(ה) אלו דברים שאדם יוצא בהן ידי חובתו בפסח, בחטים, בשעורים, בכסמין ובשיפון ובשבלת שועל.
(5) A person discharges his obligation with the following articles on Passover:—with cakes made of wheat, barley, spelt, oats, and rye. . . .
(ב) בצק שבסדקי ערבה, אם יש כזית במקום אחד - חיב לבער, ואם לא - בטל במעוטו. וכן לענין הטמאה. אם מקפיד עליו - חוצץ, ואם רוצה בקיומו - הרי הוא כערבה. בצק החרש, אם יש כיוצא בו שהחמיץ, הרי זה אסור.
(2) If there be any dough in the crevices of a kneading-trough; if there is a kazayit [ a specific unit of volume] in one place, one is obligated to destroy [it]; and if not, it is [considered as] null [due] to its smallness. And so too with respect to impurity. [However] if one is particular about it [and doesn't want it there], it forms a separation, but if he wants its preservation [in the trough], it is [considered] as [a part of] the trough. If there is a 'silent' dough [that has not visibly become leavened]: if there is one similar to it that has become leavened, behold [that 'silent' dough] is forbidden.
(ה) שאור ישרף, והאוכלו פטור. סדוק ישרף, והאוכלו חיב כרת. איזהו שאור, כקרני חגבים. סדוק, שנתערבו סדקיו זה בזה, דברי רבי יהודה. וחכמים אומרים: זה וזה האוכלו חיב כרת. ואיזהו שאור, כל שהכסיפו פניו כאדם שעמדו שערותיו.
(5) If [dough begins to become] leavened, it must be burned; but the one who eats it is exempt [from karet]. If [it] becomes cracked, it must be burned, and the one who eats it is obligated [to undergo] karet. What [dough] is [considered as commencing to become] leavened? [When it shows small cracks standing apart] like the horns [antennae] of locusts. [What is considered] cracked? When the cracks cross each other - these are the words of Rabbi Yehuda. But the Sages say, "Whoever eats either is obligated [to undergo] karet." What [dough] is [considered as commencing to become] leavened? When its surface has become [pale], like [the face of] a person whose hair stands on end [through fright].
The sages taught: One may not bake thick bread (on the festival) on Passover; this is the statement of Beit Shammai.
(ח) רקיקין. (וע''ז סומכים לעשות בה ציורין וב''ח מוחה בהם עד למאוד ע''ש). המנהג לעשותן כעובי אצבע ב''ה י''ד סי' צ''ו:
Thin. The custom is to make them the thickness of a finger ...
(ה) אֵין עוֹשִׂין בְּפֶסַח פַּת עָבָה טֶפַח.
One should not make bread (matzah) on Passover that is thicker than a tefach (between 3.5 and 4 inches).
There is no custom that restricts Ashkenasim from eating soft Matza. Although Ashkenasim have eaten hard Matza for many years, such a practice has the same significance as the practice of making the Parochet of blue material rather than of red or maroon material. Besides, there is evidence from the Mishna Berura that "Matza made as soft as a sponge" can be used for the Mitzvah of eating Matza. Furthermore, the Rema who mentions that Matza should be made as Rekikin, means to say that Matza should be made thin, even less than an Etzba (about 12mm), not one Tefach thick (about 8cm) as permitted by the Mechaber. He does not mean that Matza should be made as thin nor as hard, as wafers.
- These are the sources where we learn about the commandment of eating Matza on Pesach. From these sources the Rabbis dispute at what point should the matza be gaurded and how it should be prepared
- When should I use Shmurah Matza?
- When should I use Regular Matza?
- What are the pros and cons of man-made matza?
- What are the pros and cons of machine-made matza?
**** Althogh there is no simple answer to these questions everyone should find what their comfortable with and what their family minhag is