Wake up you sleepyhead TB Pesakhim 120

According to tradition one should begin the Seder before night begins i.e. when three middle size stars are visible. My pre-pandemic Seders went long into the night especially when they began after we changed our clocks for daylight savings time. Sometimes some of my participants have fallen asleep before the conclusion of the Seder. Today’s daf TB Pesakhim 120 discusses people falling asleep before eating the korban Pesakh.

“MISHNA: If some of the participants at the seder fell asleep, thereby interrupting their meal, they may eat from the Paschal lamb when they awake. If the entire company fell asleep, they may not eat any more. Rabbi Yosei says: If they dozed they may eat from the Paschal lamb when they awake, but if they fell fast asleep they may not eat from it” (Sefaria.org translation)

Rashbam explains that Rabbi Yosei is commenting on the first half of the Mishna. Yosei is coming to explain that if some of the participants just dozed off, they can resume eating. The Meiri and others explain that Rabbi Yosei is coming to explain the second half of the Mishna. If all assembled dozed off, they may continue to eat. Only those who fell asleep are forbidden.

Rashbam explains the reason why those people who actually fell asleep may not eat the korban Pesakh. If they were to resume their meal it would be akin to eating the offering in two different places which is forbidden. Ra-avad provides a second reason. Falling asleep is considered a complete interruption (חסח הדעת) and invalidates the korban Pesakh.

If you’re wondering what’s the difference between dozing and sleeping, the Gemara provides the answer. “What are the circumstances of dozing? Rav Ashi said: One is asleep but not asleep, awake but not awake, when, if they call him, he will answer, but he is unable to provide a reasonable answer. And when they later inform him of what happened, he remembers it.” (Sefaria.org translation)

Previously on this daf we learn that eating matza on the first and second night is a mitzvah from the Torah. The Rosh holds that the last matza that concludes the meal today symbolizes the korban Pesakh. Perhaps this is the reason why the Shulkhan Arukh poskins that even if all the people around Passover table doze off, they may continue to eat because Rambam holds that Rabbi Yosei is coming to disagree with the tanna kama. (Orekh Hayim, 478:2)