What’s on the menu for the Seder night? TB Pesakhim 53

The Romans ransacked and destroyed the Temple in the year 70 CE. Even 130 years later when Rabbi Yehuda HaNassi finished editing the Mishna in the year 200 CE, this loss was still palpable. Customs arose to remember the destruction of the Temple. For example, the groom breaks a glass underneath the huppah to remember that the Temple is destroyed and the Jewish people are still not redeemed even at the happiest moment of his life in order to fulfill the verse, “If I do not keep Jerusalem in memory even at my happiest hour.” (Psalm 137:6)

Today’s daf TB Pesakhim 53 discusses another such custom. “The mishna cites another custom related to Passover. In a place where people were accustomed to eat roasted meat on Passover evenings, outside of Jerusalem or after the Temple was destroyed, one may eat it. In a place where people were accustomed not to eat outside Jerusalem, one may not eat it.” (Sefaria.org translation) Those Jews who observe the custom of refraining from eating roasted meat didn’t want to give the impression they were eating a sanctified Passover offering outside of Jerusalem. “GEMARA: Rav Yehuda said that Rav said that it is prohibited for a person to say in modern times: This meat is for Passover, due to the fact that one appears to be consecrating his animal as his Paschal lamb, and he thereby eats consecrated items outside the permitted area. Rav Pappa said: This prohibition against saying: This is for Passover, applies specifically to meat, which is similar to consecrated meat; however, with regard to wheat, no, it does not apply. In that case, it is clear that one is saying that the flour be watched for Passover.” (Sefaria.org translation)

The Torah commands us to select a lamb for Paschal sacrifice and  “do not eat any of it raw, or cooked in any way with water, but roasted-head, legs, and entrails-over the fire.“ (Exodus 12:9) Apparently Todos prepared a lamb just like it was ordained in the Torah for his Seder meal. The rabbis were uncomfortable with this entrée because it looked too much like the Passover sacrifice. “Rabbi Yosei said: Theodosius [Todos] of Rome, leader of the Jewish community there, instituted the custom for the Roman Jews to eat kids roasted [mekulas] whole with their entrails over their heads on the evenings of Passover, as was the custom in the Temple. The Sages sent a message to him: If you were not Theodosius, an important person, we would have decreed ostracism upon you, as it appears as if you are feeding Israel consecrated food, which may be eaten only in and around the Temple itself, outside the permitted area. The Gemara asks about the terminology used here: Could it enter your mind that this meat was actually consecrated meat? That was certainly not the case. Rather, say instead:

“Doing so is akin to feeding Jews consecrated meat outside the permitted area, as due to its resemblance to the Paschal lamb it could be misleading. The Gemara analyzes this statement: A goat roasted whole, yes, it is prohibited; a goat not roasted whole, no, it is not prohibited. This contradicts Rav, who prohibited roasting even ordinary meat. The Sages say that this is the distinction: With regard to a goat roasted whole, there is no difference if one said it is for Passover, and there is no difference if one did not say it is for Passover. In either case, it looks like a sacrifice and it is prohibited. With regard to a goat not roasted whole, if one specified that it is for Passover, yes, it is prohibited because it appears that he is consecrating it as a sacrifice. However, if one did not specify that it is for Passover, no, it is not prohibited, as there is no need for concern” (Sefaria.org translation)

The Shulkhan Arukh poskins exactly like the Mishna. Those places where the custom is to eat roasted meat on the Seder night may continue to enjoy the roasted meat. Those places where the custom is to refrain from eating roasted meat on the Seder night should continue to refrain from eating this roasted meat. Ashkenazic Jews have universally accepted the custom to refrain from eating roasted meat on the Seder night. Some also add chicken to the list of forbidden roasted meat. Everybody agrees roasting a kid whole with their entrails over their heads is forbidden because it appears to be eating the Passover sacrifice outside of Jerusalem. (Orekh Hayyim, 476:1)