There are three pieces of matzah stacked on the table. We now break the middle matzah into two pieces. The leader wraps up the larger of the two pieces and, at some point between now and the end of dinner, hides it. This piece is called the afikomen, which is “dessert” in Greek. After dinner, the guests will have to hunt for the afikomen. Whoever finds it wins a prize!

We eat matzah in memory of the quick flight of our ancestors from Egypt. As slaves, they had faced many false starts before finally being freed. So, when the word of their freedom came, they took whatever dough they had and ran with it before it had the chance to rise, leaving it looking something like matzah.

The leader uncovers and raises the three pieces of matzah and says:

This is the bread of poverty that 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 slaves; next year we will be free.

We pause here to acknowledge those who are in pain in our own communities, whether from poverty, hunger, illness, or any other affliction. As we have felt our own suffering, we must reach out and help those who are still suffering. It is an important lesson in Judaism and in recovery that we learn from our experiences in order to help others. How do you use your experience to help others?

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In a way, matzah represents a shift in priorities. When they were finally freed, our ancestors prioritized their escape over their bread rising. Such a decision may seem trivial and obvious, but it has had a significant impact on how we remember their journey today. How did your priorities change when you started your recovery, and how are they changing today?

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We may be breaking the matzah, but it still serves a purpose now and it will serve a purpose later. We may have felt broken when we reached our “rock bottom” or during the most difficult times of our addiction. But we are here now, full of purpose, just like the afikomen! How did your earlier experiences serve you later in life?


haggadah Section: Yachatz