CHAROSES

QUESTION:

A friend found the charoses difficult to digest because of the presence in it of rough ingredients, perhaps like shells of nuts. Is it necessary to have such material to make up the bulk to fulfill the requirements of the mitzvah? (Asked by Rabbi Mark Staitman.)

ANSWER:

THE BASIC question involved is whether the charoses is a mitzvah that requires a blessing. If it is, then there must be a certain definite bulk to it, at least to the amount of an olive, for a blessing to be recited. The question as to whether it is a mitzvah, and therefore requires a blessing and the bulk of at least an olive, is discussed at the very earliest stage of the Halachah. In the Mishnah in Pesachim 10:2, one rabbi says it is not a mitzvah and another rabbi says it is. The discussion is continued through the Talmud, and finally Maimonides concludes ( Hil . Chometz 7:11) that it is a mitzvah, not in the Torah sense but in the Rabbinic sense. This leaves open the question whether it needs a blessing, because some Rabbinic mitzvahs do require a blessing and some do not. The final conclusion is that it does not require a blessing, and Maharil is cited to this effect (see the opinions marshaled in Pachad Yitzchok, s.v., charoses). The reason given is that the herb does not require a blessing and the charoses is merely secondary to it or auxiliary to it. Therefore, since it requires no blessing, it requires no special amount, and the rough material can be left out without question.

By the way, the recipe for charoses is discussed by Isserles in Orach Chayim 473:5. You will find it interesting that Bertinoro, who was Italian, speaks of figs as its basic material, and Isserles speaks of apples. In the Shulchan Aruch, Caro is careful that the herbs be the proper amount, but Isserles does not mention any amount.