Splitting Crumbs: Finding Meaning in the Middle of the Holiday – Brian Kohn’s D’var Torah (Shabbat Chol HaMoed 04/04/26)

Splitting Crumbs: Finding Meaning in the Middle of the Holiday

Shabbat Chol HaMoed Pesach is a bit of a paradox. On the one hand, it’s Shabbat — the holiest, most restful day of the week. On the other hand, it’s Chol HaMoed — which is basically Judaism’s way of saying, “Relax… but not too much.” It’s like God is saying, “Take the day off! But also, remember you’re still in the middle of a festival, so maybe don’t fully commit to the couch.”

And then there’s the food situation. By the third day of Pesach, we’ve all entered what I like to call the “Matzah Identity Crisis.” On day one, matzah is beautiful — crisp, symbolic, deeply meaningful. By day three, you’re looking at it like, “Are you bread? Are you a cracker? Are you drywall?” Somewhere between the second and third piece, you start chewing more for philosophical reasons than nutritional ones.

This Shabbat, we read about the intermediate days of the festivals — a reminder that holiness isn’t just in the big, dramatic moments like the splitting of the sea, but also in the in-between days. Which is nice, because let’s be honest: by Chol HaMoed, none of us are splitting seas. At best, we’re splitting a piece of matzah without it exploding into 47 crumbs.

There’s something deeply relatable about this idea. The Exodus from Egypt was full of miracles — plagues, fire, redemption, cinematic-level drama. But then comes the desert: long, repetitive, a lot of walking, and probably a lot of people asking, “Are we there yet?” Chol HaMoed is the “desert phase” of the holiday. The excitement of the Seder is over, but we’re not quite at the grand finale yet. It’s spiritual limbo — with fewer carbs.

And maybe that’s the point. Real life isn’t all miracles and big moments. Most of life happens in the middle — the ordinary days, the routines, the slightly stale matzah. Shabbat Chol HaMoed reminds us that even those “in-between” times can be meaningful. Even when the most exciting thing that happens is successfully making a sandwich that doesn’t disintegrate.

So this Shabbat, as you sit around the table eating your 9th variation of “matzah with something,” take a moment to appreciate the journey. We may not be crossing the Red Sea today, but we are navigating something equally challenging: making Pesach last a full week without Googling “Is quinoa secretly chametz?”

Wishing you a Shabbat of rest, joy, and just enough matzah to maintain your faith — but not test it too much,

Brian