From Fragmentation To Liberation

There are four different names for this festival in the Torah. The name Chag HaMatzot,  the festival of matzah. Perhaps Passover is the “festival of matzah” because matzah is inherently broken, like the first set of tablets. Matzah crumbles as we eat it. It crumbles onto the floor. Somehow it reaches every corner of our homes in one short week, and we clean up the fragments of the broken story of slavery for months after we retell it.

What do we choose to remember of our own stories? What do we consciously block out? Our story of liberation is an instruction to us that our task is not to become so enveloped by memory that we can’t move forward. The Passover ritual leads us from fragmentation to liberation, teaching us to find strength in both aspects of our story.

As we come to the end of the seder, we drink one more glass of wine. With this final cup, we give thanks for the experience of celebrating Passover together, for the traditions that help inform our daily lives and guide our actions and aspirations.

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ, אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, בּוֹרֵא פְּרִי הַגָּפֶן

Baruch Atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha-olam, borei p’ree hagafen.

We praise God, Ruler of Everything, who creates the fruit of the vine.

Drink the fourth and final glass of wine! 


haggadah Section: Conclusion