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...
Must a Pilot Recite Birkat Ha’gomel Every Day?
“Kol Yisrael Arebim Zeh La’zeh” – Reciting Berachot on Behalf of Others (Gomel, Shehakol, etc)
Do People Who Travel by Ferry Every Day Recite Birkat Ha’gomel?
The Custom of Hatarat Nedarim on Ereb Shabbat
Is It Permissible to Share Digital Music Files?
Touching One’s Clothing Before Washing Netilat Yadayim in the Morning
Touching Food Before Washing One’s Hands in the Morning
The Importance of Forgiveness, and the Dangers of Anger
The Name of the Month “Marheshvan”
Purifying Oneself by Washing Hands 40 Times
The Status of a Kohen Whose Profession Requires Him to Become Tameh
May a Kohen Attend His Wife’s Funeral if They Were in the Process of Divorcing?
Laws Pertaining to a Kohen’s Wife During Pregnancy
Tum’at Kohanim - The Prohibition for a Kohen to be Under the Same Roof as a Dead Body
Fulfilling the Misva of Kiddush on Shabbat Morning Without Eating; Using the Cup of Wine at a Berit for Kiddush
Page of 239
3585 Halachot found