New York Times bestsellers Cokie Roberts and Steven V. Roberts offer a unique, personalized vision of the traditional Passover Haggadah, combining their own family traditions with favorites from other families in a fun, intimate guide written especially for couples of mixed faiths. A fresh and informative tour through the rituals of the Pesach Seder as well as a compelling rendition of the Exodus story, Our Haggadah is the perfect book for any interfaith family celebrating Passover. Readers of the couple’s compelling account of their marriage, From This Day Forward (“Instructive and inspiring” —New York Times Book Review) as well as Cokie Roberts’ We Are Our Mothers’ Daughters and Steven V. Roberts’ My Father’s Houses, will be enthralled by this glimpse into the couple’s inclusive Passover rituals.
Our Haggadah: Uniting Traditions for Interfaith Families
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Editorial Reviews
Review
“With this participatory and egalitarian handbook, the Robertses create a virtual seat at their seder table. . . . the Robertses provide an inclusive guide that extends beyond Passover to address interfaith unions.” (Washington Post )
“Cokie and Steve Roberts have written a book that’s at once a practical, accessible haggadah for Passover and a roadmap of sorts for other interfaith couples grappling with the task of raising a family with two different religions.” (J Weekly )
“[A] Haggadah that all can use and understand. . . . An excellent resource for interfaith families and anyone who needs a basic introduction to Passover traditions.” (Booklist )
“Cokie and Steve Roberts have written a book that’s at once a practical, accessible haggadah for Passover and a roadmap of sorts for other interfaith couples grappling with the task of raising a family with two different religions.” (J Weekly )
“[A] Haggadah that all can use and understand. . . . An excellent resource for interfaith families and anyone who needs a basic introduction to Passover traditions.” (Booklist )
From the Back Cover
New York Times bestselling authors and journalists Cokie and Steve Roberts share their Passover traditions in this engaging version of the Haggadah for couples and families of mixed faiths.
When they met more than forty years ago, Cokie and Steve Roberts found common ground in their shared values, despite their different religious beliefs. Choosing to honor both of their faiths and traditions, they began hosting a Passover Seder that has evolved from a small family gathering to a veritable event celebrated with loved ones from all walks of life.
Based on the time-honored Haggadah—the text read throughout the evening that gives order to the ritual meal—Our Haggadah is a practical guide for interfaith families, whether they're celebrating their very first Passover or starting a new tradition. Originally composed on a typewriter and stapled together, Our Haggadah has been the Roberts family's handbook for each Seder and comes from years of adapting and expanding their Seders to welcome all who wish to take part in the celebration. From finding a Seder plate to preparing traditional and nontraditional foods, from the customary prayers to new ways for guests to participate, Cokie and Steve share their special approach to the holiday and the lessons they've learned over the years as an interfaith couple.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
29 of 31 people found the following review helpful
By Larry Mark
Format:Hardcover
This book is a good purchase for haggadah collectors, for interfaith families, and for readers who enjoy memoirs.
Steven Roberts grew up Jewish in Bayonne NJ; his family was culturally and politically Jewish, but not religiously observant. His parents and grandparents never had bar mitzvah ceremonies nor were they married by rabbis. They were labor bund members and socialist shopkeepers. They were more into the Workmen's Circle than the Shul. His family never held a Passover seder. At 13, Steven Roberts (nee Rogowsky) had half a bar mitzvah (with his twin brother) and got active in JFTY. He took Myrna Goldblatt to his senior prom, and at Harvard most of his friends were Jewish, but Roberts never had a seder until after he married Cokie (Mary Martha CORINNE Morrison Claiborne Roberts (née Boggs), a devoutly Catholic graduate of Wellesley and the daughter Congressman and Majority Leader Hale Boggs and U.S. Ambassador (to the Vatican) Lindy Boggs.
After Steven and Cokie married (by Arthur Goldberg and a Jesuit), Cokie wanted a religious, deliberately Jewish household. Steven had no traditions to fall back upon, so they attended their first seder in Manhattan at the Waldorf=Astoria residence of Arthur Goldberg (as in Arthur Goldberg, the U.S. Supreme Court Justice and American Ambassador to the UN). The next year they had their own seder (Steven's mother and father pitched in; it was their first seder).
All their guests had their own views of how a seder should proceed; that classic Maxwell House Coffee haggadah just did not work for everyone. So they typed out their own haggadah with prayers and lots of readings (minus the wine stains). Cokie especially wanted to use the psalms that are also used in the Easter service. It was edited and expanded and re-edited through their decades in New York, Athens, DC and elsewhere. The people who attended their interfaith seders are a Who's Who of journalists, media personalities, NPR reporters/hosts (Nina, Linda), and interfaith couples.
