How Big Is A Kezayit?

Rabbi Chaim of Volozhin is known as the father of the yeshiva world. Less known is his view as to the size of the matzoh that one is obligated to eat. R. Chaim was of the view that a kezayit of matzoh is actually the size of an olive – around three or four cubic centimeters. This results in a piece of matzoh about half the size of a credit card.

Read Rabbi Natan Slifkin's entire article in PDF form.

Comments

[Robert Wisler]

Having grown up in a hareidi yeshivish environment, I'm constantly amazed at how idiotically we went beyond what Torah and the sages commanded just to show how "frum" we were. Choking down an entire shmura matza to make sure we had a "kazai'is" was really disrespectful to God's Torah and the wisdom of the true sages.

[danny]

So a true piece of Matzo should be the size of a communion wafer?

[shmuel]

Can't wait to read it!

[harold]

I didn't read the article but my recollection is that it should be a lot bigger than that so I assume that this must be some form of a minor opinion. Anyway, since I love shmura matzo I plan on eating a lot bigger piece.

Have a enjoyable pesach, eat drink and be merry!

[Dr. Moe]

Isan Iphone a Lazayit?

[ah-pee-chorus]

The actual halachic size of a c'zayis is based on a closely guarded mathematics formula. Without going into the details, it seems it is directly proportional to the number of rabbis whose livelihood is directly or indirectly reliant upon the profits earned from the sale of shmura matzoh at prices of $16- $30 per box of mostly broken pieces.

[Armalgus]

Now Slifkin really is gonna be put in to cheirem!

[Shlomo]

Harold you should read the article Rabbi Slifkin is very respectful of other opinions and this is quite a learned article he really isn't saying anything radical and interestingly he says that even the Cazon Ish implies that a Kezayit is actually the size of an olive (surprisingly!)

[harold]

Harold you should read the article Rabbi Slifkin is very respectful of other opinions and this is quite a learned article he really isn't saying anything radical and interestingly he says that even the Cazon Ish implies that a Kezayit is actually the size of an olive (surprisingly!)

Just because I said that he was of minor opinion does not mean that I think that he is not learned or that the article is not a learned one. I simply know that most people hold of a bigger size and that my father held the bigger size. Many issues in Jewish law have various opinions, the Gemara is filled with Talmudic discourses in which various opinions are brought up and debated and usually ends with a statement as to what the prevailing decision is. My gut feeling is that this would be two vs three dimensional issue, that while the “size” may be one of an olive it would probably take at least a half a matzo worth of olive sized pieces to give the full size (volume) of an olive. Again I am coming to this conclusion purely by my own thought process and it may have absolutely nothing to do with reality.

[Bill]

Folks, take it from someone who knows:

Bigger isn't necessarily better. Beyond a certain point, the advantage of sheer size is outweighed by the difficulty people have in swallowing the monstrosity.

[harold]

Bigger isn't necessarily better

True but too small is not satisfying. 1/2 the size of a credit card is ludicrous; especially with a very thin matzo like Charedim Shmura matzo.

[Shmarya]

My gut feeling is that this would be two vs three dimensional issue, that while the “size” may be one of an olive it would probably take at least a half a matzo worth of olive sized pieces to give the full size (volume) of an olive.

That, Harold, is why you're an idiot.

Again I am coming to this conclusion purely by my own thought process and it may have absolutely nothing to do with reality.

Just like 98% of what you write.

[Bill]

"too small is not satisfying" - Harold

Funny how we only repeat what we hear other people say to us.

[nobody]

"Again I am coming to this conclusion purely by my own thought process and it may have absolutely nothing to do with reality."

Harold, sorry to inform you (or, mazal tov?), but you are correct that your presumption has nothing to do with reality.

[william e emba]

I eat 3 whole shmurah matzos for the mitzvah, plus whatever extra during shulchan orech I munch on, both nights. I've never found it to be a big deal. (And no, I'm not fat, either.) The only time I had difficulty was the one time I ate out the first day. That was a mistake, since other people drag their yomtov meals out, and don't really serve what I like, so I munched on way too much matzoh.

On the other hand, I hold by the most lenient possible opinions and them some regarding the time you're supposed to eat the shiur within. I don't get those times either. I recall from somewhere (Chullin? Menachos?) these times were the minimum time needed to wait between small bites to ensure that these measures don't combine to provide a shiur.

Heck, at $30/lb, go for it, right?

[sous]

this issue of kzait always bring discussions to my seder table. specially when it's time to eat maror.

[the farshlepte gaon]

the question is mass vs. volume

[hello_world]

Wow... and I thought the 2nd grade Catholic catechism was getting pretty legalistic when they told us exactly how to accept, eat, and swallow the communion wafer and what attitudes and thoughts and prayers to present during these acts... I had no idea matzos were so complicated.

Of course, I grew up around Reform Jews and never got the sense that You Know Who was looking over their shoulders constantly, waiting for the slightest trip-up.

The Lord sounds like he's got a little case of obsessive-compulsive disorder. Maybe a learned sage should take one for the team and offer Him some Xanax. Either that, or get him hooked on chronic.