Haggadah

The Haggadah is a Jewish text used to recount the story of the Exodus from Egypt at the Passover Seder. The word haggadah comes from Hebrew and means “narration” or “the telling.” A Haggadah is a compilation rather than a single biblical book; it combines biblical passages, rabbinic material, prayers, poems, and readings to guide the Seder.

In the Seder, participants follow a fixed order that centers the Magid, the narrative of the Exodus, and invites questions, especially the Four Questions. Well-known components include Dayenu, the ritual foods (matzah, maror, charoset), and various prayers and hymns. Typical sections in the Seder order are Kiddush, Urchatz, Karpas, Yachatz, Magid, Rachtzah, Motzi Matzah, Maror, Korech, Shulchan Orech, Tzafun, Barech, Hallel, and Nirtzah.

Origins and transmission: The Haggadah as a distinct textual tradition emerged in the medieval and early modern periods, with numerous regional versions developed for Sephardic, Ashkenazic, and Mizrahi communities. After the invention of printing, printed Haggadot became widespread in the 15th century and proliferated in many languages, especially Hebrew, Ladino, Yiddish, and English. Contemporary editions often include translations, glosses, and commentaries, alongside traditional Hebrew text.

Cultural significance: The Haggadah serves as both liturgy and pedagogy, aiming to fulfill the commandment to retell the story of the Exodus "to every generation" and to foster memory, education, and communal participation during Passover.