THere are, of course many 'modern' haggadot to chose from. Two that I
have seen used effectively are:
1. Haggadah for the American Family, by Rabbi Martin Berkowitz. Miami:
Sacred Press, 1966 (a newer edition - Merion Station, Pa.: Haggadah
Institute, c1975). It has the complete ritual in Hebrew at one end
and a combined Hebrew (with transliterations) English ritual at the
other end. "In some passages [of the latter], the rednidtions are
more interpretations than translation. Also the explanations of most
of the rituals have been incorporated into the readings, in lieu of
presenting them as notes... Thus, the significance of the various
symbols becomes an integral part of the rituals themselves, making
them more meaningful... Some of the sections have been reinterpreted
in the spirit of the wide Jewish tradition, and with an eye to rela-
ting the Jewish religious observances to the present day needs of
men [sic!] and nations... The Jewish family, by concerning itself
with the wider application of the Passover message, sees the direct
relevance of its religious heritage to the modern struggle for a
better world and a finer humanity." (from the introduction)
2. The Egalitarian Hagada, by Aviva Cantor. 3rd edition. N.Y.: Beruriah
Books, 1992 (c1982). This haggadah is in English and transliterated
(only) Hebrew. Cantor says that it evolved over ten years from its
first version in 1971. It's dedicated to her family who perished in
Dubno in 1942, and includes many 'updatings' that relate "the expe-
riences of the Jews during the Exodus from Egypt that [are] relevant
to our struggles for self-liberation today". Cantor incorporates a
number of midrashim into her text (for eg. about Shifra and Pu'ah,
the midwives) as well as passages from writers such as the Yiddish
poet Avrom Reisen (his poem about Marranos celebrating the Passover
in 15th century Iberia), stories of Jewish resistance during the
Holocaust (the Partisaner Lied is sung), fighting oppresion and in-
justice (eg. James Oppenheimer's song Bread and Roses), and the
struggle for a homeland in eretz, the establishment of Israel and
the ingathering of Jews (eg., readings from Buber, Albert Memmi, a
1911 poem by Rachel Blaustein). As you may gather, I've found this
haggadah very powerful and resonant for our own day.
Others, well known, but which I have not seen are: The Berkeley Pesach
Haggadah, by Fayla Schwartz (et al.), Berkeley, 1973 (supposed to be
strongly feminist); the Jewish Liberation Hagada, by Itzhak Epstein
(et al.), N.Y., 1972; and one by "B'CAS", the Boston Committee to
Challenge Antisemitism, 1979.
Good luck with your selection!
All the best,
Bernard Katz, former head, Special Collections and Library Development
McLaughlin Library, University of Guelph
author, descriptive bibliog. of L.M. Montgomery's books (in progress)
and founding treasurer, AJL-Ontario Chapter
Messages and opinions expressed on Hasafran are those of the individual author
and are not necessarily endorsed by the Association of Jewish Libraries (AJL)
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