Misplaced Pages

#761238

55-572: The questions are included in the haggadah as part of the Maggid (מגיד) section. The questions originate in the Mishna , Pesachim 10:4, but are quoted differently in the Jerusalem and Babylonian Talmuds . The Jerusalem Talmud only records three questions; why foods are dipped twice as opposed to once, why matzah is eaten, and why the meat sacrifice eaten is exclusively roasted. (The last question

110-593: A Talmudic statement, it was completed by the time of Rav Nachman. There is a dispute, however, to which Rav Nachman the Talmud was referring: according to some commentators, this was Rav Nachman bar Yaakov ( c.  280 CE ), while others maintain this was Rav Nachman bar Yitzchak (360 CE). However, the Malbim , along with a minority of commentators, believe that Abba Arika and Samuel were not arguing on its compilation, but rather on its interpretation, and hence it

165-566: A chant used for reciting lessons from the Talmud or Mishnah). One of the current tunes widely used for the Ma Nishtana was written by Ephraim Abileah in 1936 as part of his oratorio "Chag Ha-Cherut". The following text is that which is recorded in the original printed Haggadah. In the Ashkenazi tradition, the order is as follows: 1. Eating matzah 2. Eating bitter herbs 3. Dipping the food 4. Reclining. The Ashkenazi communities also omit

220-424: A position he held for four years. He contributed to halakhah chiefly by collecting, arranging, and transmitting the teachings and decisions of his predecessors, which were thus saved from oblivion. He also employed mnemonics to facilitate memorizing the halakhot which he had arranged, thus beginning the redaction of the Talmud. He distinctly recognized his position regarding halakhah, saying of himself "I am neither

275-503: A question or represent Jews who have drifted so far from Jewish life that they do not participate in a Seder. Four verses in Deuteronomy (26:5–8) are then expounded, with an elaborate, traditional commentary. ("5. And thou shalt speak and say before the L ORD thy God: 'A wandering Aramean was my parent, and they went down into Egypt, and sojourned there, few in number; and became there a nation, great, mighty, and populous. 6. And

330-434: A sage nor a seer, nor even a scholar as contrasted with the majority. I am a transmitter and a codifier, and the beit ha-midrash follows me in its decisions." He taught that a person who follows Beit Shammai in halacha "deserves death" - in contrast to Rav Yehezkel who says such a person "has acted [i.e., has fulfilled his obligation]", and in accord with Rav Yosef who says such a person "has done nothing." The honor of

385-456: A scholar, Nachman replied, "Neither it, nor part of it!" He had a sense of wit, and often played on the name of a tanna who brought baraitot before him. He also frequently employed proverbs. [REDACTED]  This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain :  Singer, Isidore ; et al., eds. (1901–1906). "NAḤMAN BAR ISAAC" . The Jewish Encyclopedia . New York: Funk & Wagnalls. It has

440-601: A way that shows freedom and majesty, many Jews have the custom of filling each other's cups at the Seder table. The Kiddush is traditionally said by the father of the house, but all Seder participants participate by reciting the Kiddush and drinking at least a majority of a cup of wine. On Shabbat, it is preceded by a reading from the Book of Genesis recounting God's rest on the seventh day of creation and includes an extended doxology on

495-683: Is a Jewish text that sets forth the order of the Passover Seder . According to Jewish practice, reading the Haggadah at the Seder table is a fulfillment of the mitzvah to each Jew to tell their children the story from the Book of Exodus about God bringing the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt , with a strong hand and an outstretched arm . According to Jewish tradition, the Haggadah

550-483: Is a reference to the paschal sacrifice which was fire-roasted). The Babylonian Talmud quotes four questions; why matzah is eaten, why maror is eaten, why meat that is eaten is exclusively roasted, and why food is dipped twice. The version in the Jerusalem Talmud is also the one most commonly found in manuscripts. As the paschal sacrifice was not eaten after the destruction of the temple , the question about

605-550: Is alone at the seder he is obligated to ask himself and to answer his own questions. Why is this night different from all other nights? The traditional Haggadah speaks of "four sons—one who is wise, one who is wicked, one who is simple, and one who does not know to ask". The number four derives from the four passages in the Torah where one is commanded to explain the Exodus to one's son. Each of these sons phrases his question about

