The Open Source Haggadah

The Open Source Haggadah allows users to assemble a personalized haggadah from texts and images that come from a diverse and inclusive array of Jewish sources, including — most importantly — user generated content.

Launched in 2002, the site was a proof-of-concept for Open Source Judaism, a view which proposes that Judaism is not simply a religion to be believed in, but one to be considered, discussed, and evolved. Jewish texts and rituals are not closed, but open to commentary, disagreement, and even revision.

Inspired by the values expressed in Douglas Rushkoff's Nothing Sacred: The Truth About Judaism, the Open Source Judaism Project sought to advance public discourse around the use of technology in the reimagining of our relationship to Jewish texts and ideas. The Open Source Haggadah was the first in a series of experiments that illustrated the value of giving individuals the ability to "customize" their Judaism and Jewish experiences.

This prototype for an open, user generated haggadah was developed by Daniel Sieradski and James Moore under the guidance of Douglas Rushkoff and with the support of the Righteous Person's Foundation and the Jewish Outreach Institute.

The Open Source Judaism Project has since evolved into Jew It Yourself, a concept lab for ideas and online platforms that enable autonomous Jewish learning, practice and community building.

Project status

Further development on the Open Source Haggadah ceased in 2004 due to a lack of funding support, though since that time there has been a renewed interest in the concept creating customized Jewish liturgy online. A reinterpretation of our "build-your-own haggadah" prototype is currently in development at Haggadot.com and will be available publicly around Passover 2011. Also worthy of mention are the Open Siddur Project and Build A Prayer, both of which offer the online creation of customized prayerbooks.

Volunteer & Donate

If you are a PHP developer interested in helping to make improvements to this site, please contact us.

To support the continued hosting of the Open Source Haggadah, please donate.

To Do

• Fix user account creation. Many thanks to Howard Ungar for his help!
• Convert Hebrew data from Windows-1255 to UTF-8.
• Convert site layout from tables to CSS.
• Repair broken PDF compiler.
• Add page for users to change username, email, password and delete account.
• Create improved haggadah layout.
• Add captcha to account creation and content submission forms.
• Allow users to post content directly, flag others' contributions for moderation.
• Create gallery of saved user haggadahs.
• Add Javascript drag-and-drop to haggadah content sorting.
• Add Facebook Connect and Twitter login; status updates on content submission, haggadah completion.

Last updated 3/29/10