Between Matzah and Chametz

What’s the difference between matzah and chametz?

They’re both made from flour and water, both baked in an oven, and both provide nourishment.

But one stays flat and humble, while the other fills itself with hot air.

That’s why matzah is a key ingredient for leaving your personal Egypt:

As long as we are full of delusions of self-importance, there’s no way to break out and grow to a new level.

Once we make ourselves small, we can fit through any bars and fly to the highest heights.

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The Inside Story on Passover

No Limits

By Tzvi Freeman

From the wisdom of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, of righteous memory; words and condensation by Rabbi Tzvi Freeman. Subscribe and get your dose daily. To order Rabbi Freeman’s latest book, Wisdom to Heal the Earth, click here.

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22 Comments

Avishai Barbourville, KY April 10, 2024

I found this one a bit confusing. My wife makes bread several times a week, and we never buy bread from a store or bakery. She also makes flatbreads and matzah. Then I realized that you are calling yeast, which is chametz, that which causes flour to rise, as that which must not be found in our house during Passover. The difference between our matzah and our flatbread is the ingredient of baking powder, which causes the flour to rise a little because it contains sodium bicarbonate and monoclalcium phosphate. Then there is sourdough for those who know how to make it. Anyway, flour only fills itself with hot air when it is mixed with a leavening agent, or some kind of chametz.

We have delusions of self-importance when we add belief in personal self existence, aka status. King Solomon fell for that too, until he realized that there is nothing new under the sun, and everything is futile. Then comes realization that there only exists G-d, followed by surrender. Reply

Helen Australia March 31, 2023

I love the comparison. However does it really happens! Reply

BA Kress Austin, Texas April 12, 2020

I repeat my question from 2018, not having received a satisfactory answer. If chametz “fills itself with hot air,” suggesting our being “full of delusions of self-importance,” why would we ever return to eating of it for the rest of the year? Wouldn’t that suggest we leave this glorious period of time just fine with being puffed up for our journey with G-d as we leave Egypt? I suspect there are other reasons for our putting it aside this week. Reply

Rabbi Tzvi Freeman April 22, 2020

in response to BA Kress:

Thank you for re-asking.

The question is actually asked in the Zohar. The Zohar’s answer seems to be that matzah heals, by nurturing our innate faith and trust in G‑d —and Passover is a time that we need healing.

But then we are healed and a healthy person must be ready to assert himself, and a healthy Pearson, one who is deeply aware of a Higher Presence, does not let that self-assertion get to his head. Reply

BA Kress Austin, Texas April 23, 2020

in response to Rabbi Tzvi Freeman:

Very nice. Thank you! Reply

BA Kress Austin March 26, 2018

If chametz “fills itself with hot air” and represents our being “full of delusions of self-importance,” why do we eat of it every week of the year save one? Reply

Brenda Toronto, Canada March 26, 2018

in response to BA Kress:

Between Love and Hatred None of our actions or what foods we eat will change our nature to bring us out of our self-love. These physical acts are referred to as the 'externality' of the Torah.

As the Torah informs us only the Lord your G_d can deliver us from Egypt - Only He can provide us the ability to exit self-love and reach out to serve Him through love of others. This is called the 'internality' of the Torah - the instructions to request Him to reform us within. To reform our nature with His Light.
Our sages recorded that the energy to raise us from our selfish nature is greatest at this time of the year. We can Passover to the next level of existence one step at a time. Only a strong inner yearning to let go our ego which rules us and ties us to our self, will draw His energy to raise us to the next level. This mindset must remain with us throughout the year. Reply

BA Kress Austin, Texas April 22, 2020

in response to Brenda:

I love what you have written. But it doesn’t explain why we would view chametz in the way described. I am seeing comments all over the place after Passover ended about how much people are looking forward to pizza, etc. Understandable. But not so if we really saw chametz as a sign of bloat and self-importance. Thanks for responding, though. Reply

Brenda W Thornhill, Ontario, Canada April 23, 2020

in response to BA Kress :

The Chametz in You The chametz is only a physical symbol for us to relate to the spiritual problem within us. Through millennia we tend to lose the real meaning, the spiritual instruction to us. So what remains is a physical expression that has become disconnected from it's spiritual root.

The chametz represents our egoistic nature - each is full of their self-delusional importance.
The matzah symbolizes our need to starve our ego from fulfilling ourselves with all our self-serving pleasures.
Instead we must recognize our flaw and request G_d to reform our egoistic nature to represent His mature of altruistic service. We must fulfill ourselves with love of others, ('matzah'), instead of self-love (chometz')
Then we exit our pleasure place, our Egypt and are free from our Egoistic force, symbolized as Pharaoh ruling over us. Reply

Anonymous usa April 18, 2016

GROWTH I am "Everything" because I am "Growing" in Torah (G-D), yet I am "Nothing" because I am still learning. May we all "Arrive" together. Reply

char April 18, 2016

So true Reply

inge reisinger zwickau April 18, 2016

i just noticed the word matzah and chametz are with the same letters exept the c and e and i love the round matzahs which are used on seder evening they have a taste and smell only for pessach Reply

Brenda Toronto, Canada April 20, 2014

The Barrier Between 'I' and 'Us' The whole Torah is instructing us through metaphors how to exit our egos to make place to connect in the proper way to others. When we try to accomplish this through our efforts, we will attract the Light that will raise us to a new level of existence. Reply

zak San Diego April 18, 2014

You are what you eat A great cook always prepared the right dish. That the right ingredients given. The cook smiles upon the one who eats and understands its purpose. Reply

Anonymous March 22, 2013

Yes The wonders of Matzo. Keep our egos in check. Matzo is flat and a good reminder to be humble. Matzo's length and width or roundness are greater, perhaps a message for doing more mitzvot.

I like your metaphors. Mine just feed off of them. Reply

Anonymous March 22, 2013

Amen Reply

valerie usa March 22, 2013

matzoh/chametz 'leaving our personal egypts' is extremely significant to me, personally.

i've never been cornered, imprisoned, ruled or enslaved by anyone (THANK G-D!) Like a bull -- leave me be, i won't roam far, but PLEASE DON'T try to force me into a corner, more or less.

an example - at a younger than young age, i was instantly addicted to cigarettes big time. only - and until - the realization of being a 40-year slave to nicotine did i become incensed enough to really quit - with a gift from G-d that i'm thankful for every single day. 'freedom' is sacred to me. good Shabbos and happy Passover. Reply

Joseph Ct. March 22, 2013

well "said"! Shabbat shalom ! Reply

Renee NJ March 22, 2013

A wonderful metaphor for releasing our ego. Yes, oftentimes, we are filled with so much "hot air," lol! Reply

Anne Lanzarone Accord, Accord April 24, 2011

Hashe lifts the lowly and brings down the haughty. BRILLIANT AS USUAL! YASHER KOACH! Reply

Stephen Weinstein Camarillo, CA April 21, 2011

Chometz can be flat too There are many crackers that are just as airless and flat as Matzvah, but are not Kosher for Passover.

And there are foods that are more airy than regular bread that are Kosher for Passover (they use potato flour instead of grain and eggs instead of yeast, so they are technically not leavened, but they rise more than regular bread). Reply

Anonymous Germany April 21, 2011

Make ourselves small? There is no need to make ourselves small.
W e a r e s m a l l .
when we stand in the presence of G-d.

Im spite of that we have to leave our personal Egypt.
(The "big ones" together with the "small ones") Reply

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