As a kid, my family would drive across the state to Kansas City to visit my mother’s parents — the same Bubbe you now know as our weather lady and my sarcastic Zayde.

“Baba,” as everyone called him, ran the seder. And every year at the end he’d say two things I never forgot:

“Next year in Jerusalem.”

And then, without missing a beat: “Next year with a $30,000 Haggadah.”

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Well, we’re all still waiting on Jerusalem. But now the race may be on to see who gets to spend next Passover with that Haggadah.

Yes, my Zayde’s dream is now technically possible. A real $30,000 Haggadah is heading to auction. And since I’m obviously planning to bid on that one (don’t tell my wife), here are a few others you could consider instead.

Place your bids

Baghdad Judeo-Arabic Haggadah (1887) — Estimate: $400–$600 (starting bid $200)
This Haggadah is a reminder that Passover didn’t just live in Europe. Jewish communities in Baghdad created versions with Hebrew text alongside Judeo-Arabic translations so families could follow along in the language they actually spoke. A small but powerful example of how the Exodus story traveled wherever Jews lived. Place a bid.

Jerusalem Haggadah with classic commentaries (1863) — Estimate: $250–$350 (starting bid $200)
Packed with commentary from major Jewish thinkers including Rashi and the Vilna Gaon, this edition reflects how the seder also became a night of learning. It’s the kind of Haggadah where someone at the table definitely said, “Wait, there’s another explanation for that.” Place a bid.

Jerusalem “Bigdei Haserad” Haggadah (1888) — Estimate: $200–$400 (starting bid $100)
Featuring Kabbalistic commentary, this Haggadah shows how mysticism found its way into the Passover story. For collectors, it’s not just about age. It’s about the layers of interpretation Jews have added to the Exodus story over generations. Place a bid.

Venice Haggadah (1716) — Estimate: $1,200–$1,800 (starting bid $800)
Printed during one of the great eras of Hebrew publishing, this Venetian Haggadah features detailed decoration and translations meant to make the ritual more accessible. It’s a reminder that even then, publishers were trying to make sure everyone at the table could follow along. Place a bid.

Albert Rutherston Haggadah (London, 1930) — Estimate: $2,000–$4,000 (starting bid $1,000)
This isn’t just a Haggadah. It’s a design flex. Created by British Jewish artist Albert Rutherston, this edition blends Jewish tradition with early modern artistic style. Think of it as a seder book that could just as easily live in an art gallery. Place a bid. 

Venice Haggadah with Abrabanel commentary (1545) — Estimate: $3,000–$5,000 (starting bid $2,000)
Printed in Renaissance Venice, this early Haggadah reflects a time when Jewish scholarship and printing were expanding across Europe. Nearly five centuries later, it’s hard not to imagine the generations of seders this book may have witnessed. Place a bid. 

Arthur Szyk Haggadah (London, 1939) — Estimate: $20,000–$30,000
If there were a Hall of Fame for Haggadot, Arthur Szyk’s would have its own wing. Known for his intricate illustrations and his anti-Nazi political art, Szyk transformed the Passover story into a visual masterpiece. This rare edition — one of just 125 copies printed entirely on vellum — isn’t just a ritual book. It’s a piece of Jewish artistic resistance created on the eve of World War II. Place a bid.

If you want to bid

Auction 116: Passover Haggadot
Auction house: Kestenbaum & Company
Date: Monday, March 23
Time: Noon (Central Time)

Bidding is available exclusively online through Bidspirit. Registration is required to participate or place absentee bids.

Information: [email protected]
Phone: 212-366-1197

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