How big is a k’zayis?
Famous Handwritten Letter by the Steipler!
The Chazon Ish’s Shiur K’zayis of Matzah
“They measured the amount of a k’zayis before Maran [the Chazon Ish], and I [the Steipler] was present at the time.”
Handwritten teshuvah regarding the actual amount of a k’zayis of matzah at the seder.
The Mitzvah of Eating Matzah
Since the destruction of the Second Temple, the mitzvah of eating matzah on the first night of Pesach is the only mitzvah d’Oraysa (Torah commandment) related to eating that remains applicable in this day and age.
According to all opinions, one is obligated to eat a k’zayis of matzah, but the amount of a k’zayis is widely debated and has been addressed by gedolim throughout the generations.
In recent generations, the two most prevalent opinions regarding the amount of a k’zayis are ‘Shiur Chazon Ish’ and ‘Shiur Rav Chaim Naeh.’
In this letter, the Steipler defines the k’zayis as measured by the Chazon Ish.
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In his sefer Shiurim shel Torah, the Steipler defines the amount of a k’zayis according to the Chazon Ish for the purpose of eating matzah as being “half of a machine matzah.”
The one who posed the shailah felt that the size was inadequate, as the Steipler responded in his teshuvah, “We measured the size of a k’zayis before Maran [the Chazon Ish], and I was present at the time. We placed matzos before him and the amount of flour from a matzah and a half into our measurement of a revi’is, which contains 150 grams, which revealed that a half of a matzah contains 50 grams, which constitutes more than a k’zayis according to all opinions and even stringencies.”
Bnei Brak, 1958. This handwritten, autographed letter was written 4 years after the passing of the Chazon Ish. Page size: 24×17 cm. Stains.
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The Steipler & Chazon Ish
The Steipler was married to the Chazon Ish’s younger sister (Miriam), yet regarded him as his Rav and spiritual master.
In 1947, when the debate arose between the Chazon Ish and Rav Chaim Naeh regarding the actual size of a k’zayis, the Steipler lived together with the Chazon Ish, was aware of all aspects of the debate and was one of the major advocates of ‘shiur Chazon Ish.’
Rav Chaim Naeh published his opinion regarding the size of a k’zayis in sefer Shiurei Torah, stimulating the Chazon Ish’s response in Kuntress Shiurim. Rav Chaim Naeh’s counter response was printed in the second edition of Shiurei Torah, to which the Steipler reacted again in Shiurim shel Torah.
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