PASSOVER SEDER HANDBOOK

CHABAD OF PALM BEACH GARDENS Foreword

Passover, the joyous Jewish festival of freedom, begins this year on Saturday evening, March 27, and continues through Sunday, April 4. It marks our ancestors’ liberation from Egyptian bondage and the birth of our nationhood and special relationship with G-d. The festival’s highlight is the seder (ritual meal), observed on Saturday evening, March 27, and repeated on the following night.

Jewish calendar dates do not begin at midnight, but earlier—at nightfall. Not insignificantly, this allows Jewish days to fully progress from darkness (night) to light (day), a theme especially native to Passover Eve: Our national experience began with darkness of exile and the nightmare of bondage, before maturing into freedom and light (the receiving of the Torah). In our own lives, we attempt to replicate this progress when celebrating Passover—to escape from internal darkness, inflicted by self-centeredness and servitude to baser instincts, and to emerge into a liberating existence focused on purpose. In this way, Passover empowers our personal exodus.

The following pages provide impetus for this experience. Fascinating Passover insights, designed to inform and inspire, are paired with practical guidance to facilitate a meaningful commemoration of our past, while supplying liberating tools for the present.

Our goal is to produce results that endure: Although some editions of the Haggadah include a concluding declaration—“We have reached the end of the Passover seder”—other editions pointedly shun that notion. For all concur that our inspiring experience is supposed to linger and positively influence us for the rest of the year, until we are ready to leap further on the following Passover. The messages contained in this pamphlet encourage us to head into Passover prepared to never leave; for the personal liberation we will experience is as valuable and immutable as the miraculous disintegration of Egyptian bondage and the gift of divinely guided nationhood that flourishes until today.

Best wishes for a festival of liberating inspiration,

Rabbi Dovid & Chana Vigler Contents

4 Exile and Redemption 4

Passover Checklist 6

Passover Calendar 7

The Six Items of the Seder Plate 8

The Fifteen Steps of the Seder 10

Essential Passages of the Haggadah 12

Seder Interaction 14

Passover Lessons from the Rebbe 16

Passover Insights on Education 17 8 Haggadah Throughout History 18

12

14 18 Exile and Redemption A TIMELINE 1533 BCE On Rosh Hashanah, Pharaoh has two disturbing dreams and Joseph, known to interpret dreams, is brought before Pharaoh. Joseph’s interpretation foretells of seven years of plenty followed by seven years of famine. He advises a nationwide food storage program. Pharaoh is 1400 BCE impressed and appoints Joseph The conditions of Jewish slavery viceroy of Egypt. grow exceedingly harsh and bitter.

1523 BCE 1743 BCE After two years of famine, G-d strikes a covenant with Jacob and his family come Abraham known as the “Covenant to Egypt, where Joseph between the Parts.” G-d informs provides for them and Abraham that his children will be where they are treated with enslaved in Egypt and then return to honor as Joseph’s family. Israel to inherit the land.

BCE 1750 1700 1600 1500

1394 BCE 1429 BCE Pharaoh decrees Levi, Jacob’s last surviving son, passes that all Jewish away. With the last of Joseph’s brothers male newborns be gone, Pharaoh grapples with how to drowned in the Nile. handle the growing Jewish population in Egypt and decides to enslave them.

1393 BCE On the seventh of Adar, 1545 BCE Moses is born. His mother, Abraham’s grandson, Jochebed, places him in a Jacob, has twelve basket in the Nile. Pharaoh’s sons, including daughter discovers him and Joseph. The brothers raises him in Pharaoh’s palace. sell Joseph into slavery and he is taken to Egypt. Thus begins the s aga of Jewish 1373 BCE EGYPT

slavery in Egypt. Moses kills an Egyptian for beating a Jewish slave. SPLITTING OF THE SEA This is reported to Pharaoh, who decrees Moses’s execution. Moses fl ees to Midyan. MOSES RUNS TO MIDYAN ROUTE OF THE EXODUS JOURNEY TO ISRAEL

4 PASSOVER HANDBO OK 1313 BCE 1314 BCE On the fi rst of Nisan, G-d instructs the Exactly one year before the Exodus, Jews to designate a Paschal lamb to be G-d appears to Moses in a burning eaten on the eve of their Exodus. bush and orders him to return to Egypt and liberate the Jews. Moses appears before Pharaoh and relays G-d’s instruction, but Pharaoh refuses. 1314 BCE On Rosh Hashanah, 1313 BCE as the third plague On the tenth of Nisan, the commences, Egypt Egyptian fi rstborns demand loses control of its that the Jews be liberated. Jewish slaves, who When Pharaoh refuses, a are henceforth free of civil war ensues. oppression.

