Hi! This Pre-passover season has gone quite swimmingly for Haggadahpalooza, in various forms. To wit:
Can't be bothered to click the link? Okay, it contains:
1) Two Haggadahpalooza playlists, which you can use to practice your vocals for seder night.
2) Fan Covers! At the sending of this e-mail, 8 renditions of the 56 parody songs were sent in, and I delightfully splattered them all over social media. Send me more.
3) Information on my Haggadah book talks. I had the most pre-passover ones ever, and my first in Canada, and the majority were returns, after presenting Zaidy's War previously. I can go heavy; I can go light; bring me in for more; bring me in for either or both.
4) Firsts: a) my interview with Nachum Segal in his studio, b) A review in 5TJT, c) A Listopia!, d) a YouTube trailer! e) An official book review by Eli Lebowicz.
5) Repeats: The Jewish Link, The Jewish Press, Zal Suldan, The Jewish Book Council, and Hadassah all had me back in the forms they usually have me.
Plus, I completely sold out of my wares in various retail venues, established relationships with new ones that are promising for next year, and created all kinds of viral memes and various fun, engaging media that I'm sure happened across your feeds.
Okay, *now* you'll click, amirite?
But all these wonderful blessings and good fortunes culminated in a single, defining moment last year, which is worth repeating again, because a version of it happens annually:
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, nine 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. This year it showed up in an article called Bringing women’s voices to seder night, as an example of an innovation that rises to the needs of a generation.
- 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. This year, it showed up in the Psychology section of Kikar magazine, in an article titled How Jewish Humor Served as a Tool for Survival Throughout the Diaspora.
- 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 that families really, really, really enjoyed handing around The Dad Jokes Haggadah.
- I've been heralded (okay, now we're really stretching the thesaurus) that Haggadahpalooza is going to be serious fun, and might get torn apart worse than perhaps The Dad Jokes Haggadah did. Here's a helpful hint: follow the rules on page 13!
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.
This is spotlighted by a conversation I had with a fellow in shul who I'm getting to know, on our way to our kiddush:
Nice guy: "You must live Pesach year round, don't you?"
Me: "It's true. Purim was always my thing, My name is Mordechi, and I get into it."
Nice guy: "Naw, that's nice. But Pesach is what matters. You're bringing people together. Keep doing that."
Me: "Yes sir! Now let's go fight over food."
(BTW, Ben Rothke's book review encapsulates both of my above stories in a beautiful way. See it here: New Haggadahs for 2026)
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 and David's Slinging His chosen people.
Have a wonderful, meaningful, educational, inspirational, sensational, and naturally, Muppetational (see page 33 of Haggadahpalooza) chag kosher v'sameach.
Am Yisroel chai! May The Force be with all of us.
Thank you to Yehonatan Haimovici, Tzachi Rosman, David Roher, Michele Justic, Moshe Kinderlehrer, Sari Kopitnikoff, Jennifer Low Sauer, Eleanor Minuk, Avivit Yoffe, Shimmie Hahn, Lev Ershler, Ariella Konigsberg, Dan & Sara Shuman, Joseph Franz & kids, Azi & Rivki Steiner, Moshe Udashkin, Kristen Kreider, Harry Glazer, and my darling wife and kinderlach for making so much of this season happen.
-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, in Allentown, Paramus, and in Freehold, where I'll be presenting to Jewish War Vets, which will be my highest honor.