Burning Chametz, Italian Haggadah
These are two pages from a Haggadah printed in Italy in 1892. These pages, from the beginning of the Haggadah, include instructions and illustrations about the preparations for the festival of Pesach.
Translation from Hebrew:
"On the eve of Passover (14th Nissan) one checks for chametz in all the places where it is usually used, even in the holes and cracks, with the light of a wax candle and not the light of a torch and not the light of the moon and not the light of the sun. One refrains from labour until one has checked, even from learning Torah. Before beginning the search, the blessings are recited."
These pages from the Haggadah show a number of different images related to preparations for Pesach. The four images on the right-hand page show women preparing in various ways (clockwise from top left): washing clothes, preparing utensils for use on Pesach using a fire, making matzah, and sifting flour. On the left-hand page there are two pictures: the picture above the text shows the process of threshing wheat, the picture below the text shows the process of making matzah. The text appears in both Hebrew and Italian.
Teaching Suggestions
Teachers of Jewish Studies could show this Haggadah when teaching about the preparations for Pesach. Teachers teaching about Bedikat Hametz could compare the text that appears on these pages to the way that the ceremony is carried out today. In Art lessons the artistic style of the pictures in this Haggadah could be compared to other Haggadot. See this link for some suggestions.
Discussion Points
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Which book do these pages belong to?
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Where and when was this Haggadah printed?
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What activities are taking place in the pictures?
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According to the pictures on these pages, how is matzah made?
Search for information on the internet about how matzah is made today. -
Why are there no pictures of the actual burning of the chametz?
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Which pictures show women and which show men? Why do you think this is so?
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Compare the preparations in the pictures with your family's preparations for Pesach.
