בס ד Rabbi Moshe Steiner April 19th, 2016
> MITZVAH REQUIREMENTS: Matzah - The minimum amount of matzah needed to fulfill one s obligation is 1 oz. Maror (bitter herb) - The minimum amount of maror needed to fulfill one s obligation is ¾ oz. Korban Pesach (paschal sacrifice) - After the destruction of the Temple, the obligation to eat the paschal sacrifice is no longer in effect. Matzah: Scriptural sources for the obligation to eat matzah In the first [month], on the fourteenth day in the evening, you shall eat unleavened bread, until the twenty-first day of the month in the evening. Exodus 12:18 ב ר אש ן ב א ר ב ע ה ע ש ר יו ם ל ח ד ש ב ע ר ב ת אכ לו מ צ ת ע ד יו ם ה א ח ד ו ע ש ר ים ל ח ד ש ב ע ר ב You shall not eat leaven with it; for seven days you shall eat with it matzoth, the bread of affliction, for in haste you went out of the land of Egypt, so that you shall remember the day when you went out of the land of Egypt all the days of your life. Deuteronomy 16:3 ל א ת אכ ל ע ל יו ח מ ץ ש ב ע ת י מ ים ת אכ ל ע ל יו מ צ ו ת ל ח ם ע נ י כ י ב ח פ זו ן י צ את מ א ר ץ מ צ ר י ם ל מ ע ן ת ז כ ר א ת יו ם צ את ך מ א ר ץ מ צ ר י ם כ ל י מ י ח י יך From the juxtaposition of chametz and matzah in this verse, the sages understand that the matzah has to be made from ingredients which can become leavened. There are two different kinds of matzah: lechem oni (poverty bread) and matzah ashirah (rich matzah). Lechem Oni This is the only matzah to be used to fulfill the mitzvah of matzah at the Seder. It is called poverty bread because it is made with the minimally necessary ingredients for bread: flour and water. Matzah Ashirah This matzah is made with extra ingredients such as eggs or spices and may not be used to fulfill your matzah requirement at the seder. According to many, it should be avoided all Passover, for fear that the additional ingredients may have cause it to rise quickly. 2
> ROCHTZAH washing our hands (for bread) Unlike the washing before karpas (dipping the vegetable in salt water where we don t recite a blessing), this washing is a traditional washing before eating bread and is concluded with a blessing. Blessed are you, G-d our Who has sanctified us with his commandments and commanded us concerning the washing of the hands. ב רו ך א ת ה י הו ה א ל ה ינו מ ל ך ה עו ל ם, א ש ר ק ד ש נו ב מ צ וו ת יו, ו צ ו נו ע ל נ ט יל ת י ד י ם Baruch atah A-donay, Ha'Olam, asher kideshanu bemitzvotav vetzivanu al netilat yadayim. Prior to eating the matzah, two blessings are made: first the blessing over bread, followed by a special blessing for the mitzvah of matzah. > MOTZI Blessed are You, God our who brings forth bread from the earth. ב רו ך א ת ה ה', א ל ה ינו מ ל ך ה עו ל ם ה מ ו צ יא ל ח ם מ ן ה א ר ץ Baruch atah A-donay, Ha Olam Hamotzi lechem min haaretz. > MATZAH The matzah is eaten after this blessing is recited: Blessed are You, God our who has sanctified us with His commandments, and commanded us concerning the eating of matzah. ב רו ך א ת ה ה', א ל ה ינו מ ל ך ה עו ל ם, א ש ר ק ד ש נו ב מ צ ו ת יו ו צ ו נו ע ל א כ יל ת מ צ ה Baruch Atah Adonay, Ha-olam, Asher Kid shanu B mitzvotav V tzivanu Al Achilat matzah. > BREAD OF FAITH AND HEALING The Zohar states that matzah is the bread of faith and healing. Since matzah represents humility, eating the matzah represents internalizing this humility. Humility gives an individual the ability to recognize that he or she is not in control, rather G-d is in control. This recognition is called faith. The source of many character flaws is rooted in ego. Thus, when the humility is truly internalized, it helps us overcome our ego thereby healing us and enabling us to resolve life s challenges with honesty. 3
> MAROR The Talmud enumerates five types of maror which can be used for the mitzvah. (Traditionally, lettuce, horseradish or escarole are used.) Romaine lettuce Endives (escarole) Horseradish Date ivy* Wormwood* חזרת עלשין תמכא חרחבינא מרור *The translation of these are uncertain, and there are opinions who substitute other vegetables for these hebrew words. Scriptural Source And on this night, they shall eat the flesh [of the lamb], roasted over the fire, and unleavened bread; with bitter herbs they shall eat it. Exodus 12:8 ו א כ לו א ת ה ב ש ר ב ל י ל ה ה ז ה צ ל י א ש ו מ צ ו ת ע ל מ ר ר ים י אכ ל הו The Bible mandates only that maror be eaten with the paschal sacrifice. Although in the post-temple era the paschal sacrifice is not offered, the sages instituted that it be eaten as a reminder of the suffering endured in Egypt. > ESOTERIC ANGLE Seder Message: The same verse that commands us to eat the paschal sacrifice commands us regarding maror. The paschal sacrifice represents our liberation, while the maror represents our bitter enslavement. Why would two opposing ideas be commanded in the same verse? We have been freed of the shackles of Egypt for more than 3,000 years, and at the Seder we are celebrating this freedom. Do we really appreciate the freedom we enjoy? Oftentimes we treat people whom we don t know well with appreciation and respect, but those who are closest to us we take for granted. In fact, it is precisely because we are so close that we forget to appreciate how much they mean to us. Through the Hillel sandwich we remind ourselves of the bitter slavery we endured in Egypt, while simultaneously celebrating our freedom, so that we can truly appreciate and celebrate it! 4
Seder Exercise: Think of a loved one whom you may take for granted, and make an extra effort to let them know how much you appreciate them. Don t wait for the maror to remind you! > NOTES 5