What is the meaning of matzah?
But there is a deeper meaning in the double-edged symbolism of matzah. It would have been easy to set up a stark dichotomy: matzah is the bread of the Exodus way, the bread of freedom; Pronounced: khah-METZ or KHUH-metz, Origin: Hebrew, bread or any food that has been leavened or contains a leavening agent.
Is matzah the bread of freedom or bread of slavery?
Matzah is, therefore, both the bread of freedom and the erstwhile bread of slavery. It is not unusual for ex-slaves to invert the very symbols of slavery to express their rejection of the masters’ values. But there is a deeper meaning in the double-edged symbolism of matzah.
Why do we eat matzah instead of bread?
Unleavened bread was one of the foods the Jews in Egypt were commanded to eat along with the paschal lamb ( Exodus 12:8 ). In commemoration of that first seder meal, and the haste in which the Israelites left Egypt — giving them no time to allow their bread to rise — we eat matzah at the seder (and instead of bread throughout the holiday).
What is the Passover Seder matzah?
Part of the Passover Seder includes the matzah, in which three pieces are wrapped together -- Three pieces of matzah, each in a separate section, yet joined into one. The rabbis call these three “a unity.”
What does matzah symbolize?
(Exodus 12:39). The other reason for eating matzah is symbolic: On the one hand, matzah symbolizes redemption and freedom, but it is also lechem oni, "poor man's bread". Thus it serves as a reminder to be humble, and to not forget what life was like in servitude.
What does the word matzah mean in Hebrew?
unleavened breadMatzo is also symbolic, representing both freedom and humility. It's sometimes spelled matzoh or matzah, from the Hebrew matztzah, "unleavened bread," or literally, "juiceless." Definitions of matzo. brittle flat bread eaten at Passover. synonyms: matzah, matzoh, unleavened bread.
What does the maror represent?
Maror is Hebrew for bitter herb - Jews normally use horseradish. The harsh flavour of the herb symbolises the suffering of the Jews in Egypt. The horseradish is sliced or grated for Passover, and is one of several unusual foods on the Seder plate that symbolise different parts of the Passover story.
What is the blessing on matzah?
Baruch Atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha-olam, asher kid'shanu b'mitzvotav v'tzivanu al achilat matzah. Blessed are You, Spirit of everything who commands us to eat matzo. Distribute and eat the top and middle matzah for everyone to eat.
Why are there 3 pieces of matzah on Passover?
We symbolically mark this in two ways at the Seder. We recite the blessing over a half slice to remind us that there are those who do not have enough to eat and are left eating scraps. And we place a third, unnecessary, matzah on the table so that there are leftovers at the end of the meal for those who do not have.
What's the difference between matzo and matzah?
Matzo, sometimes referred to as matzah, matzoh or matza, is a thin unleavened bread made from flour and water that's traditionally eaten during Passover.
What are the three symbols of Passover?
The main symbols of the Seder meal are four cups of wine, matzo bread and the bitter herbs, according to Schwarzberg. The first part of the Seder Meal begins with the wine, according to Helfand.
What are the 7 symbolic foods of Passover?
How to Make the Best-Ever Seder PlateBeitzah (A Hard-Boiled Egg)Maror (Bitter Herbs/Horseradish)Charoset (Wine + Apples + Nuts)Karpas (Spring Greens)Chazeret (Romaine Lettuce)Zeroah (Roasted Bone)Matzo.
What are some important symbols for Passover?
This is the seder plate, and each food is symbolic for an aspect of Passover: A roasted shank bone represents the Pescah sacrifice, an egg represents spring and the circle of life, bitter herbs represent the bitterness of slavery, haroset (an applesauce-like mixture with wine, nuts, apples, etc.)
What is the Hebrew prayer for wine?
Lift the cup of wine or grape juice and recite the following: Baruch ata Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha-olam, boreh p'ri hagafen. Blessed are You, God, Ruler of the universe, who creates the fruit of the vine.
What are the blessings of the Passover?
Passover Blessings include: -- God Will Assign an Angel to you -- God Will Be An Enemy to Your Enemies -- God Will Give You Prosperity -- God Will Take Sickness Away from You -- God Will Give You a Long Life -- God Will Cause Increase in Your Life -- God Will Give a Special Year's Blessings God sets schedules and time ...
What is the prayer for Passover?
May the good tidings of redemption soon be heard in every land. May those who hunger for freedom and justice be satisfied, and may all people be blessed with the joys of harmony. We rejoice now in the memory of our deliverance from bondage, and we celebrate the goodness we have known through the ages.
Why is matzah called the bread of affliction?
It is the bread of those who have suffered and those who are still suffering. The priests in their Sabbath glory ate the stale bread, the bread of slaves breaking their yokes and remembering their suffering, the bread of those who have little—in other words, matzah, the bread of affliction.
What does the karpas symbolize?
The karpas is traditionally placed on the seder plate on the left side, below the roasted egg. The liquid is usually salt-water or wine vinegar. The idea behind the salt water is to symbolize the salty tears that the Jews shed in their slavery in Egypt.
Why did the Maharal eat matzah?
The Maharal explains that it is for this reason that they were commanded to eat matzah and to commemorate their liberation annually throughout all eternity by eating matzah on the anniversary of their liberation. Because matzah is the only food whose manufacture demands that it be created without time as quickly as possible. The prohibition of leaven also teaches us that nature does not operate independently through its own powers but is controlled by G-d. Nature is the will of G-d concealed in the natural world.
