This [matzah] is the bread of suffering that our ancestors ate in the land of Egypt. Let all who are hungry come and eat. Let anyone who are in need come and observe Passover. This year we are here; next year in the Land of Israel. This year we are slaves; next year we shall be free.
2. Why do you think we say: "let all who are hungry come and eat"?
3. Do we really invite hungry people inside our homes?
4. How else might we help people who are hungry?
5. When we say "next year in the Land of Israel" are we really planning a trip?
6. What else might that mean?
7. How are we "slaves" now?
8. What would need to change for us to be free?
מַתְנִי׳ עֶרֶב פְּסָחִים סָמוּךְ לַמִּנְחָה לֹא יֹאכַל אָדָם עַד שֶׁתֶּחְשַׁךְ. אֲפִילּוּ עָנִי שֶׁבְּיִשְׂרָאֵל לֹא יֹאכַל עַד שֶׁיָּסֵב,
וְלֹא יִפְחֲתוּ לוֹ מֵאַרְבַּע כּוֹסוֹת שֶׁל יַיִן וַאֲפִילּוּ מִן הַתַּמְחוּי.
MISHNA: On the eve of Passover, adjacent to minḥa [afternoon prayers] time, a person may not eat until dark, so that they will be able to eat matzah that night with a hearty appetite. Even the poorest of Jews should not eat the meal on Passover night until they recline on their left sides, as free and wealthy people recline when they eat.
And the distributors of charity should not give a poor person less than four cups of wine for the Festival meal of Passover night. And this halakha [Jewish law] applies even if the poor person is one of the poorest members of society and receives their food from the charity plate.
2. Why does the text say that poor people should behave like rich people when they eat at the seder?
3. Why is it important to give poor people at least four cups of wine for their seders?
4. What else might we need to think about when we're helping people who are food insecure?
מעות חטים
"Maot Chittim," literally "wheat monies" refers to the centuries old custom* of gathering wheat to provide the poor with matzah and other items for the observance of Pesach. Today we fulfill this mitzvah by making monetary contributions which we distribute to those in need by funding Passover meals and assisting with the purchase of Kosher for Passover staples.
*Jerusalem Talmud, Bava Batra 1:4:2
(ט) וּֽבְקֻצְרְכֶם֙ אֶת־קְצִ֣יר אַרְצְכֶ֔ם לֹ֧א תְכַלֶּ֛ה פְּאַ֥ת שָׂדְךָ֖ לִקְצֹ֑ר וְלֶ֥קֶט קְצִֽירְךָ֖ לֹ֥א תְלַקֵּֽט׃ (י) וְכַרְמְךָ֙ לֹ֣א תְעוֹלֵ֔ל וּפֶ֥רֶט כַּרְמְךָ֖ לֹ֣א תְלַקֵּ֑ט לֶֽעָנִ֤י וְלַגֵּר֙ תַּעֲזֹ֣ב אֹתָ֔ם אֲנִ֖י יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶֽם׃
(9) When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap all the way to the edges of your field, or gather the gleanings [leket] of your harvest. (10) You shall not pick your vineyard bare, or gather the fallen fruit of your vineyard; you shall leave them for the poor and the stranger: I יהוה am your God.
2. Why might leaving food in the field be better than picking it and giving it to people who need it?
3. What are some ways that you can help fulfil this mitzvah?
4. Have you ever helped in a food bank? What did you do?
5. Why do you think Israel's food bank is named Leket?
6. What are a few of the ways that Leket Israel helps people?
7. When you go to Israel, how would you like to help Leket?