Mitzvah #23
Sefer Ha’mitzvos Ha’Katzar (The concise book of mitzvos)
By the Chofetz Chaim

This book lists the Torah mitzvos that can be observed today

First Section – the Positive Commandments

23. It is a positive commandment to eat Matzah on the first night of Pesach

As it says in Shemos (Exodus) 12:18, “On the night, you shall eat Matzah (unleavened bread)”. Matzah needs to be from one of the kinds of grains and they are: wheat, barley, spelt, oats, and rye. Women are required also in this commandment. A child that can eat should be trained to have a kazayis (a piece the size of an olive).

It is forbidden, according to the Sages, to eat Matzah on the day before Pesach, in order that we can eat Matzah with an appetite. Marror (bitter herbs) and charoses (mixture of apples, nuts, and wine) are a mitzvah from the Sages. For Marror, it is required to recite the blessing, “He has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us on eating Marror.” For Charoses, there is no blessing at all.

This applies in all places and at all times for men and for women.