By Shimona Tzukernik – TheKabbalahCoach.com
Last week I had an urge to prune the garden. I kind of felt it was premature but days of mild weather and sun had already brought the crocuses to bloom and buds to a plumpness.
“Wait!” a part of me said. “You’re going to regret this.”
But buoyed on by the warmth and light, I cleared and snipped, and snipped some more. Then the blizzard came! Oish. I have prayed a lot for the apple and hydrangea trees…
I think they will be okay. Even though there is still ice on the ground, somehow the sun’s rays feel a little stronger, the light a little brighter. I am so glad it is Spring.
And that is what the holiday of Passover represents – light, growth, tenacity and rejuvenation. G-d’s gift of renewal and light comes just in time. It arrives without our doing anything to deserve it, sometimes even in spite of ourselves. What a welcome gift! We have to remember to open our arms and receive it, to let its healing power warm and re-energize our soul.
The story of Pesach is our reminder.
Yet often we find the holiday to be the opposite of freedom. Certainly we resist the labor intensive prep. Even more significantly, we often do not relate to the Haggadah or, worse yet, find the Seder to be boring or irrelevant.
Enter the Haggadah Companion to enrich and enliven your Seder experience.
The companion is NOT a Haggadah. Rather it is a map and spiritual guide to the Seder and Haggadah itself. Here is and excerpt from the introduction:
We all know someone – be it ourselves, a relative or friend – who has groaned their way through the Seder. Jokes abound about our collective experiences and how long it takes to get through the Haggadah until the “real” part, the “real” food begins.
In an attempt to make the pre-food part more palatable, I asked myself what the challenges were. One aspect is certainly a lack of knowledge. Not knowing the symbolism of the journey drains any religious service of vitality. Another is being seeped in material concerns and not appreciating the benefit of subduing our physical desires even a little. A third aspect is what really intrigued me. The Pesach meal is called “The Seder” and translates as “Order” in English. Yet, at first glance, the structure of the Haggadah (which forms the backbone of the Seder) appears to be random, associative and without any intrinsic order at all.
This clearly is not the case. So I thought I’d put together a booklet that provided a map of the Haggadah. My goal was to provide others with an understanding of the logic and intention that underscores the text. It would be a handbook you could place besides your Haggadah to assist you through the Seder, somewhat like stones in the water that help one cross a stream.
The Haggadah Companion is packed with inspiration and a step by step guide to getting the most out of your Seder.
All for just $18.00! On sale until Rosh Chodesh Nissan.
Your companion includes:
6 inspirational articles:
3 by Shimona Tzukernik
3 by Rochel Holzkenner
The Seder Plate:
An explanation of the Kabbalistic meaning of the Seder Plate
Accompanied by three beautiful and explanatory diagrams
The 15 Steps:
A chart demonstrating the 15 Steps in meaningful groups
“Your 15 Step Program to Inner Liberation” by Rabbi Y.Y. Jacobson
The Map of Maggid:
A 2-page diagram
8 pages of explanations on the map, outlining the logic and meaning behind the way the Haggadah is constructed
Get your Haggadah Companion Package here.
Shimona’s Haggadah Companion is extremely insightful, profound, and unique, allowing one to get in touch with their personal transformation at the Seder. It’s beautiful layout also makes the book easy and enjoyable to read. A must have at all Passover Seders!
The challenge of “entering the Hagaddah” and letting it speak to us and for us, in accordance to where we are, is great. Shimona Tzukernik has created a wonderful tool to empower us to do just that.
It is not a manual of what to think and feel about the Seder, but a manual of how to develop one’s own thoughts and experiences within the Seder.
I think that anyone attending a Seder would benefit from this book.
– Rabbi Shlomo Yaffe
Thanks number 3, Discovering Order in the Seder is now available on Amazon! https://www.amazon.com/Discovering-Order-Seder-Shimona-Tzukernik/dp/0998789208/ref=sr_1_1?s=apparel&ie=UTF8&qid=1490645366&sr=8-1&keywords=discovering+order+in+the+seder
This Haggadah is a must-have for the contemporary reader.
Shimona Tzukernik shares her profound and refreshing view of God’s world and humanity. The Haggadah deepens our understanding of our birth as a people and our experience as Jews in today’s world.
I gained so much from working on this beautiful volume. The depth of Torah knowledge, the stunning art, and easy to follow format make this a wonderful tool to bring meaning to the Seder table – Yedida
So excited to bring it to my seder
Shimona Tzukernik’s Haggadah companion, Discovering Order in the Seder, is a masterpiece that is long overdue. The expert weave of Kabbalistic ideas, practical insights, and inspirational gems will surely enrich and bring a sense of wholeness to many Seder tables. This companion will benefit all those who wish to personally experience—rather than simply commemorate—the Exodus from Egypt.
Rabbi Naftali Silberberg
I began reading the Haggadah Companion, and I didn’t want to wait until I finish to comment! It is even more than we hoped for! It reads like a novel (in the best way–gripping and engaging), and it puts forth profound and exciting ways to experience our shared event from 1000s of year ago.
I am so excited to keep reading this. Shimona bring this to life, at times familiar and other times, breathtaking.
– Robin S
This should be on amazon – a lot of people would benefit from it
My daughter and I started learning your Haggadah guide today. We both love love love it!!!! It’s totally our speed.
She also mentioned how beautiful the layout is
You really bring something very unique, accessible, deep, special and holy into the world with your writing and teaching. On behalf of all us who are waiting for moshiach, thank you for ensuring that he arrives sooner.
The best teacher ever