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