How many matzot are typically placed on the Seder plate? Three matzot are traditionally prepared for the Passover Seder.
The matzot are usually stacked on a separate matzah plate or covered cloth beside the symbolic Seder plate. They represent the unleavened bread eaten during the Exodus, when the Israelites left Egypt so quickly that their dough did not have time to rise.
During the Seder, the middle matzah is broken during the ritual called Yachatz. The larger piece is hidden or set aside as the afikoman, which is eaten near the end of the meal. The three matzot are also commonly associated in Jewish tradition with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
A common mix-up is assuming the three matzot are among the six foods arranged on the Seder plate itself. In many traditions, the Seder plate holds items such as maror, karpas, charoset, and a roasted egg, while the three matzot sit separately. The number three refers to the customary stack used during the ritual.