Required Amount of Matzah and Wine for the Seder

From Halachipedia

The four cups of wine

How much the cup needs to hold

  1. The cup of wine must be filled with a Reviyat of wine and one must drink a full Reviyat or at least majority of a Reviyit. [1]
  2. If the cup holds a lot of Reviyot, many people can drink from it, only as many people as there are Reviyot in the cup. [2]

How much must one drink

  1. According to Sephardim, one should preferably drink an entire Reviyit which is 2.86 oz (81 grams), however, if that's difficult one may just have majority of a Reviyit which is 1.44 oz (41 grams). [3]
  2. According to Ashkenazim, one should preferably have an entire Reviyit which is 3 oz (85 grams), however, if that's difficult one may just have majority of a Reviyit which is 1.51 oz (43 grams). [4]
  3. It is preferable to drink the majority of the cup in one drinking. [5]

Someone who is diabetic

  1. If a person is a diabetic and can’t have a lot of wine, the absolute minimum amount is 1.5 oz and a drop more and if one can’t have eat that much one doesn’t have to drink the wine. However, one should consult with one’s doctor who is Torah observant. [6]

Within what time should one drink the wine?

  1. Preferably, one should drink the majority of the Reviyat at one time (without any interruption). [7]
  2. After the fact, one must drink the cup within the time of a Kdei Achilat Pras (which there are opinions spanning from 2 minutes to 10 minutes) to fulfill the obligation, otherwise one must repeat drinking the wine. [8]
  3. Thus, one shouldn't take a cup that has a thin spout because one won't be able drink the whole cup at once. [9]

Types of wine

  1. If one hates wine or if it gives him a headache (but not if it's going to make him sick in bed) he should try to have the wine to fulfill the mitzvah of the four cups of wine. [10]

Matzah

  1. There’s a positive mitzvah Deoritta to eat matza on the night of the 15th of Nissan. [11]
  2. There’s a mitzvah (which according to some is Deoritta) in eating more Matzah than the required amount. [12]

How much Matzah should one eat at the Seder?

  1. There's three times one should eat Matzah during the seder: Motzei Matzah, Korech, and Tzafun (Afikomen). To fulfill all of one’s obligations, one should eat 2 kezaytim for Motzi-Matza, 1 Kezayit for Korech, and 2 more kezaytim for Afikomen. All agree that having 2 kezaytim for Afikomen is merely preferable; one fulfills his obligation with 1 kezayit. [13]
  2. For Motzi-Matza, many authorities write that if the matzot of the head of the house don’t suffice for 2 kezaytim for each person, one fulfills his mitzvah by eating a bit from the whole matza and 1 other Kezayit (and not 2).[14]
  3. Practically, how large in a Kezayit in terms of the amount of Matzah one should eat?
    1. According to Ashkenazim, for Motzei Matzah, some say that one should eat 4/5 of a machine matzah, some say 2/3 of a matzah, and others say 1 matzah. For Korech, some say that one should eat 2/5 of a matzah, some say less than 1/2 of a matzah, and others say 2/3 of a matzah. For Afikomen, some say that one should eat 4/5, some say more than 1/2, and others 1 matzah.[15]
    2. According to Sephardim, some say that the Kezayit should be measured by the weight of 27 grams, and some say that it is measured by the volume and in weight the Kezayit comes out to be 20 grams. (The typical machine matzah is 30-32 grams. In general, the Kezayit can be calculated according to the weight printed on the box.)[16]

Someone who is sick

  1. Someone who is sick and can’t eat so much Matzah can use the Kezayit evaluated according to a third of a KeBaytzah which according to Rav Chaim Noeh is 17.3 cc. [17] However, for a personal situation it would be advisable to consult one's Orthodox rabbi to determine the correct amount for one's individual situation.[18]

Crumbs which were caught between one's teeth

  1. What stays between one’s teeth isn’t counted towards the Kezayit, however, that which is in one’s gums is counted towards the Kezayit. [19]

