Not every Haggadah comes with an endorsement by the environmentalist Bill McKibben, but this edition celebrates the natural world and its significance in our lives as we come together to celebrate Passover. It is intended for both knowledgeable and unfamiliar participants. The traditional text, largely in English, is printed in green; ecological commentary, context, and sidebars, emphasizing nature and the land, are printed in black and are intended to encourage discussion. An interesting inclusion in this Haggadah are the last two verses of the Magid (Deuteronomy 26:9 – 10), omitted in the traditional text: “Adonai…gave us this land,” a significant message for this ecological retelling. In a brief discussion the author explores the reasons for the omission and the importance of their inclusion here. The illustrations by Galia Goodman enrich the texts.
Maron L. Waxman, retired editorial director, special projects, at the American Museum of Natural History, was also an editorial director at HarperCollins and Book-of-the-Month Club.