Featured Top 2025 Passover Haggadot: Niche Trends Redefining the Seder

by Steve Lipman, Detroit Jewish News

The trend of niche Haggadot continues in 5785 — an increase of more-accessible technology and balkanization of the Jewish community makes it possible for authors and distributors to produce and sell new Haggadot for, and primarily market them to, small groups of prospective readers.

Which means that a smaller number of Haggadot reach the shelves of Jewish bookstores each year, as more of them are promoted on social media and appeals to special-interest groups.

While the Pesach-evening book continues to be, according to anecdotal reports, the most-published one in the Jewish community, its literary and economic profile has changed in recent years; fewer Haggadot are aimed at the wider Jewish community, and more are intended for small, like-minded sub-groups with specific theological and political leanings and interests.

In other words, the person sitting next to you at your seder this year won’t necessarily be reading from the same Haggadah as you and may not use the same one next year.

Think Haggadah de jour.

Last year, predictably, there was an (“unofficial”) Taylor Swift Haggadah, which connected the ancient themes of the exodus from Egypt with the megastar’s contemporary lyrics and messages.

As tastes change, so do Haggadot. Different words, different translations, different emphases — and different theological and political messages. Also in 2024: A “Human Rights Haggadah,” a “Heroes Haggadah,” and a “Seder in Gaza” Haggadah designed for IDF soldiers who were to deployed in the area whence came the Hamas terrorists on Oct. 7, 2023.

The current Haggadah-publishing specialization presents a mixed blessing — you are more likely, than in past years, to find a Haggadah that meets your tastes; various organizations will come to you, via newsletters and email blasts, with notices of what new Haggadot they are offering. But you are less likely to walk into a Jewish bookstore or scan the ads in a Jewish community newspaper and see a pitch for a Haggadah intended to appeal to a wider audience.

Now you have to search on such website as amazon or Barnes and Noble — and you still may not see the full range of new, niche Haggadot that are available.

Click here to continue reading the article from the Detroit Jewish News.