1)

The Pasuk cannot mean to eat Matzah on the night of the fourteenth - because then the seventh day would be on the twentieth of Nisan! If so, what is it teaching us?

1.

Targum Yonasan: 'It is teaching us that one slaughters the Korban Pesach in the daytime of the fourteenth of Nisan, and then on the night of the fifteenth, one eats Matzah until the night after the twenty-first.

2.

Yerushalmi (Pesachim, 1:5): With reference to the prohibition mentioned above (12:15), it is teaching us the obligation to destroy Chametz on the fourteenth day. 1


1

See Torah Temimah, note 164. Refer also to 12:15:1.2:1 and note.

2)

Having taught us the Mitzvah to eat Matzah on the night of the fifteenth of Nisan, in verse 12:8, why does the Torah need to repeat it here?

1.

Rashi (to 12:15): To obligate us to eat Matzos even nowadays, when there is no Korban Pesach. 1


1

See Torah Temimah, note 165.

3)

Having already stated "Shiv'as Yamim [Matzos Tocheilu]" (12:15), why does the Torah need to add "Ad Yom ha'Echad- v'Esrim ... "?

1.

Rashi: This includes the nights (which "Shiv'as Yamim" does not).

2.

Moshav Zekenim (citing [the Ri] of Orleans): To teach us that the seven days must be consecutive, since we might otherwise have thought that they can be three at the beginning of the month, one in the middle, and three at the end.

3.

Perhaps we might have otherwise thought that the seven days begin "ba'Yom ha'Rishon" - on Erev Pesach, when Chametz becomes forbidden. (PF).

4.

Arachin 18a. It comes to include the first and seventh days of Pesach in the Chiyuv Kareis for eating Chametz. 1


1

Arachin 18a: We would otherwise have thought that, when the Torah wrote in connection with the Chiyuv Kareis, "mi'Yom ha'Rishon ad Yom ha'Shevi'i" (12:15), it is exclusive. "Ad Yom ha'Echad- v'Esrim" therefore teaches us that it is inclusive.

4)

Rashi (to 12:15) wrote: "... [On] the seventh day of Pesach, it is not obligatory to eat Matzah ... Just as the seventh day is optional, so too are the preceding six optional... Then [our verse], 'in the evening, eat Matzos,' comes to teach that the first night is obligatory." But if so, the derivation that the preceding six days are all optional, must fail -- as the first night is not optional! (Also refer to 12:15:153.51:2*.)

1.

Gur Aryeh: The nights were never part of "Shiv'as Yamim" (in verse 12:15) - neither the first night, nor the subsequent six nights. Thus, the fact that the first night is optional does not constitute a deviation from the "seven days." 1 Although our Pasuk (12:18) ultimately includes the nights as well (in the prohibition of Chametz), verse 12:15 did not include them. Therefore, we are able to derive from that verse, that on the other days of Pesach, Matzah is optional. 2


1

Compare Gur Aryeh to 12:15; refer to 12:15:153.41:1, 12:15:153.50:2, and 12:15:153.51:2.

2

See the next question (12:18:1.4:1).

5)

Rashi (to 12:15) wrote: "[... our verse,] 'In the evening, eat Matzos,' teaches that the first night is an obligation." But perhaps our verse only comes to teach the inference that Chametz is forbidden on the first night (see 12:18:1.2:1)? Matzah would then be optional!

1.

Gur Aryeh #1: The phrase "Tochelu Matzos" appears not at the end of our Pasuk, 1 but rather in the middle, essentially separating the first night from the remaining days of Pesach. It must be that this night alone has an obligation to eat Matzah.

2.

Gur Aryeh #2: Verse 12:15, which discusses seven days, can be interpreted as optional. It goes without saying that a person eats bread over the course of seven days; and the Pasuk tells us that since that bread cannot be Chametz, it will have to be Matzah. 2 But our Pasuk specifies Matzah on one particular evening; it must mean that there is an obligation.


1

Gur Aryeh (to 12:15): Nor in the beginning - see 12:15:153.40:1.

2

Nonetheless, Gur Aryeh (to 12:15) wrote that this does not constitute an Isur Aseh; refer to 12:15:153.31:1 and its notes.

6)

Rashi (to 12:15) writes: "'In the evening, eat Matzos' teaches that [eating Matzah on] the first night is obligatory." This should be sufficient proof that the other days of Pesach are optional! Why does Rashi to 12:15 require an involved derivation to prove this?

1.

Refer to 12:15:153.50:2.

7)

Rashi (to 12:15) writes: "'In the evening, eat Matzos' teaches that [eating Matzah on] the first night is obligatory." But then the 8th principle of Rabbi Yishmael can be invoked in the opposite direction - i.e. that Matzah throughout Pesach should be obligatory!

1.

Refer to 12:15:153.51.

8)

Rashi (to 12:15) writes: "'In the evening, eat Matzos' teaches that [eating Matzah on] the first night is obligatory." Now that it has been established that the rest of Pesach is optional, let the Torah omit the other sources for this derivation (Shemos 12:15, and Devarim 16:8)?

1.

Refer to 12:15:153.60.

9)

Why does the Torah insert the word "ba'Erev"?

1.

Rashi (to Rosh Hashanah 20b): To teach us that the prohibition of not eating Chametz lasts until nightfall of the twenty-first of Nisan - because day follows night. 1

2.

Rosh Hashanah 20b: To teach us that, when declaring Rosh Chodesh, the night as well as the day must belong to the incoming month. 2

3.

Mechilta (and Rashi): "Ad Yom ha'Echad v'Esrim... ba'Arev" teaches us that the Isur Chametz applies to the nights as well. 3


1

Perhaps this is necessary, because we would have thought otherwise, since the Isur Chametz began in the day of the fourteenth. Refer to 12:18:0.1 and 12:18:1:3.

