Pitts marks the beginning of the Jewish holiday Passover with the announcement of a major acquisition of Passover Haggadot. The library recently received a donation of 253 Haggadot, the texts that set forth the order of the Passover Seder, from the private collection of Rabbi Stuart Geller. Over the course of 50 years, Rabbi Geller built a collection of more than 300 Haggadot, the vast majority of which are now held at Pitts. Rabbi Geller says he has always been taken by the way different artists and authors interpret the story of the Exodus and how the narrative can be used to reflect the values and goals of the time they were created. Rabbi Geller is now retired and lives in Jerusalem with his wife Ellyn. He previously held pulpits in Lynbrook, NY, and Cleveland, OH. During his career he was known for his focus on youth. He is a past President of the New York Association of Reform Rabbis and past president of the Long Island Board of Rabbis.

This generous donation grows the Pitts Haggadot collection to more than 1,000 items, most of which have been acquired through donations like that of Rabbi Geller, including past large donations from Rabbi David Geffen of Jerusalem and Mr. Richard K. Goldstein of Miami. Rabbi Geffen writes often about the tradition of the Haggadah and significant examples of the art, and this past week he published an article in the Jerusalem Post that focuses on a 1948 Haggadah held by Pitts. The full collection is accessible to researchers through Pitts’ Special Collection. We wish all those who celebrate Passover “Chag Pesach Sameach,” and we invite all to come and experience this incredible (and growing) collection!