Prequel: Clearing Out the Chametz- Making Way for Matzah
The rabbis say take a candle and a feather and carefully search your entire house on the evening of pesach—gather all the crumbs of chametz you find and burn them the next morning.
May it be Your desire Source of Life for us and our ancestors, that just as I have removed the chametz form my house and properties, so too, should You remove all the spirit of that which fouls life from this earth. May our unbalanced parts be removed from us, and may You give us a heart of flesh. May all the forces of wickedness vanish like smoke and the kingdom of the wicked be eradicated. May You destroy all those that challenge the Shechinah with judgment, just as you destroyed the Narrow Place and their idols in those days at this season.
The rabbis say take a candle and a feather and carefully search your entire house on the evening of pesach—gather all the crumbs of chametz you find and burn them the next morning.
May it be Your desire Source of Life for us and our ancestors, that just as I have removed the chametz form my house and properties, so too, should You remove all the spirit of that which fouls life from this earth. May our unbalanced parts be removed from us, and may You give us a heart of flesh. May all the forces of wickedness vanish like smoke and the kingdom of the wicked be eradicated. May You destroy all those that challenge the Shechinah with judgment, just as you destroyed the Narrow Place and their idols in those days at this season.
1. The Matzah of Slavery
This is the bread of poverty and oppression that our ancestors ate in the land of Egypt. Anyone who is hungry, let them come and eat. Anyone who is needing, let them come and make Passover. Now – here. Next year – in the land of Israel. Now – slaves. Next year – freed people.
- Hagaddah, translated by R David Seidenberg
2. The Matzah of Haste and Urgency
Rabban Gamliel’ said
This matsah that we are eating is because of what? Because their dough didn’t have time to rise to become chamets before the Ruler of the kings of kings, the Holy One, blessed be, was revealed over them and redeemed them, as it’s said: And they baked the dough which they brought out from Egypt, cakes of matsot, for it didn’t rise, for they were driven from Egypt, and they couldn’t linger or hesitate, and they couldn’t even prepare provisions for themselves. (Exod. 12:39)
-Hagaddah- trans by R David Siedenberg
Rabban Gamliel’ said
This matsah that we are eating is because of what? Because their dough didn’t have time to rise to become chamets before the Ruler of the kings of kings, the Holy One, blessed be, was revealed over them and redeemed them, as it’s said: And they baked the dough which they brought out from Egypt, cakes of matsot, for it didn’t rise, for they were driven from Egypt, and they couldn’t linger or hesitate, and they couldn’t even prepare provisions for themselves. (Exod. 12:39)
-Hagaddah- trans by R David Siedenberg
3. The Matzah of Sacred Offering and Receiving - a covenant with other living beings
Korech - כורך
Maror/charoset sandwich with matzah: In memory of the Temple according to Hillel. This is what Hillel would do when the
Temple was standing: He would wrap the matzah and maror and eat them together, in order to fulfill what it says, (Exodus 12:15): "You should eat the sacrifice on matzot and maror.”
- Hagaddah (trans; R David Seidenberg)
Korech - כורך
Maror/charoset sandwich with matzah: In memory of the Temple according to Hillel. This is what Hillel would do when the
Temple was standing: He would wrap the matzah and maror and eat them together, in order to fulfill what it says, (Exodus 12:15): "You should eat the sacrifice on matzot and maror.”
- Hagaddah (trans; R David Seidenberg)
צָפוּן אחר גמר הסעודה לוקח כל אחד מהמסבים כזית מהמצה שהייתה צפונה לאפיקומן ואוכל ממנה כזית בהסבה. וצריך לאוכלה קודם חצות הלילה.
4. The Matzah of the World to Come
The Concealed [Matzah] After the end of the meal, all those present take a kazayit from the matsa, that was concealed for the afikoman, and eat a kazayit from it while reclining.