Why do we eat matzah?   Because during the Exodus, our ancestors had no time to wait for dough to rise.  So they improvised flat cakes without yeast, which could be baked and consumed in haste.  The matzah reminds us that when the chance for liberation comes, we must seize it even if we do not feel ready—indeed, if we wait until we feel fully ready, we may never act at all.

בְָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ, אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, הַמּוֹצִיא לֶחֶם מִן הָאָרֶץ: 

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ, אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתַָיו וְצִוָּנוּ עַל אֲכִילַת מַצָּה:

Baruch atah, Adonai eloheinu, melech ha’olam, hamotzi lechem min ha’aretz.

Baruch atah, Adonai eloheinu, melech ha’olam, asher kidshanu b’mitzvotav, 

v’tzivanu al achilat matzah.

Blessed are you, Adonai, Breath of Life, who brings forth bread from the earth.

Blessed are you, Adonai, Breath of Life, who sanctifies us with the commandment to eat matzah.



 


haggadah Section: Motzi-Matzah