The Three Matzot

- Gabi Edrey and Ron Yosipovich

 

One must consider the significance of the three matzot during the Seder night. Although the three matzot seem identical, each one is different and fulfills a separate mitzvah.

The matzot are symbolic, representing the three types of Jews: Kohanim, Levi’im, and Yisra’elim.  The first matzah, Kohen, is placed on top. This matzah symbolizes the priority of the Kohen in all matters.  The second matzah, Levi, is placed in the middle.  This matzah is broken into two.  The smaller piece is returned to its place, and the larger piece is hidden, for later use as the Afikoman.  This is eaten to symbolize the Pesach sacrifice. The third matzah, Yisrael, is placed on the bottom, and is used later for Korech. 

The three matzot can be seen as an allusion to three cakes of matzah that were separated from the thanksgiving offering as terumah to G-D. The sages (Berachot 54b) say that there are four people who are required to bring a thanksgiving offering: someone who returns from journey at sea, one who returns from a journey across the desert, one who recuperates from a sickness, and one who is released from a prison. Since the Israelites were released from the slavery of Egypt, miracles were performed such as the safe delivery through the sea and the wilderness. Also, all of their sicknesses were cured. So therefore, we make these three matzos as a remembrance of the thanksgiving offering.

Other commentators consider the three matzos to be an allusion to our three forefathers. We take three matzos to show that even though we were enslaved in Egypt, we were still protected and guarded through the nobility of our ancestors, by their merit.

Others see the three matzos as an allusion to the three quantities of flour that Abraham asked Sarah to bake when the angels came to visit him. In Bereishit (18:6) it quotes Abraham telling Sarah to be quick and knead three measures of fine flour and make cakes… our tradition tells us that this dialogue took place on Erev Pesach.  

These are some ideas that explain the significance of the three Matzot.  It is important to understand each mitzvah, so there will be greater meaning behind the performance of the mitzvot.

 

Kitov, Eliyahu. The Book of Our Heritage, Jerusalem; Feldheim Publishers, 1999.