The Rock 'N' Roll Haggadah: Your Guide to a Seder That Rocks
"A MODERN CLASSIC."
SIMON AND SCHUSTER / SIMON ELEMENT
AVAILABLE WHEREVER BOOKS ARE SOLD
You don't have to be religious - or even Jewish - to appreciate The Rock 'N' Roll Haggadah. Sure, it's a guide to the world's most famous dinner party, but it's also filled with pop culture, history, tradition, culinary customs, rock star stories, and lots of other curios. It's a fascinating read that will entertain every time you pick it up.
And if you're wondering "Why is this Haggadah different from all other Haggadahs?" - here you are:
-All other Haggadahs tell the story of the exodus from Egypt. The Rock 'N' Roll Haggadah tells the story via rock artists and their songs.
-All other Haggadahs guide you through a Seder. The Rock 'N' Roll Haggadah takes a deeper dive into Passover traditions and history, celebrating the overlap of Jewish culture and pop culture. It's where Bob Dylan meets your bubbe.
-All other Haggadahs tell you when to "Spill the Wine" and take that bitter herb. The Rock 'N' Roll Haggadah also includes a special preamble that goes step by step through Passover prep. It's perfect for beginners, and experienced Seder-goers will enjoy the stories behind the rituals of this extra large holiday.
-Traditional Haggadahs barely dip into the subject of Moses even once. The Rock 'N' Roll Haggadah dips twice, thrice, well...many times. We think he was kind of a rock star, so we delve into his story, too.
And since we, like many Jews, love to answer questions with more questions, here's one of our favorites and an impetus behind the book:
-Can you be both reverent and irreverent at the same time?
The Rock 'N' Roll Haggadah proves that you can! Featuring all the brachot in English, Hebrew, and Hebrew transliteration, it's a serious Haggadah that satisfies all Seder requirements. It's also deeply funny, beautifully illustrated, philosophical, entertaining...and it rocks!
I was honored to be interviewed for the documentary Fanny: The Right to Rock, currently airing on PBS; you can stream it here. Music luminaries, including Bonnie Raitt, Kate Pierson of The B-52's, and Def Leppard's Joe Elliott, sing the praises of the pioneering all-female band, who are also here to tell their great rock-n-roll story. I'm a fan; Fanny is Chapter 9 in my book Rock-and-Roll Woman.
NPR aired part of my series "The Women Behind The Songs" to commemorate songwriting legend Cynthia Weil, who died this month at age 82. From "You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling," to "On Broadway," to "We Gotta Get Out of This Place," she helped shape the Brill Building sound and sell an estimated 200 million records. Weil also wrote books; w
NPR aired part of my series "The Women Behind The Songs" to commemorate songwriting legend Cynthia Weil, who died this month at age 82. From "You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling," to "On Broadway," to "We Gotta Get Out of This Place," she helped shape the Brill Building sound and sell an estimated 200 million records. Weil also wrote books; we shared a publisher (Sterling, now Union Square & Co.). Listen to the segment here.
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