There are two questions we can ask about the matzah, unleavened bread, whose answers reveal the basis of Judaism and offer an important life lesson.
The first is why do the siddur and machzor, the prayer books, call Passover Chag Hamatzot, the holiday of matzot (plural of matzah), and not Chag Pesach, the holiday of Passover?
I think the answer is that the word Passover reminds us that God saved the Israelite slaves in Egypt by causing a miracle to occur. Death passed over the Israelites when God killed many Egyptians. In contrast, matzah symbolizes freedom. It reminds us that the Israelites rushed to freedom from Egyptian slavery, so fast that they did not have time to add leaven to their bread. Leaven in bread is a substance, such as yeast, sourdough starter, or baking powder, that causes dough to rise and become light by releasing gases. It acts as a fermentation agent in breadmaking, creating air bubbles (carbon dioxide) that expand the dough. Leavened breads contain a small amount of yeast or another leavening agent, while unleavened breads, such as matzot, do not. This results in leavened breads being puffier than unleavened breads.
It is the lesson of freedom that is important. People should not rely on God to save them or even to help them in any way. We should not live a life like Pinocchio, waiting for God to pull our strings. The Bible instructs us to act. It tells us that God gave us intelligence to act, and that we are required to use it to improve ourselves and others, including non-Jewish strangers. The care, welcome, or love for the stranger appears 36 times in the Torah (or up to 46, according to some interpretations), largely within the Torah’s emphasis on remembering the experience of the escape from Egyptian slavery. This command appears more frequently in the Torah than almost any other commandment. For example, Leviticus 19:34 states: “The stranger who resides with you shall be to you as one of your citizens; you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.”
Thus, the prayer book teaches that the holiday’s message is the message of the matzah, non-reliance on divine help, but securing the blessings of freedom for all.
The second question focuses on the blessing over matzah during the Passover Seder. Why do we thank God for giving us matzah? Matzah is bread. We should say the same blessing for unleavened matzah at the seder as we do for leavened bread.
Again, the Haggadah, the narration of the exodus from Egypt, read during the Seder meal, emphasizes the true message of Passover, achieving the benefits of freedom for all. For the rest of the year, the same blessing is given for both leavened and unleavened bread.
Thus, the prayer book teaches that the holiday’s message is the message of the matzah, non-reliance on divine help, but securing the blessings of freedom for all.
Its important to treat everyone in the way they deserve to be treated.
Yes, treat others as you want them to treat you.
In the Siddur:
1. Asher Yatzar
2. Birkhot Ha’Shchar
3. Barukh She’Amar
4. Shehmaa – Guard yourselves so that you are not enticed by your hearts to veer and serve false gods and bow down to them. Then, the wrath of Adonay will flare against you, and He will restrain the heavens; there will be no rain, the land will not yield its produce, and you will perish quickly from upon you. I have known many secular/atheist so-called Jews who are extremely financially successful.
80+% or so-called Jews are secular or atheist today!
5. Shemoneh Esreh – 8. Blessing of Healing 16. Blessing of Accepting Prayer.
Does Elohim, El Shaddai, Adonay hear us, listen to us, or do we perform the Shahariyt, Minhah, and Aryvit prayers, because we are Torah observant?
Dear Yaaqoub,
I do not know if God hear us. I am convinced that God wants us to act without depending on divine help. I am convinced that the purpose of the prayers is not to influence God in any way but to learn from what we read to improve ourselves and the rest of the world.
Your reflection, dear Rabbi Israel Drazin, discusses two key questions about matzah and Passover that reveal important Jewish values. First, it explains that calling Passover Chag Hamatzot emphasizes freedom and human effort, as matzah symbolizes the Israelites’ quick escape from slavery, highlighting the importance of action over relying solely on divine help. Second, it explains that thanking God for matzah during the Seder underscores that true freedom is achieved through human initiative, not just divine intervention. Overall, the message is that Passover teaches the importance of taking responsibility and acting purposefully to attain freedom. Well done. Best, stephen
Thanks for the compliment, Stephen.