DIRECTIONS

Make sure there are three pieces of matzah stacked on the table.

Break the middle matzah into two pieces. Wrap up the larger of the pieces in a napkin and, at some point between now and the end of dinner, hide it. PUT THE SMLLER PIECE BACK ON THE SEDER PLATE.

[This piece is called the afikomen, literally “dessert” in Greek. After dinner, the guests will have to hunt for the afikomen in order to wrap up the meal… and win a prize.]

READ: 

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 let go. 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.

DIRECTIONS:

Remove the bone, the beet, and the egg from the seder plate.

Uncover and hold up the three pieces of matzah.

READ:

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.

These days, matzah is a special food and we look forward to eating it on Passover. Imagine eating only matzah, or being one of the countless people around the world who don’t have enough to eat.

What does the symbol of matzah say to us about oppression in the world, both people literally enslaved and the many ways in which each of us is held down by forces beyond our control? How does this resonate with events happening now?

DISCUSSION

FILL THE SECOND GLASS WITH JUICE OR WINE.

COVER THE MATZAH PLATE (AND THE MATZAHS).


haggadah Section: Yachatz
Source: Boston