There are three pieces of matzah stacked on the table. We now break the middle matzah into two pieces. We'll wrap up the larger of the pieces and hide it before the end of dinner. This piece is called the afikomen, literally “dessert” in Greek. After dinner, the children will get to find for the afikomen!

We eat matzah in memory of the quick flight of our ancestors from Egypt. As slaves, they had faced many false starts before finally being let go. So when the word of their freedom came, they took whatever dough they had and ran with it before it had the chance to rise, leaving it looking something like matzah.

Uncover and hold up the three pieces of matzah and everyone say together:

All Together: “This is the bread of affliction which our ancestors ate in the land of Egypt. Let all who are hungry come and eat; let all who are needy come and celebrate the Passover with us. Now we are here; next year may we be in the Land of Israel. Now we are slaves; next year may we be free.”


haggadah Section: Yachatz