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Why does the Mishna forbid eating on Erev Pesach (פסח) 'until dark' rather than simply until the Seder begins? The shiur traces a fundamental machlokes about whether this creates two separate laws - an Erev Pesach restriction plus a Seder obligation to eat adequately - or one law ensuring proper appetite for the mitzvas matzah.
This shiur examines Mishna Pesachim 99b which states that on Erev Pesach (פסח) one may not eat from mincha time 'ad shetechashech' (until dark). Rabbi Zweig begins by questioning why the holiday is called 'Pesach' rather than 'Chag HaMatzos' as it appears throughout the Torah (תורה), citing the Berditchever Rav's famous explanation that we call it by what Hashem (ה׳) did for us (passed over our houses), while Hashem calls it by what we did for Him (left Egypt in haste with matzah). The central discussion focuses on interpreting the phrase 'samuch l'mincha lo yochal ad shetechashech.' Rashi (רש"י) explains 'samuch l'mincha' as 'before mincha time,' while the Rashbam and other Rishonim interpret it as a specific half-hour period. The analysis examines what 'lo yochal' (may not eat) refers to and why the Mishna uses 'ad shetechashech' (until dark).
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Pesachim 99b
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