A Short time ago the Passover Haggadah of the Talmdic Encyclopedia came off the press in Jerusalem.
The Haggadah which is entirely in Hebrew, consists of two parts. The first is the Haggadah text accompanied by an extensive commentary. The second part features 13 entries of the Talmudic Encyclopedia printed in alphabetical order, whose topics relate to the search for and removal of Hametz as well as the Mitzvot of the Seder such as Akhilat Matsa, Akhilat Maror, Afikoman, Arba Kossot, Bedikat Hametz, Bitul Hametz, Biur Hametz, Haggadah, Hallel and others.
The very detailed discussions in the commentary, which acquaint the reader with the views and decisions of both early and later Rabbinic authorities, are based in a great measure on the entries of the Talmudic Encyclopedia. At times the commentary also refers the reader to other entries of the encyclopedia.
Thus there are lengthy explanations of the Mitzvot of the search for and the removal of the Hametz, the laws of Erev Pesah, notably the prohibition to eat matza on it, the Seder plate and its components (with two drawings illustrating the layout of the objects on the plate, one according to the Ari, Rabbi Isaac Luria and the other according to the Gaon of Vilna) as well as the Mitzvot of the Seder night– to drink four cups, to recline while eating, to relate the miracles wrought for our fathers when they left Egypt, the recital of Hallel, and the requirements to eat Matza, bitter herbs and the Afikoman.
Following are some extracts from the commentary:
We are told of two interpretations of the word Haggadah. One is well known. It refers to the relating of the story of the Exodus from Egypt, which we are bidden to transmit to our children (“Vehiggad’ta LeBincha” … Shemot 13:8).
According to the other interpretations, which is quoted by Rabbi David Abudraham, the meaning of “Haggadah” is to give praise , to give thanks (to the L-rd). This is how the Targum Yerushalmi transsates “Higgdati Hayom” (Devarim 25:3)
The commentary cites a variety of answers to the well known question: Why don’t we recite a blessing when fulfilling the Mitzva of telling about rhe exodus from Egypt on the night of the Seder?
The Haggadah is a praise and glorification of the L-rd. One doesn’t recite a blessing over praising the L-rd, wrote the author of Besamim Rosh.
This answer was rejected by Rabbi Zvi Hirsch Kalischer who pointed out that Hallel, too, was all praise of the L-rd and yet we say a blessing over its recital.
According to the Meiri, there were people who said a blessing over the recitation of the Haggadah.
The commentary mentions various customs with regard to the blessing over the recitation of Hallel at the Seder, which is recited in two parts, before the meal and after the meal.
Some recite the blessing twice, once before each of the two parts of Hallel. Others recite two different blessings. On the part they recite before the meal they say the blessing Likro Et HaHallel and on the part they read after the meal they say the blessing, Ligmor et HaHallel.
Others say only one blessing, at the beginning of Hallel. They do not regard the meal eaten in between the two parts of the Hallel as an interruption necessitating another blessing.
And then there are those who, for a variety of reasons, do not say any blessing at all over the recital of Hallel during the Seder.
Hallel is always recited while standing , but during the Seder it is recited when seated. Here too a variety of reasons are advanced to justify this custom.
The Haggadah of the Talmudic Encyclopedia is beautifully printed. It is illuminated with pictures of the famous Haggadah printed in Amsterdam in 1695, whose copper plate illustrations were copied and imitated by many printers and manuscript artists.
The list of contributors to this Haggadah is headed by the late Rabbi S. Y. Zevin, the editor-in-chief of the Talmudic Encyclopedia and Rabbi Yeshoshua Hutner, its executive director. Their names are followed by the names of 18 members of the editorial staff of the Talmudic Encylopedia, many of whom are no longer with us, who worked on the encyclopedia’s entries which have been incorporated in the Haggadah. Rabbi Eliyahu Krupnik, Rabbi Immanuel Kosovsky and Rabbi Uri Dasberg wrote the commentary. Their work was supervised by Rabbi Aharon Batt, the assistant director of the Talmudic Encyclopedia.
The Haggdah is dedicated to the memory of Meir Brachfeld, a great friend and supporter of the Talmudic Encyclopedia, who died in 2001. He founded a religious neighborhood in Israel, Ahuzat Brachfeld in Modiin and was instrumental in building there various Torah institutions. His residence in Motza was a meeting place of scholars.
The Jewish Press, Friday, April 15, 2005