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Why does the Mishna debate whether chametz on Pesach (פסח) requires a kidzayis or a kos'eves if chatzi shiur is asur min haTorah either way? The Sha'agas Aryeh argues there's no isur chatzi shiur for bal yeira'eh because the averah only starts when you possess a full shiur—not retroactively. The shiur also explores whether one may create a situation that will necessitate chilul Shabbos (שבת).
The shiur opens with a Mishna from Beitzah 2a contrasting the views of Beis Shammai and Beis Hillel regarding the minimum measure (shiur) for the prohibition of bal yeira'eh chametz on Pesach (פסח). Beis Shammai holds that one needs a kos'eves (the size of a large date) of se'or (leavened dough) to violate bal yeira'eh, while Beis Hillel requires only a kidzayis (olive-size). Rabbi Zweig presents a penetrating question from the Sha'agas Aryeh: if the halachic principle that chatzi shiur asur min haTorah (a half-measure is biblically prohibited) applies universally, then what practical difference (nafka mina) exists between Beis Shammai's kos'eves and Beis Hillel's kidzayis? In either case, even possessing less than a full shiur would constitute a Torah (תורה)-level prohibition. Rabbi Zweig explores one possible answer brought by the Chacham Tzvi, who limits the principle of chatzi shiur asur min haTorah exclusively to prohibitions of eating (issurei achilah). According to this view, bal yeira'eh—which concerns possession, not consumption—would not be subject to chatzi shiur at all. However, Rabbi Zweig notes that Rashi (רש"י) in Shabbos (שבת) 83a appears to disagree with this limitation, suggesting that chatzi shiur applies more broadly.
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Beitzah 2a
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