Haggadah or Home Service for the Festival of Passover, by Rabbi J. Leonard Levy

Source Link: https://opensiddur.org/?p=62228

Date: 2025-06-26

Last Updated: 2025-06-26

Categories: Haggadot for the Seder Leil Pesaḥ

Tags: 19th century C.E., 57th century A.M., American Reform Movement, Classical Reform, English vernacular prayer

Excerpt: Haggadah or Home Service for the Festival of Passover, first published in 1896, was the novel seder liturgy of Rabbi Dr. J. Leonard Levy (1865-1917). It went through six editions during his lifetime, with a seventh posthumous reprint of the sixth edition published in 1922. There were major revisions to the second edition, and more minor adjustments subsequently. Here are the first three editions and the seventh edition, all courtesy of Dr. Ruth Langer. . . .

Content:

Haggadah or Home Service for the Festival of Passover, first published in 1896, was the novel seder liturgy of Rabbi Dr. J. Leonard Levy (1865-1917). It went through six editions during his lifetime, with a seventh posthumous reprint of the sixth edition published in 1922. There were major revisions to the second edition, and more minor adjustments subsequently. Here are the first three editions and the seventh edition, all courtesy of Dr. Ruth Langer.

These works are in the Public Domain for multiple reasons: the works were published before 1924, seventy-five years has passed since their creator’s death, and ninety-five years has passed since their publication.

These digital editions were derived from items held in the following collection: the 1896 1st edition from the HUC-JIR Klau Library, Cincinnati; the 1903 2nd edition from Stanford (via ILL); the 1905 3rd edition fom HUC-JIR Los Angeles; and the seventh edition from the collection of Dr. Ruth Langer.

---

[DEDICATION]

To the Officers and Members of REFORM CONGREGATION KENESETH ISRAEL,
And with cordial thanks to its honored President,
Mr. PHILIP LEWIN,
At whose suggestion this Haggadah has been composed
This little service is respectfully dedicated by
THE AUTHOR.

PREFACE [to the 2nd edition].^[1] This preface was reprinted in subsequent editions with the only change being the number of previous editions noted to have sold out, necessitating a new edition. 

This “Home Service for the Passover” is a very humble attempt to adapt the old form of Service to modern use. In so many homes there are few, if any, who can read the Haggadah in Hebrew. Much of the English translation of the old Haggadah is scarcely adapted to present- day life and thought. We have en- deavored to arrange a short service embodying the themes of the Haggadah and giving to them a modern dressing.

The first edition of this book being completely sold out, we have, owing to the encouragement given us by those who used it, issued a second edition, somewhat simplified and revised. We trust it may serve the purpose of increasing interest in one of the most valuable of domestic religious helps.

J. LEONARD LEVY.
Pittsburgh, Pa., 1903.

 

Notes

Notes

1	This preface was reprinted in subsequent editions with the only change being the number of previous editions noted to have sold out, necessitating a new edition.

Contributor: J. Leonard Levy

Co-authors:

• 
  Name: J. Leonard Levy
  Bio: Rabbi Joseph Leonard Levy (1865-1917), born in London, was a Liberal/Reform movement rabbi in the United Kingdom and the United States. He was educated at Jews' College and University College (B.A.), London, at Bristol University, England, and at Western University of Pennsylvania (D.D.). Rabbi Levy was rabbi of the Bristol Hebrew Congregation (1885-1889) and of Bnai Israel Congregation, Sacramento, California (1889-1893); associate rabbi of the Keneseth Israel Congregation, Philadelphia (1893-1901); and, since 1901, has been rabbi of the Rodeph Shalom congregation, Pittsburg. In 1898 he was elected chaplain of "Keegan's Brigade," with which he served through the Spanish-American war. Levy was the organizer of a number of charitable and religious societies among the Jews of Philadelphia. He is the author of a translation of the tractate Rosh haShanah of the Babylonian Talmud (Philadelphia, 1895). He published also The Greater Lights (1895); Home Service for the Passover (1896); The Nineteenth Century (1901); A Book of Prayer (Pittsburg, 1902); The Jew's Beliefs (1903); The Children's Service and Hymnal (1903); Text-Book of Religion and Ethics for Jewish Children (1903); Sabbath Reading (1904); and eight volumes of Sunday lectures. Levy is the editor of the Jewish Criterion, published at Pittsburg.
  Website: https://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/9892-levy-joseph-leonard
  Profile Link: https://opensiddur.org/profile/joseph-leonard-levy

Featured Image:

Title: Haggadah for Passover (J. Leonard Levy, 1896) – 1st edition title
Caption: Haggadah for Passover (J. Leonard Levy, 1896) - 1st edition title