The first "L" (or "50") pages are two essays by Cokie and Steven on how the seders came about. It is great for readers who enjoy humor filled memoirs. The next twenty pages lay out instructions on how to prep for a seder and explains the symbols of the seder (matza, etc). The rest of the book is a Haggadah you can use for your seder.
There are short readings for the leader, and explanations. The blessings for the four cups of wine, the four questions, and a few other prayers are in Hebrew, English transliteration, and English translation. There are ideas for the kids interspersed in the section. For example, one seder, Steve's sister made masks (or finger-puppets) for the kids to use during the 10 plagues. (Did I mention that in their original photocopied haggadah, "Rabbi" Gamaliel was mistyped as "Rabbit." And thus a tradition was started in their household). The Hallel is abridged in English and the Grace After Meals is a paragraph in English. The songs at the end of the book include We Shall Overcome and Had Gadya. The book closes with several recipes that the Roberts' traditionally serve. It includes gefilte fish, chopped liver, egg lemon soup, leg of lamb with scallions and mint, dried bean (legume) salad, zucchini in a skillet, and an eggplant and green pepper kugel. The book is an enjoyable read that can be read as a unique memoir by a celebrity couple, or can be used in total or in parts by interfaith families for their seders.
Steven Roberts grew up Jewish in Bayonne NJ; his family was culturally and politically Jewish, but not religiously observant. His parents and grandparents never had bar mitzvah ceremonies nor were they married by rabbis. They were labor bund members and socialist shopkeepers. They were more into the Workmen's Circle than the Shul. His family never held a Passover seder. At 13, Steven Roberts (nee Rogowsky) had half a bar mitzvah (with his twin brother) and got active in JFTY. He took Myrna Goldblatt to his senior prom, and at Harvard most of his friends were Jewish, but Roberts never had a seder until after he married Cokie (Mary Martha CORINNE Morrison Claiborne Roberts (née Boggs), a devoutly Catholic graduate of Wellesley and the daughter Congressman and Majority Leader Hale Boggs and U.S. Ambassador (to the Vatican) Lindy Boggs.
After Steven and Cokie married (by Arthur Goldberg and a Jesuit), Cokie wanted a religious, deliberately Jewish household. Steven had no traditions to fall back upon, so they attended their first seder in Manhattan at the Waldorf=Astoria residence of Arthur Goldberg (as in Arthur Goldberg, the U.S. Supreme Court Justice and American Ambassador to the UN). The next year they had their own seder (Steven's mother and father pitched in; it was their first seder).
All their guests had their own views of how a seder should proceed; that classic Maxwell House Coffee haggadah just did not work for everyone. So they typed out their own haggadah with prayers and lots of readings (minus the wine stains). Cokie especially wanted to use the psalms that are also used in the Easter service. It was edited and expanded and re-edited through their decades in New York, Athens, DC and elsewhere. The people who attended their interfaith seders are a Who's Who of journalists, media personalities, NPR reporters/hosts (Nina, Linda), and interfaith couples.
The first "L" (or "50") pages are two essays by Cokie and Steven on how the seders came about. It is great for readers who enjoy humor filled memoirs. The next twenty pages lay out instructions on how to prep for a seder and explains the symbols of the seder (matza, etc). The rest of the book is a Haggadah you can use for your seder.
There are short readings for the leader, and explanations. The blessings for the four cups of wine, the four questions, and a few other prayers are in Hebrew, English transliteration, and English translation. There are ideas for the kids interspersed in the section. For example, one seder, Steve's sister made masks (or finger-puppets) for the kids to use during the 10 plagues. (Did I mention that in their original photocopied haggadah, "Rabbi" Gamaliel was mistyped as "Rabbit." And thus a tradition was started in their household). The Hallel is abridged in English and the Grace After Meals is a paragraph in English. The songs at the end of the book include We Shall Overcome and Had Gadya. The book closes with several recipes that the Roberts' traditionally serve. It includes gefilte fish, chopped liver, egg lemon soup, leg of lamb with scallions and mint, dried bean (legume) salad, zucchini in a skillet, and an eggplant and green pepper kugel. The book is an enjoyable read that can be read as a unique memoir by a celebrity couple, or can be used in total or in parts by interfaith families for their seders.
16 of 19 people found the following review helpful
By Betty Breen
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
OUR HAGGADAH is a story of love---of an inclusive, all-encompassing and joyful love.
We've all learned in different words and in different places that we must love ourself, our neighbor, and a Greater Being.
In this little treasure of a book, diverse cultures, ages and faiths come together to celebrate and, in sharing a meal,
this collection of people discover many shared beliefs and traditions. As the song says, "We are family."
After reading the first two chapters, I bought the book for my adult children and friends.
