16 Apr HALACHICALLY SPEAKING: SHIURIM FOR PESACH

One of the many
important halachos
that we are faced with
at the seder is the
proper volume to eat
or drink in order to
fulfill the mitzvah of
the four cups, matzah,
and marror. In this
article we will present
a practical guide to the
correct amount that one should eat and the
allotted time frame in which it should be
eaten.
The Four Cups
The four cups are keneged the four loshonos
of geulah, which are V’hotzeisi, V’hitzalti,
V’go’alti, and V’lakachti. Everyone is
obligated to drink four cups on the nights of
the sedarim. This obligation applies to men,
women and children who have reached the
age to understand the events of the exodus
from Mitzrayim. The minhag is that each
person makes his own kiddush at the
sedarim. One must drink the four cups in the
proper order; otherwise, one has not fulfilled
his obligation. The cup must contain a
reviis, which ranges from 3 oz. to 5.3 oz.
Ideally, one should drink the whole reviis.
This applies to the first three cups; one must
drink the whole reviis of the fourth cup
in order to recite the beracha acharona. A
beracha acharona is only said on the fourth
cup. If the cup holds more than a reviis, one
should l’chatchilah drink all the wine in the
cup; however, it is sufficient to drink most
of the reviis even in this situation. In order
to satisfy all opinions, the poskim suggest
that one use a cup that only holds a reviis
and drink the entire cup. A child does not
have to drink a reviis; rather, he may drink
the amount that fills up his cheek. The reviis
should be consumed without a hefsek. If one
lingered longer than kedei achilas peras (see
below), he must drink the shiur again.
Matzah
The obligation to eat matzah on Pesach
applies to men and women alike. Children
who are old enough to eat bread should be
trained to eat a kezayis of matzah.
The Mitzvah
There is a mitzvah d’oraisa to eat matzah on
the first night of Pesach. One must eat two
kezaysim of matzah, one kezayis from the
top whole matzah and one from the middle
broken matzah. Many reasons are offered
as to why two kezaysim are required.
Some explain that one has a kezayis for
the beracha of hamotzei and a kezayis for
motzei matzah. Others say that one may
recite a hamotzei even if the piece is less
than a kezayis. Rather, the obligation of two
kezaysim is based on those poskim who say

that the beracha of hamotzei refers to the
broken matzah and the beracha of matzah
applies to the whole matzah. Therefore, we
eat two kezaysim. B’dieved one was yotzei
if he only ate one kezayis.
Some say that the leader should distribute
the matzah to the guests after he recites the
berachos, and then all those present at the
table should eat the matzah together.
How to Eat the Matzah
The matzah has to be eaten while reclining
(Ashkenazi women do not recline). One
who did not do so should eat another kezayis
while leaning, without a beracha.
Some poskim maintain that one should
preferably put all the matzah in his mouth
and chew it all at once. One is not obligated
to swallow it at one time. Others maintain
that since it is impractical to place both
kezaysim of matzah in one’s mouth at one
time, one may chew a piece of matzah at a
time and swallow it, as long as the entire
matzah is consumed within the time of k’dei
achilas peras. Some poskim say that this is
only acceptable b’dieved. Nonetheless, it
should be stated that many gedolim ate their
matzah in the latter manner since they were
not mafsik between swallows. One who is
not placing both kezaysim in his mouth at one
time should eat from the whole matzah first
and then from the broken one. Nevertheless,
the custom is to eat both pieces of matzah
together and not be concerned with which
one is first. One should not talk between the
beracha and the eating.
The Time Frame
The time frame in which one should eat the
matzah is called kedi achilas peras. There
are many different opinions as to the correct
time. Some say that one should finish the
matzah within two minutes, others say is
three minutes, and still others allow from
4-9 minutes. L’maaseh one should eat the
required amount of matzah between 2-4
minutes. One who has difficulty chewing
such as an old person or a young child can
rely on the more lenient view and may take
up to nine minutes. The time starts from the
beginning of the chewing.
The Household and Guests
Ideally, all household members and guests
should eat two kezaysim. Some poskim
say that only those who have a seder plate
in front of them with matzah have to eat
two kezaysim, but others only need to eat
a kezayis. The overwhelming custom is
that all people present (except for women
and those who have trouble eating matzah)
should eat two kezaysim.
How Much Matzah?
As mentioned above, the custom is to eat

