As this coming week will draw to an end, most families in Israel will sit around the table and read from the Haggadah, the book read on Passover at the seder, the festive meal. The word Haggadah comes from the Verb "לְהַגִּיד" to tell , inform or say. It belongs to the verb category of "הִפְעִיל" which is used for active words which generally effect another person such as "לְהַזְמִין" to invite (another person is invited) and "לְהַגְדִּיל" to make bigger (something or someone is made bigger).
So how does this influence our telling of the Passover story and if we are supposed to tell a story, why is the Haggadah a story book of quotes?
We begin the Passover seder by reading about why we must tell the story followed by who must tell the story and how (with relation to the four types of children) and finally when we must tell the story. By the time we actually get to the story we in fact read the retelling of the story in Deutoronomy rather than the original story found in the book of Exodos. In essence the Haggadah teaches us "אֵיךְ לְהַגִּיד", How to tell. The real, active work, is down to us. The Passover seder teaches us to be an active part in telling our history and in part reflects one of the essences of Judaism, to actively shape the world we live in and not be passive observers.
On Friday night when families in Israel and abroad will sit down to tell the Passover story, each household will tell a slightly different story; Stories of past Sederim, emphases on freedom or on modern slavery and with reenactments and songs. Everyone tells their story slightly differently.
We wish all our students a happy Passover, Easter and Spring season!
To learn more about learning Hebrew in Israel and online see our website: www.ulpanaviv.com
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