Note 86 — II. OUR DUTIES. (continued 4)

The afikuman has been reserved wrapped in a napkin (reminding of Exod. xii. 34), in order that the meal should finish up with matsah, just as in the time of the Temple it finished up with meat of the Passover-sacrifice.—In the Talmud (Pes. 109a) the rule is given ‏וחוטפין מצה‎ “We make haste to come quickly to the eating of matsah,” before the younger members of the company become drowsy or fall asleep. The words ‏וחוטפין מצה‎ have erroneously been interpreted, “We should snatch away the matsah,” and this interpretation caused the Service to be accompanied by a certain kind of childish amusement: some one of the company stealthily possesses himself of the matsah laid aside for afikuman, and does not surrender it until the master of the house promises him some present—The custom is unseemly and ought to be discouraged. ↑