1313 BCE On the fourteenth of Nisan, Jews slaughter the Paschal lamb and 1314 BCE paint their doorposts Nine-and-a-half months before the with its blood. Exodus, the Ten Plagues commence.

1400 1314 TISHREI CHESHVAN KISLEV TEVES 1313 SHEVAT ADAR NISAN IYAR SIVAN TAMMUZ AV ELUL

1313 BCE 1313 BCE On the eve of the fi fteenth of Nisan, On the sixth of Sivan, Jews eat the Paschal lamb and seven weeks after the celebrate the fi rst Passover seder in Exodus, the Jews receive history. At the stroke of midnight, the the Ten Commandments tenth plague strikes all Egyptian fi rstborns, at Mount Sinai. but passes over the Jewish homes. Jews spend the night collecting valuables from their Egyptian neighbors and baking matzah for their journey. At midday, the Jews leave Egypt.

1313 BCE On the twenty-fi rst of Nisan, Pharaoh and his army reach the Jews at the Sea of Reeds. G-d splits the sea miraculously, the Jews pass through, and the pursuing Egyptians drown.

MEDITERRANEAN SEA SOURCES

CANAAN 1313 BCE Mechilta, Shemot 12:40, 12:41; MOAB One month after the Exodus, Yalkut Shimoni, Shemot 1, the matzah provisions run Tanchuma, Shemot 8, Shemot 2:11– GOSHEN EDOM out and G-d commences 15; Rashi, Shemot 6:16, Rabbeinu a miraculous daily ration Bechaye, Shemot 10:5, Talmud, of heavenly manna that Rosh Hashanah 11a, Sotah 12a, SINAI continues for forty years. Kidushin 38a, and Shabbat 86b. NILE RIVER MIDYAN

MOUNT SINAI

RED SEA

PASSOVER HANDBO OK 5 Passover Checklist

BEWARE OF CHAMETS! SEDER CHECKLIST Throughout the festival of Passover, the Torah forbids the owning, eating, or Seder plate Charoset (mixture derivation of any benefit from chamets. of fruits and nuts, Chamets, or “leaven,” refers to any food Shemurah matzah e.g., apples, pears, in which grain and water come in contact walnuts) Wine/grape juice long enough to possibly ferment. A seder-plate Hardboiled egg vegetable, e.g., Commercially produced foods used during cooked potato the festival should therefore be certified A roasted piece of or raw onion “Kosher for Passover.” And in the weeks meat or poultry, before the festival, we remove all chamets e.g., chicken neck Salt water from our homes. On the night before Romaine lettuce Candles Passover—this year, we perform this on Thursday night, March 25—we conduct Ground Haggadah a search for any remaining chamets; on horseradish the following morning, we burn what we found and renounce all ownership of any leaven that may have escaped our notice.

Chamets that one wishes to have after Passover should be sold to a non-Jew for the duration of the holiday. This sale must be enacted properly, and it can be done online at: www.JewishGardens.com/Chametz

RECIPE

Grape Juice SERVES 6 Sorbet Refreshing and delicious!

In a large pot combine water and sugar. Bring to a boil. Add the grape juice and 3 cups water lemon juice and bring to a boil again. 1 ½ cups sugar Allow to cool completely. Fleeze flat 3 cups grape juice in a 9x13 pan. ⅔ cup lemon juice Blend until it reaches a smooth consistency. Refreeze before serving.

6 PASSOVER HANDBO OK Passover Calendar 5781 Times for Palm Beach Gardens, FL

SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SHABBAT

25 12 Nissan 26 13 Nissan 27 14 Nissan

Sell and burn Finish Eating chamets before chamets before 12:24 PM 11:21 AM Search for chamets after 7:58 PM at 7:17 PM after 8:10 PM*

28 15 Nissan 29 16 Nissan 30 17 Nissan 31 18 Nissan 1 Apr 19 Nissan 2 20 Nissan 3 21 Nissan

Holiday ends: after 8:11 PM* 8:11 PM at 7:20 PM after 8:14 PM* Passover Passover Passover Passover Passover Passover Passover First Day Second Day (Chol Hamo’ed) (Chol Hamo’ed) (Chol Hamo’ed) (Chol Hamo’ed) Seventh Day

4 22 Nissan

Holiday ends: 8:14 PM Passover Eighth Day

*LIGHT ONLY FROM A PREEXISTING FLAME.

