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This question arose at my seder this year and nobody present knew of an answer: The haggadah designates the three matzot for specific purposes: We are to break the middle one (and save the larg...
Question
seder
#1: Initial revision
by
Monica Cellio
·
2022-04-18T00:49:47Z (over 2 years ago)
Why do we designate specific matzot for seder rituals?
This question arose at my *seder* this year and nobody present knew of an answer: The *haggadah* designates the three *matzot* for specific purposes: - We are to break the middle one (and save the larger piece for the *afikoman*). - We are to use the top and (remainder of the middle) ones when fulfilling the obligation of *matzah*. - Wa are to use the bottom one for the Hillel sandwich. Why are specific ones used for specific purposes at all, and why these ones? In contrast, when we have two loaves of bread for Shabbat there are no rules about what to do with which; we just eat them. I can imagine perhaps wanting to hide the broken piece between two whole ones to avoid calling attention to its diminishment, though I haven't heard this explanation. One attendee pointed out that one interpretation of the three *matzot* is that they represent Kohein, Levi, and Yisrael, but we couldn't figure out why breaking the Levi *matzah* would make sense, and we didn't come up with anything for the other special designations. Why does the *haggadah* care which *matzot* we use for which ritual elements?