SECTION 10

#1732765715762

660-534: Is no printer's colophon . The oldest confirmed printed Haggadah was printed in Soncino, Lombardy in 1486 by the Soncino family . Although the Jewish printing community was quick to adopt the printing press as a means of producing texts, the general adoption rate of printed Haggadot was slow. By the end of the sixteenth century, only twenty-five editions had been printed. This number increased to thirty-seven during

715-423: Is rebuked by the explanation that " It is because God acted for my sake when I left Egypt. " (This implies that the Seder is not for the wicked son because the wicked son would not have deserved to be freed from Egyptian slavery.) Where the four sons are illustrated in the Haggadah, this son has frequently been depicted as carrying weapons or wearing stylish contemporary fashions. The simple son, who asks, " What

770-566: Is recited at this point in the Seder, unlike the blessing recited over the washing of the hands before eating bread. However, followers of Rambam or the Gaon of Vilna do recite a blessing. Each participant dips a sprig of parsley or similar leafy green into either salt water (Ashkenazi custom said to serve as a reminder of the tears shed by their enslaved ancestors), vinegar (Sephardi custom) or charoset (older Sephardi custom; still common among Yemenite Jews ). Three matzot are stacked on

825-586: Is taken from the Jerusalem Talmud and from a parallel passage in the Mekhilta of Rabbi Ishmael ; it is slightly altered in the present ritual. Other rabbinic quotes from the aggadah literature are added, as the story of Eliezer ben Hurcanus , who discussed the Exodus all night with four other rabbis, which tale is found in an altogether different form in the Tosefta . While the main portions of

880-518: Is this? " is answered with " With a strong hand the Almighty led us out from Egypt, from the house of bondage. " And the one who does not know to ask is told, " It is because of what the Almighty did for me when I left Egypt. " Some modern Haggadot mention "children" instead of "sons", and some have added a fifth child. The fifth child can represent the children of the Shoah who did not survive to ask

935-711: Is told. At this point in the Seder, Sefardic Jews (North African) have a custom of raising the Seder plate over the heads of all those present while chanting: Moroccan Jews sing "Bivhilu yatzanu mimitzrayim, halahma anya b'nei horin" (In haste we went out of Egypt [with our] bread of affliction, [now we are] free people), Algerian Jews sing "Ethmol 'ayinu abadim, hayom benei 'horin, hayom kan, leshana habaa bear'a deYisrael bene 'horin" (Yesterday we were slaves, today we are free, today we are here -in exile-, next year we will be in Israel free". The matzot are uncovered, and referred to as

990-513: The Masoretic vocalization , he attempts to show that reference to the written form of the word in question allows such varying explanations. He often interprets rare or ambiguous terms in the Mishnah by citing analogous passages. In addition, he also had many independent teachings of his own, including: He condemned arrogance and anger. When Rava stated that a little pride is becoming

1045-589: The Samaritans developed their own Haggadot which they use to the present day. During the era of the Enlightenment the European Jewish community developed into groups that reacted in different ways to modifications of the Haggadah. The oldest surviving complete manuscript of the Haggadah dates to the 10th century. It is part of a prayer book compiled by Saadia Gaon . It is now believed that

1100-458: The "bread of affliction". Participants declare in Aramaic an invitation to all who are hungry or needy to join in the Seder. Halakha requires that this invitation be repeated in the native language of the country. The Mishnah details questions one is obligated to ask on the night of the Seder. It is customary for the youngest child present to recite the four questions. Some customs hold that

1155-740: The 13th and 14th centuries, such as the Golden Haggadah (probably Barcelona c.  1320 , now British Library ) and the Sarajevo Haggadah (late fourteenth century). Other significant medieval illustrated haggadot are the Birds' Head Haggadah and the Washington Haggadah . It is believed that the first printed Haggadot were produced in 1482, in Guadalajara, Spain ; however, this is mostly conjecture, as there

SECTION 20

#1732765715762

1210-587: The 14th century and is an example of the cross-fertilisation between Jewish and non-Jewish artists within the medium of manuscript illumination. In spring and summer 2012 it was exhibited at the Metropolitan Museum of Art , New York, in the exhibition 'The Rylands Haggadah: Medieval Jewish Art in Context'. The British Library's 14th century Barcelona Haggadah (BL Add. MS 14761) is one of the most richly pictorial of all Jewish texts. Meant to accompany

