Participant:

Hillel, the great sage of the first century BCE, lived at the time of the Holy Temple when eating the Passover sacrifice was a part of the Passover obligations. Instead of eating the three foods separately ( matzah, bitter herbs, and the meat from the sacrifice), Hillel made a sandwich combining the three, and ate it while reclining. Hillel's positive approach to all hardships in life is symbolized in this sandwich. Hillel viewed the bitter parts of his life, particularly the hardships of the poverty that G‑d bestowed  upon him, positively. So, while his life appeared difficult, he was able to understand that it was G‑d’s will and ultimately for a good reason. Therefore he placed the bitterness of the bitter herbs inside the freedom of matzah and ate it while reclining. To commemorate Hillel's sandwich, korech,  Jews do the same today, eating the Hillel sandwich (minus the meat) while reclining.

DIRECTIONS:

Each person is given a small piece of the bottom matzah and places a piece of chazeret upon it and say:

:זֵכֶר לְמִקְדָּשׁ כְּהִלֵּל

 כֵּן עָשָׂה הִלֵּל בִּזְמַן שבֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ הָיָה קַיָים: הָיָה כּוֹרֵךְ פּסח מַצָּה וּמָרוֹר וְאוֹכֵל בְּיַחַד, לְקַיֵים מַה שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: עַל מַצּוֹת וּמְרֹרִים יֹאכְלֻהוּ

Zeicher l'mikdash k'hileil. Kein asah hileil bizman shebeit hamikdash hayah kayam. Hayah koreich pesach, matzah, u-maror v'ocheil b'yachad. L'kayeim mah shene-emar: Al matzot um'rorim yochlu-hu:


haggadah Section: Koreich
Source: Chabad.org