Here before me are three matzahs.

We divide the middle matzah in two.

One part we keep here. The second part we shall hide while the children close their eyes. This is called the afikomen from the Greek word for dessert. After the meal the children will hunt for it and the finder will be rewarded. When the hidden part is found, we will put the two halves together again, and this will be a sign that what is broken off is not really lost to our people, so long as our children remember and search. Each of us will then eat a little bit of the ceremonial matzah, in place of the lamb of the days of the Temple.


haggadah Section: Introduction