Ha Lachma Anya
There are three pieces of matzoh stacked on the table. We break the middle matzoh into two pieces. This piece is called the afikomen, literally “dessert” in Greek. We are free, but we remember when we were slaves. We are whole, but we bring to mind those who are broken. The middle matzoh is broken, but it is the larger part which is hidden. Because the future will be greater than the past, and tomorrow’s Passover nobler than yesterday’s exodus. The prospects for the dreamed future are overwhelming to the point of making us mute. So it is in silence, without blessing, that we break and hide the matzoh and long for its recovery and our redemption.
We eat matzoh 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 matzoh.
We hold the three pieces of matzah and say:
This is the bread of poverty
Ha Lachma Anya – Ha Lachma Anya - - Ha Lachma Anya
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.
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