A ccording to the 2013 Pew Survey of US Jews while only 23 percent of American Jews said that they attend religious services at least monthly 70 percent reported that they participate in a Seder on Passover. More than any other holiday Pesach brings family together as they hope to spend quality time that will yield only the most positive memories. In reality however it can be difficult to sit in cramped quarters for numerous meals that go on for hours without some conflict competition or quarrels arising. As they say the definition of a dysfunctional family is any family with more than one member.
An unusual custom regarding matzah is very instructive as to how to prepare for a family Pesach together. The holiday of Pesach and the Seder in particular are brought to us by the number four: four questions four sons four cups of wine. And yet when it comes to matzah we have three. Why?
Many explanations have been offered:
A halachic explanation is that we need to have lechem mishneh two full matzos just as we have two challos every week. Since we plan on breaking one at Yachatz rendering it ineligible for lechem mishneh we need to begin with three.
The matzos commemorate the three measures of fine flour that Avraham instructed Sarah to bake into matzah when the three angels visited them which as Rashi points out occurred on Pesach.
