Can I feed my children matza on erev Pesach?

After the fourth hour on erev Pesach, chametz is forbidden. At the same time, the Yerushalmi teaches us that it is forbidden to eat matza anytime on erev Pesach (from dawn), and one who does is like a man who takes his fiancée before their marriage. (An added custom is to refrain from eating matza for thirty days before Pesach.)¹

This prohibition applies specifically to matza with which one can fulfill the mitzva, and not to “flavored” matza (i.e., matza ashira) with an altered taste (e.g., egg matza). Though such matza is generally avoided out of chometz concerns, it may be eaten on the morning of erev Pesach.

Various reasons are provided for this prohibition: (1) To distinguish the matza eaten in the evening;² (2) just as the korban Pesach isn’t eaten until the night;³ (3) as hinted in the words ba’erev tochlu matzos — specifically in the evening;⁴ (4) to ensure one will eat it with appetite (l’teiavon).⁵ Based on the last reason, some also minimize eating matza on the first day to preserve their appetite for the second seder, (regarding the ingredients of maror and charoses – see issue 455).⁶

While it is forbidden to feed a child of any age forbidden foods (lo saachilum), eating permissible foods at a forbidden time is allowed (as children are allowed to eat before kiddush.⁷). Thus, very young children can be fed matza on erev Pesach.⁸

However, children who can understand what they are being told at the Seder may not be fed matza earlier. The possuk says, “You shall tell your children on that day, ‘It is for the sake of this…,’” and Chazal interpret the word “this” as referring to the matzah and maror before the person. If the child had already ate matza during the day, it wouldn’t be as special anymore, and it would compromise the parent’s obligation to impress his child with the haggada.⁹

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