An integral part of our seder, as well as Pesach in general, is matzo. Whereas many aspects of the seder are of rabbinic ordinance, the obligation to eat matzo on the night of the 15th of Nissan is required upon us from the Torah. According to many opinions the mitzvah is accomplished with the first k’zayis eaten. After finishing the “magid” portion of the haggadah, we wash our hands. Two blessings are then recited. The first, “hamotzi”, is recited while holding all three matzos. The reason being is that the top and bottom matzos are whole, which is necessary just as by every Shabbos and Yom Tov. The bottom matzo is then dropped, leaving the top whole matzo and the middle half matzo in your hands. The blessing of “al achilas matzo” is then recited. It should be noted that when reciting this brocha, one should have in mind the Afikoman, which according to some authorities is the matzo that is required by the Torah. The calculations used to figure out how much matzo is equivalent to one “k’zayis” is complicated and consists of a few variables. It is meritorious if one is able to eat a little more than a third of a hand matzo (.75 oz). A sick or old person who is physically unable to eat this amount can eat less. A halachic authority should be consulted as to the exact amount.

Rabbi Tzvi Aryeh Hyman, Mir Yeshiva.

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