Baruch atah Ado-nai, Elo-heinu melech ha’olam, asher kidshanu bemitsvotav, vetsivanu lehadlik ner FOR SHABBAT FOR HOLIDAYS FOR SHABBAT AND HOLIDAYS shel Shabbat shel shel Shabbat kodesh. Yom Tov. veshel Yom Tov.

FOR HOLIDAYS FOR SHABBAT Baruch atah Ad-onai, Elo-heinu melech

ha’olam, shehecheyanu, veki’yemanu, vehigi’anu lizman hazeh.

Blessed are You, L-rd our G-d, FOR SHABBAT AND HOLIDAYS King of the Universe, Who has sanctified us with His commandments, and commanded us to kindle the

FOR SHABBAT FOR HOLIDAYS FOR SHABBAT AND HOLIDAYS ON THE FIRST TWO NIGHTS OF PASSOVER ADD light of the Yom Tov Shabbat and holy Shabbat. light. Yom Tov light. Shabbat and and Shabbat Candles Holiday Blessed are You, L-rd our G-d, King of the Universe, Who has granted us life, sustained us, and enabled us to reach this occasion.

PASSOVER HANDBO OK 7 For the seder, a table is set with the matzah, a THE cup for wine, and a kaarah (plate) that holds Items of six items. The arrangement of these six items varies with local tradition; the Chabad custom 8 the Seder is illustrated below—along with clarification about each item and additional insights.

SAVOR AND SERVE Wine A MATZAH The Torah instructs us to eat matzah on is a beverage rich in fl avor Passover eve to recall the incredible speed with and easy to appreciate. The which G-d extracted the Jews from Egypt. seder’s delectable four cups of Our ancestors did not have time for the wine are therefore associated with our internalization and dough they had prepared to rise, and appreciation of Judaism’s on their fi rst stop outside of Egypt brilliant insights and they hurriedly baked it into observances. matzah. We use three matzot for In stark contrast, the matzah the seder. D C is fl avorless, simple, and bland. Historically, it was the fare of It is especially preferable to the destitute and the enslaved. use shemurah matzah: it is Matzah is associated with the circular, without start or end, elements of our relationship symbolizing G-d’s infi nity; with G-d that we cannot its grain is protected against rationally savor or understand. E contact with water from its For these, we summon our inner matzah—the rock-hard harvesting; and it is handmade, nucleus of faith that G-d plants replicating the matzah baked in H within our souls, that inborn Egypt and ever since. connection that runs deeper than logic and outranks the B WINE For the familiar fl avors of rationale. seder, the sages F Wine and matzah combine ordained that each in a seder, for both are person drink a total of essential to Judaism. B four cups in the course Faith and of the proceedings. If appreciation must wine is unworkable due to young blend in the seder age, health, or other factors, grape of daily Jewish life. juice may be used.

C ZERO’A (“arm”); a small roasted segment of meat or poultry. Some use a shank bone; others, a chicken leg or neck. It recalls the Passover off ering in the Jerusalem Temple, itself a commemoration of the Paschal lamb eaten in Egypt. This item is not eaten at the seder. A

8 PASSOVER HANDBO OK D BEITSAH, a cooked egg; to recall the THE SEED OF THE REDEMPTION A freshly laid chagigah—personal festive off ering brought on egg appears to an uninformed onlooker as an end all festivals, including Passover. The absence of product. In truth, it is merely a preparation for the the Holy Temple evokes a sense of mourning. subsequent emergence of an entire creature—a live Hence the egg, a traditional mourner’s food chick. Similarly, the Exodus appears as a completed (its oval shape symbolizes the life cycle). It achievement, but in truth, it merely set in motion the is a prevalent custom to dip it into salt water preparations for our fi nal Redemption. and eat it at the start of the seder’s meal.

E MAROR, “bitter herbs,” invokes the bitter agonies of CHANNELING BITTERNESS Our passion servitude. Maror’s precise identifi cation is debated; for performing goodness is symbolized prevailing customs call for romaine lettuce, by the matzah, whereas our inclination horseradish, or both. Note that romaine is not towards wicked choices is represented bitter unless it is left unharvested for too long; as maror, for its products are indeed similarly, our ancestors arrived in Egypt as bitter. During the seder, we perform royal guests of their relative (Joseph, the korech—combining matzah and maror. viceroy), but as their stay lengthened, This represents our objective: to unite our passions in G-d’s service by inspiring their fate became increasingly bitter. our evil inclination to embrace the directions of our good inclination, thus F MAROR—a second helping, because forming an upgraded force for goodness. G maror is used twice during the seder.

