Questions tagged [matzah]
The (usually flat and cracker-like) bread that it's (usually) a mitzvah to eat on Pesach.
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Why do we eat Matzah to commemorate what we did when we left Egypt, when we were already commanded to do so long before we left?
In the Haggadah, we say:
מצה זו שאנוּ אוכלים, על שום מה? על שום שלא הספיק בצקם של אבותינו להחמיץ עד שנגלה עליהם מלך מלכי המלכים, הקדוש ברוך הוא, וגאלם, שנאמר: ויאפו את הבצק אשר הוציאו ממצרים עגת ...
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Where can I get Lafa (soft Yemenite) matza in South Florida?
Where can I buy Lafa (soft Yemenite) matza in South Florida?
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Can you taste-test multiple brands of matzah, even if your custom is not to eat matzah before Passover begins?
There is a common practice not to eat matzah preceding Pesach, either on erev Pesach or in the weeks before. The reason for this is so that matzah will be eaten on the Seder night with gusto.
Faced ...
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How is דרך חירות fulfilled nowadays with הסיבה?
Raavya (12th-13th centuries) writes that as it is no longer the case that folks recline on couches when eating (as was common during the Greco-Roman period) one should eat upright at the table.
Hagaos ...
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Baking matzah erev Pesach after chatzos
The Shulchan Aruch OH 458 says that the minhag is to make the matzos mitzvah for the Seder Night on Erev Pesach after noon (chatzos).
נוהגים שלא ללוש מצת מצוה בערב פסח עד אחר שש שעות שהוא זמן הקרבת ...
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Matzah baking in a frying pan - flipping the matzah
Do regular matzah bakeries flip the matzah in the middle of baking? I heard from a rabbi not to do that, but I see videos where they flip it. What are the issues here?
Update: I want to make the ...
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Baking matzah on tin foil
The poskim bring down (in OH 461) that there are people who bake matzah on a piece of paper. They all seem to say that you should not do it, but if you did the paper won't stop the heat from getting ...
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Making matzah at home
This is a follow-up question to 18 minute matzah cutoff (and see also Where does the notion that the *entire* matza process must be done in under 18 minutes come from?)
I know this isn't the standard ...
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18 minute matzah cutoff
Having learned some of the sources for baking matzah (OH 453-461, more or less), I discovered something that surprised me.
The time for how long it takes to (possibly) become chametz is given as a ...
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Is it permissible to open a box of matzos on Shabbos or Yom Tov if necessary for the first night of Pesach? [duplicate]
My Yehuda Matzos box here says “Box should be opened before Shabbos and Yom Tov.”
What if it is the first night of Pesach, and also Shabbos or Yom Tov, and an unopened box is the only one you have? ...
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Is it possible to say blessings on matzah and maror on Pesach Sheni?
The fact is that some Hasidim spend on Pesach Sheni a meal almost identical to the Seder. In addition, there are a number of people who were not able to have a seder on the night of Nisan 15 and they ...
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Oats for matzah - contemporary poskim
There are different opinions among the Rishonim about שבולת שועל, one of the "five grains" that can become chometz and can be used to make matzah. Some say that it is oats, and that seems to ...
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Where to Buy Soft Matzah?
Does any one know where I can buy Kosher Lemehadrin soft Matzos (like the ones the Teimanim eat) in the New York area?
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Is it acceptable to use matzah made for Passover of one year for the next?
Commercially made matzah boxes are often stamped with a year that they were produced for, like "Passover 2022". Assuming that the matzah was kept dry and remains sealed, usually in a plastic ...
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How do I Maximize the mitzva of "guarding the matzos"?
This mitzva is to guard the grain for the matzos to ensure no moisture has gotten to it between harvesting and baking.
Is there a date from which I can earn mitvas by guarding grain or can I harvest ...
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If one eats Matzah without leaning, does one need to make another Brocho on the Matza?
BH
The general law in the Gemara and brought in the Rambam and Shulchan Aruch is that one needs to lean while eating Matzah and drinking the 4 cups.
The question is: Is the leaning an essential ...
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Does matzah have to be flat?
