{ "clip_details": { "clip": { "is_admin": 0, "is_owner": 0, "handle": "yachatz-break-middle-matzah-4", "title": "Yachatz - Break the Middle Matzah", "author": "Paula Diamond-Bier", "author_handle": "paula-diamond-bier", "author_initials": "PD", "covertext": "YACHATZ-  Break the Middle Matzah Yachatz involves taking the middle matzah of the three matzahs on the Seder table, and...", "user_image": "https://assets.haggadot.com/users/105982/conversions/profile10154162735682437-thumb.jpg", "user_image_original": "https://assets.haggadot.com/users/105982/profile10154162735682437", "body": "<p>YACHATZ-  Break the Middle Matzah</p>\n\n<p><em>Yachatz</em> involves taking the middle matzah of the three matzahs on the Seder table, and breaking it into two uneven pieces. The larger half is put away for the Afikomen; we recite the entire Hagaddah over the smaller piece. The <em>afikoman</em>. must be found and reunited with the other Matzot (and eaten) right after dinner, or the Seder cannot proceed.</p>\n\n<p><em>Yachatz</em> shows us that in order for us to truly move toward redemption, some aspect of ourselves has to be broken. A verse in Psalms declares: \"God is close to those who are brokenhearted.\"</p>\n\n<p>There's an essential difference between brokenheartedness and despair. The voice of despair is: \"I'm no good and the world's no good, so I'll just sleep all day and not go into the world.\" The voice of a broken heart yearns for help, yearns for something more. It says: \"This isn't where I want to be. I want more. Please help me find more\"</p>\n\n<p>These three Matzot are certainly not enough to feed us all tonight. What could they symbolize?</p>\n\n<p>Our sages offer a variety of explanations: the three ancient branches of the Jewish people: Cohen, Levite and Israelite. They can also represent our thoughts, our speech and our action. While our thoughts and actions remain whole, our speech (like that of Moses) is often broken.</p>\n\n<p>Our words form the transition from our thoughts to our actions. We should consider them well, make them honest and consistent so that they lead to proper action.</p>\n\n<p>We have just broken the middle Matzah and will hide the afikoman, the larger half of it, to share later, as our ancestors shared the Passover offering itself at this service thousands of years ago in Jerusalem.</p>\n\n<p><em>More lies ahead than what has passed; </em>more is hidden than revealed.</p>\n\n<p><em>True wisdom is often deep and hidden; </em>attained by the modest.</p>\n\n<p><em>Those whose dreams exceed their actions are still young.</em></p>\n\n<p>To commit us to the redemption of the world, to all who are in need, to the wrongly imprisoned and the beggar in the street, we say the ancient words that join us with our people.</p>\n", "cliptype": "text", "clipsource": "", "featured": 0, "featuredIn": null, "is_public": 1, "is_published": 1, "media": { "image": null, "audio": null, "video": null }, "thumbnail": null, "clip_section": [ { "haggadah_section": "Yachatz", "slug": "yachatz" } ], "likes": 0, "downloads": 197, "tags": [], "themes": [], "language": "0", "is_bookmarked": "0", "is_liked": 0, "meta_tags": { "title": "Yachatz - Break the Middle Matzah | Passover haggadah by Paula Diamond-Bier", "description": "Our simple platform allows you to create a custom Passover Haggadah, with access to unique content contributed by our community. Find artwork, family", "keywords": "", "og:type": "article", "og:url": "https://www.haggadot.com/clip/yachatz-break-middle-matzah-4", "og:title": "Yachatz - Break the Middle Matzah | Passover haggadah by Paula Diamond-Bier", "og:description": "Our simple platform allows you to create a custom Passover Haggadah, with access to unique content contributed by our community. Find artwork, family", "og:image": "" } } }, "contributed_by": { "author": "Paula Diamond-Bier", "handle": "paula-diamond-bier", "author_initials": "PD", "total_books": 0, "total_clips": 3, "total_followers": 0, "is_following": 0 }, "user_book": null, "clips_by_author": [ { "clip": { "is_admin": 0, "is_owner": 0, "handle": "kadesh-334", "title": "Kadesh", "author": "Paula Diamond-Bier", "author_handle": "paula-diamond-bier", "author_initials": "PD", "covertext": "The first step of the Seder is called Kadesh . It involves reciting the Kiddush over a cup of wine. There is a pro...", "user_image": "https://assets.haggadot.com/users/105982/conversions/profile10154162735682437-thumb.jpg", "user_image_original": "https://assets.haggadot.com/users/105982/profile10154162735682437", "body": "<p>The first step of the Seder is called <em>Kadesh</em> . It involves reciting the Kiddush over a cup of wine.