Karpas

Karpas, according to Rabbeinu Manoach alludes to the sale of Yosef. Pasim, the name of Yosef’s special coat (that signified his status) is connected to the word karpas in the Megillah. Rashi [Bereishis, 37:3] in defining Yosef’s coat explains that the word karpas denotes a special type of wool. The original custom of dunking the vegetable into red wine fills in the picture. In sum, we have the multicolored coat dipped into the blood – beckoning the sale of Yosef. 

Why bring this up now? Because as we ponder leaving Egypt, we must remember how we got in. It is the question we barely speak of, because the shameful answer is through the terrible disunity within klal Yisrael. Thus we break the matzah, a rupture symbolizing unity torn asunder. We then hide the bigger piece for afikoman and look for it at the at the end of the seder. At some point, we find the afikoman. The ultimate way to redemption, both personal and national is through the search for a way towards unity. The geulah will beckon the ten tribes. After the afikoman we call in Eliyahu, the ultimate unifier of the generations – present at bris, seder and redemption. It is interesting that the seder often brings together a lot of different types of people. Perhaps it is a test for redemption, for ultimate geulah requires unity. [From the Orthodox Union]