By Rabbi Yair Hoffman
“What? I never heard of that!”
“I’m sorry, but I do not know anyone who eats matzah like that. It can’t be true.”
“My parents would have told me if this were true. I don’t care if you say it is in the Shulchan Aruch. This is just not done. It can’t be that tens of thousands of people are doing it wrong.”
But let’s start at the beginning. Let us remember that for centuries, Jews have tried to fulfill mitzvos in the most ideal manner possible. Often what this means is to fulfill the mitzvah in a manner that is consistent with the views of as many of the Rishonim as possible. Some people who are not accustomed to this notion will find such dedication extreme. Others, however, will realize that dedication to mitzvos and Torah observance is a manifestation of ahavas Hashem, the love we have toward G-d.
Did you ever wonder why we need two kezeisim of matzah for the first portion at the Seder, but the other times we eat it (Korech and Afikoman) you technically only need one?
Well, here is why . . .
Which Is The Lechem Mishneh?
There is a huge debate among the Rishonim as to how to understand the Gemara in Pesachim 116b. Upon what, exactly, do we recite the blessings on the night of Pesach? Normally, there is a requirement called lechem mishneh, that we must recite the HaMotzi on two whole loaves of bread. On Pesach, however, there is a requirement of lechem oni, poor man’s bread (Devarim 16:3). This refers to a broken and incomplete loaf.
Rashi, Tosefos, and other Rishonim rule that one must utilize the broken piece, but one must also recite the blessing on two whole pieces since it is no worse than any other yom tov. The Rif and Rambam, however, rule that the broken matzah takes the place of the second loaf.
Which Blessing On Which?
The debate of the Rishonim is do we make the “Al Achilas Matzah” blessing on the broken piece and the HaMotzi blessing on the whole piece? Or is it the opposite–that we make the HaMotzi on the broken piece and the Al Achilas Matzah on the whole piece? There is also a third option: that both blessings are recited on the broken piece.
Rashi and many Rishonim hold of the first position. The Rashba and many Rishonim hold of the latter interpretation. There are also a few Rishonim that hold of the view that both blessings are made on the broken piece.
The Great Compromise
Because of all these doubts, the Shulchan Aruch rules that we should eat two kezeisim of matzah simultaneously–one from the whole piece and one from the broken piece. We should also have in mind that we are reciting the blessings on both the whole one and the broken one.
Therefore, the ideal correct procedure is the following four-step process (see S.A. O.C. 475:1). Please note that some people will find step 4 rather difficult, so an alternative step 4 is provided later.
1. We make the HaMotzi on all three matzos.
2. Then we drop the lower whole matzah and recite the blessing of Al Achilas Matzah on both the upper whole one and the broken matzah below it.
3. We then break a kezayis from both of them, wrap them together, and consumes a kezayis from each one simultaneously. Yes, that is correct: place both kezeisim in the mouth together.
4. Both kezeisim are then chewed well and split, within the mouth, in half–one kezayis on each side. Then one is swallowed, followed by the other.
If one reads the Shulchan Aruch carefully, the indication is that both kezeisim should also actually be swallowed together. However, both the Magen Avraham and the Mishnah Berurah (475:9) write that it is only necessary to have them in the mouth together, chew them, and separate them in the mouth, but it is not necessary to swallow them together–one after the other will suffice.
Alternative Step 4
If it is not possible to put two kezeisim of matzah in the mouth simultaneously, then one should take a kezayis from the whole matzah for the berachah of HaMotzi and, after chewing it, swallow it in its entirety. Afterward, he should take a kezayis from the broken piece, chew it well, and swallow that one in its entirety.
The Mishnah Berurah (475:10) explains that the kezayis from the whole one should be first because it is tadir, the more commonly eaten one. It is not considered a hefsek, a delay to the mitzvah of al achilas matzah because it is a necessary pre-step to the eating of the broken matzah.
If someone is unable to swallow an entire kezayis simultaneously, then he may rely on the opinion that the kezayis may be eaten in two or three swallows (Terumas HaDeshen #139).
Time Span
If a person did not follow the four steps above or the alternative, he has still fulfilled the mitzvah of matzah as long as he ate both kezeisim within the amount of time called “k’dei achilas pras.” How long exactly is “k’dei achilas pras”? The consensus is that ideally we should adhere to the two-minute requirement mentioned by the Chasam Sofer (Vol. VI #16 and 23), but at a maximum we should not go beyond four minutes (see Shiurin shel Torah).
If a person is sick or elderly and cannot at all eat the two kezeisim, he should just consume one kezayis, as the Gemara does not mention anything about two kezeisim–it is merely the manner in which the Shulchan Aruch recommends fulfilling the mitzvah according to all interpretations. Which piece should the kezayis come from? It should come from the broken matzah, since this is the view of the greater number of Rishonim. Ideally, however, he should have a tiny amount from the whole matzah as well.
How Much Is A Kezayis?
There seems to be a four-way debate in the Rishonim and Acharonim as to how the measure of a kezayis is calculated. Some say it is a bit less than half an egg, and some say a third of an egg. Others say that the egg is an unpeeled egg. Finally, there is the opinion of Rav Chaim of Volozhin that it is the size of a contemporary olive. The general custom, however, is to use a larger size than that which was advocated by Rav Chaim.
Without further complicating matters, Rav Dovid Feinstein, shlita, is quoted as saying that it should amount to 1.5 fluid ounces–for machine matzah two-thirds of the matzah, and for hand matzah a quarter matzah (see Sefer Kezayis HaShalem p. 91). This author feels that if one uses extremely thin hand matzah (such as Chareidim or Shatzer), then one should add the area of the index and middle finger to the quarter matzah. v
The author can be reached at Yairhoffman2@gmail.com.
