How the Passover Haggadah Became the Jewish World’s All‑Time Bestseller

First things first: how did the Passover Haggadah come to be?

The Haggadah is a collection of rabbinic teachings, Psalms, teachings of the Sages, blessings, prayers, and liturgical poems assembled for the Seder night in order to fulfill the mitzvah of “and you shall tell your child,” recounting the Exodus from Egypt. It is called a “Haggadah” from the Hebrew root meaning “to tell,” as in the verse, “and you shall tell your child.”

When Did the Haggadah Take Shape?

When did the Haggadah reach its current form? No one knows with certainty. One view holds that the core text took shape during the Second Temple period, while many of the liturgical poems and songs were added in the Middle Ages.

The earliest known version appears in the Siddur of Rav Saadia Gaon, providing us with a glimpse into the early development of the text that would become central to Jewish life.

The Most Beautiful Haggadah in the World

The oldest and most valuable Haggadah in the world is the Sarajevo Haggadah. It is widely considered the most beautiful Jewish manuscript in existence and one of the most expensive books in the world, valued at approximately $700 million.

Based on its artistic style, scholars estimate that it was written in Barcelona around 1350, during the Golden Age of Spanish Jewry. The manuscript was produced on fine calfskin parchment and adorned with dazzling illuminations in brilliant colors, crafted with pigments made from silver, gold, and copper.

The Most Printed Book in Jewish History

The Passover Haggadah holds another remarkable distinction. It is the most printed book in the Jewish world, even more than the Bible. In the National Library’s catalog alone, there are more than 8,500 editions of the Haggadah.

Why so many? Most families purchase as many copies as there are participants at the Seder table. Over time, new editions are added to the collection. Many people make a habit of acquiring a new Haggadah each year. Dozens of fresh editions are published annually, and devoted collectors make it their mission to obtain every new printing.

The first printed Haggadah was the Prague Haggadah, produced in 1526. It remains one of the most beautiful illustrated editions ever created. A copy was once sold in New York for $134,000.

A Humorous Insight

Someone once asked Rabbi Naftali of Ropshitz why a new Haggadah is printed every year and why so many Jews buy a new one annually.

He replied with characteristic wit: “Because the ‘wicked’ child from last year is already considered ‘righteous’ by today’s standards. Anyone who uses an old Haggadah is therefore missing one of the four.”

A Book of Endless Commentary

The Haggadah also holds the record for the greatest number of commentaries written on a single Jewish text. By most estimates, more than four thousand commentaries have been composed on it, more than on any other book in Jewish literature. The number continues to grow, with dozens of new works appearing every year.

Some scholars authored multiple commentaries. The Chida wrote six different works on the Haggadah. In more recent times, Rabbi Shalom Meir HaKohen Wolk has become known as a prolific Haggadah author, producing nearly a new edition every year, sometimes even two in a single year. To date, he has authored more than thirty Haggadot, ensuring that no segment of the Jewish community is overlooked. Known as “the man of the Haggadot,” he developed a unique genre in which he gathers the teachings of a particular rabbi according to the structure of the Haggadah, drawing from that rabbi’s writings and weaving in stories about his life.

The World’s Largest Collection

The largest private collection of Haggadot belongs to Mr. Aviram Paz. He owns no fewer than 3,000 editions, many of them rare and valuable. Much of his time and resources are devoted to acquiring additional copies.

“When I obtain a Haggadah I have searched for over a long period,” he shared in an interview, “there is nothing more satisfying. Sometimes people call me in the middle of the night to tell me about a Haggadah they found in an attic. I do not hesitate. I will drive three or four hours to see it.”

One Hundred Questions Before One Answer

To conclude, consider a particularly fascinating approach to the Haggadah.

Don Isaac Abarbanel wrote a commentary titled Zevach Pesach. Before beginning his explanations, he presents no fewer than one hundred questions and difficulties. Only afterward does he proceed to explain the Haggadah paragraph by paragraph. At the end of each section, he notes that the questions posed in that particular “gate” have been resolved. Throughout the commentary, he methodically addresses every issue he initially raised.

He called his collection of one hundred questions “Me’a She’arim,” and applied to himself the verse: “And Isaac sowed in that land and found in that year a hundredfold, and Hashem blessed him,” referring to the abundance found in their resolution.