The Matzoh and the Afikomen

Haggadah Section: Yachatz

​The leader uncovers the matzoh and holds it up for all to see.

This is the bread of affliction which our forefathers ate in the land of Egypt.

Let all those who are hungry come and eat with us.

Let all those who are in need come and share our meal.

This year, we are here.  Next year, may we all be in the land of Israel.

This year, we are still slaves.  Next year, may we all be free. 

The leader picks up the three matzohs on the ceremonial plate, takes the middle one, breaks it in half and says:

This Afikomen (Greek for dessert) is for our dessert. It is the last thing we eat so its taste should linger on our tongues just as the memory of what has gone before should linger in our minds.

The leader wraps the larger piece of matzoh in a napkin and hides it from the children. Later, they will find it and exchange it for a gift. The leader shows the smaller piece of matzoh and says:

This piece of matzoh represents "lachma anya," the bread of the poor. It is meant to remind us of the hungry. At this moment, we should think of those who are afraid to eat all of their bread, and always leave a bit for later. After all, weren't we all wretched as slaves in Egypt?

The smaller piece is replaced with the other two pieces of matzoh.

THE MATZOH OF HOPE

​The leader shows a special piece of matzoh and sets it aside:

This matzoh is set aside as a symbol of hope for those Jews who are not free.  They are not free to celebrate the Seder.  They are not free to express their Jewish identity.  They are not free to read Jewish books, to learn of their Jewish past, or to hand it down to their children. Their voices have risen in Jewish pride and protest.  Tonight, we add our voices to theirs.  They have not been forgotten. 

Source:  
The Family Haggadah

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