Subsequent chapters brought me to the table, to some new foods and traditions and to a better understanding of Judeo-Christian similarities.
Cokie Roberts' love for her husband compelled her to research his roots and instill a pride in his heritage in him. With a light-hearted approach to an annual Passover meal, they've forged their own traditions. Their warm approach to their backgrounds and respect for Everyman provides invaluable lessons in history, culture and faith for all ages and religions.
Perhaps the words to THE GRACE AFTER MEALS sum it all up: Blessed be God of whose bounty we have eaten and by whose goodness we live. May God bless this home, the people at the table, and all of our loved ones who are not here with us tonight. May God bring peace to all homes, all nations, and all faith traditions.
We've all learned in different words and in different places that we must love ourself, our neighbor, and a Greater Being.
In this little treasure of a book, diverse cultures, ages and faiths come together to celebrate and, in sharing a meal,
this collection of people discover many shared beliefs and traditions. As the song says, "We are family."
After reading the first two chapters, I bought the book for my adult children and friends.
Subsequent chapters brought me to the table, to some new foods and traditions and to a better understanding of Judeo-Christian similarities.
Cokie Roberts' love for her husband compelled her to research his roots and instill a pride in his heritage in him. With a light-hearted approach to an annual Passover meal, they've forged their own traditions. Their warm approach to their backgrounds and respect for Everyman provides invaluable lessons in history, culture and faith for all ages and religions.
Perhaps the words to THE GRACE AFTER MEALS sum it all up: Blessed be God of whose bounty we have eaten and by whose goodness we live. May God bless this home, the people at the table, and all of our loved ones who are not here with us tonight. May God bring peace to all homes, all nations, and all faith traditions.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By Natalia
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
My husband and I have both been studying Hebrew and Judaism. We have not quite implemented a total ultra Conservative lifestyle, but are following the rules as we can learn them. SO reading Steve and Cokie's book has blessed us greatly, giving us the gentle forgiveness needed for going slowly, and as we can. Passover meant so much more to us this year, and this is the first time the computer has been on since then, and the first time I have written to anyone.
Thank you Cokie and Steve, for such a beautiful book explaining so gently how you combined and melded your lives together. We have been married 20 years and are making this journey together and found your book a treasure of combining, mixing, blending, understanding the two religions....all coming from the one God, the God of Abraham, I do believe we will all get THERE in the end. I know my hubby and I will, with the blessing of this gentle sweet book. It will be my treasure for the rest of my life. And yes we have bought the books on Amazon, and will buy more as we go along, but this special book will be a resource forever.
Their explanations bring in history and love at the same time. I recommend it for all spiritually minded folk, Jew and non, and especially interfaith families. I can see no more God-like way to bring a lifetime of joy to all. I never believed God wanted to beat love into us, and the Roberts have shone a way that paints word pictures showing one families journey of loving each other, family, friends,and above all our Lord God.
Thank you Cokie and Steve, for such a beautiful book explaining so gently how you combined and melded your lives together. We have been married 20 years and are making this journey together and found your book a treasure of combining, mixing, blending, understanding the two religions....all coming from the one God, the God of Abraham, I do believe we will all get THERE in the end. I know my hubby and I will, with the blessing of this gentle sweet book. It will be my treasure for the rest of my life. And yes we have bought the books on Amazon, and will buy more as we go along, but this special book will be a resource forever.
Their explanations bring in history and love at the same time. I recommend it for all spiritually minded folk, Jew and non, and especially interfaith families. I can see no more God-like way to bring a lifetime of joy to all. I never believed God wanted to beat love into us, and the Roberts have shone a way that paints word pictures showing one families journey of loving each other, family, friends,and above all our Lord God.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
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Loved this book. Worth every penny of the price. The Authors wrote a simplified, up-dated version bringing Jewish family traditions for a family which has intermarried. Read more
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This was a wonderful read and gave wonderful examples of how to modernize the Seder nights and make it really fun. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Nana Lenni
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I learned so much!
My daughter (a Catholic) is married to a Jew. I learned so much about the Jewish faith from reading the story. Read more
Published 20 months ago by Gumbo
5.0 out of 5 stars
charming and helpful
Cokie & Steve Roberts' book was one of the best resources we found as we sought to define our own Haggadah and Seder meal for a gathering of Gentiles.
Published on May 14, 2011 by G. Woolever
4.0 out of 5 stars
Our Haggadah: Uniting Traditions for Interfaith Families
A beautiful job explaining how to do a seder step by step and how you can add your own personal ideas to the seder. Read more
Published on May 10, 2011 by Ethel D. Miller
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wonderful
This is a lovely book that emphasizes the ways in which we agree in the experience of a Passover Seder. Read more
Published on April 14, 2011 by M. R. K.
