A Popular Dictionary of Judaism
(Hebrew. ‘Telling’) The order of service of the *Passover meal. The original haggadah was laid down by the *sages in the *Mishnah and includes the *mazzah ritual, the *four questions, tales of the *rabbis, *midrash on the *Exodus story, the significance of the *Paschal lamb, the unleavened bread and the *bitter herbs, the *hallel, *grace after the meal and *benedictions.
Extra poetry and songs have been added to the haggadah over the centuries. The oldest preserved manuscript goes back to the 10th Century. Illustrated versions tend to be of the Spanish type (with full-page Biblical scenes), the *Ashkenazic (decorated in the margins round the liturgical text) or the Italian. The *progressive movement have produced their own haggadot with modified prayers and there is also a *Karaite version (See also *PASSOVER, *SEDER).
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