Today’s daf TB Pesakhim 107 finishes the discussion concerning the laws of kiddish and havdala and turns its attention back to Passover. The opening Mishnah of chapter 10 declares “On the eve of Passover, adjacent to minḥa time, a person may not eat until dark” (TB Pesakhim 99b, Sefaria.org translation)
Tosefot (ד"ה סמוך למנחה) explains how our afternoon prayer got its name Minkha. It can’t be the griddle cake (minkhat havitin-מנחת חביתין) offered up along with the afternoon sacrifice, because the griddle cake was also offered up in the morning. They suggest two answers. The first is: since the morning service is already called Shakharit, the name Minkha is freed up for the afternoon service. The second answer says that people were careful about the afternoon service as demonstrated by the story of Elijah on top of Mount Carmel when he challenged the prophets of Baal[1]. Elijah waited until the time it was to present the minkha offering. His sacrifice was accepted demonstrating that minkha was a time of favor and a good name to name the afternoon service.
The Gemara proves that the Mishna is speaking about minkha ketana, three hours after midday,
and not minkha gedola, one half hour
after midday. Eating the matza with a
hearty appetite is the reason why one stops eating one half hour before minkha ketana. Rashbam provides two
reasons why we are more concerned about eating matza with an appetite than the Paschal lamb. First of all, it is
all about proteins versus carbohydrates. He postulates that people can continue
eating a piece of meat i.e the korban
Pesakh, even when they are full. That is not the case when offered a large
piece of matza when full. The second
possible answer is that the Mishna is
talking about the time after the destruction of the Temple when the korban Pesakh could no longer be
sacrificed. Matza became the
essential food of remembering the Exodus from Egypt.
Even though the Mishna says one should not eat minkha ketana one half hour before, the Gemara gives permission to snack. “Rabbi Yosei said: It is prohibited to eat a proper meal from minḥa time onward; however, one may dip and eat types of refreshments, e.g., fruit or meat that do not constitute a full meal and will not fill one’s stomach. The Gemara relates that Rabbi Yitzḥak would dip and eat vegetables. That opinion, that it is permitted to snack after minḥa time on Passover eve, was also taught in a baraita: During the afternoon of Passover eve, the waiter may dip in the intestines of the animals that had been slaughtered in preparation for the Festival meals and place them before the guests who had registered for the Paschal lamb. This was done to whet their appetites, so they would eat the Paschal lamb and matza that evening with greater relish.” (Sefaria.org translation) In fact, snacking should be encouraged as the Gemara continues. “The baraita continues: And although there is no absolute proof for this matter, there is an allusion to this matter, as it is stated: “Break up for yourselves a fallow ground, and do not sow among thorns” (Jeremiah 4:3). This verse teaches that one must undertake preparations to achieve positive results. Similarly, one should eat a small amount in the afternoon to enable him to consume more in the evening.” (Srfaria.org translation)
So go ahead and snack to whet your appetite, but don’t eat too much less you won’t be able to enjoy matza and the Seder meal.
[1] See I Kings 18:20-46
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