Matzah is made with carefully prepared flour mixed with water. It has no yeast. Matzot are baked until crisp, brown and flat. Eating matzah reminds us that when our people were escaping slavery in Egypt to freedom they did not have time to bake loves of bread. The Jewish slaves escaped with dough that didn't have time to rise and was baked under the harsh sun of the desert.

This night is different than our normal meals because tonight, as we remember at our seder, we eat matzah instead of bread.

(The uppermost of the three matzot is broken and distributed among the group)

Baruch ata Adonai, eloheinu melech ha-olam, hamotsi lechem nin ha-arets

We praise You, God, for bread.

Baruch ata Adonai, eloheinu melech ha-olam, asher kid'shanu b'mitsvotav, v'tsivanu, al-achilat matzah

We praise You, God, for the commandment to eat matzah.


haggadah Section: Motzi-Matzah