4 apr 2012

today i was listening to this show on the radio about the haggadah. in case you don't know, the haggadah is a telling (or, technically, a retelling) of the story of the exodus of the jews from egypt. the celebration of passover (which is coming up this week) commemorates this event. okay, it's really complicated, and if you don't know anything about passover, you're just going to have to google that up for yourself.

the radio show was about how jonathan safran foer and nathan englander have partnered to create a new translation of the story from the ancient texts and paired it with fresh, modern commentary.

see, the haggadah is more than simply a telling of the story. the haggadah is a complete liturgy for the seder meal including the story, prayers, songs, commentary, and questions. (seder? look it up!) so. the seder meal is partially about a meal and partially about learning the history and partially about keeping the history relevant. this new haggadah is supposed to help folks learn the history and establish its relevance in an all-new and specifically american way.

the talk that happens during seder is a very important part of the meal. it's the parents' job to instruct their kiddos. one of the folks on the show said that in opposition to the american education system in which the teachers ask the questions, in traditional jewish teaching the students ask the questions. i am guessing this means the kids ask their parents questions at the seder supper.

out of everything that was said, i was most interested by two things: the idea of a system of learning where the students ask the questions and also one other thing that was said by someone at some point. i don't remember who said it, but i know it generated a lot of the radio-show correspondent of head nodding... a lot of yes, yes, and suchwise. this is what was -- "a devout jew can also be a devout atheist". what? i mean, WHAT?? i am doing to need someone to explain that one to me. maybe i should get the book.