The Short Vort
Good Morning!
Today is Friday 24th of Sivan 5781 and June 4, 2021
The Special Matzah
It was during the Seder when nine-year-old Yossi approached his grandfather.
The family was about to eat the afikomen, and Yossi could not imagine how everyone would eat from the one piece of Matza wrapped in the afikomen bag.
“Zaidy, how can that one piece of matza be enough for all of the seventeen people at the seder?”
Shmuel Fischman (name changed) gently led Yossi to a box next to his seat. “What do you see in there?” Yossi answered, “I see about ten boxes of Matza.”
Yossi, I have twenty pounds of Shmura Matza. We have more than enough Matza for everyone.”
Suddenly, Shmuel began to cry.
“Zaidy, why are you crying?”
Shmuel looked at his grandson and glanced at the large table crowded with his children and grandchildren.
He was transported back in time to 1970.
Back then, “Steve” was fourteen years old.
A group of yeshiva boys on a SEED program had inspired Steve to become Shomer Shabbos.
When Pesach arrived, Steve informed his father that the family would need to purchase special Shmurah Matzohs for the Seder.
When Steve’s father heard the price of the special Matzah, he was not pleased.
Steve’s father informed him that at the Seder-as they have been doing since Steve’s father was a little boy- the family divides one Horowitz Margareten Matzah amongst everyone present.
Patiently yet, persistently, Steve explained to his father that there was a need to have Shmurah Matza to fulfill the Mitzvah of Matzah.
Steve’s father declared, “We are not changing our traditions! We have always divided one Horowitz Margareten Matzah amongst everyone, and we will not begin this new fanatical fad of eating Shmurah Matzah.
Steve was crestfallen. He could not and would not hurt his father. However, he also knew that he wanted very much to fulfill his Mitzvah of eating Matzah.
Finally, Steve had an epiphany.
He hid a piece of Shmurah Matzah under the tablecloth by his seat, and while his father was dividing the Matzah, Steve stealthily removed his Shmurah Matzah and quickly and furtively consumed his portion.
That night as Steve lay in bed, tears rolled down his cheeks.
There were tears of happiness of having been able to fulfill the Mitzah. Yet, mixed in were tears of sadness as he had to act covertly.
Steve dreamed of how grateful he would be to Hashem when he would be able to run his Seder and have as much Shmurah Matzah as needed.
“Zaidy, why are you crying?” Yossi asked again.
Jolted awake by his grandson’s question, Shmuel said, “I am crying tears of gratitude to Hashem for the privilege of having as much Matzah for everyone as they want!”
“But, everyone has Matzah at the Seder, and they don’t cry?” Yossi asked.
It was then that Shmuel removed a “special” box of Shmurah Matzah from the pile.
“Yes, Yossi, you are right; everyone has Shmurah Matza at the Seder. However, not everyone is privileged to have this box.”
“What is so special about that box, Zaidy?”
Shmuel carefully removed a beautiful hand-baked Matzah and proceeded to carry it with love to the front of the table.
He then looked at Yossi while he declared for all to hear, “This Shmurah Matzah is the most precious to me. For this piece is the one I present to my father who is privileged to be at the Seder with his son, grandson, and great-grandsons.”
Shmuel kissed the precious Matzah as he placed it in front of his aged father. As he did so, his father slowly took his son’s hand and kissed the hands, which held the Shmurah Matzah.
“I love you, Steve.” Shmuel’s father said.
As their eyes met, an ocean of tears flooded the cheeks and hearts of everyone present.
"If Not Now, Then When?"- Hillel
Ron Yitzchok Eisenman
Rabbi
Congregation Ahavas Israel
