Choosing a Passover Haggadah

Passover is one of the most celebrated holidays on the Jewish calendar. The holiday involves the Seder, a meal in which eating and discussing topics related to Passover is done in a designated order, guided by the Passover Haggadah.

A Passover Haggadah is a book outlining the order of the Seder. It includes the story of Passover of the Hebrew slaves escaping Egypt, texts for discussion, traditional prayers, and songs and rituals. Explanations about representative and symbolic foods included in the Seder are also found in the Passover Haggadah.

Each participant or pair of participants at the Seder will need a Haggadah of some kind. Anyone needing a Passover Haggadah has a variety to choose from, and choosing one can become overwhelming.

There are Haggadot (the Hebrew plural for Haggadah) for Orthodox, Conservative, Reform, Reconstructionist and Renewal denominations of Judiasm, plus themed Haggadot like Feminist, Interfaith, Pacifist, Social Action, Vegetarian and many more. Here are some ways to organize the options, in the interest of making the selection of a Passover Haggadah an easier experience.

Where to Find a Haggadah
You can find a Passover Haggadah at Judaica stores, or online at any number of Jewish retailers. Those interested in saving some money might check with friends or family members. You can also find versions online for download and printing, and some online Haggadot are free. Creative thinkers who wish to custom tailor their Seder can make an original Passover Haggadah and copy it for all participants.

What do Haggadot Have in Common?
The Passover Seder is supposed to have 15 steps, and, as long as a Passover Haggadah includes these steps, the discussion points and activities in between can vary.

Here are the steps of the Seder:

1. Kadeish (Recital of Kiddush blessing and drinking of the First Cup of Wine)
2. Urchatz (Washing the hands)
3. Karpas (Dipping of the parsley into salt water)
4. Yachatz (Breaking the middle matzo; the larger piece becomes the afikoman, which is hidden and eaten after the meal during step 12, Tzafun)
5. Maggid (Retelling the Passover story, including the recital of the "Four Questions" and drinking of the Second Cup of Wine)
6. Rachtzah (Second washing of the hands, with a blessing)
7. Motzi (Traditional blessing before eating bread products)
8. Matzo (Blessing before eating matzo)
9. Maror (Eating the bitter herb)
10. Koreich (Eating a "sandwich" made of matzo and maror)
11. Shulchan Oreich (Hebrew for "set table." The serving of the holiday meal)
12. Tzafun (Eating the afikoman once it's been found)
13. Bareich (Reciting the blessing after the meal and drinking of the Third Cup of Wine)
14. Hallel (Songs and praises to God, traditionally recited on festivals; drinking of the Fourth Cup of Wine)
15. Nirtzah (Conclusion)

How to Choose the Right Passover Haggadah
Think about who is coming to the Seder. What is their denominational affiliation? Most Orthodox Jews would prefer a very traditional Passover Haggadah. One of the most traditional is published by Maxwell House (yes, the coffee company). Conservative and Reform Jews are usually open to more modern, interpretive themes.

Think about the special interests of the guests at the Seder. What are their political views or special causes they care about? Be careful to select a Passover Haggadah that doesn't just appeal to a small percentage of the guests if it will turn off the rest. There are more general modern Haggadot that have a wider appeal. Try searching the Web and bookstores to get ideas.

If many children are attending, try to select a Passover Haggadah that includes some nice artwork or has some sections that are appropriate to the reading level of the guests who are old enough to participate. Keep in mind that it is appropriate and often necessary to supplement the Passover Haggadah with activities, prizes and little toys to keep children engaged during the Seder.

A Sampling of Traditional Songs and Prayers
Most Haggadot will have these basic inclusions as a part of the traditional Seder:

• Dayenu: This song means "It would have been enough" and is a list of events to which thanks are due to God. Each successive event brought the Hebrew Slaves closer to freedom, and then through the Sinai desert and on to the Promised Land. The theme of the song is that any one event on the list would have been enough to be grateful and offer thanks to God. The whole list is inspirational of overwhelming gratitude.
• Ma Nishtana: "The Four Questions." The youngest at the Seder is supposed to recite these questions. They invite discussion about the reasons behind the Seder traditions of eating matzo, eating bitter herbs, dipping foods and reclining at the table. Answering the questions requires discussing these traditions and the Passover themes they represent.
• The Ten Plagues: Reciting the Ten Plagues is accompanied by guests each removing a drop of wine from their wine cups and dripping it onto the edge of their plates for each plague. This represents that our cup of joy is diminished when others suffer.
• Hiding the Afikoman: The word Afikoman means "dessert," and this refers to a piece of matzo that gets hidden during the Seder. After the meal, it must be shared by the participants as dessert. The children at the Seder race to find it, and they hold it "ransom" for a prize. The Seder can't continue until it is found and eaten. This represents the hidden way that God works in people's lives.
• Opening the door for Elijah. During the after-dinner part of the Seder, a person opens the door for Elijah the Prophet, who is said to come on Passover to announce the time of the Messiah being near. Seder participants have a glass of wine set aside on the table, and they sing a song about Elijah at this point in the Seder.

Choosing a Passover Haggadah can be a great responsibility, but one that allows for creating a meaningful Seder that is perfectly suited to the mix of guests at the Seder.