Page 306 - Tzurba M'Rabanan Volume1

304 · Hilchot Leil Haseder I Tzurba M’Rabanan

On a simple level, it seems from the Gemara that the dough must be guarded to ensure that it does not rise
and become chametz. However, Rishonim dispute whether there is an additional element to this “guarding.”

r Rambam, Hilchot Chametz Umatza 5:8 ח:ה הצמו ץמח ׳לה | ם”במר . 52
“And you shall guard the matzot” – Meaning that you must ורהז ִ ה :רמולכ – ”תוצמה תא םתרמשו“
be careful with the matza and guard it from any possibility of .ץומח דצ לכמ התוא ורמשו הצמב
becoming leaven.

r Rashi, Masechet Pesachim 38b :חל םיחספ תכסמ | י”שר . 53
And you shall guard the matzot, make the guarding for the םשל הרימש הל דיבע תוצמה תא םתרמשו
sake of matza – For all guarding that one does in order that it אלש הרמשמ התאש רומיש לכ – הצמ
doesn’t become chametz, have intention that it be for the sake of .הוצמ לש הצמ םשל ןווכתה ץימחת
matza for the mitzva.

According to Rambam, the primary requirement is to guard the matza from becoming chametz. According
to Rashi, an active guarding is necessary with intention that the matza be suitable for the mitzva of eating
matza. The Mishna Berura writes that lechatchila, we act in accordance with the opinion of Rashi.

a Mishna Berura 453:21 אכ:גנת | הרורב הנשמ . 54
This means that the matzot that we eat on the first two nights to תולילה יתשב ןילכואש תוצמה ל”ר
fulfill the mitzva of “in the evening you shall eat matzot” require ולכאת ברעב תוצמ ןהב םייקל תונושארה
an additional element of guarding, and the fact that there is no ונל יד אלו הריתי הרימש ןיכירצ םה תוצמ
concern that they might become chametz is not sufficient. Rather, ץומיח ששח לש אתועיר ונל ןיאש המב
we need an additional element of guarding for the sake of the הצמ תוצמ םשל הריתי רומיש ךירצש אלא
mitzva of matza, as it is written, “and you shall guard the matzot,” ךירצש ונייהו תוצמה תא םתרמשו ביתכד
meaning that one needs to guard it for the sake of matza.
:הצמ םשל רומשיש

Commentaries further dispute in which stage the guarding must begin. There are three opinions regarding
this, all of which are alluded to in the Shulchan Aruch.

a Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 453:4 ד:גנת ח״וא | ע״וש . 55
It is best to guard the wheat used for making matza for the mitzva בוט הוצמ תצמ םהב םישועש םיטחה
that no water touch them from the time of harvesting, and at תעשמ םימ םהילע ולפי אלש ןרמשל
least [they should be guarded] from the time of grinding. In תעשבו .הניחט תעשמ תוחפלו ,הריצק
extenuating circumstances, it is permitted to take flour from the .קושה ןמ חמק חקיל רתומ קחדה
marketplace.

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