Trudeau Offers Apology Amid Nazi Controversy
September 27, 2023
Poland Seeks Extradition of Yaroslav Hunka
Menu
Popular Articles
Read More »
On Its 50th Anniversary Of Yom Kippur War, Revisionist Historians Strike
September 27, 2023
Unveiling How Henry Kissinger Hindered Israel’s Preemptive Strike During Yom Kippur War
The Power of Revenge: WWII Commandos Who Fought Nazis
September 27, 2023
Unveiling the True Story of Jewish Volunteers Who Sought Retribution Against the Nazis
Confronting Canada’s Nazi Problem
September 27, 2023
The recent controversy in Canada’s Parliament has shed light on a long-standing issue with Nazi sympathizers in the country.
Israeli Cabinet Member Receives Warm Welcome In Riyadh
September 27, 2023
“There is a delegation here in the country for the first time. I hope they were received well. Welcome,” said Saudi Tourism Minister Ahmed Al Khateeb.
12,000 Participate In Unity Race Honoring Israel’s Fallen Druze Soldiers
September 27, 2023
Israeli Defense Minister and IDF Chief of Staff Join the Event Celebrating Druze Contributions to Society
‘Long Overdue,’ Israel Is First In Middle East In US Visa Waiver Program
September 27, 2023
Many are hailing Israel’s admission as historic, while critics say that Washington’s strict requirements could compromise Israeli security.
Club Z Stands On The Frontlines Of Israel Activism On Both Coasts
September 27, 2023
“For me and my fellow Jewish students, Israel-hating rhetoric and Jewish-hating rhetoric feels the same because they are the same: Both are anti-Semitism,” said Joey Karlan, Club Z alumnus.
Israel’s Debut At Invictus Games: A Triumph Of Resilience And Medals
September 27, 2023
Israeli athletes from Beit Halochem shine, winning 14 medals in their first appearance at the Invictus Games in Dusseldorf, Germany.
Melton And Jewish Deaf Resource Center Partner To Expand Access To Adult Jewish Learning
September 27, 2023
Online courses in American Sign Language, led by the world’s first female Deaf rabbi, aim to make Jewish learning more inclusive.
In the Soviet Union instead of reading from Haggadahs, people read from Red Haggadahs, which purposely distorted the original Haggadah.
- 29 March 2023
- 10:02 pm
Click an icon above to share, email, or save this article
- 29 March 2023
- 10:02 pm
Late-19th century photograph of a family from Quba, near Krasnaya Sloboda celebrating the Passover holiday. (Krasnaya Sloboda archives)
Click an icon above to share, email, or save this article
In the Soviet Union, all forms of religion were widely repressed. Throughout the Soviet Empire, churches, synagogues and mosques were shut down. As a result, in the Soviet Union in the 1920’s, instead of reading from Haggadahs, people read from Red Haggadahs, which purposely distorted the original Haggadah.
For example, the original Haggadah reads: ““We were slaves to Pharaoh in Egypt, but Hashem our God took us out with a strong hand and an outstretched arm. If the Holy One, Blessed be He, did not take our ancestors out of Egypt, then we, our children, and our children’s children would remain slaves to Pharaoh in Egypt.”
The Red Haggadah claims: “We were slaves to capitalism until October (Soviet shorthand for the Communist Revolution of 1917) led us out of the land of exploitation with a strong hand. Were it not for October, we and our children would still be slaves.”
At the end of the Seder, the Haggadah proclaims: “This year we are here – next year in Jerusalem!” Following the Red Haggadah, participants at the Seder are urged to pronounce, “This year, we have revolution in this land – next year we will have a world revolution!”
By 1930, the Red Haggadahs were replaced with a more overt anti-Semitic campaign, which sought to repress the Passover holiday in its entirety throughout the Soviet Union. As a result, there was a decree in the Soviet Union which sought to destroy all the machines making matzah. However, even though religion was repressed throughout the Soviet Union, Azerbaijan’s national leader Heydar Aliyev saw to it that the matza making machines in Azerbaijan were not destroyed and that Jews could still celebrate Passover, even in Soviet times.
In an exclusive interview with Canadian Jewish activist Esther Ha-Levi, she explained what it was like to celebrate Passover in Soviet Azerbaijan compared to today: “In Azerbaijan, we do not celebrate Passover the same as other Jews in North America. We removed everything from the house. We painted the house. We washed the carpets. It was huge in Azerbaijan.”
