There is a positive commandment to eat Massa on the night of the Seder. The Halacha requires that this Massa be "Massa Shemura," literally meaning Massa that was watched. The Rambam and Maran understand this to mean that the Massa must be watched and protected from becoming Hames. There is a debate among the Rishonim (Early Authorities) regarding from what point the Massot requires watching. Maran writes that it is "good" to watch the wheat for the Massot "MiShaat Kesira"-from the time of reaping. Although the word "good" implies that it is not mandatory, Hacham Ben Sion and Hacham Ovadia both recommend that one fulfill the Misva with such Massa. Massa watched from the reaping is generally the Massa commonly sold under the label of "Massa Shemura." Nevertheless, even if the watching of the Massa began later, from the time of the grinding or even the kneading, it is also considered Massa Shemura. This means that if one cannot obtain Massa Shemura watched from the reaping, any Massa bearing a seal of kosher supervision could be considered Massa Shemura, since it was protected from becoming Hames, at least from the time of kneading.
However, there is another element required for the Massa of the Misva. It must be prepared with specific intention for the sake of the Misva. This is the basis for the ruling of Maran in Siman 460 that non-Jews, the mentally incompetent and minors are not permitted to knead or bake the Massa for the misva. These people are not capable of such intent. Hacham Ben Sion clearly adopts this ruling and renders Massa not baked for the sake of the Misva unfit. He goes so far as to say that, in principle, such Massa would be permitted to eat on Ereb Pesah. Even though it is prohibited to eat Massa on Ereb Pesah, nonetheless, since one cannot fulfill his obligation with this Massa, theoretically, it could be eaten. Nevertheless, he concludes, for other reasons, that it should not be eaten.
Rav Haim Palachi (Turkey, 1788-1869 ) in his Moed L’kol Hai (3:19) writes that one should make the effort and be willing to pay more money for the opportunity to use Massa Shemura MiShaat Kesira, guarded from the time of reaping. When it comes to the Massot, the highlight of the Seder, one should not look for a bargain, as Hashem spared no expense when he took us out of Egypt.
Hacham Ben Sion recommends that one eat Massa Shemura all Pesach long, in order to fulfill the opinion of the Rambam and the Rif.
SUMMARY
One should use Massa Shemura that was watched from the time of reaping and was made for the sake of the Misva to fulfil the Misva on the Seder Night.
