By Aharon Spetner
Illustrated by Miri Weinreb
“Gut Yom Tov!” Totty said warmly as he and the boys walked into the house after Maariv. It was Leil Haseder and everything seemed to sparkle. The table was set with a pristine tablecloth, the kaarah was already in place, and Mommy and Ashi were busy bringing out bottles of wine and grape juice. “This pillow is mine!” Eli said, proudly putting a pillow on his chair. “Look Totty!” said Brochi, holding up a stuffed toy frog. “I brought a turtle for makas tzfardeia!” “Wonderful!” Totty said, taking down a box of matzah from on top of the bookcase. “But that’s a frog, not a turtle.” Brochi stared at her frog. “I don’t have a turtle,” she said sadly. “That’s okay Brochi,” Mommy said. “Makas tzfardeia was frogs, not turtles.”
Brochi looked confused. “Then which makah was the turtles?” “I don’t think there was any makah of turtles,” Totty said. “Unless there were giant snapping turtles during makas arov.” “The Hagaddah says that there were actually 50, 200, or 250 makos in Mitzrayim,” said Boruch. “Maybe one of them was turtles.” “Very good, Boruch!” Totty said, carefully removing a matzah from the box and making sure it was shaleim. “You mean there actually was a makah of turtles?” Asked Boruch, surprised. “I actually have no idea,” Totty said with a smile. “I just meant I’m proud of you for knowing so much about the Hagaddah.” “Totty,” said Boruch, his smile suddenly gone. “What kind of matzos are those?” “These are from the Markowitz Matzah Bakery,” Totty said, laying three matzos on the table and covering them. “But we always get Horki Matzos,” Boruch protested. “They are the best-tasting matzos in the whole world! Not too hard, not too soft, and they never taste burnt!” “My morah said that matzah tastes like whatever you want it to taste like,” said Brochi. “Brochi, I have a feeling you’re thinking of the mann,” said Mommy. “No, my morah said matzah. She said it falls down from shomayim and Moshe Rabbeinu hit it with a stick and water came out of it.” “Boruch,” Totty said. “I was not able to get Horki Matzah this year. But Markowitz Matzah is also very tasty.” “How do you know?” asked Boruch. “Because I went with a chaburah to bake at the bakery and I ate some of the broken matzos for lunch,” Totty said. “Wow, kinderlach!” Mommy said. “We are going to eat matzos that Totty baked himself! Isn’t that amazing?” “No,” said Boruch, crossing his arms stubbornly. “If it’s not Horki, I’m not eating it.” “Boruch,” said Totty. “You’re a very smart boy. You already showed that you know the Hagaddah. And in the Haggadah there is also a smart boy. Do you know who that is?” “The chochom,” Boruch muttered. “Very good! And what is the question that the chochom asks?” “He asks, “What are these eidos and hukim and mishpatim that our G-d commanded you?” answered Boruch. “Excellent!” Totty said. “Let me ask you, what are eidos?”
“Testimonies?” Boruch guessed. “Right again! But testimony is usually found in a courtroom, when a witness makes a statement to the judge. Why, when we are talking about the food we eat at the seder, is it referred to as ‘testimony’?” This question seemed to stump Boruch. “It’s because the matzah is telling us something,” Totty said. “We don’t just eat matzah because it’s crunchy and tastes good. Of course we should enjoy eating the matzah, but that’s not the point. Testimony is something very important. And when someone tells you something important, we have to think about it. The point of the matzah is to make us think. As we chew the matzah we need to think about how we were slaves in Mitzrayim, how Hashem took us out, what would be if we had never left Mitzrayim, and more. There is no end to the things we should be thinking about when we eat the matzah. “How sad is it if someone only eats matzah for the taste and never spends a minute thinking about it? So maybe this matzah isn’t as good as Horki Matzah - and maybe it’s even better - we’ll find out by Motzi Matzah when we eat it. But Hashem wants us to take so much more out of the matzah than just the taste. The matzah is a vehicle and we’re going on an exhilarating ride! So, hop in and let’s see where the adventure of the seder takes us!” Boruch smiled sheepishly. He felt silly that he was making such a big deal about which bakery the matzah came from when there were so many more important things to think about than just the taste of the matzah. Totty tied the belt of his kittel. “Kadeish, urchatz...” he sang as the rest of the family joined in and the seder began. Chag Kosher Vsomeiach!
Let’s Review:
Why is the matzah referred to as “eidus”, testimony? What are you going to think about while eating the matzah this year?
Reprinted from the Pesach 5785 email of Toras Avigdor Junior based on the Torah teachings of Rav Avigdor Miller, zt”l.
