Matzah Covers
A Matzah Cover is a decorated and embroidered cloth covering the Matzahs during the Passover meal. It contains three "pockets" into which each of the three matzos is inserted. The three matzos represent the three groups in the Jewish people: Cohanim (Priests), Levites, and Israelites. In the Seder feast, as on Shabbat Kiddush, we bless the wine before blessing the matzohs, and so as not to “embarrass” them, we cover them like we do with the Challot. Obviously the Matzah cannot literally feel shamed, but the act of covering it up becomes a symbolic means of reminding us to be sensitive to people’s feelings. We uncover the Matzah during the telling of the story of the Jews being slaves in Egypt, and re-cover them again when the wine cups are raised to express praise to God for the Jews’ redemption from the slavery in Egypt. A Matzo cover is a special gift for Passover, and for a new home.