In looking at my kippah decorated to look like matzah, a child asked me: "Is this real matzah?" This got me thinking: Does halacha say anywhere that matzah has to be flat? It's easy enough ...
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How does Matzah contribute to simchas yom tov
I always understood the concept/reason to sometimes be lenient, known as מניעת שמחת יום טוב, a lack or decrease in the joy of Yom Tov, to be referring to cases where a significant portion of the meal ...
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Healing power of matzah (Zohar)
The Zohar HaKadosh (thanks to HaLeiVi for pointing this Zohar out) writes that matzah is called "healing food":
Rather, it can be likened to a King who had a single son who grew weak. One ...
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Do commercially produced barley matzos exist?
From what I understand, there are commercially produced matzos made from wheat (including spelt) and rye and oats.
For some reason, I cannot find commercially produced barley matzos.
Do they exist?
If ...
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Why two kzaysim of matza?
I saw that one eats a kzayis from the whole matza, and a kzayis from the broken matza. One reason given is because one is supposed to eat from the matza that hamotzi was said on and also eat from the ...
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Why are some Matzah labeled as not being kosher for Pesach/Passover?
What brought me to inquire about this topic (besides seeing products as being labeled not kosher for Pesach) was the name Matzah itself. Matzah by definition means unleavened bread. I understand that ...
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How would you practically measure the volume of a matzah?
So assuming a Kezayit is measured as volume, how would one calculate the volume of a matzah? Water displacement probably wouldn’t work, because it’ll get soggy!
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Should one eat matzah balls for seudah shelishit on Shabbat Erev Pesach?
When Erev Pesach falls on shabbat, one cannot eat chametz or matzah in the afternoon. What should one eat for seudah shelishit? (I am aware that Magen Avraham 444:1 suggests also eating seudah ...
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Do you need to own the matza you eat at the seder?
The Gemara in Masechet Sukkah says that you need to own the matza that you eat at the Pesach Seder in order to fulfill your obligation.
Tosafot there elaborates on this and says that matza has the ...
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Goy eating matzah with treif
For context, my fiance is a reform convert in the UK. I fully support their conversion but, as I lack any real spirituality, do not feel I could sincerely convert myself (despite knowing that my lack ...
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Pikuach nefesh and matzoh shopping [closed]
Apropos of this viral post: https://twitter.com/Dr_Ophelian/status/1247386646317633536.
My understanding is that the principle of pikuach nefesh is not applied like this, but I am not certain why. ...
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Why Break the Matza of Yitzchak?
The three matzos of the seder are compared to Avraham, Yitzchak, and Yaakov (Maaseh Rokeach Seder Leil Pesach § 58). Why do we specifically break apart the middle matza (ויקח מצה האמצעית ויבצענה לשתים ...
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Why Break the Matza of Levi?
The Arizal compares the top matza to the Kohen, the middle to Levi, and the third to Yisroel (Pri Eitz Chaim Pesach (6:4) -
תקח הג' מצות מצה שמורה, ותניח הכהן למעלה, והלוי למטה ממנו, והישראל
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How and in what sense can the matzoh and moror nullify the Korban Pesach?
The Oruch HaShulchan in Simon סימן תעה quotes the Rambam (פרק שמיני דין ו:)
ואחר כך מברך "על נטילת ידים"... ואחר כך כורך מצה ומרור כאחת, ומטבל
בחרוסת ומברך "ברוך... אשר קדשנו במצותיו ...
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Guard the Matzos/Mitzvos
There is a frequently cited midrash that we read "Guard the Matzos" as "Guard the Mitzvos". I see this cited all over the internet, but no one seems to give the exact source. Could someone let me know ...
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Can a Blind Person make Matzah for the Seder?
According to the halachot I am learning (Dirshu Halacha Yomi), "Therefore, the following people who are unable to bear in mind this intention, may not be involved in the matzah baking process: a non-...
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Where did Og get his name from?
I am looking for sources for the name of Og
I have seen the midrash (DR 1:25) which explains the source of the name Og as related to the making of matzot/ugot/cakes.
Are there any other sources for ...
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In Exodus, when exactly they "could not delay" until the dough was leavened?