G CHAROSET, “edible clay”; a mixture of ground raw fruit and nuts with a dash of wine to recall the thick mortar with which our enslaved ancestors constructed cities for Pharaoh. (The maror is dipped in charoset before it is eaten.)

H KARPAS; a vegetable. Prevalent options SOURCES include celery, parsnip, radish, cabbage, Savor and Serve raw onion, or cooked potato. It is dipped The Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem in salt water during the seder to pique Mendel Schneerson (1902–1994), Likutei Sichot 26, pp. 44–45 the curiosity of children (of all ages!).

The Seed of the Redemption Rabbi Yaakov Leiner of Izhbitz FROM SOIL TO SOUL Honest refl ection on our (1814–1878), Seder Haggadah, spiritual lowliness could lead us to consider Sefer Hazemanim, Shulchan Orech ourselves unworthy of G-d’s love. But look at this vegetable! It was buried in dirt with only its leaves Channeling Bitterness piercing the soil. And now it graces a seder table in Rabbi Moshe Alshich (1508–1593), Shemot 13:11 G-d’s service. G-d did the same with our ancestors, and He will do it for us as well. We can rise from a spiritually From Soil to Soul vegetative state, rise from the dirt, join the King’s table, and Rabbi Yerachmiel Yisrael Danziger reach tremendous heights. (1853–1910), Yismach Yisrael, Haggadah Shel Pesach, Karpas

PASSOVER HANDBO OK 9 The Fi" een Steps of the Seder

Kadesh Yachats Rachtsah

SANCTIFY ! Recite the DIVIDE ! Break the 1 kidush over the fi rst cup 4 middle matzah in of wine. If you cannot drink half. Put aside the larger half WA S H ! Wash wine, grape juice may be used. to be eaten at the end of the meal (Step 6 your hands 12—afi koman); reinsert the smaller ritually and recite the It is appropriate for women and girls to light the festival candles half between the two whole matzahs; it blessing that concludes on/near the seder table before is the symbolic “bread of poverty” over with al netilat yadayim. sunset (and after nightfall on the second night). See p. 7 for which we retell the story of the Exodus. the candle lighting blessings. Some use the afikoman to keep the children seder focused While drinking the four cups of wine or by appointing them as afikoman guardians and suspending Motsi eating matzah, we recline (lean to the it over their shoulders—reminiscent of the unleavened left) as a sign of freedom and luxury. dough that accompanied our ancestors from Egypt, “bundled in their robes upon their shoulders” (Exodus 12:34). Others BRING FORTH ! hide the afikoman and reward the child who finds it. 7 In preparation for eating the matzah, touch the Urchatz three matzahs and recite the Magid! blessing Hamotsi —“Blessed CLEANSE ! Ritually are You G-d . . . who 2 wash your hands (as TELL ! Pour the brings forth before eating bread), but 5 second cup of wine. bread from without reciting a blessing. the earth.” If there are children present, Proceed they pose the Four Questions immediately to the adults. If not, the adults to the next step. Karpas pose them to each other. Those who are celebrating alone pose GREENS ! Eat them aloud to themselves. Matzah 3 a small piece of vegetable dipped in salt In response, UNLEAVENED water in order to stir the read the 8 BREAD ! Touch children’s curiosity, so that Haggadah’s the top two matzahs and they ask about tonight’s narrative of recite tonight’s unique unusual practices. the Exodus that incorporates blessing over “the eating history, textual analysis, of matzah.” Eat a piece In addition, dipped prayers, and songs. For selected from each of them. appetizers were a highlights, see pp. 12–14. Matzah reminds us of the speedy Exodus: practice of royalty, hence Our ancestors prepared dough, but a sign of freedom, whereas At the conclusion of this step, in the rush to leave Egypt they could not wait for it to rise. At their first stop salt water evokes the tears drink the second cup of wine. outside Egypt, they hurriedly baked of our enslaved ancestors. their unleavened dough into matzah.

