My People's Passover Haggadah: Traditional Texts, Modern Commentaries Volume 1 [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

From Publishers Weekly

Here's everything you ever wanted to know about the Passover haggadah, from multiple perspectives: biblical, historical, theological, legal, rabbinic, mystical, feminist—and then some. The editors don't take anything for granted, even defining basic terms like haggadah itself and discussing the translation of barukh, the first word of every blessing. But this comprehensive two-volume handbook is not for the cursory reader or even for light use at the seder table. It opens with a collection of scholarly essays reflecting all denominations of Judaism, then segues into the text, presented cleverly in Talmudic format (in Hebrew with a new English translation) and surrounded by commentaries. Contributors include Lawrence Kushner, Arthur Green, Carole Balin and Neil Gillman as well as Hoffman (My People's Prayer Book) and Arnow (Creating Lively Passover Seders). The plurality of voices lends richness to the reader's understanding of the familiar text, but it can be confusing to follow the flow of the commentaries, which continue beyond the text and even overshadow it. Still, this illuminating resource provides a myriad of in-depth answers to the why? in why is this night different from all others? (Apr.)
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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.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 267 pages
• Publisher: Jewish Lights Publishing (February 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1580233546
• ISBN-13: 978-1580233545
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 7 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #594,081 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #28 in Books > Religion & Spirituality > Judaism > Haggadah
  • #75 in Books > Religion & Spirituality > Judaism > Prayerbooks

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding! But be sure this is what you are looking for., February 29, 2008

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TravelMod (New York, NY USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: My People's Passover Haggadah: Traditional Texts, Modern Commentaries Volume 1 (Hardcover)

Lawrence Hoffman is a leading scholar and writer in the Reform Jewish movement, though he pays due attention to Orthodox traditions for the historical perspective. He has a series of "My People's...." books which examine the practice and evolution of Jewish ritual and prayer.
His "My People's Haggadah" is published in two volumes and is a detailed commentary on the content of the traditional Haggadah, the book that in various forms (there are thousands of versions) is used to structure the Seder service and meal that Jews participate in during the holiday of Passover. His insights are illuminating, scholarly, and in some cases, provocative, but always worthwhile. My only caveat would be that this is not the casual reader's guide to the Haggadah, nor a simple summary of the Reform observance of Passover. This book requires a certain amount of commitment to study. Highly recommended, if this is your area of interest or curiosity.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is a valuable tool for anyone who really wants to understand the Haggadah, March 13, 2011

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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 1 (Hardcover)

This is a very detailed, informative addition to the traditional Haggadah, a valuable tool for anyone who wants to understand the Haggadah. The Haggadah (meaning, telling or retelling) is a volume that Jews read in the special Seder (meaning, "order" of the ceremony) on the first night (or for some Jews, first two nights) of the Passover. The editors offer so much information that they had to divide their presentation into two volumes of 267 and 297 pages, a total of 564, even though an average unannotated Haggadah would have no more than 35 pages. Eleven people, men and women, comment and add keen insights on the ancient Haggadah.

The nine articles in the Introduction, comprising almost ninety fact filled, interesting, and easy to read pages, discuss subjects such as: "What is the Haggadah Anyway," "Passover in the Bible and Before," "Passover for the Early Rabbis: Fixed and Free," "This Bread: Christianity and the Seder," and other subjects, such as feminist questions about the Haggadah and how different Jewish denominations understand Passover, the Seder, and the Haggadah.

The reminder of this first volume has the text of the Haggadah in Hebrew, a modern English translation, instructions on how to perform the many ceremonies, and extensive commentaries by different scholars. The commentaries include "Modern Haggadot" (plural of Haggadah), ways that modern Jews perform the Seder; "Our Biblical Heritage," explaining the sources of most of the readings and practices; "Medieval Commentators," opinions about the Haggadah from many authorities; "Translation," why the translator of this volume translated a passage as he did; "History," "Chassidic Voices," Feminist Voices," and a section on the Jewish law on the issues. The book also has occasional pictures of ancient documents.

An example of the many contributions is the discussions on the well-known "Four Questions" that begin with the words: "Why is this night different from all other nights?"
Fourteen pages are devoted to the comments on the eleven lines. The first is a picture of how these questions appear in a tenth or eleventh century Haggadah. The comments address such subjects as: Doesn't it appear that there are five questions? Why is this question style also used for slaves who have their ears pierced because they do not want to go free? Why is it the practice to have the youngest child ask the questions? Why does the number four reappear so often in the Haggadah and in the Bible? Why did the ancients change an original version of these four questions? Are these formal questions or are they designed to provoke other question? What are more important, questions or answers? Should we add questions that engage us in a critical inquiry of the women's role in the exodus story? What is the moral lesson about the matzah, the unleavened bread? Are we following a Jewish or Roman practice when we lean while eating the Seder meal? What is the meaning of freedom?

5.0 out of 5 stars My People's Haggadah vol 1, August 4, 2009

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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 1 (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.