Matza on Passover

Is there a mitzvah to eat matza on Passover or is it optional?

Shalom!

Thank you for your question.

One must eat at least a kezayit  (30 gram) of matza at the Seder(s) on Pesach night, as the Torah says, “In the evening you shall eat matzot.” in addition to the other rabbinical obligations of eating Matzah on Liel Ha'Seder. In fact, one gains a mitzva with every bite of matza that one eats on the first night of Pesach and not merely for the obligatory portions of matza that are eaten as part of the Seder.

Although the Torah says, “You shall eat matzot for seven days,” the Talmud insists that there is no requirement to do so. It is explained that this verse is merely to remind us that matza is to be eaten in place of bread over the course of the holiday, not that there is any obligation to do so. One is perfectly entitled to go all of Chol Hamo’ed without eating any matza whatsoever should one so desire.

In fact, with the exception of the Seder night(s), there exists a custom to completely abstain from matza on Pesach! In a variation of this custom, there are those who only eat matza at the Shabbat and yom tov meals, but not at any other time during Chol Hamo’ed. These customs are based on the fact that it is only flour-based products (including matza) that can possibly become chametz . Therefore, by abstaining from matza and matza-based products, one further distances oneself from possibly, even unintentionally, consuming chametz on Pesach. However, a person who doesn't have such a custom should not do so.

Nevertheless, there are a number of eminent authorities who argue that the verse “You shall eat matzot for seven days” is to be understood literally. According to this approach, it is indeed a mitzva to eat matza every day of Pesach but even this school of thought agrees that there is no obligation to do so – it’s optional.

Shemot 12:15,18; Vayikra 23:6; Rambam, Hilchot Chametz U’matza 6:1; Bach, OC 472:6; OC 475:7; Sefer Chareidim 11; Meiri, Pesachim 91b; Ibn Ezra, Shemot 12:15; Ma’aseh Rav 185; Avnei Nezer 377; Birkei Yosef , OC 475:6; Mishna Berura 475:45; Aruch Hashulchan , OC 475:18.