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<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-top: 0pt;">Daniel Eidensohn wrote:<br>
</p>
<blockquote cite="mid461FBA53.9050401@012.net.il" type="cite">Yaakov
Moser wrote:
<br>
<blockquote type="cite">
<blockquote type="cite">If one of us and the gadol hador were on a
desert island and there were
<br>
only one kzayit of matzah available for pesach and it was our property,
<br>
Hashem would get more nachat ruach if we gave it to the gadol hador to
<br>
be mkayem the mitzvah (and we should act as such - although iiuc we
<br>
would not be compelled to)
<br>
</blockquote>
This would seem to me to be a problem with "passing over Mitzvot" (Ein
Me'avirin Al Hamitzvot), which is Mede'oraita, at least according to
many (based on the Tosfot in Yoma 33a). We sometimes allow a person to
delay a mitzvah if they are going to perform it in a more complete or
beautiful manner later - but to give up a mitzvah so another person can
keep it..? And who knows the reward for a Mitzvah - how can we say
which is more important? In a case such as this I am sure we cannot
judge what gives Nachat Ruach to Hashem.
<br>
This is a Mitzvah which a person has to keep for themselves - the
person with the Matzah has the Mitzvah of eating the Matzah, and the
Gadol HaDor is anus.
<br>
<br>
</blockquote>
This issue is discussed in detail in the Shaarei Tshuva 482:2 "The Beis
Yehuda has the case of two people who are in jail or in the desert and
they only have 1 kezayis of matzoh - who takes precedent? He concludes
that they should fight it out....The case is apparently one where the
matzoh is hefker since your needs take precedent over that of
others....We see also how Boaz manipulated the situation so he could
marry Ruth since he knew who her descendants would be.... And even
though it is prohibited to deceive people but that is in monetary
matters but regarding mitzvos even though one can not take with force
from someone who has it. But if as long as the other hasn't gotten the
mitzva it is like the desert which is hefker to all those who have the
commandment and want to perfect their soul. This is also what happened
with Yaakov and the right of the first born... However if the person is
persuaded to give that which he owns to another - there is no problem
with this."
<br>
<br>
I asked Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach why it was necessary to fight when
it was hefker but it was permitted to give away the mitzva if you own
the matzoh. He replied that it was obvious. If it is hefker and you let
the other have it - you are mevazeh the mitzva. It shows you don't
care. But if it is yours and you want to help another do the mitzva by
your generosity there is no bizoi mitzva.
<br>
<br>
Daniel Eidensohn
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
</blockquote>
I think that your ellipses (...) mislead as to the meaning of the
passage. I will endeavour to quote more fully (albeit freely):<br>
<br>
However if the Matzah belonged to both of them in partnership, and one
grabbed from the other, then this is a stolen Matzah and is worthless.
However, even according to the opinion that one gets a partial Mitzvah
with less than the full amount, according to which we could say that it
is better that each have a partial mitzvah rather than giving to the
other and having no mitzvah - nevertheless it appears better that they
should cast lots and one should have the entire Matzah (and mitzvah)
and the other will have the mitzvah of allowing the mitzvah to be
properly fulfilled (like Yisachar and Zevulun). It is clear that the
reward of allowing a full mitzvah is greater than the reward for the
fulfillment of a partial mitzvah. This is not like giving up on the
mitzvah as it is done by lots - and [here is the quote you brought]
even 'if the person is persuaded to voluntarily [ie without casting
lots] give that which he owns to another - there is no problem with
this'.<br>
<br>
Thus it is clear that the case being discussed here is where each had a
half matzah. However, to give up a full mitzvah for another would seem
to be a problem, imho.<br>
<br>
There is discussion there of covering the blood and Milah - but these
are Mitzvot that can be done by a Shaliach - and not like eating Matzah
which he himself has to do.<br>
<br>
Shabbat Shalom<br>
<br>
Jason<br>
<br>
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