Kosher Bookworm: annual Pesach reading list for the entire family

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By Alan Jay Gerber

Issue of March 27, 2009 / 2 Nissan 5769

In his introduction to “Haggadah and History” (Jewish Publications Society, 1975), historian Yosef Hayim Yerushalmi noted the following:

“The Haggadah is in many ways the most popular and beloved of Jewish books. Scholars have meditated upon it, children delight in it. A book for philosophers and for the folk, it has been reprinted more often and in more places than any other Jewish classic, and has been the most frequently illustrated. Over 3,500 extant editions have been catalogued thus far through the assiduous labors of bibliographers, and yet hitherto unknown editions continue to come to light. There is hardly a city or town in the world where a Hebrew press once functioned which has not produced at least one Haggadah. It has been translated into almost every language spoken by Jews throughout their global Dispersion.

“As these words are being written, one is confident that Jewish printers in far-flung places are already preparing other Haggadahs for local or foreign markets in anticipation of the Passover to come.”

Indeed since these words were written 34 years ago, not only have scores of new Haggadahs been written, but a similar number of Pesach themed books have been composed dealing with the law, history and theology of this sacred feast. This week’s essay will deal with three new valued additions to this Haggadah publishing legacy and a number with books that touch upon the theological and liturgical uniqueness of the Pesach observance.

Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik, of blessed memory, has come to represent some of the finest in Jewish theological and halachic thinking in both our time and era here and world over. In this past decade we have witnessed many new works by “The Rav” dealing with just about every facet of our religious tradition. This year is no exception, with a detailed anthology of The Rav’s best commentary on the Haggadah as the work of choice for one of Rabbi Soloveitchik’s most devoted students, Rabbi Menachem Genack.

Titled “Exalted Evening” (OU Press, 2009), this is a complete Haggadah that is accompanied by a full commentary gleaned from many of The Rav’s best commentaries. Some of these works have previously been published in English and can be had in other publishing venues. However, a good part of this book reflects several works that are presented here for the first time in print and some, for the first time in English.

Most prominent of these is what Rabbi Genack titles “Reshimot.” These are a compilation of Rabbi Genack’s own lecture notes taken during decades of his being privileged to experience The Rav’s shiurim and lectures first-hand. These “Reshimot” reflect a wide range of the many topics dealt with in the Haggadah text covering a broad range of literary genres that typify the ancient work.

Rabbi Genack’s notes contain some of the most profound insights of both the observance of Pesach ritual as well as some sophisticated thought on the deeper meanings of the historical significance of the Exodus leading up to the giving of the Torah at Mt. Sinai seven weeks later.

“Kol ha-Rav” comes from the various tapes of the shiurim that are in wide circulation and were made available for Rabbi Genack to translate and transcribe for publication.

Taken together, these commentaries make this volume, the first in a planned series of publications by the OU, a most valued resource at your seder table. Rabbi Genack, a long time OU official, and Rav of Cong. Shomrei Emunah in Englewood, NJ, is to be commended for his efforts at further enhancing the Soloveitchik legacy among our people.

As noted in the introductory notes by Dr. Yerushalmi, art played a crucial role in Haggadah publishing history. However, it is a rare event for a new Haggadah to appear in public that is attractive in the arts and also contains a valued commentary of the halacha and historical overview of the Pesach holiday experience.

“The Schechter Haggadah” (The Schechter Institute , 2009) is a volume which effectively reflects that balance in excellent fashion.

The artwork in this book is a sampling of some of the most representative Haggadah art through the ages. What makes their presence in this volume so unique is how they are framed within the text. Not only are these representative works displayed, but, where possible, they are framed with a detailed narrative as to the biography of the artist, the significance of the genre and era of the style of art that is demonstrated, and of how all this relates to the overall theme of the Haggadah. These works were chosen with obvious care and good taste by Professor David Golinkin and, unlike previous art Haggadahs, Dr. Golinkin makes art a vital part of the Haggadah reading and learning experience.

In addition to the artwork, this Haggadah contains a 120-page commentary section that blends both the historical and ritual aspects of the seder. The commentary was written by Dr. Joshua Kulp. Dr. Kulp holds a Ph.D. in Talmudic Studies from Bar Ilan University and has published numerous articles on the seder and other cognate subjects in leading academic journals. This section is completely annotated and contains a full bibliography for the reader’s convenience.

A more modest yet aesthetically pleasing new Haggadah is one illustrated by Peter Ottavio Gandolfi, an Italian-Jewish artist known as Peter G.

Published this year by Geffen Publishing, this Haggadah contains the full traditional text with English translation. Most of the art contained herein is of a youthful bent and should catch the attention of the younger set at your seder.

“Kos Eliyahu: Insights on the Haggadah and Pesach” (Ktav, 2003) by Rabbi Eliyahu Safran is a thematic yet detailed commentary on the Haggadah dealing with such theologically significant mitzvos as a Pesach approach to birkat ha-gomel, zecher yetzi’at mitzrayim, and the 10 plagues. Such themes that one wouldn’t usually connect to Pesach are given sharp focus from Rabbi Safran. Consider the concept of free will and choice, freedom of body, freedom of soul, and a serious look at the true significance and importance of the four sons. Rabbi Safran, a vie president at the OU, gives each topic a serious theological review, drawing fourth meaning and significance that makes for a great learning and at times mussar experience.

The literary legacy of Rabbi Yitzchak Sender should, by now, be familiar to all our readers. Rabbi Sender enjoys the unique reputation in being the only commentator of the Haggadah in Jewish history to have authored four distinct Haggadah commentaries in the English language.

Now, as part of his “Commentator’s” series we have “The Commentator’s Hallel of the Festivals.” What makes this sefer so special is the over 100-page section on Pesach that deals extensively with the laws and customs regarding the recitation of the Hallel during the first two nights of Pesach. This is the only time of the year that Hallel is so recited, both in shul with a bracha and at home during the seder without a bracha.

Rabbi Sender goes into great details explaining virtually every variance on this most complicated halachic matter. To my understanding, this is the only sefer in English that treats this issue, as well as the half Hallel recitations for the remainder of Pesach, in such great detail.

The Pesach experience for Rabbi Sender is not restricted to just the Haggadah and Hallel recitation. In his “The Commentator’s Siddur,” in his perush on the bracha on Kibbutz Galuyos, T’ka B’shofar, Rabbi Sender cites a teaching by his rav, HaRav Shlomo Fisher (page 343) who links this weekday bracha, in its nusach Sfard incarnation that references Israel, to the Ha Lachma Anya of the seder. We learn from Rav Fisher that our plea is to be free through our presence in Eretz Yisrael and only then do we pray for physical freedom , to be bnai chorin. It would be worth your while to explore this further, as you will find his logic and conclusions most interesting.

For a full explication of this topic, I direct the reader to Rabbi Sender’s siddur commentary, a great supplement to the divrei Torah many include as part of their seder repertoire.

My last suggestion is truly for the younger set, “Dayenu ! A Passover Haggadah for Families and Children” (Ktav, 2008) by Carol Boyd Leon.

This Haggadah for kids contains a series of watercolor illustrations that should keep the little ones occupied, in a timely fashion. (Each booklet also comes with a CD that should be removed before yom tov.]

Hopefully you will find the above suggestions to be of some use in your choice of Haggadahs and books for your Pesach holiday learning pleasure. Next week, the Bookworm’s favorite song will be “Here comes the sun.”