Chapter: 12 – The Laws of Matza

It is a Torah commandment to eat matza on the night of the fifteenth of the month of Nisan, as it says, “In the evening, you shall eat matzot” (Shemot 12:18). Even though the Torah also says, “you shall eat … Continue reading →

The Torah states, “And you shall observe (u-shemartem) the matzot” (Shemot 12:17). The Sages interpreted this to mean that the matza must be guarded from becoming ĥametz. This refers specifically to the matzot eaten on the Seder night in fulfillment … Continue reading →

Guarding the matzot to be used for fulfilling the mitzva of eating matza on the Seder night has two implications: being extra vigilant to prevent it from becoming ĥametz and having the intention that the matza is to be used … Continue reading →

A great dispute has raged among poskim ever since the invention of matza-baking machines. The dispute centers on two principal questions: 1) Is there indeed no concern that machine-made matzot may become ĥametz? 2) Can one use them to fulfill … Continue reading →

The mitzva of guarding the matzot was stated about the matzat mitzva we are commanded to eat on the night of the fifteenth of Nisan. The idea is to honor the mitzva by guarding them especially carefully. In other words, … Continue reading →

The Sages prohibited kneading the dough for Pesaĥ matzot with lukewarm water. Warmth accelerates the leavening process, increasing the risk of the dough becoming ĥametz if the workers are not especially quick in kneading and baking it. The Sages forbade … Continue reading →

The flour for matzot is ground at least one day before it is kneaded into dough, since the grinding heats the flour slightly, increasing the risk that the dough will become ĥametz (SA 453:9). No salt or pepper is added … Continue reading →

The oven should be heated thoroughly, so that the dough begins to bake immediately. If the heat is low, the dough might begin to become ĥametz before it bakes. Clearly one may not bake matza in the heat of the … Continue reading →