Why is this Haggadah different from other Haggadot? As there are four questions, four sons, and four cups of grape juice/wine in the Haggadah itself, I will give four answers: 1 - It is Messianic. i.e. It is intended to celebrate the life of Yeshua (Jesus) the Messiah and to tie the Seder in to familiar Christian traditions, e.g.: Communion. 2 - It is presented in a way to be understandable by those not familiar with the Seder. Only the blessings and one song are in Hebrew and they are bot...

In this “journey of spiritual transformation” (Publishers Weekly) award winning author Rabbi Alan Lew follows the practices and rituals of the Jewish High Holy Days and guides readers through heartbreak, contemplation, and re-birth.There are times in life when we are caught utterly unprepared: a death in the family, the end of a relationship, a health crisis. These are the times when the solid ground we thought we stood on disappears beneath our feet, leav...

A powerful collection of writings about Yom Kippur that will add spiritual depth and holiness to your experience of the Day of Atonement.As Rosh Hashanah ends and you look ahead to Yom Kippur, what do you think about? The familiar melody of Kol Nidre? The long hours of fasting? The days of self-examination? You know that the Day of Atonement is the holiest on the Jewish calendar, but sometimes it just feels long, tiresome and devoid of personal meaning. The readings in this book are for anyon...

Why is the Jewish New Year designated on the Jewish calendar as the first day of the seventh month, and not of the first month? Why do women cover their eyes when reciting the blessing over the Sabbath candles? How did the Seder originate? Does the Book of Esther, read on Purim, mirror any real historical events?Long considered a classic, The Jewish Festivals provides a rich and charming account of the origins, development, and symbolism of the Jewish hol...

From religious holidays to rites of passage, a beautifully illustrated guide to the festive and joyous events of Jewish life.From lighting the menorah on Chanukah to standing under the chuppah at a wedding, every Jewish ritual reflects a time-honored practice passed down for generations. This volume shares the beloved stories and traditions behind Jewish celebrations, from annual holiday gatherings like Passover seders to once-in-a-lifetime special events like bar a...

The Passover Seder is a time when Jewish families around the world gather together to retell the story of the Jewish People's passage from slavery in Egypt to freedom. It is also a time when we share stories about our Sages, such as the 15 stories in this book – one story for each step in the Seder - which have been culled from the vast repository of Chassidic and other traditional Jewish stories pertaining to the Passover holiday and the Haggadah.Join Rabbi Shmelke of Nikolsburg, ...

A diverse and exciting collection of commentaries on the traditional Haggadah Hebrew text in two volumes and with a new translation designed to let you know exactly what the Haggadah says. Introductory essays help you understand the historical roots of Passover, the development of the Haggadah, and how to make sense out of texts and customs that evolved from ancient times.

Explores the ways American Jews have reshaped Hanukkah traditions across the countryIn New Orleans, Hanukkah means decorating your door with a menorah made of hominy grits. Latkes in Texas are seasoned with cilantro and cayenne pepper. Children in Cincinnati sing Hanukkah songs and eat oranges and ice cream. While each tradition springs from its own unique set of cultural references, what ties them together is that they all celebrate a holiday that is different in ...

Every year, poet and novelist Marge Piercy creates her own Passover seder with a group of family and friends. Babies have been born and grown up, friends have moved or divorced, but the principals continue to gather in her rustic Cape Cod home to participate in a seder that Piercy takes joy in tweaking each spring to make it more meaningful. In this journey through the ritual, Piercy coaxes us toward “a significant contemporary interpretation, rather than an emphasis on what is strictly ‘c...

A diverse and exciting collection of commentaries on the traditional Haggadah Hebrew text in two volumes and with a new translation designed to let you know exactly what the Haggadah says. Introductory essays help you understand the historical roots of Passover, the development of the Haggadah, and how to make sense out of texts and customs that evolved from ancient times.

A window into Judaisms sacred daysthroughout history and today. Written especially for Christians.Holy days and holidays provide the peak experiences of Jewish life. These moments speak deeply to the Jewish soul and animate Judaisms culture. They encourage Jews to participate in their shared historical experience, which reflects their covenantal relationship with God, and articulate Jewish values that have allowed for the survival of the Jewish people. But what can they mean to Christ...

A guide to help you invigorate your Seder, create lively discussions, and make personal connections with the Exodus story today.For many people, the act of simply reading the Haggadah no longer fulfills the Passover Seder's purpose: to help you feel as if you personally had gone out of Egypt. Too often, the ritual meal has become predictable, boring, and uninspiring.Creating Lively Passover Seders, Second Edition, is an innovative, interactive guid...