A Night of Questions: A Passover Haggadah (review)

Every generation writes its own history, interpreting the past in the light of the present and looking towards the future. Similarly, every generation must interpret the haggadah in its own way. That is why there have been so many of them over the years.

A Night of Questions is written from a Reconstructionist perspective: It has reverence for tradition, but tries to speak individually to each of the four children, be they wise, alienated, confused, or simply uninformed.

The craft with which this book has been assembled is immediately evident. It begins with the question: Is this story true? And if not, why celebrate the holiday at all? The authors suggest that even if the exodus as described in the haggadah were not literally true as history, it is still true in its essence. This work strives to keep the traditional form of the holiday, while explaining its inner meaning and emphasizing its relevance for today’s world.

Unlike the Torah or Talmud, the Haggadah is a “living” document. It evolved over a period of at least 2,000 years and even in Orthodox circles continues to change to this day. A widely accepted addition is a portion commemorating the Holocaust and the Warsaw Ghetto uprising. This is found here as well. However, two other wrinkles have been added that may be disconcerting to some.

One is the addition of a “Cup of Miriam” to the traditional “Cup of Elijah.” In contrast to the usual wine, this cup contains “spring water” and reflects the midrash which states that it is in the merit of Miriam that a well followed the Israelites during their sojourn in the desert. The role of women in the story of the Exodus is emphasized at other points in the Haggadah as well.

More problematic is the optional emendation of each blessing with the words “We bless the spirit of the world” in place of the traditional formula, “Blessed are you the Eternal.” Evidently this is to avoid the masculine form in reference to the deity.

The illustrations by Jeffrey Schrier are both interesting and evocative. In most cases they are accompanied by a brief description which points out their unusual features and possible interpretations. For example, it is not immediately evident that the illustration of the four children includes the image of a nest with four eggs or that the talit that envelops them covers some children more fully than others. The text points this out, and challenges the reader to discover what it represents.

The more prominent prayers are written in Hebrew and transliterated as well as translated and discussed. Sections that have been set to music are indicated. There are no musical notes, but a companion CD/cassette is available. To make full use of A Night of Questions it should be studied or at least read in advance. As with most things, the more you put into it, the more you will get out.

This interesting work is not for everyone; but for someone who wants to celebrate the seder in a modern fashion without losing the memories of their youth, or even better, start to learn what it was about the holiday that so fascinated their ancestors, this is a good choice.