Why do we bake matzos?
We bake flat, crisp matzah in order to re-enact the Exodus from Egypt when Israel fled in a hurry, as the Torah says, Devorim 16:3, “you shall eat matzos during seven days, they are the bread of suffering because you departed Egypt in great haste.” This mitzvah teaches that G-d’s control of nature and history is above and beyond the constraints and limitations of time. G-d does not require cause and effect. He does not need time in order to accomplish His goals. We too must emulate G-d and create spiritually by hurrying time, by acting with zeal and speed.
What is the bread of affliction?
Matzah has many aspects. It is the “bread of affliction,” poor man’s bread eaten by slaves. It is also the bread of liberation and freedom. We will attempt in the next paragraphs to understand the meaning of Matzah.
Does fermentation take place in Matzah?
In the ultimate sense, fermentation is not merely a process which does not take place in matzah. That is its lesson. In reality it was Israel who had become fermented — up to the point where they almost became chametz. It was G-d who saved Israel from becoming chametz, which would have spelled Israel’s destruction. It was the redeeming hand of G-d which guaranteed that Israel would “remain Matzah” for all time to come.
Is matzah the same as mitzvah?
For the above reasons, the words mitzvah and matzah are analogous and nearly the same. Our Sages teach, “mitzvah haba’ah leyadcha al tachmitzena,” when a mitzvah comes your way do not allow it to become chametz. This teaching applies the formula of matzah to all mitzvot. The Jew is expected to conquer time at all times, to demonstrate that by overcoming time, he is attempting to associate his life with G-d who is timeless and eternal. The Jew never wastes time — he employs time to bend this time bound world to the goals of eternity. This is done by making time a precious commodity — by filling it with Torah, mitzvot and chesed.
What is the matzah of Passover?
It is not a coincidence that the central item of the Passover, the matzah, points to the One that Paul called “Messiah our Passover.”. Each year, the matzah points to One who was sinless, striped, and pierced - the same One whom John the Baptist called “the Lamb of God” - the One whose sacrifice would bring redemption from the penalty of sin.
What is the name of the cloth that is wrapped around the matzah?
During the Passover meal, the father in the family breaks the middle matzah in two, places the smaller piece on top of the matzah cloth and wraps the larger piece, which is called the “afikomen,” in the clean, white linen cloth which is next to the matzah cloth. The Hebrew word “afikomen” is most likely derived from the Greek word “epikomos” which ...
What does Paul say about the bread of the unleavened bread?
Paul wrote of this significance in the New Testament in 1 Corinthians 6:6-8: Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough? Clean out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, just as you are in fact unleavened. For Messiah our Passover has been sacrificed. Let us therefore celebrate the feast (Passover), not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
What does the Afikomen represent in the Passover Seder?
But just this one section with the afikomen clearly symbolizes Jesus Christ, the Messiah.
What does it mean to eat unleavened bread at Passover?
Since leaven is a symbol of sin, to begin the Passover season by eating only unleavened bread is symbolic of beginning a life free from sin. Jesus was our perfect example of this because he lived a sinless life.
What is the significance of Passover?
Passover is the reminder of a sinless sacrifice made on our behalf. When the afikomen is eaten at the conclusion of the meal, it is a reminder of the sacrificial lamb which was eaten. Consider the symbolism of the matzah: unleavened, striped, pierced, broken, wrapped in a white linen cloth, “buried,” diligently sought, with a reward going to the discoverer. Now, it is freely offered, but as with all free gifts, one must accept it - otherwise it cannot be enjoyed.
What are the three pieces of matzah?
Part of the Passover Seder includes the matzah, in which three pieces are wrapped together -- Three pieces of matzah, each in a separate section , yet joined into one. The rabbis call these three “a unity.” Some consider it a unity of the three patriarchs - Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Others consider it representative of the trinity—The Father, Son and Holy Spirit—Three in one.
What does matzah mean in Judaism?
Meaning of the Matzah. Matzah is one of those wonderful transcendent ritual items in Judaism, a symbol embodying a duality to teach a moral lesson. At the beginning of the seder, we break one of the sheets of matzah and call it the bread (lekhem) of affliction (oni).
Why do we eat matzah at Seder?
In commemoration of that first seder meal, and the haste in which the Israelites left Egypt — giving them no time to allow their bread to rise — we eat matzah at the seder (and instead of bread throughout the holiday).
What is the central symbol of Passover?
The central symbol of the Passover holiday, and, specifically, of the Seder ceremony , is the Matzah. Whether you like the way it tastes or not; with butter, charoset, tuna, or as part of a microwave matzah-pizza, there is no escaping the unleavened bread which is the centerpiece of the Seder ritual and the staple of the week-long festival. I would like to spend a little time thinking about what messages are communicated to us by this culinary custom.
What is the Jewish holiday on Pesach?
Pesach commemorates the Exodus of the Jewish people from slavery in Egypt. We remember the birth of the Jewish nation on Passover with a seven-day holiday (eight in the Diaspora), which begins with the Seder - a festive meal during which we retell the story of the exodus and describe how God freed us from slavery to become His people, receive His Torah, and live in His chosen land, Israel. During the holiday we eat unleavened bread - matza - to remember both the cheap, crummy bread we were fed as slaves, as well as the speed with which we left Egypt - no time for our dough to rise - and we refrain from eating any form of leavened bread.
