Korech

From Halachipedia
  1. One should take the bottom Matzah and eat it together with Maror and dip it in Charoset and then wipe the Charoset off. [1] Some say not to dip the Korech in Charoset. [2]
  2. One should eat the Korech while leaning. [3] If one didn’t lean and it’s difficult to repeat it one doesn’t have to. [4]
  3. One should not make a interruption not related to the mitzvot from the Brachot on Matzah and Maror until eating the Korech. [5] After the fact if one made an interruption one still doesn’t make a Bracha on Korech. [6]

How to combine them

  1. Some say that the maror should be placed on top of the matza [7], some say to wrap the matza in maror [8] while some say to place the maror between the matzas. [9] All of these methods are valid. [10]


What to Say

  1. Sephardim should say the words “Zecher LeMikdash KeHillel”. [11] Ashkenazim should say זֵכֶר לְמִקְדָּשׁ כְּהִלֵּל. כֵּן עָשָׂה הִלֵּל בִּזְמַן שבֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ הָיָה קַיָים: הָיָה כּוֹרֵךְ מַצָּה וּמָרוֹר וְאוֹכֵל בְּיַחַד [12]


References

  1. S”A 475:1, Mishna Brurah 475:17. The gemara in Pesachim 115a records a dispute about how the mitzvot of matza and maror was fulfilled in the times that the temple stood. Chachamim say each thing was eaten on its own. Hillel held that you should wrap them up together into a sandwich to fulfill the pasuk Bamidbar 9:11,עַל-מַצּוֹת וּמְרֹרִים, יֹאכְלֻהוּ. Rambam Hilchot Chametz U'matza 8:7-8 this down. According to Rashi and Rashbam Pesachim 115a this sandwich includes the korban pesach.
  2. Rama 475:1. Tur 475 quotes the Raavya that we shouldn't dip the korech in the charoset because we already fulfill the obligation to dip when we eat maror, and the charoset which is optional nullifies the obligation to fulfill matza and maror according to hillel. There is also no danger from the maror because the matza nullifies the bitterness. Tur 475 quotes the Rosh that we should dip, and this is the opinion of the Or Zarua 2:256, and Haghot Maimoniyot Hilchot Chametz u'matza 8:7 as well. Mishna Brurah 475:19 writes that most Achronim hold like S”A, however those who have the minhag should continue the minhag.
  3. S”A 475:1
  4. Sh”t Chazon Ovadyah 1:40, Mekor Chaim 475, S”A HaRav 475:18
  5. S”A 475:1. Tur 475 quoting the Sefer Hamanhig Hilchot Pesach 84.
  6. Mishna Brurah 475:24, Sh”t Chazon Ovadyah 1:41
  7. Moadim U'zmanim Haggada page 107 because the gemara says he wraps the matza and maror not that he wraps one in the other.
  8. Rabbeinu Chananel Pesachim 115a, Sefer Hachinuch mitzva 21.
  9. Aruch Hashulchan 475:7, Kitzur S"A 119:7.
  10. Haggadat Moadim U'Zmanim page 107. The Mishnat Yaakov 475 explains that the reason the custom changed from wrapping the matza in maror to putting the maror between the matzas is that people started to use horseradish for maror instead of romaine lettuce.
  11. S”A 475:1, Darchei Moshe 475:3 quoting the Maharil. Biur Halacha 475:1 D”H VeOmer asks on the source for this practice, and says that perhaps there’s no reason. He also wonders why this is not considered a break, which the Shulchan Aruch says one shouldn't have between the hamotzi before the first matza eating and the korech. He gives two potential answers to this. According to the first answer, really the S"A wasn't careful with the order he put it in, and one should really eat and then say it. The second answer is that we should change the language of the S"A and you're not really supposed to say it at all. He leaves both questions unresolved. However, Sh”t Yachava Daat 1:19 and Sh”t Chazon Ovadyah 1:41 writes that this is the proper practice. Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik quoted in Harirei Kedem 2:93 explains that really korech isn't part of the obligations of matza and maror but is just an independent expression of remembering the temple and there would then be no problem of a break. He says though, that Rav Chaim Soloveitchik would not interrupt between motzi matza and the matza of afikoman in accordance with the ruling of the Shl"a.
  12. Mishna Brurah 475:21, S"A Harav 475:18.