“A scientific edition of the Passover Haggadah is something that has been lacking for a long time. Two outstanding scholars, father and son (both of them professors), have done yeomen’s work in achieving that goal. As they write in their introduction: ‘The Haggadah and the custom of including the discussion of the Exodus as part of the Pesah meal originate in the period after the destruction of the Second Temple. During Temple times, the pilgrims to Jerusalem brought the paschal lamb, and on Pesah night they partook of the sacrifice, accompanied by the singing of Hallel and drinking the wine. After the destruction of the Temple, it became customary to substitute the study of the Exodus for the sacrifice that was offered during Temple times. This discernment can explain the initial version of the Haggadah, and in many instances explain changes that took place in later generations. Frequently it also explains the initial understanding of the Sages who formulated the Haggadah, and its original version and meaning.’
“Pope Pius XII (often criticized) once wisely said: ‘Prayer study is not archaeology.’ Shmuel and Ze’ev Safrai heeded the pope’s warning. Despite the virtues of historical research, the authors carefully considered the needs of today’s reader, who is not necessarily a Torah scholar. At the center of the book is the Haggadah itself (Ashkenazic version) with a brilliant commentary, in addition to the comprehensive introductory notes. The book also includes the Eretz Israel version from Byzantine times, preserved in the Cairo Genizah, and a discussion of its importance for the study of the Passover Haggadah as it is conventionally recited today.
“Before reading Haggadah of the Sages it never occurred to me, for example, that the Haggadah was established only after the destruction of the Second Temple, and that it served as a ‘substitute’ for the paschal sacrifice—in large part nullified by the destruction of the Second Temple. This theory is revolutionary in that it questions even the descriptions in the Gospels of Jesus’ Last Supper.
“Shmuel and Ze’ev Safrai explain how our Haggadah was created and how it evolved over time. They show the midrashic origins invested in it, the place occupied by Rabbinic sources, and the fact that the Haggadah at times expands upon the Mishnaic version and gives it new meaning. All this is presented to the modern reader in a simple and easily understood way.
“The modern reader not versed in ultra-Orthodox ways may also enjoy this work, because the authors are willing to some extent ‘look beyond the fence’ (beyond Jewish texts) and cite Christian sources.” — David Flusser on the first Hebrew edition, Haaretz, April 1998
