Yachatz

According to tradition, we are meant to have three matzot at a Seder. We take the middle of the three matzot and break it in half. One half goes into the afikoman, which we’ll get into later. The other stays in the middle of the pile, reminding us that once our people didn’t have time for their bread to rise as they fled oppression. And that’s why we are also eating it now, constipation be damned. 

Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik points out that when the Israelites were enslaved in Egypt, there were those slaves who were in better conditions than others. Some were privileged with more merciful masters and lived under better conditions; while some were not as lucky. We are told that the Jewish people shared with those who had less.

We are encouraged to follow their path to take the way of chesed ,  or "loving kindness.” We have seen so many beautiful examples of this: people helping out their elderly neighbors, or paying their employees though they can’t use their services, or entire neighborhoods shouting praise of medical professionals, not to mention the service of medical professionals themselves. What have you seen that has given you hope? 

Take a few deep breaths while you imagine what chesed in your life looks or can look like as we prepare for the Maggid.



 


haggadah Section: Yachatz