What is the Afikomen?

In this post, we will be covering the element of Passover Seder called the Afikomen and answer the question “What is the Afikomen and how is it used in the Jewish celebration of Passover?

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Afikomen means “that which comes after” because, although it is prepared early on in the Seder, it is an element partaken of later on.

The Afikomen is a beautiful element of the Seder and offers such rich teaching, so, although it is a part of the Seder, on the whole, I thought it deserved its own post!

So we know the meaning of the word, but what is it exactly?

It is the piece of matzah that is eaten at the end of the Seder.

On the Seder table, there will be three pieces of matzah that are kept in a pouch with inner pockets known as a matzah tosh. The leader of the Seder will take out the middle piece of matzah and will break it. One half is put aside and the other half is the Afikomen.

The Afikomen is wrapped in a napkin or linen and then typically hidden away until later on when the children will usually search for it. The one who finds it will bring it back to the leader of the Seder for a reward or what is known as a ‘ransom’.

It is broken, hidden away for a time and then returned!

It is then partaken of at the end of the Seder

Celebrating Passover

Passover is a Jewish holiday but it is also one of the seven Biblical Festivals of God that Jesus Himself, being a Jew, kept.

If you are a Christian and have been invited to a Seder and you want to learn more about celebrating be sure to check out all the messages on this topic that are linked below!