10 PASSOVER HANDBO OK Maror Tsafun Berach

BITTERNESS HIDDEN ! Retrieve BLESS ! 9 Recite the blessing 12 and eat the afi koman 13 Recite the over the maror, bitter (see step 4), which represents Haggadah’s “Grace herbs, symbolizing the original afi koman After Meals” the bitterness of (“dessert”) eaten at over the slavery. Before the end of the third cup eating, dip it seder meal— of wine, in charoset—the paste the meat of the and then resembling the mortar Passover lamb. drink the wine. used by our ancestors in forced labor.

Ha"lel! Korech PRAISE ! Pour the fourth cup of wine. WRAP ! Dip a 14 10 second portion of Pour a fi fth cup (just one for the table, not for each bitter herbs in charoset and individual). This is not consumed; it is the Prophet Elijah’s place it between two pieces Cup, demonstrating that, in addition to the four cups of of matzah (use the our past liberation, we anticipate our future, ultimate bottom matzah) Redemption that will be heralded by Elijah the Prophet. to create a matzah-maror Open the door of your home for the passage sandwich. indicated in the Haggadah; it signifi es trust in G-d’s protection, as well as our longing to greet Elijah as he announces our fi nal Redemption.

Shulchan Orech Recite the Hallel (psalms of praise) to thank G-d for the miracles of the Exodus.

SET TABLE ! Nirtzah 11 Enjoy a festive meal. It is customary to ACCEPTED ! Having fulfi lled the begin with the 15 seder’s steps as prescribed, we egg from the are confi dent that G-d accepts our seder plate. performance. In conclusion, we joyously proclaim: “Next Year in Jerusalem!”

PASSOVER HANDBO OK 11 Essential Passages of the Haggadah

Ca"l!for Curiosity Four-Sentence G-d instructed His liberated Summary nation to discuss the Exodus on this night. We begin with curiosity This is a lead-in to the Haggadah arousing inquiries—for progenies that sums up tonight’s story, to pose to parents, and for mission, and scope of duty. individuals to ask themselves.

WE WERE SLAVES WHAT MAKES THIS to Pharaoh in Egypt, and NIGHT DIFFERENT the L-rd, our G-d, took FROM ALL [OTHER] us out from there with NIGHTS? a strong hand and with an outstretched arm. If the Holy One, blessed be He, had On all nights we need not not taken our fathers out of Egypt, then we, dip even once; on this our children and our children’s children night we do so twice! would have remained enslaved to Pharaoh in Egypt. Even if all of us were wise, all On all nights we eat chametz of us understanding, all of us knowing or matzah, and on this the Torah, we would still be obligated night only matzah. to discuss the Exodus from Egypt; and everyone who discusses the Exodus On all nights we eat any from Egypt at length is praiseworthy. kind of vegetables, and on this night maror!

On all nights we eat sitting upright or reclining, and on this night we all recline!

To download and print (before Yom Tov) a complete Hebrew-English Haggadah (which will allow you to perform the mitzvah of retelling the story of the Exodus in the complete and traditional manner), visit: www.chabad.org/4354402

12 PASSOVER HANDBO OK Edible Messages

This section is indispensable. Reading it satisfies tonight’s verbal obligations, and in clarifying the seder’s edible duties it solves questions posed at the seder’s start.

RABBAN GAMLIEL THIS MATZAH that we eat for what reason? used to say: “Whoever Because the dough of our fathers did not have does not discuss time to become leavened before the King of the the following kings of kings, the Holy One, blessed be He, three things on Passover has not fulfi lled revealed Himself to them and redeemed them. his duty, namely: Passover (the Passover Thus it is said: “They baked matzah cakes from sacrifi ce), matzah (the unleavened bread) the dough that they had brought out of Egypt, and maror (the bitter herbs).” because it was not leavened; for they had been driven out of Egypt and could THE PASSOVER LAMB that our not delay, and they had also not fathers ate during the time of the Beit prepared any [other] provisions.” Hamikdash—for what reason [did they do so]? Because the Omnipresent THIS MAROR that we eat— passed over our fathers’ houses in for what reason? Because the Egypt, as it is said: “You shall say, It Egyptians embittered our fathers’ is a Passover off ering to the L-rd, because lives in Egypt, as it is said: “They He passed over the houses of the Children of made their lives bitter with hard service, Israel in Egypt when He struck the Egyptians with mortar and with bricks, and with all with a plague, and He saved our houses. And manner of service in the fi eld; all their service the people bowed and prostrated themselves.” which they made them serve with rigor.”

Getting Personal IN EVERY This paragraph GENERATION, contains the seder’s we are required inspirational punchline. to view ourselves as having It thereby solves any personally left Egypt... remaining inquiries from the start of the evening.

