filled with read-aloud sections. It opens with a search for the Hametz, and then follows the standard seder. The text is in ENGLISH and the main blessings are in Hebrew script, English translation, and transliterated Hebrew. For the Four questions, it includes a page of music, and for Dayenu, it also includes a page of music. The seder includes a paragraph for Miriam's Cup. It omits the standard Hallel and Grace after Meals. It explains "Next Year in Jerusalem" as a hope to either be in Jerusalem physically, or to be in a world of peace, freedom, and plenty. The book closes with Khad Gadya