The three Matzot remind us that there are still three kinds of people in the world:  those who are not yet free, those who don’t care about the freedom of others, and those who are free and help others to become free. It’s that sharing that we celebrate here this evening.

On this night, we break the bread of affliction in half to remind ourselves to share with others less fortunate. We will place half the Matzah back on the table, to never forget that others are hungry throughout the world. Let all who are hungry come and eat at our table, to remind us of our ancestors, and their hunger for freedom. For those Jews not yet free to practice their religion, we share their hope for freedom, and look forward to openly proclaiming their religion by Passover next year.

What else does the breaking of the middle Matzah symbolize?

 Break the middle Matzah into two parts.  The smaller half is returned to the stack; the other is placed in a special pouch and designated the Afikomen (the dessert). The Afikomen will be hidden for the children to find after the meal. It is traditional in some homes for children to “steal” the Afikomen and “hold it ransom.” The top matzah is to be used later for the “motzee-matzah” blessing recited for bread, and the bottom matzah is for “Korech,” the Hillel sandwich.

One of the first references to stealing the matzah comes from the Mishneh Torah of Maimonides, who states: “One should make some change in procedure on this night of the 15th of Nisan in order that his sons should notice it and ask ‘How is this night different….’ In what way might the procedure be changed? By distributing parched grain or nuts to the children, by having the table removed before the meal would normally begin, by each trying to snatch away the other’s unleavened bread, and so on.”


haggadah Section: Yachatz