Rabbi Howard Morrison

On Shabbat Ha'Gadol, the Great Sabbath preceding Pesach, it is customary to review the Haggadah in preparation for the Festival. I remember as a child being asked by my parents to bring down the Haggadot from the previous year. In them, I would find Matzah crumbs, wine stains, and more. I would first and foremost clean the Haggadot from last year. 

Ultimately, one is supposed to study the Maggid section this coming Shabbat, the main part of the Haggadah which contains the narratives, rituals, and songs leading up to the Festive meal. One should prepare in such a way that the Seder experience for the new year becomes more than a repeat performance of years past. Each year and over the first two nights of Yom Tov, the Seder experience should feel fresh and innovative. Ma Nishtanah - How will your Seder be different this year?

For many of us, this year's Pesach will have us truly celebrate freedom, in that we will not be enslaved to the rules and regulations of the pandemic, which altered how many people could sit with us at the Seder table as well as influencing the whole Seder experience.

The Haggadah is probably the most available Jewish text in the market place, with more editions, commentaries, and perspectives than any other kind of Jewish text. I strongly encourage everyone to augment their current array of Haggadot by adding a new Haggadah which contains the complete traditional text and which contains new insights not found in your current supply of Haggadot.

Let us take advantage of the custom of Shabbat Ha'Gadol (also called Shabbat Haggadah) to spiritually prepare ourselves for the arrival of Pesach next week.

Shabbat Shalom and Chag Kasher V'Sameach,
Rabbi Howard Morrison