Passover

 

Passover Haggadah 

The word "Haggadah" in the Pesach / Passover Haggadah has many English transliterations from Hebrew. What does the word "Haggadah" mean? "Haggadah" means "narration," "telling," or "recital" in Hebrew. You might wonder what its function is in the Pesach / Passover Seder. 

The Passover Haggadah is the 'instruction manual' of the Passover Seder (a festive meal that opens the Passover holiday),  describing the order of events and rituals in the Passover Seder using a rabbinically-formulated and highly structured order of instructions that are organized into 15-steps. 

The Passover Haggadah is not a book in the classic sense of the term. Instead, it is a collection of literary works from many periods. It consists of biblical passages, psalms or hymns, benedictions or rituals, prayers, explanations of the Passover seder rituals, blessings, stories, short dialogues, and rabbinic literature: 

(1) Midrashic comments from rabbinic commentary on the Hebrew Bible. 

(2) Excerpts from the Mishnah, laws of the Torah. The Passover rituals are performed at various points in all these literary works. For instance, the Passover rituals concerning the Kiddush, Grace After Meals, and Hallel are all derived from the Bible, Mishnah, and Midrash. Later, psalms, songs, and stories were added to the Passover Haggadah. The Passover Haggadah is divided up according to literary works, as shown below here, and according to a 15-step system of Passover seder rituals.

The Passover Haggadah describes how to conduct the Passover Seder from start to finish. The word "Seder" means "order" in Hebrew, and the Passover Haggadah "narrates" or "tells" or "recites" the 15-step "Seder" or order of events conducted at specific points during the Passover Seder.

Is there only one kind of Passover Haggadah?

In short, no. In fact, there are over 3,000 different types of Passover Haggadahs in existence today. While the basic Passover story remains the same throughout all Passover Haggadahs, rabbis have encouraged the re-interpretation of the meanings of the events in the Passover story to both to adapt to changing times and to reflect various political and religious philosophies within Judaism and to reach out to as many Jewish people as possible based on those reasons. 

Literary Composition of the Passover Haggadah:

Component #1: Kiddush ("Kaddesh" means "to make Kiddush" in Hebrew, or in other words, "to say the blessing of Kiddush") - The blessing of Kiddush is required for all Jewish festivals and is a sanctification of G-d and praising of G-d's deeds.

Component #2: Ha Lahma Anya, means "This is the bread of affliction" in Aramaic, and refers to the unleavened bread called matzah, baked in haste as the Israelites were fleeing Egypt. After identifying the matzah, an invitation is extended to needy people to join the Passover seder. This component closes with the phrase: "This year we are here, next year may we be in the Land of Israel. This year we are slaves, next year may we be free men".

Component #3: Mah Nishtanah - Mah Nishtanah literally means "What is different" about how and why the evening that begins the Passover holiday differs from all other evenings of the year. Mah Nishtanah also refers to the series of Four Questions and answers to those questions that describe Passover. This brief summary is meant so that a father can deliver the message of Passover to his son or sons in a succinct manner which would then prompt further inquiry from the son or sons concerning the holiday of Passover.

Component #4: Avadim Hayinu - Avadim Hayinu means "We were bondmen" in Hebrew. This is simply an introduction to the story of the exodus of the Hebrews from Egypt according to Samuel in Pesachim 116 of the Talmud.

Component #5: Ma'aseh be-Rabbi Eli'ezer...Amar Rabbi Elazar - this phrase means "It is told of Rabbi Eliezer...Rabbi Eleazar ben Azariah said" in Hebrew. This is a discussion between two rabbinic scholars or Tannaim, and seeks to emphasize the importance of the Passover seder and to not take it for granted. This discussion is cited in the Mishnah and in Halakhic Midrashim.

Component #6: The Four Sons - The Four Sons is a teaching that aims to show a father how to teach his son about the Passover holiday based on the son's understanding. It outlines four different personality types: the wise son, the wicked son, the simple son, and the disinterested son. The four personality types of sons were adapted in the Talmud and in Halakhic Midrash from the biblical verses that describe the exodus from Egypt (Deuteronomy 6:20; Exodus 12:26; Exodus 13:8; and Exodus 13:14).

Component #7: Yakhol me-Rosh Hodesh - this phrases means "It might be thought that (this explanation should begin) from the New Moon (of Nisan)" in Hebrew. This literary work from Exodus 13:8 demonstrates that reciting the Passover story of the exodus from Egypt is a commandment that must be performed on the eve of Passover.

Component #8: Mi-Tehillah Ovedei Avodah Zarah Hayu Avoteinu - this phrase means "In the beginning, our fathers worshiped idols" in Hebrew - another introduction to the exodus from Egypt, from a  different vantage point.

Passover Haggadah Component #9: Arami oved avi - "My father was a wandering Aramean"  referring to either Jacob or Abraham, the latter whose family came from Aram and then relocated to Canaan. 

However, the Passover Haggadah interprets the phrase differently. It says an Aramean tried to destroy my father" in Hebrew." 

Pharaoh tried to kill the firstborn sons of the Hebrews. Laban Isaac's Father-in-Law tried to kill all the Hebrews through deceit. 

Component #10: Tannaitic commentaries on the "parting" or opening up of the "Sea of Reeds" and the 10 Plagues 

Component #11: Kammah Ma'alot Tovot la-Makom Aleinu - "How many goodly favors has the Almighty bestowed upon us" in Hebrew. This phrase represents two versions of a poem composed when the second Temple stood in Jerusalem. These are two typical poems praising G-d's power and glory. However, rabbinic scholars have not determined that these poems have a direct connection with the Passover seder service.

Component #12: The Mishnah of Rabban Gamaliel - the teachings of Rabban Gamaliel in Pesachim 10:5 of the Mishnah regarding the Passover seder service stress the importance of explaining the meaning of the Passover lamb sacrifice, the maror (bitter herbs), and the matzah. 

Component #13: Be-Khol Dor va-Dor - this phrase means "In every single generation,"  referring to the phrase: "In every generation, one is obliged to regard him/herself as though he/she had actually gone out from Egypt." 

Component #14: According to the school of Hillel and as written in Pesachim 10:6 of the Mishnah, the first two chapters of Hallel (special prayers for holidays)are recited.

Component #15: Benediction for redemption - "Who Redeemed Us" is the benediction for redemption that is recited just before the beginning of reciting Hallel prayers. This benediction refers to G-d,      who redeemed ourselves and our ancestors, the Hebrews, from slavery in Egypt to freedom in Canaan.

Component #16: Shefokh Hamatkha -  "Pour out Thy wrath" originated in medieval times in Europe.   This custom most likely had its beginning in the oppression that Jews in Europe experienced during the Middle Ages.

Passover Haggadah Component #17: Final part of the Hallel is recited. 

Component #18: Yehallelukha Adonai Eloheinu al Kol Ma'asekha - "All Thy works shall praise Thee," a benediction stated by Rabbi Judah in the Talmud.

Component #19: The Great Hallel - The Great Hallel is otherwise known as "The Great Praise", and refers to G-d as a being whose kindness endures forever. This is reflected in the miracles G-d performed for the Hebrews to free them from slavery in Egypt.
 

Component #20: Nishmat Kol Hai - "The breath of all that lives" is another of many benedictions of praise for G-d's favors performed for the Hebrews to free them from slavery in Egypt.