noun
- The narrative and liturgical portions of the Passover Seder, including prayers, songs, and the retelling of the Exodus from Egypt.
- In Jewish tradition, the body of rabbinic literature consisting of homilies, legends, and interpretations of Scripture, as opposed to legal rulings (Halakha).
Usage: Also spelled 'Hagadah' or 'Haggadah'; From Hebrew, meaning 'narrative' or 'telling'; Central to Jewish Passover observance
Usage: Broader religious and literary sense; Found in the Talmud and Midrash
Examples
- Families gather around the table to read from the haggada during the Passover Seder.
- The haggada includes the Four Questions, which children traditionally ask at the beginning of the meal.
- Many Jewish households have their own illustrated haggada passed down through generations.
- The haggada tells the story of how the Israelites were freed from slavery in Egypt.
- Different communities have different versions of the haggada with unique prayers and songs.
- The haggada blends biblical narrative with rabbinic interpretation and folk traditions.