Purim is over so Pesach is not far away. My congregation has the new CCAR Haggadah (Sharing the Journey) set and ready to go for a second night congregational seder. Choosing a haggadah was the easy part in that the new Yoffie/Podwal is beautifully done and user friendly. The challenge is creating an experience at a community seder that feels authentic and participatory. I am planning to use Visual T’filah and group singing to help create community as well as engage participants. I can also plan some shtick.
Fortunately there is much more that this new haggadah offers. For instance, one can choose to buy on iTunes an electronic version of Sharing the Journey. Why bother? I decided to try it myself. This is what I discovered:
First, it is very cool that I can tap on a song in the e-book and the melody is sung. Think how nervous or musically challenged seder leaders now have support at their very fingers. There are even choices between different melodies, say, for the four questions. In addition, there are interactive things to do with the e-book that will make the seder more fun for a child. If that were not enough, there are also notes for leaders that are accessed by tapping on a leader’s guide icon. I am sure there is more to discover as I explore the interactive book. (Btw, I foresee a revamped MT iPad tool that offers instructive tips and spiritual iyonim with a timely click.)
I will definitely use my iPad edition to lead my seder, and model it for others. I don’t suppose the CCAR will have a Haggadah iPad Case by April so I will most likely go with my official Mishkan T’filah case. But one can dream!
Edwin Goldberg, D.H.L., is the senior rabbi of Temple Sholom of Chicago.
