This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2007, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
On Monday night, at a festive meal called a Passover Seder (pronounced say-der), Jews the world over will turn to its pages. The book is called a Haggadah, which means "telling," and using its narrative, rituals and songs as a guide, the Jewish people will fulfill their commandment to retell the story of their exodus from the land of Egypt, where they were once slaves.
It is written in Exodus 13:8 of the Hebrew Bible: "On that day, you must tell your child, 'It is because of this that God acted for me when I left Egypt.' "
Passing on the exodus story, from generation to generation, is paramount. Child participation, from asking questions to singing songs, is central to the experience of the Seder.
Passover, which lasts eight days outside Israel and seven days in Israel, is the most observed of all Jewish holidays. The religious and secular alike participate in Seders (for one night, and in some cases two), and it's said that more Jews are familiar with the Haggadah than they are with any other Jewish book or text, including the Torah.
Included in the Haggadah are explanations for symbolic foods that fill the Seder table. The matzah, for instance, is a flat, unleavened bread that symbolizes the haste with which the Israelites had to flee. There was no time for the bread to rise, and the matzah also reminds people that freedom is more important than good food.
Haggadot (the plural for Haggadah) were first printed, it is thought, around 1482 in Spain. Since then, thousands of editions have been published. A quick search online shows the vast variety. There are Haggadot incorporating tales from famous rabbis or colorful cartoons for children. Another features photographs of Jews around the world. And some speak to specific audiences, such as A Journey Towards Freedom: A Haggadah for Women Who Have Experienced Domestic Violence.
Holocaust survivor and activist Elie Wiesel offers commentary in one edition. The Santa Cruz Haggadah speaks of healing the planet and tending to "evolving consciousness." There are purely secular or humanistic Haggadot that make no mention of God, just as there is a full menu of options for the deeply observant.
There's even one called Like an Orange on a Seder Plate: Our Lesbian Haggadah, a reference to a story about a rabbi who once said, "A woman should be on a bimah [the raised synagogue platform where the Torah is read] like an orange should be on the Seder plate!" This tale sparked a movement in which some households have added oranges to their Seder plates.
New editions of Haggadot are developed and distributed each year. Some families stick with traditional and uniform Haggadot, while others mix it up, including different versions to spark increased discussion. But no matter the book choice, the intent is the same. On the first night of Passover, Jews everywhere share an experience, even if they're not at the same table.