Around the World in 18 Seders
A Global Trot Through Passover Traditions and Haggadah Art
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First off, an FYI– I've been committing some Acts of Podcasting, so if you'd like some infusion of those kinds of goodies, you can get some here (more to come in future missives, too):
Now: Passover's coming up! It's a holiday with amazing material culture and customs, and I thought it might be fun to have a look at some examples of how Jews have used the Haggadah-- our, uh, guide to the seder– at various times and places around the world– as well as some some fascinating details about how a range of communities have engaged with this holy day.
From the customs of the Beta Israel in Ethiopia to Kabbalistic North African traditions, from Braille Haggadot to bloody hamsas, from dragon babies to reading women, come join me on a journey of Very Cool Things:
Haggadah Crete, 1583 (Haggadah manuscript in Hebrew with margin illumination of an old man with a walking stick, and on his knees talking to an angel, and a landscape of a sea and town) and Corfu Haggadah ca. 1940 (Haggadah printed up in Hebrew and Greek with slightly Greco-looking illustrations.)