According to her, “In the Georgian synagogue, we had huge boxes. The matzahs were the size of a table. Because at that time there were no kosher matzahs, we mixed sugar, rice, and vegetables together to make matzahs. It was very strict in those days.” She noted that it is not like that in Azerbaijan today, “Right now, Jews in Azerbaijan have everything that Jews in North America and Europe have. We have Chabad, a Sephardic congregation, a Georgian community, and an Ashkenazi community. We have much better conditions.”
Get thej.ca a Pro Israel Voice by Email. Never miss a top story that effects you, your family & your community
But in Soviet times, it was different, “In Soviet times, religion was not allowed, but we always did it. It was something passed on from the time of our forefathers. We had cabbage rolls, chicken with chestnuts, fish, etc. It was not a holiday I looked forward to because there was so much work. We painted our homes, and it was from a to z with cleaning. I have not seen anyone in Canada do Passover like we did it in Azerbaijan. It was very huge.”
Rabbi Zamir Isayev concurred with Ha-Levi: “It is important to underline that there is a huge difference between the Soviet period and today’s Passover celebration. During the Soviet period, it was very hard to find kosher matzah, wine, and other things for Passover. Today, our community is supplied with all the necessary things for Passover including wine, matzah and more and more families are keeping Passover. It makes me very happy as a rabbi.”
According to him, anti-Semitism is alien to Azerbaijani culture and thus Jews celebrate Passover in Azerbaijan today in complete freedom: “In Azerbaijan, most of the community never heard of the blood libel. It has never been in Azerbaijan. That is why we celebrate our Passover safely. We witness that the greater community and the government congratulates us. But even during the Soviet period, Azerbaijani Jews kept Passover properly, even if they did not have enough things for it. We always kept it.”
Rachel Avraham is the CEO of the Dona Gracia Center for Diplomacy and an Israel-based journalist. She is the author of “Women and Jihad: Debating Palestinian Female Suicide Bombings in the American, Israeli and Arab Media.”
Click an icon above to share, email, or save this article
Click an icon above to share, email, or save this article
Read More
Thank you for choosing TheJ.Ca as your source for Canadian Jewish News.
We do news differently!
Our positioning as a Zionist News Media platform sets us apart from the rest. While other Canadian Jewish media are advocating increasingly biased progressive political and social agendas, TheJ.Ca is providing more and more readers with a welcome alternative and an ideological home.
We revealed the incursion of anti-Israel progressive elements such as IfNotNow into our communities. We have exposed the distorted hateful agenda of the “progressive” left political radicals who brought Linda Sarsour to our cities, and we were first to report on many disturbing incidents of Nazi-based hate towards Jews across Canada.
But we can’t do it alone. We need your HELP!
Our ability to thrive and grow in 2020 and beyond depends on the generosity of committed readers and supporters like you.
Monthly support is a great way to help us sustain our operations. We greatly appreciate any contributions you can make to support Jewish Journalism.
We thank you for your ongoing support.
Happy reading!
Thank you for choosing TheJ.Ca as your source for Canadian Jewish News.
We do news differently!
Our positioning as a Zionist News Media platform sets us apart from the rest. While other Canadian Jewish media are advocating increasingly biased progressive political and social agendas, TheJ.Ca is providing more and more readers with a welcome alternative and an ideological home.
We revealed the incursion of anti-Israel progressive elements such as IfNotNow into our communities. We have exposed the distorted hateful agenda of the “progressive” left political radicals who brought Linda Sarsour to our cities, and we were first to report on many disturbing incidents of Nazi-based hate towards Jews across Canada.
But we can’t do it alone. We need your HELP!
Our ability to thrive and grow in 2020 and beyond depends on the generosity of committed readers and supporters like you.
Monthly support is a great way to help us sustain our operations. We greatly appreciate any contributions you can make to support Jewish Journalism.
We thank you for your ongoing support.
Happy reading!
Sponsored Content
cOMING SOON…….
Breaking News
Recent
Features
News
Current Events
Opinions
Politics
Religion
Culture
Memoriam and Obituaries
PodcastS
Subscribe Now
Receive the latest in community & international Jewish news direct to your inbox