1265-518: The Egyptians dealt ill with us, and afflicted us, and laid upon us hard bondage. 7. And we cried unto the L ORD , the God of our parents, and the L ORD heard our voice, and saw our affliction, and our toil, and our oppression. 8 And the L ORD brought us forth out of Egypt with a strong hand and an outstretched arm , and with great terribleness, and with signs, and with wonders .") The Haggadah explores

1320-483: The Haggadah first became produced as an independent book in codex form around 1000 CE. Maimonides (1135–1204) included the Haggadah in his code of Jewish law, the Mishneh Torah . Existing manuscripts do not go back beyond the thirteenth century. When such a volume was compiled, it became customary to add poetical pieces. The earliest surviving Haggadot produced as works in their own right are manuscripts from

1375-478: The Haggadah itself, but have either past or future redemptive associations". Other illuminated Haggadot include the Sarajevo Haggadah , Washington Haggadah , and the 20th-century Szyk Haggadah . Kadeish is the Hebrew imperative form of Kiddush . This Kiddush is a blessing similar to that which is recited on all of the pilgrimage festivals , but also refers to matzot and the exodus from Egypt. Acting in

1430-481: The Haggadah. The text of the Haggadah was never fixed in one, final form, as no rabbinic body existed which had authority over such matters. Instead, each local community developed its own text. A variety of traditional texts took on a standardized form by the end of the medieval era on the Ashkenazi (Eastern European) and Sephardi (Spanish, North African, and Middle Eastern) communities. The Karaites and also

1485-553: The Passover eve service and festive meal, it was also a status symbol for its owner in 14th-century Spain. Nearly all its folios are filled with miniatures depicting Passover rituals, Biblical and Midrashic episodes, and symbolic foods. A facsimile edition was published by Facsimile Editions of London in 1992. Published in 1526, the Prague Haggadah is known for its attention to detail in lettering and for introducing many of

1540-461: The Sabbath was of great importance to him. He would personally do menial work in its honor. He would say that "one who honors the Sabbath is saved from the oppression of the exile". He appears frequently in aggadah as one who arranges and explains the words of other authorities, and he frequently cites Biblical passages in support of their teachings. When the interpretations by others deviate from

1595-459: The Seder, is traditionally the last morsel of food eaten by participants in the Seder. Each participant receives an at least olive-sized portion of matzo to be eaten as afikoman . After the consumption of the afikoman , traditionally, no other food may be eaten for the rest of the night. Additionally, no intoxicating beverages may be consumed, with the exception of the remaining two cups of wine. The recital of Birkat Hamazon . The drinking of

1650-675: The Third Cup of Wine. Note: The Third Cup is customarily poured before the Grace after Meals is recited because the Third Cup also serves as a Cup of Blessing associated with the Grace after Meals on special occasions. In many traditions, the front door of the house is opened at this point. Psalms 79:6–7 is recited in both Ashkenazi and Sephardi traditions, plus Lamentations 3:66 among Ashkenazim. Rav Nachman bar Yitzchak Rav Nachman bar Yitzchak (Hebrew: רב נחמן בר יצחק; died 356 CE)

1705-595: The blessings of Shabbat. Partakers wash their hands in preparation for eating wet fruit and vegetables, which happens in the next stage. Technically, according to Jewish law , whenever one partakes of fruit or vegetables dipped in liquid, one must wash one's hands, if the fruit or vegetable remains wet. However, this situation does not often arise at other times of the year because either one will dry fruits and vegetables before eating them, or one has already washed one's hands, because one must also wash one's hands before eating bread. According to most traditions, no blessing

Ma Nishtana - Misplaced Pages Continue

1760-633: The celebration of Passover, but also as marketing tools and ways of showing that certain foods are kosher. The earliest Ashkenazi illuminated Haggada is known as the Birds' Head Haggadah , made in Germany around the 1320s and now in the Israel Museum in Jerusalem. The Rylands Haggadah (Rylands Hebrew MS. 6) is one of the finest Haggadot in the world. It was written and illuminated in Spain in

1815-513: The contents of a sandwich are placed between two slices of bread, and eaten. This follows the tradition of Hillel , who did the same at his Seder table 2,000 years ago (except that in Hillel's day the Paschal sacrifice, matzo, and maror were eaten together.) The festive meal is eaten. Traditionally it begins with the charred egg on the Seder plate. The afikoman , which was hidden earlier in

