ושמרתם את המצות

Guard the Matzot

- Mira Goldberg, Orli Shachar, and Marli Shelson

 

What is the reason for the commandment of matzah?  The most logical answer can be found in Sefer Shemot :

 ויאפו את הבצק אשר הוציאו ממצרים, עגת מצות, כי לא חמץ כי גרשו ממצרים, ולא יכלו להתמהמה… - י"ב:ל"ט

 “They baked unleavened cakes of the dough which they brought forth from Egypt for it was not leavened because they were thrust out of Egypt and could not tarry...”(12:39)

  The reason for the Israelites eating unleavened bread was that they were hastily sent out of Egypt because of their fear of Pharaoh changing his decision to let them free.

However, as the Talmud notes, the explanation provided in this verse is incomplete. Elsewhere in Torah, G-d orders us to eat unleavened bread with the Korban Pesach, which suggests that matzah was commanded even before the Israelites left Egypt.  Clearly, then, there is more to the mitzvah of matzah than the need to escape from Egypt.

It is written in Shemot 12:17, "ושמרתם את המצות" - “You shall guard the Matzot (from becoming leavened)”.  The word “Matzot” is spelled the same as “Mitzvot”:  מצות.  The sages interpret this similarity to teach us that “You shall guard the mitzvot from becoming leavened.”  The Mechilta interprets this to mean that when a mitzvah comes your way, do not allow it to leaven, do not delay in its performance; rather, you must perform it immediately. 

R’ Shneur Kotler, however, finds difficulty in this comparison.  By allowing one matzah to become leavened, it affects the identity of the matzah and causes it to become forbidden (אסור).  On the other hand, when one delays a mitzvah, although not ideal, it does not affect the end result as leavening does to matzah.  Therefore, R’ Shneur explains that through the interpretation of the sages, they are actually teaching us a lesson in our attitude towards mitzvot.  When dough is left to sit, external influences such as yeast cells cause the dough to ferment.  The same happens with mitzvot.  When a person puts a mitzvah off to attend to other matters first, these outer influences take away form the enthusiasm and passion that are essential to the way a mitzvah must be performed.  Therefore, by leaving a mitzvah to leaven, the end result is, in fact, altered.  Don’t put off for tomorrow what you can do today!

 

“Haggadah for the Roshei Yeshiva”- Artscroll Mesorah Series