I’m thrilled to share another wonderful feature of “The Office Haggadah” – this time on the GOLDA Guide!
Thanks to their team for the thoughtful conversation about our project.
Table of Contents
Reinventing Night Two
When asked about how The Office Haggadah came about, I was able to share something deeply personal: my own childhood Passover memories.
Growing up, I went to my Grandma Clara’s house where we used the traditional Maxwell House Haggadah. While I loved seeing everyone, I distinctly remember the moment when we’d hit the “Rabbi Gamliel says…” section and how it felt like pure torture. I even admitted to the interviewer that I was envious of Israelis who only had to endure one night of Seder while we had two!
That’s precisely why Dave Cowen and I created this alternative. For the past few years, I’ve been hosting second-night Seders in my backyard with about 30 comedy friends. Until this year, we’ve been using Dave’s “Yada Yada Haggadah” (his Seinfeld-themed creation), but now we have our very own Office-themed version.
A Theatrical Approach
One thing I love about our Haggadah is how it transforms the Seder into an interactive experience.
As I explained to GOLDA:
“We dole out parts. People read them. They bring their accents. It’s like a party. It’s what I think our ancestors really wanted: We get together, we tell stories, we laugh, and we actually have a great time.”
The format follows a table read style where everyone gets assigned different characters. In our universe, Pam naturally becomes Miriam (I mean, who else could it be?).
Comedy and Meaning
My favorite parts of the interview were discussing some of the funnier moments in our Haggadah – like when Michael misunderstands what converting to Judaism entails, or when Ryan asks the first question: “Why is this deal different from all other deals?”
But what I really hope readers take away from this interview is the deeper purpose behind our seemingly silly project.
When asked about my goals, I shared:
“The goal is for people to leave having had a really good time, and I actually think there’s an element of depth to it, as well. To have a moment where people realize, Oh, this is a tradition that’s been going on for thousands of years… This is important—this gathering and reminding yourself who you are.”
Community Through Tradition
The interviewer asked an interesting question about how this project relates to the current moment, when many people feel newly connected to their Jewish identity but also anxious about the world we’re living in.
I was able to share something quite personal – that my central struggle over the past decade has been finding community, especially after moving from New York to LA. Judaism has provided that sense of belonging I’ve been searching for, connecting me with others in a meaningful way in this sprawling city.
That’s why, beneath all the jokes and Office references, this project is ultimately about connection. It’s about making our traditions accessible and joyful. As I mentioned in the interview, the Passover Seder is truly the “premier Jewish event” – nothing else quite captures the same spirit of revelry and togetherness.
Conclusion
There’s so much more in my conversation with GOLDA that I couldn’t fit here – including our discussion of the “Disclaimer” (and “Exclaimer”!) at the beginning of the book, the clever way we’ve incorporated the traditional Seder elements, and more details about the storyline we’ve created.
Click here to visit their site.
If you’d like to experience The Office Haggadah for yourself, you can find it on Amazon or on our website.
Let me know if you use it for your second night Seder this year – I’d love to hear how it goes!