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If you are a Passover haggadah collector, or a lover of Israel's Defense Forces, then starting a IDF collection of haggadot will really make your passover Seder. Imagine having a haggada that an israeli soldier used on the front lines, amidst fighting for the survival for the jewish people?! Think of a soldier carrying a Haggada after fighting a historic battle in defense of his country. These are some of the reasons people want Israeli army haggadot. In addition in identifying with the Jewish people, these haggadot also tell a story as to when they were printed, the backgrounds of the wars that were fought, and even some controversies that they caused.
Since 1949 when the first IDF hagada was printed, there have been only about a dozen different editions. While every year a new edition was printed, most years (especially in the 1970s through the late 1990s) the same illustrations and templates were printed over again. In my 100 haggada collection , I include at least 5 different types of IDF Haggadot.
From all of the Haggadot printed, perhaps the most historic (and emotional) was the very first one printed in 1949 (since in May 1948 when the State was proclaimed,Passover already came and went). In the introduction of that haggada, Rabbi Shlomo Goronchick (later Goren), Chief Rabbi of the IDF, wrote a moving introduction which I will translate here as follows:
After 2000 years of physical & spiritual slavery, we have merited to celebrate the Festival of freedom...the light of redemption and freedom which has shone over the skies of Israel has shined upon us anew and just as we left Egypt and saw miracles of G-d, so too we saw in the War of Independence that we waged in our land. Raise high the flag of freedom that you have acquired by your hands in great bravery and self sacrifice! Till we shall envision the complete Redemption and celebrate the Festival of Passover in the Temple of G-d in Jerusalem, that shall be rebuilt! Shlomo Goronschick, Chief Rabbi of the IDF
This is the First IDF Haggada
Although this Haggada did not have illustrations, all subsequent haggadot did. In the following 3 years, the first IDF illustrated haggadot (identical) appeared. They were done by Allweil, a Jerusalem, Bezalel trained artist who amongst the illustrative woodcuts managed to include the Jews from the concentration camps as well as well as the "new israeli". These haggadot are getting more and more harder to find.
After Allweil, IDF haggadot became standard more or less, and in subsequent years, the IDF used newspapers to distribute their haggadot to soldiers and the general public.
circa 1970 IDF Haggada
Some hagadot which are unusual, reflect the period in which they were printed. Such a case is the EMERGENCY HAGGADAH.
Printed in 1971 during the War of Attrition
This haggada was printed for a time when one did not have time to say the entire Haggada and was therefore edited so that the major parts are said.
Another interesting haggada was the post 1967 Haggada known as the where many pictures of the events during the war are used to describe a connection with the Exodus!
The most recent addition (2002) to IDF Haggadot was an all glossy design with dozens of pictures of life in the IDF and Israel. Extremely well made and really nice!
Showing off all these haggadot at your Pessach Seder will certainly prevent your children and guests from falling asleep, and more important, will make the Seder experience a night to remember, especially towards the end of the Seder when we all sing, NEXT YEAR IN JERUSALEM!
Here are some more IDF Haggadot. Please vote on this guide, it really is appreciated!
From all of the Haggadot printed, perhaps the most historic (and emotional) was the very first one printed in 1949 (since in May 1948 when the State was proclaimed,Passover already came and went). In the introduction of that haggada, Rabbi Shlomo Goronchick (later Goren), Chief Rabbi of the IDF, wrote a moving introduction which I will translate here as follows:
After 2000 years of physical & spiritual slavery, we have merited to celebrate the Festival of freedom...the light of redemption and freedom which has shone over the skies of Israel has shined upon us anew and just as we left Egypt and saw miracles of G-d, so too we saw in the War of Independence that we waged in our land. Raise high the flag of freedom that you have acquired by your hands in great bravery and self sacrifice! Till we shall envision the complete Redemption and celebrate the Festival of Passover in the Temple of G-d in Jerusalem, that shall be rebuilt! Shlomo Goronschick, Chief Rabbi of the IDF
This is the First IDF Haggada
Although this Haggada did not have illustrations, all subsequent haggadot did. In the following 3 years, the first IDF illustrated haggadot (identical) appeared. They were done by Allweil, a Jerusalem, Bezalel trained artist who amongst the illustrative woodcuts managed to include the Jews from the concentration camps as well as well as the "new israeli". These haggadot are getting more and more harder to find.
After Allweil, IDF haggadot became standard more or less, and in subsequent years, the IDF used newspapers to distribute their haggadot to soldiers and the general public.
circa 1970 IDF Haggada Printed in 1971 during the War of AttritionThis haggada was printed for a time when one did not have time to say the entire Haggada and was therefore edited so that the major parts are said.
Another interesting haggada was the post 1967 Haggada known as the where many pictures of the events during the war are used to describe a connection with the Exodus!
Here are some more IDF Haggadot. Please vote on this guide, it really is appreciated!
Guide created: 08/27/08 (updated 07/16/09)
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