Matzoh- The “Bread of Faith” as our ancestors displayed the deepest levels of faith as they followed God into the desert with such haste that there was no time for the bread they had baked to rise.

Matzoh- The Bread of Affliction” perhaps to underscore that so many people are still afflicted/persecuted; there is much suffering in this world today as evidenced by the Covid 19 world pandemic.  

Yachatz- we break the middle matzoh and hide the bigger piece for the kids for the afikomen (desert).   The larger piece is hidden as with God- there is more hidden than is revealed.   The middle matzoh is the most hidden perhaps to intimate that the miracle of the exodus was a preparation for future acts of redemption which are still hidden from us: prayers to be fulfilled, promises to be redeemed.

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. This year we are here; next year we will be in Israel. This year we are slaves; next year we will be free.


haggadah Section: Yachatz