What if I told you that the most powerful way to read the Passover Haggadah... is to write your own?

In this episode of Madlik, we explore a radical idea born on Israel's early kibbutzim in the 1920s and 30s: that Judaism isn't just inherited—it's authored.

We're joined by Eran Yarkoni and Anton Marks of the Shittim Institute, who are traveling the U.S. with their exhibition Haggadah of Hope.

Key Takeaways

1. The Haggadah Isn't a Book—It's a Framework

The kibbutzim didn't treat the Haggadah as sacred text to preserve, but as a structure to fill. They understood something we often forget: the power of the Seder comes not from repeating the words—but from making them speak to your moment.

2. "Bechol Dor Vador" Is a Command to Create

We've been taught to relive the Exodus. The kibbutzim took it one step further: we are obligated to rewrite it.

Every generation doesn't just inherit the story—it adds a chapter.

3. Ritual Isn't Escapism—It's How We Process Reality

From pioneers in the 1930s to displaced families after October 7, the Seder became a place to confront the present, not escape it.

By writing their pain, loss, and hope into the Haggadah, these communities show that ritual, at its best, is not about the past—it's about making meaning in real time.

Timestamps

[00:00] Kibbutz Haggadah Reimagined

[01:24] Meet the Shitim Institute

[04:07] Haggadah of Hope Tour

[07:09] Inside the Kibbutz Archive

[10:44] Haggadah as a Living Story

[13:23] After October 7 Texts

[15:01] Sponsor Break

[16:08] Return Home in the Fourth Cup

[23:26] Ma Nishtana Then and Now

[28:23] US Reactions and Roadshow

[30:16] Wrap Up and Passover Wishes

Links & Learnings

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Transcript here: https://madlik.substack.com/

To donate to Shitim Institute: https://pefisrael.org/charity/machon-shittim/