האלַחְ ָמאעַנְיָא

Ha lachma anya—this is the bread of affliction.

At the Seder, we begin as slaves. We eat matzah, the bread of affliction, which leaves us hungry and longing for redemption. The matzah enables us to imagine what it was like to have only poor bread to eat, to be denied our right to live free and healthy lives. But, while we will soon enjoy a large meal and end the Seder night as free people, 795 million people around the world live with the daily reality of hunger. Let us awaken to their cries and declare:

כ ָ ל ִד כ ְ ִפ י ן י ֵ י ֵת י ו ְ י ֵ י ֹ כ ל

Kol dichfin yeitei v’yeichol—let all who are hungry, come and eat.

Let us work toward a time when all who are hungry will eat as free people. Let all people have access to sustenance. Let local farms flourish and local economies strengthen. Let exploitation of natural resources cease so that the land may nourish its inhabitants. Let our world leaders recognize food as a basic human right and put an end to hunger. Let us support the communities of the world on their paths to sustenance.


haggadah Section: Maggid - Beginning