Haggadah Shel Pesach Eim Likutei Taamim Uminhagim - The Rebbe's Haggadah

The Rebbe's "Haggadah of Pesach Eim Likutei Taamim Uminhagim" was first published in 5706 (1946). In this Haggadah, the Rebbe collected from dozens of books hundreds of explanations on the order and text of the Haggadah according to the Alter Rebbe's text and his rulings in the Haggadah, with an additional collection of customs for Chabad chassidim.

The Frierdiker Rebbe's notable response to an expected question related to the publication of the Haggadah is well-known: As is known, within the framework of the "Otzar HaChassidim" publishing system, "Heichalot" (chambers) were established, beginning with the Baal Shem Tov, the Maggid of Mezritch, the Alter Rebbe, and so on. For each Heichal, the Frierdiker Rebbe designated a framework with a special gate design. When the Haggadah was ready for print, the question arose - in which 'gate' should the Haggadah be printed? The Frierdiker Rebbe answered his son-in-law: "Father (the Rebbe Rashab) was a 'pnimi' (inward person), and you are a 'pnimi'. It is therefore appropriate that the Haggadah should appear in a 'gate' like that of Father."

Development of the Haggadah

As mentioned, the Haggadah first appeared in 5706 (1946). In this edition, the Haggadah contained forty-seven pages. The body of the Haggadah appeared on the right page and opposite it were the 'likutim' (collections). Over the course of the following years, the Rebbe added additional passages to his work (about forty new sections). These were not added all at once but in at least three additional stages, with new sections being added to the Haggadah every few years. However, they were not integrated together but appeared at the end of the Haggadah as new additions.

Only in 5733 (1973) - twenty-seven years after its first appearance - did the 'Vaad L'Hafatzat Sichos' publish the Haggadah with all the passages integrated together, and this time they appeared in the margins of the Haggadah. Understandably, as a result, the page numbers changed, and even the Rebbe in his notes began to reference the new edition.

However, it seems that the more noticeable change was made in the name of the Haggadah - in the first edition it was called "Likutei Minhagim V'Taamim" and later in reverse order "Likutei Taamim Uminhagim."

Various editions of the Haggadah were published over the years, including in particular the 'Haggadah of Pesach with Likutei Taamim, Minhagim and Biurim' by the 'Vaad L'Hafatzat Sichos' (2 volumes), which added all the Rebbe's explanations on the Haggadah that were delivered (and edited) over the years and the general letters for Pesach.

Haggadah from Rav to Student

The Rebbe's Haggadah is unique in many diverse areas, but its most essential feature is its precise - even meticulous - adaptation to the needs of the student. It contains everything necessary for a straightforward, substantive understanding of the Haggadah and for fulfilling the many mitzvot of the Seder night - according to halacha, with full hiddur (enhancement). Nothing is missing, but nothing is excessive.

And yet - and this is wondrous - it does not give up on anything, and the more we delve into it, we discover creativity in every possible area: first and foremost in the precise, concise formulation of the evolution of the Haggadah's structure, through the selection of basic and fundamental interpretations that wonderfully resolve every ambiguous or difficult passage or word, and finally in a perfect summary of all the laws of the Seder with their reasons, and especially the integration of Chabad customs, accompanied by deep scholarly notes.

This is one of the few Haggadot whose author set himself one goal: to provide everything the reader needs. In this, it is distinguished from the vast variety of Haggadot that have appeared since ancient times.

Purpose of the Haggadah

The Rebbe's response to Rabbi Ezra Benjamin Shochet who was engaged in explaining the Rebbe's words in the 'Haggadah': One should not be so precise regarding the punctuation in the Passover Haggadah with the Likutei Ta'amim that is printed (Addition to a general-private letter from 15 Kislev 5729, Igrot Kodesh Volume 26, page 42)

The purpose of this work is to provide the reader with everything necessary for complete understanding. This is also reflected in the sources of 'the compiler,' who naturally does not conceal them but rather highlights them. The Rebbe presents as wide a variety of interpretations as possible, in the spirit of 'accept the truth from whoever says it.' Thus, the Rebbe imparts to students of his work a fundamental-inner learning method characterized by: pure faith in every detail, custom and law, and striving for a basic-primary understanding of the matters.

