Pesach: Gebrokts

What is this Gebrokts custom all about?

Shalom!

Thank you for your question.

Indeed, there is a custom in some communities, mainly Chassidic communities, known as the custom of “ gebrokts” or “ sheruya .”(1)

The custom is primarily a practice not to eat any matza or matza product that came into contact with water, and in many cases, any liquid whatsoever. This is due to the concern that there may be some unbaked flour somewhere in the matza. Should such flour come into contact with water it can be become chametz! (2)

The gebrokts custom is practiced in different ways. In some communities, matza is not allowed to come into contact with water, but is permitted to come into contact with other liquids, such as fruit juice or wine. There are also those eat gebrokts on Erev Pesach and those who don’t. (3) Most of those who don’t eat gebrokts on Pesach do eat gebrokts on the last day of Pesach (the 8th day) in the Diaspora. This latter practice is meant to demonstrate that the custom of gebrokts is only a stringency and that those who do eat gebrokts on Pesach are doing nothing wrong.

It is interesting to note that while the gebrokts custom should not be belittled, the Talmud explicitly states that once matza has been fully baked, it can no longer become chametz. (4) In fact, the Shulchan Aruch writes that one is permitted to wet matza even to re-bake it. (5) Furthermore, one who has difficulty chewing matza is permitted to wet it in order to soften it, even at the Pesach Seder! (6)

[1] Gebrokts is Yiddish for “broken,” as in “broken in order to rebake.” Sheruya means “soaked.”

[2] Shulchan Aruch Harav , Teshuvot 6; Sha’arei Teshuva 460:10; Mishna Berura 458:4; Chatam Sofer , YD 222.

[3] Chayei Adam 129:13

[4] Pesachim 39b; Rashi, ibid., s.v. “Afui.”

[5] OC 463:3.

[6] OC 461:4.