I own over 100 Haggadahs with different commentaries, but my favorite is one called Haggadah Bais Avrohom Bais Aharon. This Haggadah contains nine commentaries written by the same author each coming from a unique perspective. One commentary focuses on pshat, the basic explanation of the Haggadah, another on complex pilpul, a third on intricate mathematics to resolve questions on the Haggadah, while another delves into the Kabbalistic significance of each piece. Unlike many Haggadahs this is no anthology, each piece is original and marked with breathtaking genius. The breadth of knowledge of the author combined with his intellectual
creativity makes each section a delicious treat.
His love for Torah shines through from the fact that oftentimes he will address the same question in several of the commentaries. In each one he develops an answer based on the unique approach of that commentary. He is not ready to move on from the question because he had resolved it one way, but like a jeweler examining each facet of a diamond, he turns each question this way and that until he can satisfy it from multiple perspectives.
The author was not a rabbi. He was a wine manufacturer and merchant who died at age 37 after spending the last two years of his life in a Nazi labor camp. Apparently, he had written many manuscripts of his Torah thoughts which were all lost in the war. He had given this manuscript to brother who gave it a friend who hid it in a bunker...
It pains me each time I learn the work of this man. A life cut short, so much more he could have taught us and so much of his life's work lost. We will never know how much we lost from all those who perished at hands of our enemies. If this is one man, multiply it by millions.
Be that as it may, I will spend my time before during Pesach bringing him back to life by enjoying his amazing gift.
His love for Torah shines through from the fact that oftentimes he will address the same question in several of the commentaries. In each one he develops an answer based on the unique approach of that commentary. He is not ready to move on from the question because he had resolved it one way, but like a jeweler examining each facet of a diamond, he turns each question this way and that until he can satisfy it from multiple perspectives.
The author was not a rabbi. He was a wine manufacturer and merchant who died at age 37 after spending the last two years of his life in a Nazi labor camp. Apparently, he had written many manuscripts of his Torah thoughts which were all lost in the war. He had given this manuscript to brother who gave it a friend who hid it in a bunker...
It pains me each time I learn the work of this man. A life cut short, so much more he could have taught us and so much of his life's work lost. We will never know how much we lost from all those who perished at hands of our enemies. If this is one man, multiply it by millions.
Be that as it may, I will spend my time before during Pesach bringing him back to life by enjoying his amazing gift.
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