Afikoman

Handmade shmura matzo used at the Passover Seder especially for the mitzvot of eating matzo and afikoman . Afikoman ( Hebrew language : אפיקומן, based on Greek , epikomen or epikomion [επί Κομός], meaning "that which comes after" or "dessert") is a half-piece of matzo which is broken in the early stages of the Passover Seder and set aside to be eaten as a dessert after the meal. Based on the Mishnah in Pesahim 119a, the afikoman is a substitute for the Korban Pesach , which was the last thing eaten at the Passover Seder during the eras of the First and Second Temples and during the period of the Mishkan . The Gemara states that it is forbidden to eat any other food after eating the afikoman , in order to keep the taste of matzo in our mouths. In some families, the head of the household hides the afikoman for the children to find, and rewards them with money or candy. In other families, the children "steal" the afikoman and ask for a reward for its return. Either way, the afikoman has become a device for keeping children awake and alert during the Seder proceedings, until the time it is needed for dessert.

Afikoman ( Hebrew language : אפיקומן, based on Greek , epikomen or epikomion [επί Κομός], meaning "that which comes after" or "dessert") is a half-piece of matzo which is broken in two during the early stages of the Passover Seder and set aside to be eaten as a dessert after the meal. Based on the Mishnah in Pesahim 119a, the afikoman is a substitute for the Korban Pesach , which was the last thing eaten at the Passover Seder during the eras of the First and Second Temples and during the period of the Mishkan . The Talmud states that it is forbidden to have "afikoman" after eating the meal, so that the taste of matzo remains in our mouths. In some families, the head of the household hides the afikoman for the children to find, and rewards them with money or candy. In other families, the children "steal" the afikoman and ask for a reward for its return. Either way, the afikoman has become a device for keeping children awake and alert during the Seder proceedings, until the time it is needed for dessert.

Afikoman ( based on Greek epikomon [ἐπὶ κῶμον] or epikomion [ἐπικώμιον], meaning "that which comes after" or "dessert") is a half-piece of matzo which is broken in two during the early stages of the Passover Seder and set aside to be eaten as a dessert after the meal. Based on the Mishnah in Pesahim 119b, the afikoman is a substitute for the Passover sacrifice , which was the last thing eaten at the Passover Seder during the eras of the First and Second Temples and during the period of the Tabernacle . The Talmud states that it is forbidden to have any other food after the afikoman, so that the taste of the matzo that was eaten after the meal remains in the participants' mouths. Since the destruction of the Temple and the discontinuation of the Korban Pesach , Jews eat a piece of matzo now known as afikomen to finish the Passover Seder meal. Customs around the afikoman vary, though they often share the common purpose of keeping children awake and alert during the Seder until the afikoman is eaten. Following Ashkenazi customs, the head of household may hide the afikoman for the children to find, or alternatively, the children may steal the afikoman and ransom it back. Chabad tradition discourages stealing the afikoman lest it lead to bad habits. Following Mizrahi customs, the afikoman may be tied in a sling to a child's back for the duration of the Seder. Also spelled אפיקמון ; see שנויי נוסחאות on the Mishnah , Pesahim 10:8 (citing Cambridge manuscript) and Solomon Adeni 's מלאכת שלמה.

Portion of matzo used during Passover Afikoman ( Mishnaic Hebrew : אֲפִיקִימוֹן ʾăpîqîmôn ; Modern pronunciation: אֲפִיקוֹמָן ʾăpîqômān ) based on Greek epikomon [ἐπὶ κῶμον] or epikomion [ἐπικώμιον], meaning "that which comes after" or "dessert"), a word originally having the connotation of "refreshments eaten after the meal", is now almost strictly associated with the half-piece of matzo which is broken in two during the early stages of the Passover Seder and set aside to be eaten as a dessert after the meal. Based on the Mishnah in Pesahim 119b, the afikoman is a substitute for the Passover sacrifice , which was the last thing eaten at the Passover meal during the eras of the First and Second Temples and during the period of the Tabernacle . The Talmud states that it is forbidden to have any other food after the afikoman , so that the taste of the matzo that was eaten after the meal remains in the participants' mouths. Since the destruction of the Temple and the discontinuation of the Korban Pesach , Jews eat a piece of matzo now known as afikomen to finish the Passover Seder meal. Customs around the afikoman vary, though they often share the common purpose of keeping children awake and alert during the Seder until the afikoman is eaten. Following Ashkenazi customs, the head of household may hide the afikoman for the children to find, or alternatively, the children may steal the afikoman and ransom it back. Chabad tradition discourages stealing the afikoman lest it lead to bad habits. Following Mizrahi customs, the afikoman may be tied in a sling to a child's back for the duration of the Seder. So spelled and vocalized in de Rossi 138 (Parma A) and Kaufmann A50; also spelled אפיקמון in the Cambridge manuscript and by the "Rabbi Jehoseph" cited by Adeni .