THE HAGGADAH
A revolutionary Haggadah for the 21st century, THE BRONFMAN HAGGADAH is a collaboration between world- renowned philanthropist and Jewish leader Edgar M. Bronfman, and acclaimed artist Jan Aronson. In words and pictures, it tells of the Jews’ dramatic journey from slavery to freedom, in a way that will captivate generations to come. Aronson’s bold and brilliant watercolor paintings heighten the text and amplify a story that is crucial to the Jewish narrative of Identity. These luminous images— both abstract and figurative—artfully illustrate the Seder plate’s symbolic foods, the parting of the Red Sea, the forty-year journey through the desert, the giving of the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai, and other events pivotal to Passover.
THE BRONFMAN HAGGADAH, at once a sublime full-color art book and a radical reimagining of the Passover text, weaves together a diversity of powerful readings from the nineteenth-century abolitionist Frederick Douglas to Ralph Waldo Emerson and poet Marge Piercy to complement the revered text and to inspire a profound sense of Jewish pride and commitment. With its underlying message of human rights and freedom, this Haggadah transmits a positive message about the capacity for peace and understanding.
For avid Haggadah collectors, art book aficionados, anyone interested in Jewish learning, and, above all, for today’s Jewish families, THE BRONFMAN HAGGADAH offers an engaging and interactive contemporary account of Passover, which will foster meaningful and constructive dialogue between Jews and non-Jews alike.
An Excerpt from THE BRONFMAN HAGGADAH:
The traditional Haggadah speaks of four children–one who is wise, one who is wicked, another who is simple, and one who doesn’t know to ask. The four children ask questions and receive answers about the Seder in ways appropriate to their intellectual or emotional level. In this Haggadah, the children are recast as four types of Jews: the wise, rebellious, simple and indifferent.
CELEBRANT: The wise Jew ceaselessly challenges conventions; he is fully dedicated to improving Judaism. Despite obstacles, he presses forward, committed to finding better ways to blend Judaism with modern life .These Jews are essential to keeping Judaism a vital force. As such we must fully support them in their quest, fully embracing their doubts and questions.
CELEBRANT: Unlike the wise Jew, the rebellious Jew has little interest in Judaism because he feels personally or politically excluded. We must embrace these rebellious Jews, address their anger, and when appropriate, champion their causes.
CELEBRANT: The simple Jew is one with a loose connection to Judaism; he neither doubts nor seeks to improve the tradition. Because these Jews can easily slip into indifference, it is critical to find a way of more deeply engaging them in Jewish life.
CELEBRANT: The Jew in greatest danger is the indifferent Jew. Unlike the simple Jew, the indifferent Jew has removed himself entirely from the tradition. While challenging, it is our responsibility to reach out to indifferent Jews gently inviting them back in the fold.