Name of the Haggadah

"Likutei Ta'amim U'Minhagim" (Collection of Reasons and Customs) - Seemingly the name, which expresses merely a work of compilation, does not suit such a creative work. But it seems that the concept of 'compilation,' in the context of this book and others like it, is meant to characterize the essence of the work. 'Compilation' not in the sense of gathering, but of refining and filtering all the vast material that exists on the Haggadah, including the innovations of 'the compiler' himself, and selecting the best of the best in a clear, sharp, and lucid style that will illuminate for the reader. The 'compilation' is expressed in every detail of the Haggadah; even when 'the compiler' chose a specific commentary from among the commentators of the Haggadah, he 'compiles' it and presents from within it only the essential point that fits the goal he set for himself in his work. Thus, in essence, there is no greater work than this - the task of a rabbi's influence upon his student.

Components of the Haggadah

When we say 'Passover Haggadah' we are referring to two parts: a) The body of the Haggadah and its reading. b) Fulfillment of the mitzvot and customs of the Seder night. And when discussing a Chabad Haggadah, each of these parts has a Chabad aspect - in the body of the Haggadah there is the text of the Alter Rebbe, and in the mitzvot of the night there are his rulings and the customs of the Rebbe's household that have been passed down from generation to generation. To all four of these components, the Rebbe attaches basic selections that illuminate and explain.

For the body of the Haggadah, he offers basic texts and sources alongside a collection of commentaries. And he presents the laws of the Seder in a concise manner, incorporating reasoning, sources, and definitions - while providing a concentrated notation of all related opinions.

The Haggadah

The primary "raw material" of the Haggadah originates from "Mishnah Pesachim Chapter 10, Mechilta Parshat Bo, the Babylonian Talmud and Jerusalem Talmud in Pesachim" [as well as in Sifrei Devarim] (see page 8 in the Haggadah). In this primary material, as is usual in such cases, there exist different versions and textual variants.

From these midrashei halachah and aggadah, the 'arranger of the Haggadah' selected passages and arranged them in order of precedence and sequence. However, due to the structure of the Haggadah and additional reasons, the arranger made various linguistic changes in some of the passages. Before us, then, is a second generation of changes.

After the Haggadah was arranged, it appears again in various places - "Siddur Rav Amram Gaon, Siman Rasag, in Rambam, Machzor Vitry, and others" - with many changes and formulations, as the Rebbe notes throughout the Haggadah.

And last but most beloved is the text of Rabbeinu HaZaken (the Alter Rebbe), which he selected and refined from sixty different versions. And this is the Haggadah we have today. This gives us a fourth generation of texts.

Considering the complex structure of the Haggadah, combined with four generations of changes, this requires, unusually, attention to the various texts and the order of their development. Without this, many sections remain difficult to understand. Hence the importance the Rebbe places - especially in the Haggadah - on textual variants.

But as mentioned, the Rebbe does this in clear, summarized, and pleasant language so as not to tire the reader. Therefore, only when it directly relates to understanding does he dwell on it, but usually he simply notes to examine existing variations. Only those who return to study the material will find a defined 'philological' [linguistic, language research] method and see how the Rebbe navigates with his broad understanding through the sea of textual variants.

Explanations and Commentaries

Besides the text variations, the Haggadah is full of commentaries, which as already mentioned, share the quality of being fundamental. They can be divided into three categories: a) Commentaries on the structure and flow of the Haggadah. b) Explanation of contents and ideas. c) Explanations of words.

The basic understanding required of a reader of the Haggadah is first and foremost an understanding of the structure of the Haggadah passages and maintaining the flow from 'Mah Nishtanah' until the conclusion of Hallel. In the Haggadah, the Rebbe pays special attention to this, and as is his way, he weaves it in briefly during the reading of the Haggadah.

One of the prominent characteristics in the structure of the Haggadah is the integration of verses with interpretations of our Sages and explanations of words. There are also word explanations. Usually, they are collected from the writings of Scripture and sayings of our Sages.

