The Jewish Journey Haggadah: Connecting the Generations by Rabbanit Adena Berkowitz, Gefen Publishing House, Jerusalem, © 2019, ISBN 978-965-229-912-3, p. 211 plus appendices and bibliography, $29.95.
By Fred Reiss, Ed.D.
WINCHESTER, California – Over one thousand Haggadot (plural of Haggadah) are listed in Amazon books, covering a wide variety of genres, from traditional to women-centric. Is there really a need for another one? Author Adena Berkowitz, scholar-in-residence and co-founder of Kol HaNeshamah in New York City, tells us The Jewish Journey Haggadah fosters deep connections to Passover, enabling different generations, sitting at the same table, to actively participate. Indeed, every Hebrew passage is accompanied by its English translation and transliteration.
Many Haggadot open with the search for leavened bread. The Jewish Journey Haggadah begins, however, with a series of questions and answers about the holiday’s historical development, such as: why are there four cups of wine and why a cup for Miriam? Also, Berkowitz enumerates and describes fifteen steps to take before Passover, starting in September/October by saving lulav fronds to use in conjunction with searching for the leavened bread.
The Jewish Journey Haggadah is color coded, one color showing the parts for the leader and other colors directing the reader to in-depth information, stories and points to encourage spiritual connections, ideas to share, questions to cultivate discussions, and humor and kid’s corners, including Passover jokes. The appendices hold numerous traditional and modern songs, readings, and Seder recipes. Beautiful color photographs by Shira Hecht-Koller add a distinctive flare to an already pleasing book with easy-to-read fonts.
The Jewish Journey Haggadah is a traditional Haggadah; yet, it contains many unexpected items, including background information on the prayers, stories, and rituals, and dozens of thought-starters and tales fostering the rabbinic dictum to embellish the Passover story; its translations are modern and true to their Hebrew text. The Jewish Journey Haggadah lives up to its title, it is a Haggadah in which multi-generations can successfully enjoy, participate, and learn together a Passover Seder.
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Dr. Fred Reiss is a retired public and Hebrew school teacher and administrator. He is the author of The Comprehensive Jewish and Civil Calendars: 2001 to 2240; The Jewish Calendar: History and Inner Workings, Second Edition; and Sepher Yetzirah: The Book That Started Kabbalah, Revised Edition. He may be contacted via fred.reiss@sdjewishworld.com.