[by Jessica Gurtman]
BEHRMAN HOUSE, INC. PUBLISHES REVOLUTIONARY ONLINE HAGGADAH
Passover Haggadah for the Digital Age Allows Families to Customize Their Seder
A decade before Christopher Columbus set sail for the New World, the first printed Passover Haggadah was published in Guadalajara, Spain. Jewish families gathered around their tables and used the new publication—a technological marvel of the time—to retell the story of their ancestors’ march from slavery to freedom. Filled with songs, blessings, ancient texts, and legends, the printed Haggadah enriched the Seder. Suddenly, parents and children could imagine (in ways they never could before) that they had participated in the miracle of the Exodus.
After its successful introduction in 1482, the Passover Haggadah soared in popularity. In fact, by the turn of the century there were 25 different versions in print; within 300 years, more than 1,000 variations existed. Today, at least 3,000 adaptations of the Passover Haggadah have been published. Owning a family Haggadah has become an essential and beloved part of celebrating Passover.
“Just as the first printed Haggadah transformed Passover Seders in the Middle Ages,” says Rabbi Mark H. Levine, Executive Editor of Behrman House Publishers, “our new Customized Family Haggadah will revolutionize Passover Seders in the Digital Age.” Web 2.0 functionality, he explains, enables families to upload and embed photos, images, songs, family histories, and meaningful questions into the text of a standard Haggadah. “All that needs to be done then,” adds David Behrman, President of Behrman House, “is click ‘Submit’ and wait for your beautifully bound, colorful, personalized Haggadah, which will provide new meaning to an ancient and sacred tradition.”
Behrman House Publishers is the nation’s leading publisher of educational Judaica. The Customized Family Haggadah can be created at: www.behrmanhouse.com/customfamilyhaggadah
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If you’d like more information on the Customized Family Haggadah, or to schedule an interview with Rabbi Levine, please call Jessica Gurtman at 973-379-7200 or email her at Jessica@behrmanhouse.com