The JPS Commentary on the Haggadah

Historical Introduction, Translation, and Commentary

Authored by Joseph Tabory PhD

Publication Year: 2008

The Passover haggadah enjoys an unrivaled place in Jewish culture, both religious and secular. And of all the classic Jewish books, the haggadah is the one most "alive" today. Jews continue to rewrite, revise, and add to its text, recasting it so that it remains relevant to their lives. In this new volume in the JPS Commentary collection, Joseph Tabory, one of the world's leading authorities on the history of the haggadah, traces the development of the seder and the haggadah through the ages. The book features an extended introduction by Tabory, the classic Hebrew haggadah text side by side with its English translation, and Tabory's clear and insightful critical-historical commentary.

Published by: Jewish Publication Society

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Aside from the Bible, the Passover haggadah is probably the Jewish book most familiar to Jews. It is also, arguably, the single-most beloved Jewish text. As both script for the seder and its main subject, the haggadah has earned an unrivaled place in Jewish culture, both religious and secular. Of all the classic Jewish ...

Preface

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pp. xv-xvii

The Passover eve ceremony, commonly known as the seder, is probably the most universally celebrated Jewish ritual. It is the founding ceremony of the Jewish people, a ceremony based on the centrality of the family as the basic Jewish institution. It is also a celebration of freedom of person and of nation. ...

Acknowledgments

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pp. xix-

One of my earliest childhood memories is that of the Passover seder in my parent's home. The uniqueness of that evening has always inspired me with thoughts of our people's past and our future redemption. Thus it was more than a fortuitous accident that caused me to devote my doctoral studies ...

The Haggadah and Its Ritual

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pp. 1-70

The evening in which the paschal meal is eaten and the haggadah is recited is called the night of the "seder," meaning "order," because the various actions and recitations comprising it must be performed according to a prescribed sequence. The Passover haggadah is the text that is read during the evening, ...

The Passover Haggadah

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pp. 71-136

The translation is a new translation, trying to use modern English, but it does retain some archaic language, based on traditional English translations. Biblical texts are quoted from the NJPS translation, except where the text of the haggadah reflects a different understanding of the biblical passages. ...

Bibliography

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pp. 137-140

Illustrations

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pp. 141-154

E-ISBN-13: 9780827609631
Print-ISBN-13: 9780827608580

Publication Year: 2008