[HANASHIR:8683] Re: Chad Gadya

[Marsha Fensin <mfsings...>]

    Chevrei,
    A few words from a very good book you might consider investing in some time,
Jewish Worship by Abraham Milgram. As a teacher of Jewish music I would like to
add my several shekels worth as well.
    The Hagaddah and the Seder service are based on several pedagogic
principals.  The first is the biblical command to tell your children about the
miraculous redemption from Egypt. (Ex, 12:26-27)  Therefore the education of the
children is it's primary purpose. Then, there is the methodology.  The story is
to be told with feeling and conviction, with the child at the center of the
service.  The child opens with the 4 questions, for example, the Afikomen is
hidden for the child to discover, it is usually the child who opens the door for
Elijah, certain songs are used with lots of repetion, again to keep the interest
of the children present, etc.
    During the geonic period a number of piyutim were added, and during the
Middle Ages a number of jingles for the children were also added, among them
Chad Gadya.  This song is a 16th century adaptation of an old German poem.  It
is not until recent times that it has been reinterpreted and reinvested with
historical significance, and alludes to events in Jewish history.
    Small children will learn the song as a cute ditty, older children will
begin to ask questions which can then be interpreted at whatever level they are.
( And reinforcing the pedagogic purpose of the Hagaddah.)  Taking the song out
of the seder or out of the curriculum would be like taking the Kaddish out of
the worship service because we don't want to scare the little ones about death.
It is part of the tradition, and the well meaning teachers who would take the
song out, however well intentioned, have missed the point entirely.  I wish
there were some way to gently point out to them that our purpose in a day school
is to pass on our tradition.
Marsha

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