Our Seder is experiential. It isn't enough to read about our journey from slavery to freedom. Instead we must touch it. We must taste its bitterness and ultimately, its sweetness. Each symbol tries pulls us closer to what our people, our extended family of ancestors, went through. It moves us from  their story to ours.

Now break the middle matzah, place th larger portion, the afikoman, in a napkin to be hidden. (Now the game begins. The afikoman can be hidden at any time). The smaller portion of the broken matzah will be eaten with the top matzah when we start our meal.

Yachatz, the breaking of the matzah, can be seen to represent the brokenness of the world of slavery and oppression. That's the starting point of our story. 

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
Source: Rabbi Ron Li-Paz