Joshua Marcus

The Official Jewfro Genius Haggadah Shel Pesach Joshua Marcus

Traditionally, the Jewish festival of Pesach, which celebrates the Exodus from Egypt, is a time when famillies gather to participate in a Seder together. This formalised meal has two main requirements: speak about the Exodus from Egypt and ask questions. While writing about Pesach in my upcoming novel, about a gay eighteen-year-old Jew studying in Israel, certain themes kept recurring. Most poignant was the tension between the questions the characters were supposed to ask and the questions that spoke to their experience as outsiders. The story of the Exodus, as well as the way it is recounted in the Haggadah (which details the programme that the Seder is to follow), sets out a vision for what the God of Orthodox Judaism wants both from and for His people. When you're gay or queer or simply questioning the meaning of your own life, this vision not only falls short but can begin to feel like a prison. I ended up writing a Haggadah of my own which follows the fourteen stages of the traditional Seder. It consists mainly of stories about certain characters that relate to each stage, exploring the concepts of freedom, liberation, and purpose. The Official Jewfro Genius Haggadah will be most relatable to readers with Orthodox Jewish backgrounds, but the themes are universal. We were all raised in one system or another, into which some people seem to fit naturally while others are forced to either compromise or find a safe way out. Even if you never had to grapple with your identity in this system, no person is born with ready-made beliefs or practices and every single one of us has questioned to some extent. The contents of this Haggadah challenge traditional Jewish and religious thought, but this is not intended as an academic or intellectual document. This is all story, reflecting on characters and experiences which resonate regardless of where you stand in relation to religion.