Tonight we break the middle matzahThe unleavened bread eaten on Passover that recalls the Israelite's hasty escape from Egypt when there was no time for the dough to rise. Matzah is also considered the "bread of our affliction," eaten while we were slaves.
of our present world.
Â
We try to still this sweet
and fragile moment together,
Â
but know
we must snap in half
Â
the unleavened bread and hide it,
scattering crumbs.
Â
We pray that our children
will find and return it,
Â
making the moment whole.
Each must search
Â
for wise ways to live
among fragments.
Â
Each must learn
from the Exodus story –
Â
tyrant, slaves, the wandering
migrants, spokesman, a God
Â
of wrath and promises,
of rules and lovingkindness.
Â
Each of us must emerge
from this year, this story
Â
and bring to the table
our pieces
Â
to share what’s luminous
among us.
