Eat all who come to the table

This is a strange invitation: "This is the bread of oppression our fathers ate in the land of Egypt. Let all who are hungry come in and eat." What hospitality is it to offer the hungry the taste of suffering? In fact, though, this is a profound insight into the nature of slavery and freedom. As noted, matza represents two things: it is the food of slaves, and also the bread eaten by the Israelites as they left Egypt in liberty. What transforms the bread of oppression into the bread of freedom is  the willingness to share it with others....

Sharing food is the first act through which slaves become free human beings. One who fears tomorrow does not offer his bread to others. But one who is willing to divide his food with a stranger has already shown himself to be capable of fellowship and faith, the two things from which hope is born. That is why we begin the seder by inviting others to join us. Bread shared is no longer the bread of oppression. Reaching out to others, giving help to the needy and companionship to those who are along, we bring freedom into the world, and with freedom, God.

We begin by sharing matzah with the hungry and needy.

We also drink, but later we drip wine away when we talk about the ritual of the Ten Plagues, with the spilling of 10 drops of wine, teaches us that, even in the midst of our rejoicing for the miracles of our freedom, we lessen the sweetness of our cup of wine in sympathy for the suffering of the Egyptians. Most importantly, we retell this story every year because we are to remember that, having ourselves been slaves, outcasts, and oppressed, we must always remember our history to prevent others from being oppressed and outcasts in our own day or in the future.

Who can we think of now who is oppressed in the world today?

One person each, quick round the table? (husbands cannot answer themselves)


haggadah Section: Introduction