A Family Haggadah II (Passover)

By: Shoshana Silberman
Illustrated by: Katherine Janus Kahn
Publisher: Kar-Ben Publishing
Publication Date: January 2010 (Revised edition)
ISBN: 978-0761352112
Reviewed by: Deb Fowler
Review Date: April 2010

On the first two nights of Seder, Jews celebrate the exodus of Jews from Egypt. In Exodus 10:9 the flight of the Jewish people is expressed when Moshe replies in anger to the Pharaoh, "We will go with our young and our old, our sons and our daughters; and we will go with our flocks and herds; for we must celebrate a feast to Adonai." This Haggadah can be a nice introductory text for other religious sects who wish to educate themselves about the liturgy of the Seder service or used by a family during their celebration. This is a special time when everyone in the family will know the answer to the question, "why is this night different from all other nights?"

The word “seder means order.” A family will be able to follow the order of the meal through the Haggadah. The Seder consists of fifteen parts: Kaddesh, Ur’chatz, Karpas, Yachatz, Maggid, Rachtzah, Motzi, Matzah, Maror, Korech, Shulchan Oreck, Tsafun, Barech, Hallel, and Nirtzah. An illustration of the seder plate is included with suggestions “to make the plate more beautiful,” substitutions for vegetarians, and an “invitation” for Miriam to join the family at the table. A seder checklist is included at the beginning of the book in preparation for the celebration. There are several items such as the Afikomen Bag on the optional list.

This wonderful, comprehensive Haggadah is the perfect choice for the family with pre-teen and teens in the home. The English and Hebrew parts of the service are on the right-hand pages. On the left hand can be found questions and commentary. There are many other points of interest the reader will find in these pages, including historical vignettes such as how Rabbi Israel Spira of Bluzhov held seder at Bergen-Belsen, freedom songs,the story of Passover, a discussion of slavery in Egypt and much more.

Quill says: This affordable Haggadah is rich in history and may well end up being a part of your family Seder tradition for years to come!