The Chametz/Matzah obligations on Pesach are delineated with two distinct Mitzvos.  One - the prohibition to eat chametz on Pesach, and the second - a positive commandment to eat Matzoh on the first night of Pesach.  Eating Matzoh on the first night of Pesach is not simply a suggested alternative to the prohibited Chametz; rather, it is a positive commandment.

The Torah tells us that one should “watch the Matzos” to ensure that they don’t become Chametz.  Chazal teach us that aside from the regular prohibition of eating Chametz, there is a special commandment to “watching the Matzoh”.  Clearly, there is a special kavana that is needed in order to fulfill this Mitzvah.

Some of the questions discussed:

• ·         When does this special “watch” begin - from the time the wheat was cut, ground into flour, or when it was turned into dough?
• ·         Can one eat unleavened bread during the remaining days of Pesach?  Is it sufficient to know that it isn’t chometz, even though it was not “watched”?
• ·         Should one be stringent to eat Shmura Matzoh (watched from the time of the cutting of the wheat) throughout Pesach?
• ·         What is the exact definition of this kavana?
• ·         Should the kavana of watching the Matzos be just to make sure that it doesn’t turn into Chametz, or should the kavanah be for the sake of the Mitzvas Aseh of eating Matzoh?  The practical Halachic application of this distinction could determine who is qualified to watch the matzah (i.e. a koton, a non-Jew, an irreligious Jew, etc.)
• ·         Must the kavana be “lishmah” (similar to the special obligation of lishmah that is required by Tefillin and Tzitzis)?  Can a koton do it with an adult supervising?
• ·         Can a non-Jew/koton/irreligious Jew be involved in the process of matzoh baking as long as a Jew is supervising, or do we need the actual kavana of the Jew?