Yachatz~ Breaking the Middle Matzah
There are three pieces of matzah stacked on the table. In breaking the middle piece, we are creating a special piece known as the Afikomen. These two pieces of matzah represent two kinds of eating: eating because we have to and eating because we want to. The first half we will eat soon and we are supposed to eat it quickly, in hunger. It represents the quick flight our ancestors took from Egypt, where they were slaves.
The other half is special and we will hide it ─that half, the Afikomen represents desire, enjoyment, fulfillment, luxury. It represents our freedom. We are supposed to eat it on a full stomach, out of a desire to eat rather than necessity.
Uncover and hold up the three pieces of matzah and say together:
הָא לַחְמָא עַנְיָא דִי אֲכָלוּ אַבְהָתָנָא בְּאַרְעָא דְמִצְרָיִם. כָּל דִכְפִין יֵיתֵי וְיֵיכֹל, כָּל דִצְרִיךְ יֵיתֵי וְיִפְסַח. הָשַׁתָּא הָכָא, לְשָׁנָה הַבָּאָה בְּאַרְעָא דְיִשְׂרָאֵל. הָשַׁתָּא עַבְדֵי, לְשָׁנָה הַבָּאָה בְּנֵי חוֹרִין.
Ha lachma anya di achalu avhatana b’ara d’mitzrayim. Kol dichfin yeitei v’yeichol, kol ditzrich yeitei v’yifsach. Hashata hacha, l’shanah habaah b’ara d’Yisrael. Hashata avdei, l’shanah habaah b’nei chorin.
This is the bread of affliction that our ancestors ate in the land of Egypt. All those who are hungry, let them enter and eat. All who are in need, let them come celebrate the Passover. Now we are here. Next year in the land of Israel. This year we are enslaved. Next year we will be free.
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