|
✼ |
🌀 Of the three Matzot on the Seder table, break the middle one in two. Leave the smaller piece. Wrap the larger in a napkin to be hidden at some time during the evening, before dessert is served. This piece of Matzah is now called the “afikoman.” It must be found and reunited with the other Matzot (and eaten) right after dinner, or the Seder cannot proceed.
These three Matzot are certainly not enough to feed us all tonight. What could they symbolize?
Our sages offer a variety of explanations. Among these, they suggest that the Matzot represent the three ancient branches of the Jewish people: Cohen, Levite and Israelite. They can also represent our thoughts, our speech and our actions. While our thoughts and actions remain whole, our speech (like that of Moses) is often broken.
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.
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.
More lies ahead than what has passed;
more is hidden than revealed.
True wisdom is often deep and hidden;
attained by the modest.
Those whose dreams exceed their actions are still young.
No one knows for certain what the word afikoman means. A common tradition says it comes from the Greek word for dessert.
Another suggests that it represents the messiah. Separated from the Jewish people, the messiah will someday be reunited with our people. Our tikkun olam—our ongoing struggle to perfect the world—(symbolized and re-initiated by this Seder), begins that process. We reenact that event to embody our own redemption. As we realize how little we truly know, we can break from the mold of habit to accept the responsibility of fulfilling our commitments. We work for that time of perfection: the time of redemption.
In our day still, many Jews and others are broken off from these efforts. Some out of oppression or fear, others out of ignorance and boredom. We work for a time when all people will be free of fear and filled with creativity, connected to their own traditions and ancestral memories. When this happens we know that redemption will come.
| |
To explore the structure of the Seder and this Haggadah, check the |
|
