The Zion Haggadah: How to Teach the Love of Israel at Your Seder is a remarkable work that seamlessly blends tradition with contemporary insights. Dr. Marvin A. Chinitz takes the familiar Passover Haggadah and infuses it with thought-provoking commentary, making it a powerful tool for fostering a deeper connection to Israel and Zionism.

1. Enlightening Interpretations:
Chinitz masterfully weaves together ancient texts and modern context. His comments shed light on overlooked details, such as the significance of “eleven” in the song “Echad, Mi Yo’dei’ah.” By connecting Joseph’s dream of eleven sheaves of wheat to our present understanding, he enriches the Seder experience.
2. Fascinating Midrash and Insights:
Throughout the Haggadah, Chinitz introduces midrashic interpretations and historical context. These additions not only enhance our understanding of the Passover story but also emphasize the enduring relationship between Israel and the Jewish people.
3. Countering Misinformation:
The book doesn’t shy away from addressing anti-Zionist narratives. Chinitz provides factual essays that debunk common misconceptions. His approach is clear, concise, and essential for combating misinformation.
4. Empowering Seder Discussions:
Chinitz encourages lively discussions during the Seder meal. By assigning topics to participants—especially adolescents—he ensures that the next generation engages with the critical issues facing Israel. This proactive approach acts as a “vaccination” against antisemitism and anti-Zionism.
5. From Galut to Zion:
The commentary bridges the gap between ancient and modern times. It highlights how our traditional Haggadah would differ if written today. The inclusion of the Hatikvah and prayers for Israel and the IDF underscores the continuity of our story.
6. Action Over Passivity:
Chinitz emphasizes that passivity is no longer an option. As Israel faces challenges, every Jew must actively participate in the Zionist dream. The Haggadah becomes a call to action—a reminder that redemption requires engagement.
7. Empty Chairs and Realities:
The book’s final pages contain essays on defending Israel. The suggestion to place an empty chair with the image and name of an Israeli brutalized in 2023 serves as a poignant reminder of ongoing struggles.
8. Serious Debate, Fact-Based Discussions:
Chinitz’s essays provide factual foundations for respectful debates. By equipping Seder leaders with knowledge, he empowers them to instill a love for Israel in all participants.
9. A Moving Afterword:
The Haggadah concludes with reflections on the Gaza war, reinforcing the urgency of our commitment to Israel.

In summary, The Zion Haggadah transforms Passover into a premier Zionist holiday. It reminds us that our journey from Egypt to the Promised Land is intertwined with the story of modern Israel. By engaging with this Haggadah, we fulfill the commandment to teach love for Israel at our Seders.

Dr. Chinitz’s work is a testament to the enduring relevance of the Haggadah and its ability to shape our understanding of Jewish identity and history. ( )

Immediatley before writing this review, I read a headline from the Jerusalem Press: "Harris Poll finds 51% of Americans Ages 18-24 Want Israel 'Ended and Given to Hamas.'" Today (12/17/23) is the 72nd day after the unspeakable, savage slaughter of over 1200 people in Israel and the abduction of another 240 men, women, children--an infant as young as 8 months. Israel is now fighting an existential war against Hamas (and Hezbollah, and the Palestinian Jihad, etc.; let me forego a political discussion).

When I began reading this Haggadah a couple of weeks ago, numbed by both the barbarity of Hamas' atrocities and the bursting flood gates of global antisemitism, my thought was, "this Haggadah is crucial--why hasn't it been written sooner!"

As young children, my brother and our cousins and I attended Hebrew school and Sunday school. We learned Hebrew and Torah and prophets, as well as our holidays and customs and rituals. Israel was a nascent nation and some of us were budding Zionists. The Holocaust was over--yet we were mostly sheltered from what had taken place. With Zeidi (Grandpa) leading the seder in his Romanian-accented Hebrew, except for the Fir Kashes (Four Questions) and Eliyahu haNavi--and the meal--we felt distanced from most of the content of the Haggadah. Most of the text was about the Exodus; some was Talmudic. It was about what happened "back then."

Thankfully, with maturity and more in-depth study, I've moved beyond my "How does this relate to me?" to its obvious relevance today. How much more meaningful the seder, especially with its focus on the critical importance of Israel to Jews and Israel in present times. Chinitz notes, "Passover is the most Zionist holiday on the Jewish calendar."

Chinitz both sticks to and enhances the traditional Haggadah. He adds comments that help clarify what we may overlook, such as in the song "Echad, Mi Yo'dei'ah," he adds in parentheses that "eleven" refers to the eleven sheaves of wheat that Joseph saw in his dream. He does this throughout--it's both enlightening and exciting to be able to make such connections. He adds fascinating midrash and helpful interpretations. What a joy to read and learn.

The entire Haggadah, with Chinitz' comments and interpretations, makes evident the importance of Israel and Zionism to Jews worldwide, and also how they are interwoven into Pesach and into who we are as a people--throughtout our history AND TODAY! In addition to his commentary within the Haggadah text, Chinitz adds a series of discussion topics at the end. These are clear, succinct, factual essays that address and counter the misinformation used by anti-Zionists/ antisemites (sadly, many of them Jewish) to denigrate Israel and Zionism. In the introduction, Chinitz suggests that seder participants be assigned certain topics ahead of time to discuss during the seder meal, suggesting that the presenters primarily be the adolescents at the table. This is a form of vaccination--providing our children (and ourselves) with fact-based information to internalize and to use when fighting the potentially fatal global pandemic of antisemitism/anti-Zionism.

Yasher ko'ach Dr. Chinitz. What a privilege to read this Haggadah. I hope it becomes a primary teaching tool at all levels of Jewish (and, perhaps, secular) education--and THE Haggadah we incorporate into our seders. ( )

Excellent explanation of the Sédar and all the details and reasons with connections to the old and new. More current history is included to help continue preservation of Jewish history and its heroes. ( )

This is a wonderful addition to the Seder table for anyone who celebrates Passover. There are explanations that normal people (not Judaic scholars) can understand. The pictures are modern and the explanations bridge the gap between Biblical time and modern times. I look forward to using many of these pages in my own Passover Seder. I only wish it were in print form - I will have to print individual pages as I need them.
Thank you for a wonderful resource!! ( )