Sources

  1. ↑ S"A 472:9. See Rav Schachter at OU Pre-Pesach Webcast 5770 between minutes 93 and 94 says that people have the misconception that people have to drink a sip of wine, however, one needs to have a Reviyit or at least a majority of a Reviyit.
  2. ↑ The Orchot Chaim and Kolbo hold that as many people as there are Reviyot can drink from the cup and fulfill their obligation. However, Ramban holds that if the cup holds many Reviyot, one person needs to drink majority of the cup and taken split it up with others. S"A 472:9 rules like the Orchot Chaim and Kolbo.
  3. ↑ Chazon Ovadyah (pg 16)
  4. ↑ Haggadah Kol Dodi (Rabbi Dovid Feinstein, 5730, pg 4) writes that the Reviyit for the four cups (using the method of measuring a large egg) should be 3.3oz. Halachos of Pesach (Rabbi Shimon Eider, Chapter 20, Sec D 5, pg 228-230) writes that since the four cups are Derabbanan one may have the smaller measurement which is measuring by eggs and not by thumbs and according to his calculation a Reviyit should be 3 oz and if one is unable to have a Reviyit one fulfills one's obligation with a majority of a Reviyit. The Laws of Pesach by Rabbi Blumenkrantz (5771 pg 111) writes that since the four cups are Derabbanan one may use a cup that holds 2.9 oz. See also Weekly Halacha (by Rabbi Neustadt, http://www.torah.org/advanced/weekly-halacha/5760/tazria.html) who writes that one may rely on the view of Rav Chaim Noeh who holds that 3 oz is sufficient being that the cups of wine are Derabbanan. See also Rav Yisrael Belsky on OU Pre-Pesach Webcast 5771 between minutes 37 and 38 who says that it's acceptable to consider a Reviyit 4.3 oz and it’s preferable to consider it around 5.8. See also Halachos of Pesach (pg 229) who writes that the Kiddish cup of Rav Yisrael Salanter was 4.1 oz at it's full capacity and the cup of the Chafetz Chaim was 5 oz.
  5. ↑ Magen Avraham 472:11 writes that it's preferable to have the cup of wine in one drinking. Haggadah Kol Dodi (Rabbi Dovid Feinstein, 5730, pg 4) writes that this only applies to the majority of the cup and not the whole cup because a person can't swallow more than a KeBaytzah.
  6. ↑ Rav Yisrael Belsky on OU Pre-Pesach Webcast 5771 between minutes 51 and 52:30
  7. ↑ Magan Avraham 472:11, Mishna Brurah 472:34
  8. ↑ Rama 472:9 in name of the Rokach quoted by the Bet Yosef writes that one shouldn't drink with a large pause. Magan Avraham 472:11 explains that the long pause is a Kdei Achilat Pras. Mishna Brurah 472:34 rules like the Magan Avraham and adds that even though the Ashkenazi practice is not to repeat to drink the third and forth cup if one forgot to lean because it may look like one is adding a cup to the established cups, even so here one should repeat because one has not fulfilled his obligation according to anyone.
  9. ↑ Rama 429:15
  10. ↑ S"A 472:10 says that even if one hates wine or it is harmful to his health one should push himself to have the wine to fulfill the mitzvah. Mishna Brurah 472:35 explains that one only has to have it if it gives one a headache but not if makes one sick in bed.
  11. ↑ Rambam (Sefer HaMitzot #158) writes that eating matzah nowadays is a Mitzah Deoritta. See Chatom Sofer (CM 196 Hashmatot) who points out that Matzah is the only Biblical mitzvah we have nowadays.
  12. ↑ Maharal in Gevurot Hashem chapter 48, Bach 472, Mikrei Kodesh siman 48, Sh”t Har Tzvi 2, and Natai Gavriel (vol 2, 90:26) hold that there’s a mitzvah of eating Matzah as much as one eats even beyond the actual requirement. See also the Emek Shelah (Yitro 53:4). Hagadat Be’er Miryam (pg 53) writes that another reason to eat more Matzah is because there’s a big confusion in the amount necessary and Matzah is a mitzvah Deoritta. Rav Mordechai Willig (Pesach To-Go, Nisan 5771, p. 60) quotes Rav Soloveitchik who derived this insight from the Rambam Chametz UMatzah 6:1.