1870-557: The course of the Seder. The four questions are traditionally asked by the youngest person at the table that is able to do so. Much of the seder is designed to fulfill the biblical obligation to tell the story to one's children, and many of the customs that have developed around the Four Questions are designed to pique a child's curiosity about what is happening in order to hold their attention. Haggadah The Haggadah ( Hebrew : הַגָּדָה , "telling"; plural: Haggadot )

1925-610: The meaning of those verses, and embellishes the story. This telling describes the slavery of the Jewish people and their miraculous salvation by God. This culminates in an enumeration of the Ten Plagues : With the recital of the Ten Plagues, each participant removes a drop of wine from his or her cup using a fingertip. Although this night is one of salvation, the sages explain that one cannot be completely joyous when some of God's creatures had to suffer. A mnemonic acronym for

1980-431: The meat was dropped. The Rambam and Saadia Gaon both add a new question to the liturgy to replace it: "why do we recline on this night?" Ultimately, the question of reclining was maintained, in part to create a parallelism between the number of questions and the other occurrences of the number four in the hagaddah . Traditionally, Ma Nishtana is recited in the chant form called the major lern-steiger ("study mode" –

2035-663: The oldest ritual, as is recorded in the Mishnah, is the conclusion of the "Hallel" (up to Psalms 118), and the closing benediction of the hymn "Birkat ha-Shir", which latter the Amoraim explain differently, but which evidently was similar to the benediction thanking God, "who loves the songs of praise," used in the present ritual. These blessings, and the narrations of Israel's history in Egypt, based on Deuteronomy 26:5–9 and on Joshua 24:2–4, with some introductory remarks, were added in

2090-406: The other participants recite them quietly to themselves as well. In some families, this means that the requirement remains on an adult "child" until a grandchild of the family receives sufficient Jewish education to take on the responsibility. If a person has no children capable of asking, the responsibility falls to the spouse, or another participant. The need to ask is so great that even if a person

2145-419: The plagues is also introduced: "D'tzach Adash B'achav", while similarly spilling a drop of wine for each word. At this part in the Seder, songs of praise are sung, including the song Dayenu , which proclaims that had God performed any single one of the many deeds performed for the Jewish people, it would have been enough to obligate us to give thanks. After this is a declaration (mandated by Rabban Gamliel) of

2200-457: The purpose of this requirement. Once he was sitting and studying under a tree, and his head-covering slipped off. He was overcome by desire and took cluster of dates from the tree (which did not belong to him). He was a disciple of Abaye , Rava , Rav Nachman , and Rav Chisda . In his youth he studied together with Rava, sitting one row behind Rava in the beit midrash and occasionally asking each other questions. Later on, while Rav Yosef

2255-491: The reasons of the commandments concerning the Paschal lamb , matzah , and maror , with scriptural sources. Then follows a short prayer, and the recital of the first two psalms of Hallel (which will be concluded after the meal). A long blessing is recited, and the second cup of wine is drunk. The ritual hand-washing is repeated, this time with all customs including a blessing. Two blessings are recited. First one recites

Ma Nishtana - Misplaced Pages Continue

2310-426: The seder in a different way. The Haggadah recommends answering each son according to his question, using one of the three verses in the Torah that refer to this exchange. The wise son asks " What are the statutes, the testimonies, and the laws that God has commanded you to do? " One explanation for why this very detailed-oriented question is categorized as wise, is that the wise son is trying to learn how to carry out

2365-483: The seder table; at this stage, the middle matzah of the three is broken in half. According to the custom of the Vilna Gaon and others, only two matzot are used, and the top one is broken. The larger piece is hidden, to be used later as the afikoman , the "dessert" after the meal. The smaller piece is returned to its place between the other two matzot. The story of Passover, and the change from slavery to freedom

2420-447: The seder, rather than asking for someone else's understanding of its meaning. He is answered fully: You should reply to him with [all] the laws of pesach: one may not eat any dessert after the paschal sacrifice. The wicked son, who asks, " What is this service to you? ", is characterized by the Haggadah as isolating himself from the Jewish people, standing by objectively and watching their behavior rather than participating. Therefore, he

