Haggadah:Yachatz/2

Yachatz

Exegetical Approaches

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Purpose of its Own

Breaking the matzah in half symbolizes the matzah being a "poor man's bread", since poor people tend to eat slices of bread, and not a whole loaf.

Sources:R. Elazar HaRokeachHilkhot Pesach 283About R. Elazar HaRokeach

The Middle Matzah – R. Elazar HaRokeach says one breaks the first matzah (not the middle one), and places the half between the full ones, but does not explain why.

Why Hide the Slice? According to R. Elazar HaRokeach, the piece of matzah is placed beneath the tablecloth in imitation of the Exodus, where the Israelites left Egypt with their bread wrapped in cloth ("מִשְׁאֲרֹתָם צְרֻרֹת בְּשִׂמְלֹתָם").

Introduction to Maggid

Sources:R. Yitzchak ibn GeiatSefer HaIttur Hilkhot Matzah UMaror, Teachers of RitvaHaggadah Shel PesachAbout R. Yom Tov b. Ashbel, Orchot ChayyimSeder Leil HaPesach 12

Ha Lachma Anya vs. All of Maggid

The Middle Matzah – None of these sources mention which matzah is split in half, nor do they mention in which position the half is placed after the splitting.

Why Hide the Slice? Like the Rokeach above, the Ritva also mentions "מִשְׁאֲרֹתָם צְרֻרֹת בְּשִׂמְלֹתָם" as being the reason for placing the half of the matzah underneath the tablecloth.

Preparation for Eating Matzah

Motzi – Matzah

Sources:RambanCited in Maharam Chalawa Pesachim 115b, RitvaHaggadah Shel PesachAbout R. Yom Tov b. Ashbel, RanCommentary on Rif Pesachim 25b

The Middle Matzah – None of these sources mention which matzah is split in half, nor do they mention in which position the half is placed after the splitting.

Why Hide the Slice? Like the Rokeach above, the Ritva also mentions "מִשְׁאֲרֹתָם צְרֻרֹת בְּשִׂמְלֹתָם" as being the reason for placing the half of the matzah underneath the tablecloth.

Afikoman

Sources:RashiMachzor Vitri Hilkhot Pesach 65 (Seder Pesach Katzar)Machzor Vitri Hilkhot Pesach 69 (Seder Pesach Aroch), RaavanPesachim 115b-116a, Or ZaruaPart II Hilkhot Pesachim 256

The Middle Matzah – The three sources differ on the choice of matzah placement, but none of them explain their choices:

• Rashi writes that the broken half should be placed between the two unbroken matzot, but he does not detail which matzah should be broken.
• Raavan agrees that the broken matzah should be placed between the other two, but specifies that one should break the first matzah.
• In contrast, Or Zarua states that the middle matzah should be broken, and does not say in which position it should be placed.

Why Hide the Slice? Or Zarua writes that one hides the half of matzah reserved for afikoman so that it would not be eaten by mistake.