The Hagaddah: An approach for Jewish leaders

THE HAGADDAHStudy Sessions with Leadership of Orloff Central Agency for Jewish

Education

Rabbi Arnold D. Samlan

History Biblical Origins

The First Passover Offering – Exodus 12 Passover in the Future – Deuteronomy 6 Script for First Fruits – Deuteronomy 26

Sacrifice, Feast, Story Seder = Order Hagaddah = Telling of Story Fun fact: Our Hagaddah is 30% biblical and 70%

post-Biblical, in contrast to that of Karaite Jews Leadership question: What is the story of

the Jewish people that guides our work as leaders?

The Hagaddah and Seder Develop

First indication of an organized Seder and Hagaddah is in Mishnah (2nd century CE)

Gemara (5th-6th century CE) shows further development of parts of the Seder and Hagaddah

Scripts continue to develop through medieval times, at which they begin to be put into print

Modern versions vary with artwork and with themes connecting Seder and Hagaddah to contemporary issues and concerns

Leadership question: How do we educate to empower next generation to continue developing the story?

Parallels: Symposium and Seder

Serving, dipping Reclining Quantities of wine Washing Lettuce Charoset (Waldorf Salad) Sandwich Afikomen – Merry Making Symposium – Questions, discussions

The Seder Plate Z’roah – Shankbone – Symbol of Passover

offering Betza – Egg – Symbol of chagigah holiday

offering Maror – Bitter herb – Symbol of Slavery Charoset – Symbol of mortar Chazeret – Another herb or green Karpas – Green produce – Symbol of

rebirth and spring

Other Stars of the Seder Matza – Symbol of freedom, of slavery, of

poverty Salt water – Symbol of tears Orange – Modern addition to symbolize

those who don’t fit in

Leadership question: How do we take responsibility in our organization and community for those Jews who “don’t fit in”?

Seder Script

Kiddush First of four cups K-D-SH root word as set aside Centrality of wine and “libations” Four cups parallel four languages of

redemption of Exodus 6 Fifth cup is uncertain language, and Elijah will

determine if it’s required Leadership question: How do we address

all the needs that parallel the four freedoms alluded to: physical, economic, psychological and spiritual freedom

Karpas Urchatz Spring? Appetizer, as in Greek/Roman times Dipped in dipping sauce (salt water and other) Purification Washing of hands as reminiscent of purifying

before eating anything Temple related Leadership question: Throughout the

Torah, officiating leaders purified themselves before conducting atonement for community. What do we as leaders need to do before leading?

Yachatz Matza as poor man’s bread (eaten during

slavery?) Matza symbolizing freedom (Exodus) Matza and humility Two full loaves – double manna Half-loaf

Breaking bread Sensitivity to poverty and oppression

Leadership question: How do we maintain our memory of being oppressed and poor?

Maggid: The Story “This is the bread” – Sort of late for an

Aramaic invitation, no? Mah Nishtana – What does it mean? Why

do we not directly answer? Two versions of the story take us from the

depths to new heights

Leadership question: How can we show how our community is going to rise to new heights?

The Four Children in ArtZador, Four Sons, Budapest, 1924

Four Sons, Immigrant Family, Chicago, 1879

Illustrations by Leon “Lola” Israel, 1920

 Arthur Szyk, Poland, 1939

Nota Koslowsky, U.S.A., 1944

Tzvi Livni, Israel, 1955

Dick Codor (U.S.A., 1981)

David Wander, The Haggadahin Memory of the Holocaust, ©1988

ASHER KALDERON, 2005

Joseph Steinhardt, 1921

J.W. Stewart, 2012

South Park

Who are the Four Children Diversity Learning Styles Stages of Development Simply a Midrash to Explain Biblical Text Another set of four (recurring number in the

Seder)

Leadership question: Many interpretations can all be true. Think about multiple ways of sharing a narrative with different audiences.

Midrashim Midrash Aggadah Midrash Halacha “…and SHE was our ancestors’ support… Polemics contradicting Christianity The Biblical text of the Midrash http://

www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0526.htm Dayenu – Exactly WHAT would have been

enough? Leadership question: When do you decide that

an “ask”, an organization, a program is “enough”?

B’Chol Dor V’Dor Putting ourselves in the Exodus Visioning Art Song Costume