Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me a free advanced copy of this book to read and review.

At our Episcopal church we celebrate Seder. The Telling answers questions you didn't realize you had and gives good insight into Jewish ideology. There is both reverence and entertainment in The Telling.

More interesting take than those of most wealthy enthusiasts, but my editor didn't want to cover it.

What a great addition to the library about one of Jewish tradition’s central stories and practices. - the Pesach Seder and its narrative as the sacred story of the Jewish people. A great new take on an old and (for me) quite familiar topic.

ARC provided by NetGalley and publisher in exchange for review.

I love pesach. I do! I seem to pick up a new haddagah every year, although this year I'm adding Mark Gerson's "The Telling," instead. It's a perfect addition, I think. I get the sense reading Gerson's book that he and I would have a great time chatting about our love of pesach, the haggadah, and seder -- a holiday often seen as stressful or overwhelming but that we just love. There's a lot of engaging storytelling, deep, reverberating enthusiasm for the haggadah, and seder. I really enjoyed reading this book, and it's a nice companion to have for the second year of socially distant seder.

I will say this: there are a lot - a lot - of Christian reviewers commenting. I'm glad if they enjoy the book too! But there seems to still be a common/lingering misconception: the haggadah and seder as we know it today did not exist in Jesus's time. While he certainly understood and celebrated the feast of unleavened bread, and would recognize the purpose of the "retelling" aspect, the seder itself developed later, historically speaking. I agree with the calls for interfaith community, but I do wish Gerson had perhaps addressed this more directly and discouraged Christians from appropriating the seder away from its Jewish roots. I'm happy to invite Christian friends to my seder after the pandemic ends! But I do believe it is harmful and appropriative for Christians to "christianize" the seder, which Jesus wouldn't have known. My own Rabbi was asked to lead a seder for a local church who wanted to learn more. He said he would do it -- on the condition that it was held at our synagogue, as he wouldn't lead it inside a church. It went great!

As a Christian, who has a huge interest in Jewish traditions and history, I was intrigued by this book. Mark Gerson has written a book that will be treasured by Gentiles and Jewish alike. I was amazed by all the insights he has shared, and I am grateful I had the opportunity to read this.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I enjoyed this book!! I found it enlightening and rejuvenating! Thank you NetGalley for a copy of this book for my honest review I highly recommend reading this one!!