NEW YORK — All Jewish families want to honor the Passover holiday. But could there be something more to Passover, the Seder and in the Haggadah — something that holds the secrets to living the life of joy and purpose we were created for? It’s a question getting the attention of religious Americans of all kinds as Mark Gerson’s new book The Telling draws rave reviews.

Gerson, co-founder of Thuzio, co-founder of African Mission Healthcare, chairman of United Hatzalah and host of “The Rabbi’s Husband” podcast released “The Telling: How Judaism’s Essential Book Reveals the Meaning of Life,” on Mar. 2.

“This is a book written about a Jewish tradition but I didn’t just write it for a Jewish audience,” said Gerson. Through examination of Talmudic discussion, evolutionary psychology and other disciplines, Gerson explores some of life’s most important questions — and how people of all faiths can find answers in the wisdom of the Haggadah.

With engaging chapters like “God’s Business Card,” “What We Can Learn from an Egg: The Logic of the Seder Plate,” “Imagination: The Most Important Part of Reality” and “Allegiances Build: The Architecture of Relationships, the Constitution of Society” — to name only a few — Gerson teaches readers how to:

• Lead a Passover Seder with wisdom, confidence and fun that guests will remember
• Make the Jewish Haggadah burst alive with insight for opportunities, questions and challenges
• Show Gentile friends the richness of the Jewish tradition through the Passover Seder
• Instill a lasting respect for Judaism within children
• Bring families closer together and closer to God

“The Telling” has earned a host of powerful endorsements from thoughtful leaders of varying convictions and backgrounds:

“The Telling makes very audacious statements, asks provocative questions, teaches some of the greatest Torah and yet at the same time provides simple wisdom…all in one book!”

-Rabbi Sherre Hirsch, chief innovation officer at American Jewish University, author of “Thresholds: How to Thrive Through Life’s Transitions to Live Fearlessly and Regret-free”

“The Jewish people have a powerful message from God to share about being delivered from a life of slavery and brought into God’s purpose for them as a nation. In his book ‘The Telling,’ Mark Gerson helps us understand so much about the importance of the Passover and how it impacts our lives today as Christians. When Jews and Christians come together around this sacred biblical text, I believe that historic things will take place.”

-A.R. Bernard, senior pastor of Christian Cultural Center (Brooklyn, N.Y.)

“‘The Telling’ is the perfect introduction for those desiring to explore this aspect of Jewish life. This book is full of knowledge and thought provoking questions and answers to the many mysteries that surround this sacred Jewish holiday.”

–Tiki Barber, New York Giants, CBS Sports Network, co-founder of Thuzio

“In ‘The Telling,’ Mark Gerson brilliantly illuminates some of the big questions from the Haggadah whose answers can define what constitutes a meaningful life. By showing how the Haggadah enables its readers to deploy ancient Jewish wisdom to help answer the most contemporary questions, this book will help your Pesach to be what it can be: a life-guiding event, every year, for anyone who learns enough to give it the opportunity.”

-Joseph Lieberman, former senator of Connecticut

“Mark Gerson’s ‘The Telling’ is as broadly creative and inclusive as it is rigorous and intellectually deep. This book will reach, engage, and inspire countless people whose families and communities will discover new meaning and purpose through the book’s myriad insights.”

-Rabbi Jonah Pesner, director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism

“In this age when essential history and theology are being lost, distorted and rewritten around us, Mark Gerson fell in love with the Haggadah, whose Seder reading helps fulfill the command to ‘tell your son’ the story of your heritage. In ‘The Telling,’ Mr. Gerson reminds us of the great teaching that genuinely permanent things, such as ‘love and justice, truth and empathy, knowledge and wisdom… and God,’ are invisible, and a proper understanding can keep our life in proper order and avoid idolatry. Every person seeking to understand their Jewish brothers and sisters and their own faith more fully should read this book.”

-Alan Sears, founder of Alliance Defending Freedom

“…revelatory, practical [with] much to ponder in Gerson’s measured and persuasive outing.”

-Publishers Weekly

Gerson’s digital book tour has already included dozens of appearances throughout the United States and around the world and will continue over the coming weeks with several events like these:

• Mar. 17 –  Congregation Rodeph Sholom (New York, N.Y.)
• Mar. 18 – East End Temple (New York, N.Y.); A Conversation with Wexner Fellows
• Mar. 19 – Congregation B’nai Jeshurun (Short Hills, N.J.); Scarsdale Temple (Scarsdale, N.Y.)
• Mar. 21 – Greater Community COGIC with Bishop Matthew Brown; United Hatzalah of Israel; The Manhattan Institute
• Mar. 26 – Temple Adath Ohr (Davie, F.L.)
• Mar. 27 – Pastor Nathan Lewis and Every Nation Church (New York, N.Y.) 

“The Telling” is published by St. Martin’s Essentials, an imprint of St. Martin’s Press, and is available in hardcover, ebook and audiobook formats wherever books are sold.

More information on “The Telling” is available here. 

Media note: To schedule an interview with Mark Gerson or to request a print copy or digital galley of “The Telling,” please email press@thekcompany.co.