Laws and Customs

Even in the laws and customs of the Seder night, 'the compiler' presents the primary sources for each topic, incorporating reasoning and explanations. Incidentally, from a quantitative perspective, the main work in this Haggadah is actually in this practical section.

This section has many aspects. At times the Rebbe summarizes and distills all the approaches and reasons for a certain law. This section is especially filled with scholarly notes that require deep study. Sometimes he deals with establishing the evolution of customs - for example: the shankbone and egg on the Seder plate. 'The compiler' concludes that this was already practiced during Temple times and rejects the idea that the custom of taking an egg is "because we commemorate the mourning for the destruction of the Temple." For it is "proven in the Mishnah and Jerusalem Talmud" that this was already practiced in Temple times. Sometimes he even includes scholarly reasoning for the nature of the Seder laws.

Haggadah of the Alter Rebbe

During the Seder night of 5704 (1944) at the Rebbe Rayatz's home, after eating the maror, one of those present asked the attendants to begin serving the meal so that immediately after eating the 'korech' they could proceed directly to the 'shulchan orech' (the festive meal). The Rebbe Rayatz was displeased with this change and remarked then: "My father, the holy Rebbe, said that on these nights—the two Seders of Pesach—before doing anything related to the Seder, 'darf men a kuk ton in siddur' [one should look in the siddur]." The meaning of these words is to examine those concise instructional sentences that the Alter Rebbe placed between sections of the Haggadah, in which he provided guidance necessary to know during the actual performance. These sentences are solely meant as practical guidance for those conducting the Seder, but the Rebbe, faithful to his reverent approach to everything written by our Rebbeim, was meticulously precise about these sentences and extracted from them remarkable pearls and insights.

As is known, the Alter Rebbe selected and refined a prayer text from sixty siddurim of different versions. This included the Pesach Haggadah, which, like the prayer book, had many different versions.

In the work before us, the Rebbe elaborates extensively on every textual change or rare version chosen by the Alter Rebbe, and does not cease to cherish it until he reveals how this version is indeed the perfect, superior, and universally acceptable one from every angle. The most famous example is the order of the Four Questions in 'Mah Nishtana'—dipping, matzah, maror, reclining—which differs from the 'common' version. The Rebbe begins with a rare abundance of primary sources for this version and continues to demonstrate how specifically this version "corresponds to their order on this night" and even to "the order of the worlds from below to above..." But he does not stop there, and in sharp, concise words he debates with additional opinions dealing with the general development of the Four Questions throughout the generations. He concludes with an original idea that simply explains the reason for the variations in custom regarding this text.

This is in addition to other changes where the Rebbe is content to indicate a series of versions identical to the one before us, and in the way of Torah truth—he is always careful to also cite all those sources in which the version appears differently from the Alter Rebbe's.

'Likutei Minhagim'

One of the main parts in this entire work, which can certainly be assumed to be the reason it was created, is 'Likutei Minhagim' (Collection of Customs). Here, for the first time, all the Chabad customs for the Seder night were presented in a concentrated and organized manner, including the customs of the Rebbe's household, some of which were intended for the Rebbeim only.

The Rebbe was the first to arrange, select, and refine the Chabad customs uniformly, not in a scattered manner. Indeed, by instruction of the Rebbe Rayatz, all the customs were included in this Haggadah. Usually, the Rebbe is content to simply note them, but from time to time, especially when the custom is not so common, the Rebbe elaborates on it either by citing additional Torah sources or by providing an explanation. Here is one example of a custom not practiced: "It is not customary to 'steal' the afikoman in the Rebbe's household." The Rebbe does not ignore those who do practice this custom and even mentions a hint cited by books of customs, but he explains the Chabad custom by quoting the Talmudic saying: "After a thief, steal, and you will have tasted [the taste of theft]" which, in this context, means that stealing—in any form—is a contagious disease...

About the Haggadah

Rabbi Shlomo Yosef Zevin wrote about this Haggadah: "A wonderful Haggadah with few like it, suitable for every Jew, whether Chassid or not. If I were not concerned about Chassidim's aversion to defining holy work in secular terms, I would say that this is a first-rate scientific work. In any case: it is a gem in Haggadah literature."