</p>\n\n<p>There is a profound principle that states: In spiritual reality, you get what you want. In physical reality, you get what God thinks is good for you.</p>\n\n<p>Therefore, the first step in spiritual growth is to <em>want</em> to live a holy life. This is expressed through <em>Kadesh</em> , through committing yourself to holiness.</p>\n\n<p>Holiness has two aspects: moving away <em>from</em> what is not holy and moving <em>toward</em> what is holy. This dual dynamic of <em>from</em> and <em>toward</em> is reflected in the four expressions of redemption that God uses in the Torah when He tells Moshe that He will redeem the Israelites from Egyptian bondage. The expressions, \"I will take you out\" and \"I will rescue you\" refer to moving away from bondage. The expressions, \"I will redeem you\" and \"I will take you to Myself,\" refer to moving toward God.</p>\n\n<p>Similarly, holiness requires moving away from everything that limits you. Maimonides maintains that holiness requires not just abstaining from the negative, but doing something positive. Not just the <em>from</em> , but also the <em>toward</em> . Holiness according to Maimonides requires consciousness of God and dedication to God. His famous dictum is: \"Sanctify yourself with that which is permitted to you.\"</p>\n\n<p>Then Maimonides says something much deeper. He warns, \"Don't drown in materialism.\" Why does he use the word, \"drown\"? The Hebrew word for the material world is <em>gashmiut. Gashmiut</em> is derived from the word <em>geshem</em>, which means \"rain.\" God vivifies the world through rainfall. If you dedicate your awareness to the world and not to its Source, you drown. You're inundated by all of God's giving to the point that you lose track of Him completely. So holiness means being aware of God.</p>\n\n<p>The first step of the Seder is <em>Kadesh</em> because in order to start moving toward the light you have to commit yourself to a life of holiness. This requires separating yourself from the negative and moving toward God-consciousness.</p>\n\n<p><strong>INVOCATION</strong></p>\n\n<p>Behold this cup of wine. Let is be a symbol of our joy tonight as we celebrate the festival of Passover.</p>\n\n<p>On this night long years ago our forebearers hearkened to the call of freedom. Tonight that call rings out again sounding its glorious challenge, commanding us champion the cause of all oppressed and downtrodden, summoning all the peoples throughout the world to arise and be free.</p>\n\n<p>Let us remember that true freedom requires peace - peace of mind and lack of fear for one's physical safety. Let us remember that true peace requires freedom. One cannot be at peace withing themselves while our neighbors struggles for freedom. Out ancestors emerged from Egypt to enter a land flowing with milk and honey and to live in peace. We do not seek freedom to make war.</p>\n\n<p>Let us raise our cups in gratitude to G-D that this call will still be heard. Let us pray that the time be not distant when all the world will liberated from cruelty, tyranny, oppression, and war.</p>\n\n<p><strong>Source of Blessings are you Adonai, Source of Powers, Sovereign of the Universe, who created the fruit of the Vine.</strong></p>\n\n<p> <em><strong>BARUCH ATA ADANAI ELOHEINU MELECH HA OLAM BO RE PRI HA GAFEN.