EPISODE · Mar 27, 2026 · 19 MIN
Why Matzah Has Two Opposite Meanings - How They Define Freedom | Unlocking the Haggadah #12 | 10@9 | 2026.03.27
from Mining The Riches Of The Parsha · host Rabbi Michael Whitman
Why does the Haggadah give two different—and seemingly contradictory—reasons for eating Matzah? One appears near the beginning of the Seder. The other comes near the end. And they don’t seem to say the same thing. This isn’t just a textual question—it goes to the heart of what freedom actually means. In this episode, we uncover why these two explanations both exist—and how, when taken together, they redefine the freedom we celebrate on Passover. In this series, Unlocking the Haggadah, we reveal the hidden structure behind the Seder so that each part connects into a deeper, more meaningful conversation. In the next episode, we explore a historic disagreement within the Haggadah that still shapes how we experience the Seder today. Michael Whitman is the senior rabbi of ADATH Congregation in Hampstead, Quebec, and an adjunct professor at McGill University Faculty of Law. ADATH is a modern orthodox synagogue community in suburban Montreal, providing Judaism for the next generation. We take great pleasure in welcoming everyone with a warm smile, while sharing inspiration through prayer, study, and friendship. Rabbi Whitman shares his thoughts and inspirations through online lectures and shiurim, which are available on: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5FLcsC6xz5TmkirT1qObkA Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adathmichael/ Podcast - Mining the Riches of the Parsha: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/mining-the-riches-of-the-parsha/id1479615142?fbclid=IwAR1c6YygRR6pvAKFvEmMGCcs0Y6hpmK8tXzPinbum8drqw2zLIo7c9SR-jc Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3hWYhCG5GR8zygw4ZNsSmO Please contact Rabbi Whitman ([email protected]) with any questions or feedback, or to receive a daily email, "Study with Rabbi Whitman Today," with current and past insights for that day, video, and audio, all in one short email sent directly to your inbox.
What this episode covers
Why does the Haggadah give two different—and seemingly contradictory—reasons for eating Matzah? One appears near the beginning of the Seder. The other comes near the end. And they don’t seem to say the same thing. This isn’t just a textual question—it goes to the heart of what freedom actually means. In this episode, we uncover why these two explanations both exist—and how, when taken together, they redefine the freedom we celebrate on Passover. In this series, Unlocking the Haggadah, we reveal the hidden structure behind the Seder so that each part connects into a deeper, more meaningful conversation. In the next episode, we explore a historic disagreement within the Haggadah that still shapes how we experience the Seder today. Michael Whitman is the senior rabbi of ADATH Congregation in Hampstead, Quebec, and an adjunct professor at McGill University Faculty of Law. ADATH is a modern orthodox synagogue community in suburban Montreal, providing Judaism for the next generation. We take great pleasure in welcoming everyone with a warm smile, while sharing inspiration through prayer, study, and friendship. Rabbi Whitman shares his thoughts and inspirations through online lectures and shiurim, which are available on: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5FLcsC6xz5TmkirT1qObkA Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adathmichael/ Podcast - Mining the Riches of the Parsha: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/mining-the-riches-of-the-parsha/id1479615142?fbclid=IwAR1c6YygRR6pvAKFvEmMGCcs0Y6hpmK8tXzPinbum8drqw2zLIo7c9SR-jc Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3hWYhCG5GR8zygw4ZNsSmO Please contact Rabbi Whitman ([email protected]) with any questions or feedback, or to receive a daily email, "Study with Rabbi Whitman Today," with current and past insights for that day, video, and audio, all in one short email sent directly to your inbox.
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Why Matzah Has Two Opposite Meanings - How They Define Freedom | Unlocking the Haggadah #12 | 10@9 | 2026.03.27
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