Tuesday, January 02, 2007

Daf Yomi - Rosh Hashana 28 - Eating Matzah Without Reclining

The Gemora state that if the Persians forced someone to eat matzah, he has fulfilled his obligation of eating Matzah on Pesach.

Rav Shach asks that the person should not be considered as if he discharged his obligation since he ate the matzah without reclining and the halacha is that one who eats matzah without leaning has not fulfilled his mitzvah. He continues that even if he did recline it should not be regarded as leaning because reclining under duress being forced to eat) is the exact opposite of freedom and the sole purpose of the obligation to recline is in order to indicate freedom.

Rav Elyashiv shlita, in his Haggadah shel Pesach answers that a person that has the ability to recline and doesn’t has not fulfilled his obligation of eating matzah while leaning since he is lacking in the mitzvah of showing freedom; however someone who cannot recline is not regarded as being deficient in the mitzvah of leaning. A student by his Rebbe or a kohen in the Temple Courtyard fulfills the mitzvah of eating matzah even though they can not recline.

Reb Dovid Solovetchik shilta answers that the case is speaking about where the person did recline and the action of leaning is sufficient for one to fulfill the mitzvah even though the person is not feeling freedom.

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