</strong></em> </p>\n\n<p><strong>DRINK THE FIRST CUP</strong></p>\n", "cliptype": "image", "clipsource": "", "featured": 0, "featuredIn": null, "is_public": 1, "is_published": 1, "media": { "image": "https://assets.haggadot.com/clips/11792/pri-hagagen.jpg", "audio": null, "video": null }, "thumbnail": "https://assets.haggadot.com/clips/11792/conversions/pri-hagagen-cover.jpg", "clip_section": [ { "haggadah_section": "Kadesh", "slug": "kadesh" } ], "likes": 0, "downloads": 212, "tags": [], "themes": [], "language": "0", "is_bookmarked": "0", "is_liked": 0, "meta_tags": { "title": "Kadesh | Passover haggadah by Paula Diamond-Bier", "description": "Our simple platform allows you to create a custom Passover Haggadah, with access to unique content contributed by our community. Find artwork, family", "keywords": "", "og:type": "article", "og:url": "https://www.haggadot.com/clip/kadesh-334", "og:title": "Kadesh | Passover haggadah by Paula Diamond-Bier", "og:description": "Our simple platform allows you to create a custom Passover Haggadah, with access to unique content contributed by our community. Find artwork, family", "og:image": "https://assets.haggadot.com/clips/11792/conversions/pri-hagagen-cover.jpg" } } }, { "clip": { "is_admin": 0, "is_owner": 0, "handle": "why-called-seder-0", "title": "Why is is Called a Seder", "author": "Paula Diamond-Bier", "author_handle": "paula-diamond-bier", "author_initials": "PD", "covertext": "Why is it Called a Seder? The Hebrew word seder means order, or arrangement. The Passover Seder is comprised of 15 sequ...", "user_image": "https://assets.haggadot.com/users/105982/conversions/profile10154162735682437-thumb.jpg", "user_image_original": "https://assets.haggadot.com/users/105982/profile10154162735682437", "body": "<p><strong>Why is it Called a Seder? </strong></p>\n\n<p>The Hebrew word seder means order, or arrangement. The Passover Seder is comprised of 15 sequential steps, and thus it is quite fitting that the word seder is used to portray the gist of the evening's proceedings.</p>\n\n<p>Shortcuts are convenient. They save time, effort, and sometimes even money. They can also be quite illusory. Sure, you can figure out an ingenious back-alley route to sneak by rush-hour traffic, or curl up with a single volume containing three-page summaries of everything from Shakespeare to Fulghum.</p>\n\n<p>But don't try it in life. Not with your children, not with your spouse, and certainly not with yourself.</p>\n\n<p>If you want self-awareness, personal growth, deeper relationships, and a life of integrity -- sorry, no shortcuts allowed. Only seder, only order will do. Deeper living just doesn't flourish in the land of quick fixes. No child ever reaches adulthood without paying a visit to adolescence and no adult achieves inner maturation without first embarking on an orderly, if daring, course of human development.</p>\n", "cliptype": "text", "clipsource": "", "featured": 0, "featuredIn": null, "is_public": 1, "is_published": 1, "media": { "image": null, "audio": null, "video": null }, "thumbnail": null, "clip_section": [ { "haggadah_section": "Introduction", "slug": "introduction" } ], "likes": 0, "downloads": 198, "tags": [], "themes": [], "language": "0", "is_bookmarked": "0", "is_liked": 0, "meta_tags": { "title": "Why is is Called a Seder | Passover haggadah by Paula Diamond-Bier", "description": "Our simple platform allows you to create a custom Passover Haggadah, with access to unique content contributed by our community. Find artwork, family", "keywords": "", "og:type": "article", "og:url": "https://www.haggadot.com/clip/why-called-seder-0", "og:title": "Why is is Called a Seder | Passover haggadah by Paula Diamond-Bier", "og:description": "Our simple platform allows you to create a custom Passover Haggadah, with access to unique content contributed by our community. Find artwork, family", "og:image": "" } } } ], "clip_remake_history": 0, "meta_tags": { "title": "Yachatz - Break the Middle Matzah | Passover haggadah by Paula Diamond-Bier", "description": "Our simple platform allows you to create a custom Passover Haggadah, with access to unique content contributed by our community. Find artwork, family", "keywords": "", "og:type": "article", "og:url": "https://www.haggadot.com/clip/yachatz-break-middle-matzah-4", "og:title": "Yachatz - Break the Middle Matzah | Passover haggadah by Paula Diamond-Bier", "og:description": "Our simple platform allows you to create a custom Passover Haggadah, with access to unique content contributed by our community. Find artwork, family", "og:image": "" } }