The researcher and linguist Meir Medan wrote: "This Haggadah, small in quantity, is surprising in two respects: a) The immense abundance of sources from the words of the Sages and from books of the Rishonim and Acharonim—it is difficult to understand how this vast abundance of knowledge was contained in a thin, slender booklet of 47 pages, most of which is the body of the Haggadah and only a minority the words of the compiler and editor. b) The fact that the author, a Chassidic Rebbe, is revealed not as a Rebbe whose Chassidus is his profession and whose words are hints and homilies like other Rebbes, but as a first-rate scientific researcher, a philologist of stature, who astonishes with his vast knowledge, straight thinking, and ability for scientific analysis and clarification of sources, versions, what came earlier and later, the simple meaning of the text—all in a brief, concise, and extremely precise language."

Additional Publications

• Haggadah shel Pesach with Likkutei Taamim UMinhagim - "The Rebbe's Haggadah" - punctuated, with decoding - with a review by Rabbi Shimon Weitzhandler, published by Machon Torat Menachem (first edition 5766/2006. Since then printed in additional corrected editions, the latest of which was published in 5782/2022).
• Haggadah shel Pesach with Likkutei Taamim UMinhagim. Punctuated. With decoding of references and citations on the page. Kehot, 5767/2007.
• Haggadah shel Pesach with Likkutei Taamim, Minhagim and Biurim - The Haggadah with the Rebbe's explanations on the Haggadah and the holiday of Pesach, 2 volumes, Vaad Lehafatzat Sichot.
• Haggadah shel Pesach Arranged and Explained - The Rebbe's explanation of the Haggadah arranged in popular language, published by Machon Heichal Menachem.
• Haggadah shel Pesach with Likkutei Taamim, Sources and Minhagim - The Rebbe's Haggadah with additional customs and explanations, published by Machon Heichal Menachem.
• Rabbi Shalom DovBer Levin, Haggadah shel Pesach with Likkutei Taamim UMinhagim with "Dover Shalom" commentary, Kehot Publication Society, 5778/2018.

Additional Reading

• Rabbi Nachman Lerner, Principles of the Haggadah - A study of the guiding principles for learning the Rebbe's Haggadah, 'HaTamim' publication Erev Pesach 5777/2017 and Erev Chag HaPesach 5778/2018 (2 parts).
• Rabbi Yosef Chanina Bindman, Haggadah shel Pesach - Divrei Menachem, published by Kehot, Adar 5781/2021.
• Wonderful explanations from the Rebbe's Haggadah, in the section 'Topics in Our Rebbe's Torah', Hitkashrut weekly, Parshat Tzav 5781/2021.
• Principles of the Haggadah 'L'shitatei', Heichal Lubavitch journal issue 4, 11 Nissan 5783/2023, page 37.

External Links

• Haggadah shel Pesach with Likkutei Taamim UMinhagim - First edition, Haggadah page opposite explanation page (5706/1946).
• Text of the 'Haggadah shel Pesach with Likkutei Taamim UMinhagim' - on the Chabad Lubavitch Library website.
• The Rebbe's letters to Rabbi Shlomo Yosef Zevin, from a Torah correspondence they conducted on the topic of the Haggadah and were printed in the series Igrot Kodesh; Volume 2 p. 241, Volume 2 p. 260, Volume 15, p. 39 on the Chabad Lubavitch Library website.
• The Rebbe's letter to Rabbi Menachem Zev Greenglass, who directed a question to the Rebbe about the Haggadah from the Jerusalem Kabbalist Yeshaya Asher Zelig Margaliot, Igrot Kodesh Volume 11 p. 166 on the Chabad Lubavitch Library website.
• Pearls of the Haggadah, within the study compilation for the worldwide Ach Temimim Hatemimim's Bein Hazmanim Yeshiva Pesach 5781/2021, page 36.
• The Rebbe's notations on additions to the Haggadah, in the teshurah from the Pevzner-Blinov wedding, Tevet 5782/2022 (pp. 16-18).
• Rabbi Moshe Sternbuch, The Definition of the Mitzvah "And you shall tell your son", in the Mibeit HaHoraah publication, Pesach 5782/2022.