2

See Torah Temimah, note 167.

3

Mechilta: Even though the Torah wrote "Shiv'as Yamim...." See Torah Temimah, note 168.

QUESTIONS ON RASHI

10)

Rashi writes: "The [prior] verse said 'days' (12:15); how do we know about the nights (as well)? [Our verse] teaches, '... until the twenty-first, in the evening'" (i.e., eat Matzos for seven uninterrupted nights and days). But Rashi (to 12:15) told us that the verse "seven days you shall eat Matzos" - is optional! What is the practical difference whether the option applies to the nights, or not?

1.

Gur Aryeh: The main point of verse 1 12:15 is the implication that Chametz will be forbidden during this time (so we will have to eat Matzah). 2 Hence, our verse is necessary; it teaches that Chametz is forbidden 3 not only by day, but on the intervening nights as well (as we see that the Torah says to eat Matzah).


1

"Seven days you shall eat Matzos, however on the first day destroy leavening from your homes; for whoever eats Chametz will be liable to Kareis ... from the first day through the seventh day" (12:15).

2

Although Gur Aryeh (to 12:15) wrote above, that we cannot derive an Isur Aseh on eating Chametz from the verse about eating Matzos (refer to 12:15:153.31:1); he refers to the opening words, "seven days eat Matzos," only. Gur Aryeh's comments here are based on the continuation of that verse, which indeed does mention Chametz (see the preceding note). (EK)

3

Gur Aryeh: Our Pasuk as well, although at the surface it is referring to eating Matzos, is necessary only for its inference -- that it will be forbidden to eat or own Chametz during this entire span of time.

11)

Rashi writes: "The [prior] verse said 'days' (12:15); how do we know about the nights (as well)? [Our verse] teaches, '... until the twenty-first, in the evening'" (i.e., eat Matzos for seven uninterrupted nights and days)." But can't we derive this just as well from the end of that same Pasuk - "... for whoever eats Chametz will be liable to Kareis ... from the first day through the seventh day" (12:15)?

1.

Gur Aryeh: Verse 12:15 would not be sufficient to teach us this. The range of "from the first day through the seventh day" does not include the first night, which comes before the first day! Our verse is needed, to clarify that Chametz is prohibited on the first night as well. 1


1

Gur Aryeh: Can't we learn this from a Kal va'Chomer? If on the other nights of Pesach, when Matzah is optional, Chametz is forbidden; then certainly on the first night when Matzah is obligatory, Chametz must be forbidden! Gur Aryeh answers; a. Ein Mazhirin Min ha'Din - One may not derive a prohibition from logic, such as a Kal va'Chomer. (In order for a prohibition to carry the strength of a Lav which is liable to Malkos, a logical proof is insufficient. We require an explicit Pasuk (or else a derivation that requires a Mesorah, such as a Gezerah Shavah).) b. This Kal va'Chomer can be refuted. The second night has a day of sanctity preceding it, whereas the first day does not (and if so, we could still say that the first night has no prohibition of Chametz -- were it not for our Pasuk).

12)

Rashi writes: "The [prior] verse said 'days' (12:15); how do we know about the nights (as well)? [Our verse] teaches, '... until the twenty-first, in the evening'" (i.e., eat Matzos for seven uninterrupted nights and days). But then why is verse 12:15, "seven days you shall eat Matzos," even necessary?

1.

Gur Aryeh: Had only our verse been stated, (which tells us to eat Matzah all seven days and nights, including the first night), we could never have arrived at the conclusion that eating Matzah on other days of Pesach is optional. 1 It is only within verse 12:15 - which does not discuss the nights - that we can invoke principle #8 of the Beraisa of Rabbi Yishmael, 2 to teach that all seven days are optional.


1

Gur Aryeh: (In order to invoke rule #8 of Rabbi Yishmael, the entire category must follow the changed law - all or nothing.) Since the first night is within the general category of seven days (in our verse), and it is mandatory, we cannot use it to derive that the first six days should be optional like the seventh day. (If anything, the other days should be mandatory, like the first night! Refer to 12:15:153.51; also to 12:15:153.60.)

2

The full application of this rule, from Rashi to 12:15, is cited in Question 12:15:153.21.

13)

Rashi writes that "until the twenty-first" includes the nights. But Rashi already wrote (to 12:15) that after the first night, eating Matzah is only Reshus!

1.

Mizrachi and Sifsei Chachamim: Because it is only Reshus, we must say 1 that "until the twenty-first" does not refer to eating Matzah (which the first part of our Pasuk is discussing), but rather to the seven-day Isur of Se'or and Chametz in the following Pasuk (12:19).

2.

Gur Aryeh: The reason the Torah tells us when it is a Reshus to eat Matzah, is to teach us that it is then Asur to eat Chametz. 2 Refer to 12:18:1.1:1.

3.

Riva (citing the Chizkuni): The first night there is a Chiyuv to eat Matzah, whereas during the seven subsequent days, it is Reshus, which is subject to reward, 3 but which is not punishable if one declines to fulfil it. The repetition teaches us that the Mitzvah of Reshus applies also at night-time.


1

It seems that they hold that there is no Mitzvah of Reshus to eat Matzah after the first night (refer to 12:18:151:3). (PF)

2

It seems that Gur Aryeh holds that there is no Mitzvah of Reshus to eat Matzah after the first night (contrast to 12:18:151:3). (PF)

3

Also the Vilna Gaon and many others learn like this. But our text of the Chizkuni says, 'he does not receive reward... in any case he performs the Mitzvah.' This requires investigation. (PF)

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