YACHATZ – WE BREAK THE MIDDLE MATZAH

We break the middle matzah into two pieces. We wrap and set aside the larger piece as the Afikomen, the dessert matzah to be eaten after the meal. The smaller is returned to its place.

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. Now we celebrate here. Next year may we be in the land of Israel. Now we are slaves. Next year may we be truly free.

THE MATZAH OF HOPE

We set aside this matzah as a symbol of hope for all those in the world who are in despair. Some are crushed by poverty and disease, others by tyranny and violence. We pray that their pain will end soon, and they will be brought to safety and healing. We dedicate ourselves to relieving suffering in whatever form it takes.

No blessing is said when we break the middle matzah, because its brokenness is a symbol of incompleteness. It reminds us of all that needs repair ( tikkun) in our world. Later we will taste a piece of Afikomen, the larger portion of the middle matzah, again without reciting the blessing. This will affirm our believe that completeness will come in the future.

Ha Lachma Anya ("this is the bread of affliction") is said in Aramaic, because the custom of inviting those who are hungry to the seder began in Babylonia, where the Jews spoke Aramaic.

We say "all who are hungry, come and eat" to teach us to share our food with others. We continue "all who are needy, come and celebrate" to teach us there are those with well-stocked pantries whose lives may be empty or lonely.

Based on this passage, there is a tradition of collecting funds to enable poor people to make their own seders. This custom is called Ma'ot Chittin (literally "wheat money").

It has been suggested that we place an empty plate on our table to remember the homeless. There are even less fortunate than the Israelite slaves who, at least, had dwelling places.


haggadah Section: Yachatz