A Mystical Haggadah: Passover Meditations, Teachings, and Tales

A Mystical Haggadah: Passover Meditations, Teachings, and Tales

by Eliahu Klein
A Mystical Haggadah: Passover Meditations, Teachings, and Tales

A Mystical Haggadah: Passover Meditations, Teachings, and Tales

by Eliahu Klein

Paperback

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Overview

In a generation that has seen an explosion in popularity of books about mystical and meditative traditions, very little has been published about the rich and fascinating mystical traditions of the Jewish holy days. Passover, the first religious holiday of the Jewish people, particularly rewards a re-viewing from a mystical perspective. A Mystical Haggadah takes readers through the Passover ritual with Kabbalistic meditations and affirmations in a friendly, accessible format. This Haggadah also includes many Hassidic teachings and stories that have never been presented to the English reading audience. The book is especially valuable for its transliterations of all the major prayers and rituals, and is refreshing in its creative and spiritually-based adaptation and translation of the primary Haggadah text.

A Mystical Haggadah is for all spiritual seekers who wish to explore this root tradition of Judaism as a ritual of cosmic importance. The book is also for Jewish seekers of all denominations who wish to explore the mystical, meditative, and empowering aspects of Jewish traditions as seen through the rich and meaningful Passover eve Seder ritual.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781556436499
Publisher: North Atlantic Books
Publication date: 03/11/2008
Pages: 200
Product dimensions: 6.94(w) x 10.70(h) x 0.56(d)

About the Author

Rabbi Eliahu Klein has taught Kabbalah, Jewish Meditation, and Hassidism for over 30 years throughout the U.S., Great Britain, and Israel. The Jewish Chaplain for San Francisco County Jails and other prisons of the State of California Department of Rehabilitation, he lives in Berkeley.

Read an Excerpt

From the Introduction: What is contained in this Haggadah?

In this Haggadah I have decided to mix both worlds that are precious to me—the passionate heart traditions of Hassidism and the possibility of achieving cosmic consciousness through Kabbalah meditation and visualization. Thus, at the beginning of the Haggadah I share a Hassidic legend of how an impoverished Hassidic master, with the power of his faith and convictions, was able to manifest a miracle. When the Haggadah continues with the initiation of the Seder—Kadesh, the blessing of the wine—I begin to share and present a mystical commentary and meditation used by the Kabbalists to expand one’s mind and heart so that one enters into sacred space. Throughout the Haggadah I alternate between the Hassidic heart commentaries based on traditions from Eastern Europe such as the rebbehs of the Ishbizter-Radzin dynasty, the Tchernobel-Trisk dynasty, the Rizhiner-Husyatin dynasty; and the primary teachings of the Baal Shem Tov, the founder of Hassidism, Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev, and other masters of the heart.

Preceding most of the rituals, I offer a mystical meditation or a contemplative prayer from the following mystics: Rabbi Yosef Hayim of Baghdad—the Ben Ish Hai; Rabbi Isaac Luria; Rabbi Haim Vital-Calabrese; Rabbi Moses de Leon, the celebrated publisher of the Zohar; Rabbi Sar Shalom Sharabi, the ecstatic Kabbalah mandala master; and reflections from the Zohar and mystical teachings from Rabbi Isaiah Horowitz, the author of the acclaimed “SHALAH” (the acronym for Shnei Lukhot Habrit—The Two Tablets of the Covenant).

The purpose of this montage of Haggadah traditions is to transmit a full spectrum of illumination that is embedded within these teachings; to show that it is worthwhile for seekers and practitioners to explore many traditions, and to extract those aspects that resonate with their souls so they may experience the maximum spiritual experience during this sacred holiday of Passover...

Table of Contents

1. Introduction: Autobiographical Reflections 1
What Is Contained in This Haggadah? 6
2. The Ritual of Hunting for Khametz 8
The Search for Khametz 8
Burning the Khametz Ritual 11
3. The Ritual of Eruv Tavshilin 13
4. Blessing of the Candles 15
5. The Passover Seder: Fifteen Steps toward Illumination 17
Prelude to the Seder: A Hassidic Tale of Faith, Devotion, and Courage 17

THE SEDAR PLATE
Step 1: Kadesh: Blessing of the First Cup 25
Step 2: Urkhatz: First Washing of the Hands 40
Step 3: Karpas: First Dipping of a Vegetable 42
Step 4: Yakhatz: Breaking the Middle Matzah—Hiding the Afikomen 45
Step 5: Magid: Telling the Exodus Story 48
The Four Questions: Mah Nishtanah 53
Step 6: Rakhtzah: Second Washing of the Hands 99
Steps 7—8: Motzi-Matzah: Blessing on the Matzah 101
Step 9: Maror: Eating Bitter Herbs 103
Step 10: Koraikh: The Ancient Matzah Sandwich 105
Step 11: Shulkhan Orekh: The Banquet 106
Step 12: Tzafune: Eating the Afikomen 108
Step 13: Baraich: After Blessing at Conclusion of Banquet 109
Step 14: Hallel: Songs of Praise 125
Step 15: Nirtzah: Concluding Prayers and Songs of Goodwill 146

Bibliography: Annotated List of Sources 173
Glossary 179
About the Author 189
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