- Based
- Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Craft
- Modern inclusive Passover Haggadahs
The Haggadah Collective began at Pearl Richman's own seder table in Toronto. For years her Haggadah overflowed with sticky notes and photocopied readings, and after the 2017 seder her mother, Lil Brown, suggested she gather all those additions into one book. Pearl, an educator and interior stylist, did just that with her daughter Maxie, and The Haggadah Collective was published in 2019.
The pair describe themselves as "by no means Jewish scholars," and the book keeps the traditional order of the seder while adding readings that reflect their values of diversity, equality and acceptance: Miriam's Cup, the orange on the seder plate, a Fifth Child for the children lost in the Holocaust, and gender-neutral text. Prayers appear in English, Hebrew and transliteration, with songs and Passover recipes included.
Pearl, a longtime teacher, and Maxie, who studied Child Study and Education at the University of Toronto, followed it with Hug-It-Out, a brightly illustrated companion Haggadah for kids. Pearl also designs pieces for the Passover and Shabbat table, from matzah holders to embroidered covers, which she calls her way of practicing hiddur mitzvah, beautifying the commandments.
Good to know
- The Canadian Jewish Newsfeature "A Haggadah with a Personal Touch" by Marilyn Lazar
- The Canadian Jewish News"Kids' Haggadah Emphasizes Diversity and Empathy" (March 2021)
- Toronto StarHug-It-Out included in a February 2021 winter reading roundup of Toronto authors
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