This Passover, as we gather together to tell the story of the Jewish people’s original flight from persecution, we hold in our minds the more than 122 million people around the world who have been forced to flee their homes. On this holiday when we remember the Jewish people’s journey to freedom, we know that our own freedom is inextricable from that of all people fleeing from violence and toward safety.
The HIAS Haggadah, updated in 2023/5783, is full of readings and stories which connect the foundational liberation story of the Jewish people with the reality of the refugee experience in the 21st century.
Why is this Night Different?
The seder offers one question and four answers that become questions in their own right. This night is different because we do these symbolic acts – but what do they mean and what do they demand of us in our own time? Learn from four different Jewish religious leaders about why this night is different from all other nights in our new supplemental reading.
HIAS Haggadah
HIAS Haggadah
While Seder quite literally means “order” and the HIAS Haggadah guides us through the retelling of the Passover story in a particular order, the Seder is meant to be a flexible ritual that allows us to use our imagination.
Download the HIAS Haggadah to include a deeper exploration of the global refugee crisis at your Seder.
Bound paperback copies of the HIAS Haggadah are available for purchase on Amazon.
For ideas about how to incorporate the HIAS Haggadah at your Seder, watch our webinar, Bringing Refugee Stories to Your Seder.
If you want to supplement your own Haggadah with readings from the HIAS Haggadah, we suggest you start with pages 1, 6, 7, 8, 12, 18, 22, or 24.
Arami Oved Avi
These three words used in a central recitation in ancient prayers and in our Passover seder are not at all clear in their intent. This text study explores the implications of different interpretations.
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