[.ca] Studies on the Haggadah From the Teachings of Nechama ... (ISBN 9657108381)

a unique haggadah that create an active learning seder:
Urim Publications has scored a hit with this latest Haggadah (I liked their Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach one, last year). Little did I know that the late Ms. Nechama Leibowitz was one of Israel's most popular and respected teachers of Jewish theology and Torah. Two of her students have compiled this classic haggadah based on her Torah study sheets (Gilyonot). The seder is supposed to be a symposium for eating and active learning, so the format of this Haggadah is a winner, because it consists of Ms. Leibowitz's probing questions and answers that force the seder participants to learn, to draw conclusions independently. For example, for the Magid, or The Telling of the story of the exodus, Nachama asks, "Why does the passage switch from second person singular to second person plural when your read 'In order that you (singular) may tell your child... that you (plural) may no that I am the Lord.'"; or for The Four Children, she questions how the rabbis deduced who was the simple and who was the wise child. When responding to the child "Because of THIS, God did for me when I went out of Egypt...", Nechama questions what THIS refers to, and asks the reader to compare the commentaries of Rashi, Ibn Ezra, and Rabbi Marinus. When discussing the sojourn of 400 years, Nechama questions the meaning of the cantillation notes and the placement of the "etnachta" and how it changes the meaning of the passage. She asks you to contemplate why Rashi wrote that the store cities of Ramses and Pitom already existed. You are also asked to compare the strategies of Esau, Pharaoh and Haman to those of Gog and Magog. The section on the hardening of Pharaoh's heart discusses free will, and brings in comments by Sforno and Resh Lakish to help the reader reach a fuller understanding. I recommend one copy for the seder leader or life experiences melamed (not morah), however it is not for the neophyte, since it requires some grounding in Talmud to get the most out of the book.

100 Questions:
Passover is one of the most important and elaborate religious festivals. Its celebration begins on the evening of the 14th of Nisan (first month of the religious calendar, corresponding to March-April) and lasts seven days in Israel. The Haggadah is a book containing the liturgy for the Seder service on the Jewish festival of Passover. The Seder is a ceremonial evening meal that commemorates the Exodus from Egypt and includes the reading of the Haggadah and the eating of symbolic foods. Only unleavened bread may be eaten throughout the festival, in memory of the fact that the Jews, hastening from Egypt, had no time to leaven their bread. Jewish law also requires special sets of cooking utensils and dishes be used. These may not be contaminated by use during the rest of the year. The purpose of this book is to encourage a study of the story of Exodus from Egypt. The questions are from Nechama's weekly Torah study sheets prepared over a thirty-year period. She came to learn Torah from medieval commentators. She also was known for how she valued people and this was a reflection of her deep humility. Sources include biblical texts, Midrashim, and medieval and modern commentaries. Yitshak Reiner and Shmuel Peerless give answers. Nechama Leibowitz (1905-97) used unique instructional methods and her approach was based on active learning. Through this book you will be able to independently analyze and draw your own conclusions. Some of the questions include: How does the Torah help us to understand why we drink four cups of wine at the Seder rather than five? Why does the Haggadah present the four sons in a different order to which they appear in the Torah? "And he went down to Egypt: compelled by the Divine decree." Where in the Torah do we find this decree? What is the difference of opinion among classical commentators regarding the purpose of the Pesach offering in Egypt? Some of the features of this book include a chart for the Order of the Seder. Information on how to light the candles, how to recite the kiddush, songs to sing at various times and how to break the matzah. Matzah After putting down the matzah, the following blessing is recieted over the broken matzah and the top one. The blessing also refers to the eating of the korech and the eating of the Afikoman: "Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us concerning the eating of matzah." Then the retelling of the story of Exodus. There is an interesting section on the purpose of the ten plagues. An in depth study and probing questions that will encourage students to internalize the message presented. For anyone who is new to the Seder traditions.