two kezaysim. One may measure
the matzah for the correct shiur on
Pesach.
The amount of a kezayis in regard
to matzah is subject to much
discussion by the poskim. Some of
the questions are: What is the shiur
of a kezayis, a half egg or a third of
an egg? Are eggs the same size as
they were in olden days? Is the size
of an egg measured by weight or
volume? There is no clear answer;
therefore, the Mishnah Berurah
(and others) maintains that for a
mitzvah d’oraisa one should use
the larger opinion of a kezayis, and
for a mitzvah d’rabbanan one can
use the lenient opinion.
Accordingly, the first kezayis of motzei
matzah should be the larger amount,
since it is d’oraisa. The second kezayis is
d’rabbanan, so one can eat the lenient shiur
of a kezayis. Practically, one should eat a
half of an average hand matzah. Those who
are eating machine matzah should eat two
thirds of a matzah.
It should be noted that the matzah which
remains stuck to the palate is counted
towards the shiur of a kezayis, but the
matzah which gets stuck between the teeth
is not counted towards the shiur. Matzah
which fell out of one’s mouth is not counted
towards the shiur.
Marror
One should take marror and shake off some
of the charoses from it. A kezayis is required
for the mitzvah of marror. A sick or weak
person can eat the lenient shiur of a kezayis.
Since the mitzvah of maror is d’rabbanan in
nature today, we are not required to use the
stringent shiur of kezayis. Marror is eaten
without reclining since it is in remembrance
of the labor in Mitzrayim.
One may use the following items for marror:
Romaine lettuce, endives, or horseradish.
The Shulchan Aruch says that the preferred
item is [romaine] lettuce. One should either
buy romaine lettuce with a good hechsher, or
learn how to check it for insects. One should
use a leaf the size of 8 inches by 10 inches.
Many people use ground horseradish, and
should measure the shiur of a kezayis with
a shot-glass.
Koraich
Take the third bottom matzah and place
a kezayis of marror on it. Many dip the
marror in a little charoses. The ingredients
are combined into a sandwich and eaten
together. The marror should between two
layers of matzah. The amount of matzah
for korach is a quarter of an average hand
matzah, or a third of machine matzah.

Preferably, one should eat the sandwich at
one time, but if this is hard then one may
eat a little at a time. The custom is to eat it
slowly just as we discussed above regarding
matzah. However, the time limit should not
exceed 2-4 minutes.
The sandwich is eaten while reclining. If it
was eaten without reclining then one does
not have to eat any more.
Afikoman
After completing the seuda we eat from the
matzah that was put away at yachatz. There
are some who are concerned with the term
“stealing” the afikoman; rather, one should
call it “grabbing” the afikoman. The children
grab the afikoman in order to remind us to
eat the afikoman, since they will want a gift
for returning the afikoman.
The matzah should be distributed to
everyone. One of the reasons offered for
afikoman is that it is a zecher for the korbon
pesach which was eaten at the end of the
meal. Some have the custom to wrap the
afikoman in a cloth and place it on their
shoulder as a remembrance of the exodus
from Mitzrayim.
Ideally, those who have matzah in front of
them should eat two k’zaysim of matzah,
(which is around a 1⁄2 of a hand matzah); if
this is too difficult then one k’zayis (which
is around 1⁄4 of a hand matzah) is sufficient.
The poskim say that children do not have to
eat two k’zaysim, as one is sufficient. One
may add matzah as needed to complete the
shiur for afikoman.
The matzah must be eaten while leaning. If it
was not eaten in this fashion one has already
bentched, then he need not eat again it is if
it is too hard. The afikomen has to be eaten
in one place, not while people are walking
all over the house. The afikomen should be
eaten before chatzos. Many people are not
concerned with this and eat the afikomen
after chatzos as well. Some have the custom
to place the afikomen s a shemirah on top of
the doorway.