Re: oops I forgot!
Submitted by Ben on March 29 1999 at 18:42:30
In reply to oops I forgot! Submitted by F.O.D. on March 29 1999 at 11:45:36
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Hehe - Don't be offended FOD as I giggle at the way the tradition was half understood from what you heard. In fact, I wonder how much Jewish tradition has been misinterpreted and mis-repeated over the years and centuries, across national borders and centuries, so that the original meaning is lost. In the center of the table is actually placed three pieces of matzoh (not dough boys, though that would be funny). The middle one is called the afikoman (ah-fee-co-man) and is broken into two pieces. One piece is hidden somewhere in the house for the children to find. The passover seder cannot be completed without the afikoman and usually the child who finds it is given a small gift or some money. I never actually was told the sigificance of the afikoman (it seems that many Jewish traditions have become rituals without meaning) but I have heard before that it is considered to represent "spiritual salvation" which is broken. The point is that we are only "half spiritual" and that we must "search for" and "find" our spirituality. In fact this makes good sense, and it further makes sense that Christ would be represented by the afikoman, since in Christ we DO find spiritual salvation. I think that it's really cool how much of an interest Christians take in passover. It has renewed my enthusiasm for it! You are not alone. 
Ben |