THe Torah says (Ex 12,39):
וַיֹּאפוּ אֶת־הַבָּצֵק אֲשֶׁר הוֹצִיאוּ מִמִּצְרַיִם עֻגֹת מַצּוֹת כִּי לֹא חָמֵץ כִּי־גֹרְשׁוּ מִמִּצְרַיִם וְלֹא יָכְלוּ לְהִתְמַהְמֵהַּ וְגַם־צֵדָה לֹא־עָשׂוּ לָהֶם׃
And ...
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When does the 18 minute limit for dough to become chametz end?
I know that the 18 minute thing is up for debate (time for 1 mil, whether continually working dough can indefinitely extend it, temperature dependence etc.), but at what part of the process can a ...
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Eating matzah on the second day of erev Pesach
I don't have all the sources and grounding for the various suppositions I am going to present so I apologize -- I fear I can't put this question into proper words:
We refrain from eating matzah (at ...
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Can Pesach Mitzvot be performed before sunset?
I had an argument with a friend about when you can perform the Pesach seder mitzvot of eating a kezayit of shmurah matzah and drinking four glasses of wine (beginning with kiddush).
My friend said ...
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Why does typical commercial machine shemurah matza taste different than regular machine matza?
Shemurah matza has several more stringent requirements over regular matza: it has to be guarded for longer, and the people making it have in mind that it's for the mitzvah of eating matza on the night ...
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How does Rashi's explanation of Gen. 19:3 work?
In Parashat Vayera, we read that Lot gives the angels matzah (19:3). Rashi's explanation for this detail is that it was Pesach. The connection between matzah and Pesach is obvious, but I am confused ...
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Did the Israelites leave Egypt in haste or not?
(1) The Talmud says: "[It was also taught in the baraita]: On Rosh HaShana our forefathers’ slavery in Egypt ceased. [From where is this known?] It is written : “And I will bring you out from under ...
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If one is noder hana'ah from something which sometimes is obligatory and sometimes is not, is the neder binding?
Let's say I make a neder not to benefit from the five grains - wheat, barley, rye, oat(?), and spelt. These are the only grains which can be used for Matzah on Pesach (Pesachim 35b). Assuming that a ...
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Does other food combine to a c'beitza for the bracha of netilas yadayim?
It's a well known halacha that if one intends to eat less than a k'zais of bread then one doesn't make a bracha on al netilas yadayim.
This comes up sometimes on Pesach when there's not enough Matzah ...
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Is there a different baking process for whole wheat or other grain matzot?
Inspired by this question, I am curious if whole wheat matzot involve a different baking process than white flour matzot?
Most of the matza production uses white flour. I have read and heard that the ...
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White or wheat? Matzah on Pesach (Passover)
Matzah on Pesach can be made from white (refined) or whole grain wheat (or any of the other allowed grains).
Did our ancestors typically bake with refined or whole grain wheat?
Were the first matzah ...
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Mechanics of making matza on Pesach
When making matzah at home during the Pesach week, is it correct that one needs to ensure that not only is the matzah itself completed in 18 minutes, but also that all the utensils and bowls are ...
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Discarding matzas according to Jewish law
Where I work has a no-gifts policy, however someone unknown deposited two new boxes of matza in the waiting-room.
Is there a proper way to deal with these following Jewish law? None of us can use ...
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Gebrocht: how does an old person eat matza on seder night
If someone (e.g old people) can't eat a kzais (about 20 grams according to volume) of matza on seder night (within the required amount of time of about 4-9 min) because its too dry, then one usually ...
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Children eating Matzah on Erev Pesach
Is it permitted for children to eat Matzah on Erev Pesach? Does it matter whether they will be awake for the Seder or not?
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Becoming Chametz at 18 mins
According to the Talmud Pesachim 46a, a non-leavened dough should show signs of Chimutz within a shiur of walking a Mil (or 4 Mil according to the Yerushalmi), which is 18 to 24 minutes. Similarly if ...
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Yoshon Hand Matzo
According to a recent bulletin from Y. Herman's Guide to Chodosh:
CAUTION ON MATZOS FOR PESACH
Last year we noted that spring wheat flour is being added to winter wheat flour in the production of ...
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