The Haggadah , which means “telling” in Hebrew, is a written guide to the Passover seder, which commemorates the Israelites’ Exodus from Egypt. It is a collected work of blessings, prayers and excerpts from the Bible, Mishnah, and Midrash. The Haggadah was not written by one particular author, and was gradually supplemented by psalms and songs.

The first printed version of the Haggadah was published in Guadalajara in 1482, a decade before the expulsion of the Jews from Spain. By the 16th century, there were approximately 25 printed versions; 300 years later, there were more than 1,000. These Haggadot (plural of Haggadah) vary in geographical origin, denominational orientation, political and social focus, and historical emphasis. 

Various Haggadah manuscripts emerged around the world throughout the centuries (Darmstadt, ca. 1430; Venice, 1609; Amsterdam, 1737). Printed editions of the Haggadah, produced around the world, began appearing in the 15th century — each generation and region recreating the Haggadah in its own image.

Haggadot vary widely in length and outlook. While some Haggadot are printed only in Hebrew and do not stray from the original text, the 1940s and 1950s marked the evolution of the traditional Haggadah into a text incorporating social and political realities, a process that still continues today. New Haggadot began appearing, outlining socialist, feminist, egalitarian, gay and lesbian, environmental, and other concerns. Many newer Haggadot explore alternative meanings for common seder symbols or encourage seder participants to reflect on the larger themes of emancipation and redemption and to explore their own personal feelings of persecution and freedom. 

There are now more than 3,000 versions of the Passover Haggadah in existence, a fact indicating its tremendous popularity. The ancient seder ritual, observed each year by millions of Jews around the world, reminds us of the sacredness of time, and of the importance to remember and retell the story of the Israelites’ enslavement, Exodus, and emancipation. As Jewish life and thought continue to transform, more and more versions of this story will likely be produced in the future, each mirroring the evolution of the Jewish people.