Uncover and hold up the three pieces of matzah and say: This is the bread of poverty which our ancestors ate in the land of Egypt. All who are hungry, come and eat; all who are needy, come and celebrate Passover with us.

Take hold of the middle of the three matzahs on your Seder Plate.

We need the top matzah to remain whole. We’ll be making a blessing on it later on. Blessings are said on whole things.

Break it in two. Leave the smaller half between the two complete matzos.

The piece that remains on the Seder Plate is the “poor man’s bread” over which the tale of our slavery is said. Poor people only eat a small part of their bread -- they need to save the rest in case tomorrow there is none.

Break the remaining (larger) piece into five pieces and wrap them in a cloth.


haggadah Section: Yachatz