FASCINATING 1944 ILLUSTRATED ISRAELI SCHOOL HAGGADAH

(HAGGADAH). Kibbutz haggadah. Israel: Kibbutz Ha'artzi, 1944. Octavo, staple-bound as issued, original pictorial tan paper wrappers. $850.

Interesting Israeli haggadah from the Tel-Nordau School (founded in 1926), in original wrappers.

"No group… has taken the reinterpretation of the traditional Haggadah more seriously than the kibbutz movement, which over the years has produced an estimated 1,000 different versions. Taken together, these Haggadot offer a fascinating perspective on the still evolving social movement. Of all Jewish texts, the Haggadah had special significance for the early kibbutz pioneers because it edalt with concepts important to their ideology: national freedom and socialist ideals… The staggering number of kibbutz Haggadot can be attributed to the fact that few were actually printed; most were simply stenciled in small numbers to be used in a particular year by a particular kibbutz. It was only later that official kibbutz federations published standard version" (Carol Novis, Forward). This haggadah was used by Kibbutz Ha'artzi, which holds a unique place in Israeli history. The kibbutz was known for its anti-racist, bi-nationalist views, even as it helped to foster the Palmach, the Haganah's elite fighting force. On the whole, the Ha'artzi kibbutzniks were fiercely devoted to Israeli independence and communist/leftist goals., even when those perspectives were often incompatible with the lived realities of the kibbutzniks. Individual kibbutzniks threw themselves into the battle for land control, even as others opposed aggression toward Palestinians. The Druck Collection of Kibbutz and Secular Haggadot 4, 433.

Light foxing to interior, fragile wrappers with expert restoration and a bit of foxing and toning. A very good copy.