Salt on Matzah?

Hi,

As the 30-day countdown to Pesach begins, here is a Pesach law:

Am I supposed to put salt on matzah at the Seder?

We are taught to put salt on bread before reciting the berachah, to honour the berachah; refining the bread by adding salt or other foods later in the meal would reflect poorly on the bread used for the berachah. [Note: This is not only a Shabbat or Yom Tov practice; it is a daily practice.]

Various Ashkenazi authorities record a custom of refraining from using salt at the Seder, because (1) matzah is "clean bread" and does not need salt, (2) adding salt would reduce the "poor man's bread" aspect of the seder's matzah and (3) we show love of the mitzvah by refusing to mix in anything else. Some even refrain from salting matzah all through Pesach. On the other hand, others specifically use salt to improve the taste of the matzah, making the mitzvah more attractive. One should follow his family custom.

Regardless of one's custom regarding adding salt, one should keep salt on the table in order to link the food with the salt-laden korbanos brought in the Beis haMikdash.

(Maharil Seder Haggadah 32; Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 167:5, 475:1; Mishneh Berurah 167:26-28; 475:4; Aruch haShulchan Orach Chaim 475:5)

Have a great day,

Mordechai