  13. ↑
    • It is clear from the Gemara (Brachot 37b, Pesachim 108a and 119b) that one fulfills his obligation of eating matza with one kezayit. Rambam Chametz UMatzah 6:1 and Ritva Pesachim 35a write this explicitly. Nonetheless, the Rosh Pesachim 10:30 writes that one should eat a Kezayit of the whole matza and a Kezayit of the broken one. This Rosh is codified by the Tur and S”A 475:1.
    • Many achronim wonder where the Rosh found a source for requiring two kezaytim. Bach 475:3 suggests that the Rosh was strict for the opinion that one needs to eat a Kezayit each time one makes HaMotzi (a minority opinion rejected in S”A 210:1). The Prisha 475:1 explains that the Rosh meant since there is a dispute in the Rishonim whether the Al Achilat Matza should be made on the broken one (Rashi Pesachim 116a) or the whole matza (Hahagot Maimon (Seder #7)), one should have a Kezayit from both. This sentiment is echoed by the Taz 475:2 and Mishna Brurah 475:9.
    • Despite the questions of the achronim, the Rosh’s view is accepted by most acharonim, including Magen Avraham 475:4, S”A HaRav (Piskei HaSeder), Kitzur S”A 199:5, Aruch HaShulchan 475:5, and Chazon Ovadyah (p. 65). See, however, Orchot Rabbenu (vol 2, p. 70) who writes that Chazon Ish personally ate only one Kezayit because he held the halacha doesn’t follow the Rosh.
    • For Korech, Mishna Brurah 475:16 writes that a Kezayit of matza is needed. Kitzur S”A 199:7, Nitai Gavriel 59:1, and Chazon Ovadyah (p. 100) agree.
    • Regarding Afikomen, S”A 477:1 rules that one should eat one Kezayit of matza. Darkei Moshe 477:2 quotes the Maharil that it is preferable to have 2 kezaytim. Magen Avraham 477:1 explains that one is in commemoration of the Korban Pesach and one for the matza eaten with it. Many achronim quote the Maharil including the Taz 477:1, Kitzur S”A 119:8, Mishna Brurah 477:1, Kaf HaChaim 477:1, and Chazon Ovadyah (p. 106).
  14. ↑ Rav Shlomo Zalman in Halichot Shlomo 9:40 rules that if the head of the house’s three matzot do not suffice for the Kezayit for each person, each person should just have a piece from the whole matza and eat a single Kezayit of matza from other shemura matza. He explains that according to the Prisha, if one isn’t eating from the head of house’s matzot, there’s no safek upon which matza one makes Al Achilat Matza, so there is no need to eat an extra kezayit. Chazon Ovadyah (p. 65), Haggadah Moadim UZmanim (p. 97), and Seder HaAruch (p 455) quoting Rav Elyashiv agree. Rav Dovid Feinstein in Haggadah Kol Dodi (5745 edition, 14:3) says the same idea. See, however, also Sh"t Igrot Moshe OC 5:16 who thinks that one should avoid this situation by everyone having their three matzot. On that last point, see the full discussion here.
  15. ↑
    • Mishna Brurah 486:1 writes that Tosfot holds a Kezayit is half of a KeBeitzah with the shell and the Rambam holds it is a third of a KeBeitzah (see Tosfot (Yoma 80b D”H Agav), Rambam (Eiruvin 1:9)). Rav Avraham Chaim Noeh (Shiurei Torah 3:12) argues that Tosfot holds half a KeBeitzah without the shell. Mishna Brurah 486:1 rules that for Deoritta Mitzvot and Bracha Achrona, one should eat the size of half a KeBeitzah, but for Derabbanan Mitzvot, one third suffices. He adds that since one has to make a Bracha on maror, one should eat half a KeBeitzah.
