My People's Passover Haggadah: Traditional Texts, Modern Commentaries Volume 2 [Hardcover]

Lawrence A. Hoffman (Editor), David Arnow (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 2008

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.

Commentators:

• David Arnow-The World of Midrash
• Carole B. Balin-Modern Haggadot
• Marc Brettler-Our Biblical Heritage
• Neil Gillman-Theologically Speaking
• Alyssa Gray-Medieval Commentators
• Arthur Green-Personal Spirituality
• Joel M. Hoffman-Translating the Haggadah
• Lawrence A. Hoffman-History of the Haggadah
• Lawrence Kushner and Nehemia Polen-Chasidic Voices
• Daniel Landes-The Halakhah of the Seder
• Wendy I. Zierler-Feminist Voices

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Rabbi Lawrence A. Hoffman, PhD, co-editor of My People's Passover Haggadah, editor of the acclaimed My People's Prayer Book series, winner of the National Jewish Book Award. He has served for more than three decades as professor of liturgy at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, and is the first holder of the Stephen and Barbara Friedman Chair in Liturgy Worship and Ritual. A world-renowned scholar and liturgist, he has combined research in Jewish ritual, worship and spirituality with a passion for the spiritual renewal of contemporary Judaism.

Rabbi Hoffman has written and edited numerous books, including Rethinking Synagogues: A New Vocabulary for Congregational Life (Jewish Lights), a finalist for the National Jewish Book Award; The Way Into Jewish Prayer (Jewish Lights); The Art of Public Prayer, 2nd Edition: Not for Clergy Only (SkyLight Paths), now used nationally by Jews and Christians as a handbook for liturgical planners in church and synagogue; as well as a revision of What Is a Jew?, the best-selling classic that remains the most widely read introduction to Judaism ever written in any language. He is also the author of Israel--A Spiritual Travel Guide: A Companion for the Modern Jewish Pilgrim (Jewish Lights).

He is a developer of Synagogue 3000, a transdenominational project designed to envision and implement the ideal synagogue of the spirit for the twenty-first century.

David Arnow, PhD, co-editor of My People's Passover Haggadah, is a psychologist by training and author of Creating Lively Passover Seders: A Sourcebook of Engaging Tales, Texts and Activities (Jewish Lights). He is widely recognized for his innovative work to make the Passover Seder a truly exciting encounter each year with Judaism's most central ideas. He has been deeply involved with many organizations in the American Jewish community and Israel and is a respected lecturer, writer and community leader. In addition to many publications on Jewish identity, religion and psychology, and the history of Israel, he has written about the Passover Seder for two decades.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

"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."

--from the Introduction

Product Details

• Hardcover: 297 pages
• Publisher: Jewish Lights Publishing (February 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1580233465
• ISBN-13: 978-1580233460
• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 6.9 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 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: #560,148 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #29 in Books > Religion & Spirituality > Judaism > Haggadah
  • #68 in Books > Religion & Spirituality > Judaism > Prayerbooks

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This second volume continues to present an astonishing amount of information, March 13, 2011

By 

Israel Drazin (Boca Raton, Florida) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: My People's Passover Haggadah: Traditional Texts, Modern Commentaries Volume 2 (Hardcover)

This is the second volume of a delightful, very detailed, informative addition to the traditional Haggadah, a book that anyone who wants to really understand the Haggadah cannot do without. Readers of this review are encouraged to read my review of the editors' first volume. It explains the meaning of words such as "Haggadah" and "Seder." It also tells about the extensive introduction and the many different kinds of commentaries that are given in these two books. As stated in that review, the editors offer so much information about Passover, the Seder, and the Haggadah that they had to divide their presentation into two volumes of 267 and 297 pages, a total of 564 pages, even though an average unannotated Haggadah would have no more than 35 pages.

An example of the kinds of commentaries in this second volume is the discussions on the medieval additions to the Haggadah. One well-known, somewhat curious practice is the "Welcoming of the Prophet Elijah." The Hebrew is only nine lines, but this volume devotes seventeen pages to discuss it. There are four illustrations from ancient Haggadot. The comments address questions such as: when was this section added to the Haggadah? Why was it added? Why does it include a prayer that God should "Pour out Your wrath on the nations who do not know you"? Is this proper? Is it moral? What does it mean? Who are these nations? Should these words be changed to "Pour out Your spirit on all flesh so all peoples will come to serve You"? Why is the practice to place a cup for the prophet Elijah when it is clear that he will not come and will not drink the wine? Is this a fifth cup added to the traditional four? Why? What is the significance of thinking about Elijah on Passover? Why is part of this ceremony to open the door? Should we also put out a pitcher of water to recall Moses' sister Miriam? Should we accept the practice of the Orthodox rabbi, the great scholar Menachem M. Kasher (1895-1983) that we should drink a fifth cup of wine at the Seder to note that the State of Israel has been reestablished?

The second volume includes in appendixes three text of ancient and medieval versions of the Haggadah, from the Mishnah and Tosefta, composed about the second or third century, and one found in the Cairo Geniza, which is dated no later than the tenth or eleventh century. These are in Hebrew with an English translation. Each has an introduction and the Cairo Geniza Haggadah has commentaries.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My People's Haggadah vol 2, August 4, 2009

By 

Donald J. Weinshank "Don Weinshank, Prof. Eme... (East Lansing, MI USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: My People's Passover Haggadah: Traditional Texts, Modern Commentaries Volume 2 (Hardcover)

Brilliant and eminently readable scholarship. I incorporated chunks of both volumes into our Passover Seder. I regard these volumes as "must have" ones for anybody interested in the history of the Haggadah.