PASSOVER HANDBO OK 13 Seder Interaction

Enliven your seder by posing and discussing the following questions with family and friends. Assign each participant a question from each of the two sections (What Do You Think? and What’s the Right Answer?). Each then takes a turn at sharing their thoughts and impressions.

Which Is there more What is the value Passover than one way to in retelling the tradition defi ne slavery/ Exodus story triggers your freedom? How so? if we emotions in a most already powerful way? know it?

Have you ever What should experienced Jews do today a personal toward ensuring “exodus” moment? Jewish continuity? WHAT DO What is YOU your message THINK? to each of the “four prototypical children”? Why have the Jews been Is there singled out for an item If you persecution and on the could time- hate throughout seder travel to another history? plate that you can period in Jewish creatively link to history, whose seder someone sitting would you visit? around the table?

14 PASSOVER HANDBO OK 1. When was 3. What are W H A T ' S 6. What is the fi rst the names T H E the meaning Haggadah of Moses’s R I G H T of the word printed? mother and ANSWER? seder? sister?

2. What is the 7. What meaning of Passover- the word 4. How many 5. What are related afi koman? times is some other slogan did Moses’s name names for an astronaut mentioned in the Passover proclaim while

the Haggadah? holiday? on a moonwalk?

slogan) in the middle of his moonwalk. his of middle the in slogan) company’s

(Jochebed), and his sister was Miriam. was sister his and (Jochebed),

shouted, “Man, oh, Manischewitz!” (the matzah matzah (the Manischewitz!” oh, “Man, shouted,

3. Moses’s mother was Yocheved Yocheved was mother Moses’s

7. In 1973, Apollo 17 astronaut Gene Cernan Cernan Gene astronaut 17 Apollo 1973, In

, which means “bring out the food.” food.” the out “bring means which , man ku afi

particular order, following an exact sequence. exact an following order, particular

dessert). Alternatively, it comes from the Aramaic Aramaic the from comes it Alternatively, dessert).

un-Jewish fashion, tonight everything is done in a a in done is everything tonight fashion, un-Jewish

which means, “that which comes after” (i.e., (i.e., after” comes which “that means, which

6. is the Hebrew word for “order.” In decidedly decidedly In “order.” for word Hebrew the is Seder

2. , , epikomion or epikomen Greek the on Based

(Passover). (Passover). Pesach called popularly is It Liberation).

owned by the Swiss collector René Braginsky. René collector Swiss the by owned

(Season of Our Our of (Season Cheiruteinu Zeman as to referred

in its entirety was produced in Prague in 1526. It is is It 1526. in Prague in produced was entirety its in

. In the prayers, it is is it prayers, the In . Hamatzot Chag as known is

that has survived survived has that Haggadah illustrated rst fi The

5. This holiday has several names. In the Bible, it it Bible, the In names. several has holiday This

of this edition is at the National Library in Jerusalem. Jerusalem. in Library National the at is edition this of

before the Expulsion). The only known surviving copy copy surviving known only The Expulsion). the before

in G-d and in Moses, His servant.” His Moses, in and G-d in

printed in 1482, in Guadalajara, Spain (ten years years (ten Spain Guadalajara, in 1482, in printed

have one mention of his name: “They believed believed “They name: his of mention one have

1. was was Haggadah rst fi the that assume Scholars

name isn’t mentioned at all. Some versions versions Some all. at mentioned isn’t name

4. , his his , Haggadah the of versions some In ANSWERS

PASSOVER HANDBO OK 15 Life Lessons from Passover From the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson

FINDING THE FIFTH The Haggadah describes four disparate fi fth, unmentioned category: the absent types of youth, but with a common child. This one knows nothing of a denominator: all of them, even the seder, Passover, Torah, or Judaism. Our most rebellious one, is present at the attention to the absent children must seder. They meet, their lives intersect, begin long before Passover. With love and they share varying degrees of and sacrifi ce, we must reach out to Jews association with Torah and mitzvot. who do not know what being Jewish Consequently, there is strong hope means. No Jewish child is expendable. that even the most wayward child will All energies must be directed to eventually see the beauty of a Torah life. introducing absent Jews to the Unfortunately, the present era of “seder” of Jewish life. spiritual confusion has produced a Public letter, 1957, Igrot Kodesh 15, pp. 33–34

