---
title: Siman 455 – Mayim Shelonu
description: "הChelek 5 1. Do not knead matza dough with warm water — even if only heated by the sun. (ShA ) 1. Water drawn from wells, springs, or rivers is warm and must cool down overnight. This is called 'leena'.…"
url: "https://mishnaberurasummaries.com/docs/siman-455-mayim-shelonu/"
updated: "2026-07-27"
category: Laws of Pesach – Matza
---

# Siman 455 – Mayim Shelonu

הChelek 5

1. Do not knead matza dough with warm water — even if only heated by the sun. (ShA )

1. Water drawn from wells, springs, or rivers is warm and must cool down overnight. This is called 'leena'. (ShA )

1. Lechatchila, draw the water after shkia and before tzais hakochavim. This way an entire night can work to cool off the water. (MB )

1. The custom is to use new earthenware vessels to draw and store the water. Never use copper vessels — they tend to keep the water warm. (Rama  — MB )

1. When you draw the water, announce 'L'shaym matzos mitzva'. (MB )

1. Avoid putting your hand into the water — hands are hot. (MB )

1. Drawing water for matzos mitzva should not be done by a gentile. (Rama )

1. If the night is warm, keep the water in a cool cellar or inside a house. If it is a cold night, leave it out in the air. Make sure it is out of the sunlight by the morning. Always cover the water so that no chometz falls in. (ShA  — MB , , )

1. Rain water collected from the air does not require leena. (MB )

1. The custom is not to add any salt nor spices to the matza dough. These ingredients can speed up the leavening process. (ShA , )

## Key

**ShA**
 : Shulchan Aruch

**MB**
 : Mishna Berura

**ShaH**
 : Shaar Hatsiun

**ShaT**
 : Shaaray Teshuva

**BeH**
 : Beur Halacha

**BaH**
 : Baer Haytayv

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