Hi! This Pre-passover season has gone quite swimmingly for The Dad Jokes Haggadah, in various forms. To wit:
https://martinbodekbooks.com/books/the-dad-jokes-haggadah
Plus, Gil Student read it!
Plus, Sari Kopitnikoff punned about it!
Plus, Lynne Golodner added it to her collection, right next to the legendary Dara Horn.
But all these wonderful blessings and good fortunes culminated in a single, defining moment:
I hurried to Judaica House Ltd to restock (again) their oft-dwindling supply of my parody haggadot. I complimented the impressive bling the gentleman behind the counter was wearing, and he said:
"Thank you. I have to tell you something, Mr. Boydik. Not only are you yoytzeh (fulfilling) 'V'higaditu l'vinchu' (you shall teach your children) with your own children, but also with hundreds of other children. You have a big zechus (merit)."
I responded, "Biladai (it is beyond me)." and I pointed up.
This little niche of parody-haggadah publishing began with an emoji-themed shalach manot, eight years ago (bring me in for a talk to hear all the details), and has blossomed into my participation in a small industry that has helped bring people back to the seder table. I never intend to stop, because it's too important. As I've said often in conversation: I'm playing around, but I'm not playing around.
- I've been told young girls love showing off how they can read The Emoji Haggadah like it was simple text.
- I've been informed Gen X loves one-upping each other with their knowledge of Seinfeld when perusing The Festivus Haggadah.
- I've been notified that during the recent pandemic, The Coronavirus Haggadah helped take the edge off, and that it reduced loneliness just a little bit.
- I've been advised that The Shakespeare Haggadah finally gave some overworked and overharried wives a bit of respite and enjoyment at the seder.
- I've been apprised that dorks (proud member of this club!) finally felt like they have a voice when quoting from This Haggadah is the Way: A Star Wars Unofficial Passover Parody.
- I've been bulletined (okay, now we're really stretching the thesaurus) that families are really, really, really going to enjoy handing around The Dad Jokes Haggadah.
Astute folks will note some age groups aren't represented above. I am working on filling those gaps, believe you me, until everyone is spoken for. Dave Cowen (my west coast friendly competition) and I are having some deep conversations about this.
Here's the bottom line of all this:
1) In my view, v'haggadata l'vinhca is not just the command to impart to our children, it's also the imperative to have them present for impartation, if you will. I hope my continued efforts serve to facilitate that. Kindly let me know if I helped serve this purpose for you.
2) In every generation, they try to destroy us, but The Man Upstairs frustrates their plans. I have heard it said by respected clergy that Gen X may have not known what it's like to have an existential crisis in Israel, as the Yom Kippur War transpired before the bulk of us were born. Well, now we know, don't we? And our children now know too, and I don't think this will ever skip a generation. However, He will always be there, Iron-Doming His chosen people.
I recommend doing something symbolic to a) drive home this point b) keep in our hearts that 59 hostages (as of this writing) are still waiting to come home.
Have a wonderful, meaningful, educational, inspirational, sensational, and naturally, Muppetational chag kosher v'sameach.
Am Yisroel chai! May The Force be with all of us.
-Martin (Mordechi) Bodek
P.S. My Passover media push is just an interlude. After this short commercial break, it's back to Zaidy's War as I continue my work to drive home the Never Again message. I've got several talks coming up, including this one:
https://paramuspost.com/article.php/20250402211051933
And in Teaneck, Sarasota Springs, Cedarhurst, Toronto, and beyond.
Join me.