A NATION OF INDIVIDUALS A PERPETUAL MESSAGE For centuries, the Passover lamb had collective To each of us in our personal lives, the Exodus overtones: it was prepared in assembly, at speaks loud and clear: free yourself from the the Jerusalem Temple, and eaten within the obstacles and limitations that stand in your city’s limits—a central location belonging way, preventing you from being what you to the Jewish collective. By contrast, its should be and acting as you truly should. foundations were steeped in individuality: G-d commanded our ancestors in Egypt to prepare Moreover, like our constant retelling of and eat the original Passover lamb in private the Exodus story, its personal message is homes, as an individualized family project. perpetual: The personal exodus you achieved yesterday was marvelous only by yesterday’s The necessity of providing this collective- standards, for you have subsequently grown toned endeavor with an individualized from that experience, and it is therefore foundation is instructive: It was precisely as insuffi cient for the standards of today. Nor they stood on the brink of nationhood that G-d will the personal exodus you achieve today be emphasized their individuality. For a nation, suffi cient for tomorrow. rather than swallowing its individuals for collective benefi t, must seek to The soul within feels enslaved when enhance the individuality of its stationary; it is truly free when it members. experiences growth. Likutei Sichot 18, pp. 104, 113–114 Igrot Melech 2, pp. 19–21

16 PASSOVER HANDBO OK Life Lessons Passover Insights from Passover on Education From the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson

AN EDUCATOR’S GAIN FINDING THE FIFTH PUT YOUR MOUTH Nechama Leibowitz (1905–1997) The Haggadah describes four disparate fi fth, unmentioned category: the absent WHERE YOUR MATZAH IS types of youth, but with a common child. This one knows nothing of a Sarah Schenirer (1883–1935) The Torah says, “In order that you may tell denominator: all of them, even the seder, Passover, Torah, or Judaism. Our in the ear of your child and your grandchild most rebellious one, is present at the attention to the absent children must The Torah the things I have done in Egypt, and the seder. They meet, their lives intersect, begin long before Passover. With love requires wonders I performed among them, so that and they share varying degrees of and sacrifi ce, we must reach out to Jews parents to you may know that I am G-d.” (Shemot 10:2) association with Torah and mitzvot. who do not know what being Jewish provide Consequently, there is strong hope means. No Jewish child is expendable. Exodus When we read this verse in the original Hebrew, we notice that that even the most wayward child will All energies must be directed to education the fi rst “you” is written in the singular (tesaper), while the eventually see the beauty of a Torah life. introducing absent Jews to the on the second “you” is written in the plural (vidatem). Why this change? Unfortunately, the present era of “seder” of Jewish life. anniversary of the event. One possible answer is that genuine educational dialogue spiritual confusion has produced a Public letter, 1957, Igrot Kodesh 15, pp. 33–34 More specifi cally, it allows the one transmitting knowledge to also learn and grow. must be delivered at Studies on the Haggadah: From the Teachings of Nechama night during the seder, Leibowitz (New York: Urim Publications, 2002) while the matzah and A NATION OF INDIVIDUALS A PERPETUAL MESSAGE bitter herbs are set For centuries, the Passover lamb had collective To each of us in our personal lives, the Exodus out on the table. THE SANCTITY OF A QUESTION overtones: it was prepared in assembly, at speaks loud and clear: free yourself from the Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks (1948–2020) the Jerusalem Temple, and eaten within the obstacles and limitations that stand in your Therein lies the secret city’s limits—a central location belonging way, preventing you from being what you of Jewish education: Do Teaching the young to ask questions is an to the Jewish collective. By contrast, its should be and acting as you truly should. not off er abstract ideas essential feature of Pesach, so much so that foundations were steeped in individuality: G-d divorced from reality. the Haggadah—the narration—must be in commanded our ancestors in Egypt to prepare Moreover, like our constant retelling of Even on the anniversary, response to a question from a child. If there is no and eat the original Passover lamb in private the Exodus story, its personal message is simply explaining the child present, adults must ask one another, and if homes, as an individualized family project. perpetual: The personal exodus you achieved event is inadequate. First one is eating alone, one must ask oneself. In Judaism, yesterday was marvelous only by yesterday’s put the matzah on your to be without questions is a sign not of faith, but of lack of The necessity of providing this collective- standards, for you have subsequently grown table and then talk! You depth. “And the [child] who does not know how to ask,” you toned endeavor with an individualized from that experience, and it is therefore can provide your children must begin to teach him how. . . . Asking a question is itself foundation is instructive: It was precisely as insuffi cient for the standards of today. Nor with deeper appreciation a profound expression of faith in the intelligibility of the they stood on the brink of nationhood that G-d will the personal exodus you achieve today be for a mitzvah, but universe and the meaningfulness of human life. . . . Far from emphasized their individuality. For a nation, suffi cient for tomorrow. only when they see faith excluding questions, questions testify to faith—that rather than swallowing its individuals you—their parent— history is not random, that the universe is not impervious for collective benefi t, must seek to The soul within feels enslaved when actively observing it. to our understanding, that what happens to us is not blind enhance the individuality of its stationary; it is truly free when it Em BeYisrael, p. 74 chance. We ask, not because we doubt, but because we believe. members. experiences growth. Rabbi Jonathan Sacks’s Haggadah: Hebrew and English Text with New Likutei Sichot 18, pp. 104, 113–114 Igrot Melech 2, pp. 19–21 Essays and Commentary (New York: Continuum, 2006), pp. 105–106

