Dei'ah veDibur - Information & Insight
  

A Window into the Chareidi World

26 Adar 5761 - March 21, 2001 | Mordecai Plaut, director Published Weekly
NEWS

OPINION
& COMMENT

HOME
& FAMILY

IN-DEPTH
FEATURES

VAAD HORABBONIM HAOLAMI LEINYONEI GIYUR

TOPICS IN THE NEWS

HOMEPAGE

 

Produced and housed by
Shema Yisrael Torah Network
Shema Yisrael Torah Network

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NEWS
The Talelei Oros Pesach Haggadah
by Rav Yissochor Dov Rubin
Reviewed by Yated Ne'eman Staff

There are all sorts of Jewish books on the market. Some are deep and complicated -- written especially for learners and the yeshiva crowd. "Everyday" people usually do not have much appetite for such fare because the concepts are too "heavy" and involved. Other works are aimed from the outset at the wide, general audience -- the material being lighter.

Every now and then, though, a book appears that appeals to everyone. One shining example is Talelei Oros -- on the holidays, Chumash, Megillas Esther and now on the Pesach Haggadah in English.

The Malbim writes in his commentary on the Haggadah, "Ten kavim of commentary descended into the world. The Pesach Haggadah took nine of them, and the rest of the Torah took the one kav that was left."

Over the years, hundreds of commentaries on the Haggadah have been published, in many styles and formats, to the point where one might think that no room is left for new commentary on the Haggadah. Last year, however, when the Talelei Oros Pesach Haggadah came on the scene, it was obvious again, "No beis medrash is without chiddushim."

As all the other volumes of this acclaimed set, the Talelei Oros Pesach Haggadah has its own distinct flavor. It blends fascinating and entertaining commentaries of all types and varieties, from many different eras, skillfully arranged and clearly written to provide both the "big picture" and a great amount of depth. Last year, when this brilliant work first appeared in Hebrew, it was an instant success. Readers rushed to have it for the seder, especially those already familiar with the existing set of Talelei Oros volumes.

For this Pesach, the Talelei Oros Pesach Haggadah is also available in translation, skillfully adapted into English by Rabbi Gershon Robinson, translator of the Eliyahu Kitov Pesach Haggadah, Kitov's A Jew and His Home, the Talelei Oros on Megillas Esther and other Torah classics.

This Haggadah, in both Hebrew and English, has everything -- pshat and drush, halacha and aggadata, mussar, lomdus and chassidus -- a carefully selected collection of commentaries quoting Torah giants from all over the world - Ashkenazic and Sephardic, Rishonim and Acharonim. Famous luminaries from throughout history down to the present speak on each passage of the Haggadah, providing penetrating insights and explanations on every topic and phrase. Before the seder, after a quick browse through the pages, one finds fascinating, enjoyable pearls of wisdom to give over at the seder table. Without question, the material in this Haggadah will immeasurably enrich everyone's experience on the seder night, heightening interest and helping everyone to feel that he, too, is leaving Egypt! It is also enjoyable and pertinent reading for the remainder of Pesach after the seder.

Have at your table the Maharal, R. Eliezer Ashkenazi, R. Azaria Figo, the Vilna Gaon, the Beis HaLevi, the Chida, the Sefas Emes, the Netziv of Volozhin, Meshech Chochmah, Chayei Odom, the author of the sefer HaFlo'oh and the Tzlach, the Maharal of Sanz and many, many more!

This volume is an important addition to any Torah library, and certainly belongs in one's collection of Pesach Haggadah. We can only give our blessing to the author -- R. Yissochor Dov Rubin of Bnei Brak. May Torah Jews the world over benefit from his exceptionally skilled and dedicated efforts.

 

All material on this site is copyrighted and its use is restricted.
Click here for conditions of use.