The Sarajevo Haggadah

The Sarajevo Haggadah symbolizes the best and worst of human nature as it is saved, shipped, moved, hidden, and nearly destroyed repeatedly throughout its history. It is an illuminated (illustrated) book of Jewish prayer and order regarding Passover Seder that is kept at the National Museum in Sarajevo.

Composed in 1492 by David Ben Shoushan, using illustrations from Zahra, the Haggadah was originally intended as a gift to David’s nephew. When the Jews are expelled from Spain that same year, David’s daughter, Ruth, carries the Haggadah to safety. It journeys across Europe over the next 500 years, ultimately coming to Sarajevo where Hanna Heath is called upon to conserve the book for future generations. Hanna realizes the Haggadah is important not just for its contents, but for the history the book itself has endured. Hanna spends the novel trying to get to the root...