How Much is a Kezayis?

How Much Is a Kezayis?

The term kezayis is frequently found in Torah sources. A kezayis is the volume of an average-sized olive. However, there is a difference of opinion amongst early authorities as to the volume of an average-sized olive. Many Rishonim maintain that a kezayis is approximately the equivalent of half an average-sized egg (without its shell). Another opinion is that a kezayis is slightly less than a third of an egg (with its shell). Regarding a Torah rule, such as eating a kezayis of matzah on the first night of Pesach, we must be stringent and go by the larger shiur; regarding the amount of maror to be eaten, which is a Rabbinic ruling, we can be lenient, if necessary. At times the larger shiur is a leniency: For example, regarding the halachah of destroying any chometz over a kezayis found in our possession on Pesach which is a Biblical law, we must be stringent and deem the smaller shiur kezayis as the kezayis. (According to Rabbinic law, we must destroy even chometz which is under a kezayis.) Before making a brachah acharonah, an after-blessing—which is required only after eating a kezayis—one should be sure to eat at least the equivalent in volume of half an average egg in order to avoid the possibility of saying a brachah in vain. One should avoid the equivocal zone: either eat less than the smaller shiur kezayis and not make a brachah acharonah, or eat more than the larger shiur kezayis so that a brachah acharonah can be said—in compliance with all opinions.

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Practical Halacha: One minute a day. By Horav Yosef Yeshaya Braun, shlita, Mara D'asra and member of the Badatz of Crown Heights.