PASSOVER HANDBO OK 17 The The Agudas Chasidei Chabad Library in New York houses the Haggadah priceless Judaica collections of the Chabad rebbes, including that of the seventh rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson. Throughout The library has some two thousand editions of the Haggadah that were printed or illustrated over the past four hundred fifty years, History some of which are quite rare. Five samples are displayed here. Images provided by Rabbi Shalom Dovber Levine, director and curator of the library.

LATIN AND LYRICS !FRANEKER 1698" Johann Stephan Rittangel (1606–1652), a Christian Hebraist, authored Liber Rituum Paschalium, a translation of the Passover Haggadah in Latin and German (Konigsberg 1644). In 1698, his Libra Veritatis, a Christian work, was printed in Franeker, the Netherlands, and the publishers appended to this his Latin translation of the Haggadah.

The image here is from this 1698 print. What’s particularly unique about this Haggadah is that Rittangel included musical notations for two traditional Passover songs that Jews sung at that time. These are the oldest extant musical notes for a Jewish song.

HIGHEST FORM OF FLATTERY !AMSTERDAM 1695" The artwork of this famed Haggadah, created by Avraham Bar Yaakov, a former pastor who converted to Judaism, was copied and imitated more than any other Haggadah in history, leaving an impact well into the twentieth century.

Presented here is the title page along with a page of the text accompanied by the commentary of Rabbi Yitschak Abarbanel (1437–1508). This page also features an illustration of the angels’ visit to Abraham and Sarah to announce the birth of Isaac.

A map of the Land of Israel, one of the oldest of its kind, is featured at the end of this volume.

18 PASSOVER HANDBO OK TRIPARTITE COMMENTARY !METZ 1767" This Haggadah, titled Beit Chorin, uses many of the illustrations from the Amsterdam edition of 1695. Three celebrated commentaries are provided in this edition: Gevurot Hashem by Rabbi Yehudah Loew of Prague (ca. 1512–1609), Olelot Efraim by Rabbi Shlomo Efraim Luntshitz (1550–1619), and an eponymous commentary from Rabbi Moshe Alshich (1508–1593).

Presented here is a page of text along with an illustration of Pharaoh’s daughter saving Moses from the Nile. Although Moses’s name is barely mentioned in the text of the Haggadah, he is prominently featured in many editions via the illustrations.

ON NEW SHORES !NEW YORK 1857" Henry Frank (1804–1868), a Hebrew publisher in Bavaria, joined many Jews who emigrated in 1848 due to the 1848–9 revolutions in Germany. He settled in New York where he set up his printshop. He printed the Haggadah in 1850 with an English translation (the fi rst Haggadah printed in the United States was accomplished thirteen years earlier). The popularity of his edition and the growing Jewish population of the United States led Frank to reprint it many times. The pages shown here are from his 1857 edition, which also included illustrations.

Depicted here are the Ten Plagues.

A WORK OF ART !KITTSEE 1760" This Haggadah on parchment was handwritten and drawn by Chaim ben Asher Anshel, a famous calligrapher (d. 1784) in Kittsee, near Pressburg (today: Bratislava).

Presented here is the title page and a page of text that also features an image of Moses killing an Egyptian overseer who had beaten an enslaved Jew. Notice how the name of G-d is written on the third to last line: with two yuds inside an upside down vav. Notice as well the upside down shin at the end of the second to last line, fi lling the empty space and alluding to the fi rst letter on the next line.

PASSOVER HANDBO OK 19 !

NEXT YEAR IN JERUSALEM!

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