
How is one to eat matzoh if he does not have teeth?
One who does not have teeth, and does not use dentures to help with the chewing, contains two options for the eating of the Matzah on the night of the Seder:
- Option one – Crush into Matzah flour: One should crush the matzoh into flour preferably on Erev Pesach, measuring the exact amount needed to be eaten within four minutes by each of the times that it is eaten on the night of the Seder [i.e. Motzi Matzah, Koreich, Afikoman]. One is that to consume these matzoh crumbs and flour within four minutes. [Even one who avoids Gebrochts may wash down the Matzah crumbs with water while they are in his mouth to help with swallowing, as Gebrochts does not apply inside the mouth.]
- Option two – Dip whole pieces in water: Those who are not careful about Gebrochts [eating Matzah with liquids on Pesach] may wet the pieces of matzoh [not crushed Matzah that is like flour!] with water to help them to chew it with their gums and then swallow it. It is to be dipped in the water and then immediately removed prior to the water becoming whitened. Even those who careful not to eat Gebrochts on Pesach, may and even must facilitate eating the matzoh in this method, if it is not possible for them to eat it in any other way [see option 1], as eating matzoh on the night of Pesach is a Biblical command, which Gebrocths is a Chumra. [According to Admur, and other Poskim, one may not dip the Matzah into juice, and it may hence only be dipped into plain water, and one who dips it into juice does not fulfill his obligation. Accordingly, it does not help for one who keeps Gebrochts to dip it into wine. However, other Poskim are lenient if one simply dips it in without soaking.]
The Rebbe’s custom: It is interesting to make note that the rebbe did not have teeth for a number of decades and did not resort to any of the above two options when eating the matzoh, and would rather eat it regularly, although according to testimony his gums would bleed as a result.
Sources: See Piskeiy Teshuvos 461:8; Nitei Gavriel 92:1-9 See regarding crushing into flour: Shaareiy Teshuvah 461:2; Biur Halacha 461:4 “Yotzei Adam”; Orchos Rabbeinu 58; Piskeiy Teshuvos 461:8; Nitei Gavriel 92:3 See regarding dipping in water and fruit juice: Admur 461:12-13; 462:8; 475:10; Michaber 461:4; Pesachim 41a; Rif Pesachim 11b; Rosh Pesachim 2:17; Rambam 6:10; M”A 461:7; Taz 461:2; Rif Pesachim 11b; Rosh Pesachim 2:17; Rokeiach 283 [regarding hot soup]; Maharil Seder Haggadah p. 110 [regarding soup]; Bach 461; Peri Chadash 461:4; Chok Yaakov 461:12; Elya Raba 475:3 and 11; Orchos Rabbeinu 59; Piskeiy Teshuvos 461:8 footnote 41 See regarding the Rebbe’s custom: Shemen Sason Meichavirecha 1 p. 245
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