Yachatz

(There are three pieces of matzah on the plate. The middle one is removed and broken into two pieces. The host wraps up the larger of the two pieces and hides it for the guests to find later after dinner and win a prize.)

We break the matzah and hide one part--the Afikomen. We recognize that liberation is made by imperfect people, broken, fragmented.  Don't wait until you are totally pure, holy, spiritually centered, and psychologically healthy to get involved in tikkun olam, the healing and repair of the world. It will be imperfect people, wounded healers, who do the healing as we simultaneously work on ourselves.

We eat matzah in memory of the hurried flight of our ancestors from Egypt. When the word of their freedom came, they took what dough they had before it even had a chance to rise. When baked in the sun, it looked something like the matzah we see here. 

(Holding up the matzah.)

This is the bread of affliction 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.

When we say “hah lachmah anya — this is the bread of affliction, let all who are hungry come and eat,” we remind ourselves that it is this spirit of generosity that is the authentic Jewish spirit. 


haggadah Section: Yachatz