    • The Tzlach (Pesachim 116) holds that the modern day eggs are half the size of those in the days of Chazal. However, Rav Noeh (Shiurei Torah Shaar 3) argues that the modern day eggs have not changed from the days of Chazal. Mishna Brurah 486:1 writes that for the mitzvah deoraitta of matza, one should follow the stringent view of the Tzlach. Even though Vezot HaBracha (pg 6, Birur 1, pg 221) quotes Rav Elyashiv and Rav Shlomo Zalman saying that for Bracha Achrona the widely accepted measurement of the Kezayit is according to Rav Chaim Noeh, in regards to the mitzvah of eating matza, Rav Shlomo Zalman writes in Halichot Shlomo 9:13 that one should be strict for the size of the Kezayit of the Chazon Ish which are based on the opinion of the Tzalach.
    • Practically, how much matza is that? The following measurements are in regards to a piece of the average machine matza.
      • (1) Halachos of Pesach (p. 242) quotes Haggadat Kol Dodi (Rav Dovid Feinstein) that for Motzi-Matza, one should eat 6.25”x7” (about one matzah), for Korech 4”x7” (about 2/3 of a matza) and for Afikomen 6.25”x7” (about one matza).
      • (2) Rabbi Bodner in Halachos of K’zayis (p. 93) quotes Rav Moshe Feinstein saying that 43.5cc (about 2/3 of a matza) is sufficient for both kezaytim of Motzi-Matza. Rav Yisrael Belsky on OU Pre-Pesach Webcast 5771 between minutes 30:30 and 37 endorsed this opinion. He added that if one is able, it's preferable to have the larger amount similar to the Chazon Ish's Kezayit. [Rabbi Bonder (pg 92-95) explains that if one is using hand made matzah it depends on how thick the matzah if which can be determined by seeing how many matzah are in a pound. If there's 9 to a pound, it's thin, 7.5 to a pound medium, and 6 to a pound thick. For Motzei Matzah, if it's thin, use slightly more than half, if it's medium, use slightly more than two fifths, if it's thick, a little more than a third. For Korech, if it's thin, use less than a third, if it's medium use a quarter, and if it's thick use a fifth. For Afikomen, if it's thin, use two fifths, if it's medium use less than a third, if it's thick use slightly more than a quarter.]
      • (3) Rav Mordechai Willig (Pesach To-Go, Nisan 5771, p. 60) rules that a Kezayit is 22.5cc (less than 2/5 of a Matza). See also Am Mordechai Moadim (p. 152).
      • (4) Rav Chaim Kanievsky in Shiurin Shel Torah (p. 66, 5750) writes that for the first Kezayit one should have 2/3 of a matza. (This is a retraction from what he wrote in Shiurin Shel Torah (p. 87, 5716) that a half of a matza is a kezayit).
  16. ↑
    • Kaf HaChaim 168:46 quotes a number of Sephardi Achronim, including the Chida, who say that the minhag of Sephardim is to measure the Kezayit by weight. He writes that this is the common minhag even for measuring a Kezayit of matza. Rav Ovadyah in Yechaveh Daat 1:16, Rav Mordechai Eliyahu (Maamar Mordechai 11:96), and Rav Chaim Dovid HaLevi (Aseh Lecha Rav 6:45) agree. Yalkut Yosef 475:4, therefore, rules that a Kezayit of matza is 27 grams. [In general, one machine matza is between 30 and 32 grams and so a Kezayit is .85-.9 of a matza.]
    • However, Rav Ben Tzion Abba Shaul (Or Letzion vol 3, p 30) argues that the minhag only developed when matza had a similar density to water, but because our matza is thin and dry, there is no need to be stringent to calculate based on weight. Accordingly, he calculated a Kezayit to be 29cc, which he says is less than 20 grams in weight.
  17. ↑ Mishna Brurah 486:1, Halichot Shlomo (pg 214 note 55)
  18. ↑ This is simply good advice so that the Rabbi is able to consider the situation and apply the appropriate leniencies one's individual situation.
  19. ↑ Piskei Teshuvot 486:1, Natai Gavriel (vol 2, 91:7)
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