DailyHalacha.com for Mobile Devices Now Available

Click Here to Sponsor Daily Halacha
"Delivered to Over 6000 Registered Recipients Each Day"

      
(File size: 1.39 MB)
Pesah- The Keara

The Halacha requires using a Ke'arah (platter) to serve the various foods for the Misvot of the Seder. While the Ke'arah does not have to be specially designed for the Seder, it is not sufficient to place each item separately in it its own bowl on the table.

Rabbenu Ha'Arizal (Rav Yishak Luria of Safed, 1534-1572) revealed as special order in which to lay out the various foods on the Ke'arah. This can usually be found as an illustration in the beginning of the Hagaddah. Rabbi Mazuz taught a simple way to remember this order, by merely remembering two words: "SeMaH ZeVaHeCHa"-literally meaning, "Be happy with your Korban Pesah." It is an acronym for the order of the various foods starting from the top of the Ke'arah. 'S' is for 'Shalosh"-three, hinting to the three Massot. 'M' is for Maror, and "H" is for "Hazeret"-the endives. That is the first word "SeMaCH." Now, proceeding from right to left: 'Z' is for "Zeroa"-the shank bone. On the left is "Vet" for the "Besa"-egg, on the right bottom is "H" for Haroset and left bottom is the "Kaf" for "Karpas."

-----

Hacham Bension holds that the measure of a Kezayit (olive's bulk) for the round hand-baked Massot equals 20 grams. Before the Seder, one should weigh his Massot to determine how much of the Masa is a Kesayit. Some people eat the soft Massot which have a different density than the "cracker" Massot. Rabbi Mazuz as well as Hacham Bension and Rabbi Ben Moshe, hold that 35-38 grams of these Massot equal one Kezayit. Even though the Kezayit is a larger amount, this does not create a problem to consume in the requisite time of "Kedeh Ahilat Peras," since it is easier to eat them. Two Kezayits are eaten for Mosi Masa, One for Koreh and one (preferably two) for the Afikoman.

The proper measure of a Kezayit of Maror is 30 grams, although those who are lenient to use 20 grams have upon what to rely, since Maror is M'Drabanan.

 


Recent Daily Halachot...
Passover- Searching for Hametz in the Synagogue
Passover- Do Not Regard Meat As 'This Is For Pesach'
Passover- If A Hametz Pot Was Mistakenly Used For Pesach Cooking
Passover- The Laws regarding Glass Dishes On Passover and Throughout The Year
Passover- The Time To Start the Seder and Saying HALLEL At The End of The Seder
Passover- The Importance of MAGID In The Seder , and Leaning on the Night of Pesach
Passover- Is It Permissible To Drink Milk from A Non-Jew Owned Farm Cow Which Itself Consumed Chametz
Passover- Kashrut Questions and Answers Regarding Baby Formula, Sugar, Rice, and Food for Live Fish
Passover- Is It Permissable To Eat ROASTED Foods On Seder Nights
Passover- If A Tiny Amount of Hametz Falls Into A Pot & Cooking in Hametz Pots
May Two People Eat Meat and Milk at the Same Table?
Smelling Forbidden Foods; Heating Meat and Dairy Foods in a Microwave Oven
Drinking Non-Dairy Milk While or After Eating Meat
Serving at a Meat Meal Parve Foods That Were Served at a Dairy Meal
Is It Permissible to Use A Meat Pot To Cook A Parve Item That Will Be Mixed With A Dairy Item
Page of 239
3585 Halachot found