2475-533: The seventeenth century, and 234 during the eighteenth century. It is not until the nineteenth century, when 1,269 separate editions were produced, that a significant shift is seen toward printed Haggadot as opposed to manuscripts . From 1900 to 1960 alone, over 1,100 Haggadot were printed. It is not uncommon, particularly in America, for haggadot to be produced by corporate entities, such as coffee maker Maxwell House – see Maxwell House Haggadah – serving as texts for

2530-500: The standard blessing before eating bread, which includes the words "who brings forth" (motzi in Hebrew). Then one recites the blessing regarding the commandment to eat Matzah. An olive-size piece (some say two) is then eaten while reclining. The blessing for the eating of the maror (bitter herbs) is recited and then it is dipped into the charoset and eaten. The maror is placed between two small pieces of matzo, similarly to how

2585-399: The text of the Haggadah have remained mostly the same since their original compilation, there have been some additions after the last part of the text. Some of these additions, such as the cumulative songs "One little goat" (חד גדיא) and "Who Knows One?" (אחד מי יודע), which were added sometime in the fifteenth century, gained such acceptance that they became a standard to print at the back of

2640-516: The themes still found in modern texts. Although illustrations had often been a part of the Haggadah, it was not until the Prague Haggadah that they were used extensively in printed text. The Haggadah features over sixty woodcut illustrations picturing "scenes and symbols of the Passover ritual; ... biblical and rabbinic elements that actually appear in the Haggadah text; and scenes and figures from biblical or other sources that play no role in

2695-540: The time of the early Amoraim in the third century CE. In post-Talmudic times, during the era of the Geonim , selections from midrashim were added; most likely Rabbi Amram Gaon ( c.  850 ) was the originator of the present collection, as he was the redactor of the daily liturgy in the siddur . Of these midrashim one of the most important is that of the four children, representing four different attitudes towards why Jews should observe Passover . This division

2750-525: The use of the word "ushotin", which means "to drink". A fifth question which is present in the mishnah has been removed by later authorities due to its inapplicability after the destruction of the Second Temple : 5. Why is it that on all other nights we eat meat either roasted, marinated, or cooked, but on this night it is entirely roasted? The answers to the four questions (and the historic fifth question) are: Some of these answers are stated over

2805-444: Was a Babylonian rabbi, of the fourth and fifth generations of amoraim . It is generally accepted that references to "Rav Nachman" in the Talmud refer to Rav Nachman bar Yaakov , not to Rav Nachman bar Yitzchak. His mother's brother was Rav Aha bar Yosef . Legend states that an astrologer predicted to his mother that her son would become a thief. She required him to have his head covered at all times, though he did not understand

SECTION 50

#1732765715762

2860-458: Was compiled during the Mishnaic and Talmudic periods, although the exact date is unknown. It could not have been written earlier than the time of Judah bar Ilai ( c.  170 CE ), who is the latest tanna to be quoted therein. Abba Arika and Samuel of Nehardea ( c.  230 CE ) argued on the compilation of the Haggadah, and hence it had not been completed as of then. Based on

2915-421: Was completed before then. According to this explanation, the Haggadah was written during the lifetime of Judah ha-Nasi (who was a student of Judah bar Ilia and the teacher of Abba Arika and Samuel) the compiler of the Mishnah . The Malbim theorized that the Haggadah was written by Judah ha-Nasi himself. One of the most ancient parts is the recital of the "Hallel", which, according to the Mishnah (Pesachim 5:7),

2970-625: Was sung at the sacrifice in the Temple in Jerusalem , and of which, according to the school of Shammai , only the first chapter shall be recited. After the Psalms a blessing for the Redemption is to be said. This blessing, according to Rabbi Tarfon , runs as follows: "Praised art Thou, O Lord, King of the Universe, who hast redeemed us, and hast redeemed our fathers from Egypt." Another part of

3025-494: Was the head of the yeshivah of Pumbedita , Rava became the head of the yeshivah in Mechoza , while Nachman bar Yitzchak was appointed the chief lecturer ( Reish Kallah ) under Rava. He later went to Sura , where Rav Nahman bar Chisda drew particular attention to him and frequently repeated his responsa in the beit midrash . When Rava died, he succeeded Rava as head of the school (which was transferred from Mahoza to Pumbedita ),

#761238