Thanks to these generous donors for making the publication of this book possible: Mr. and Mrs. Edward S. Best. A definitive historical-critical commentary on the Passover seder. The Passover haggadah enjoys an unrivaled place in Jewish culture, both religious and secular. Of all the classic Jewish books, the haggadah is the one most "alive" today. Jews continue to rewrite, revise, and add to its text, recasting it so that it remains relevant to their lives. Joseph Tabory, one of the world's leading authorities on the history of the haggadah, traces the development of the seder and the haggadah through the ages. The book features an extended introduction by Tabory, the classic Hebrew haggadah text side by side with its English translation, and Tabory's clear and insightful critical-historical commentary.