Reply To: Stealing the Afikomon

writer – “Where did the whole stealing thing come from?”

Pesochim 109 a Rabi Eliezer says on pessach we “chap” the matzos. Rashi, Rashbam expalin what chapping means, but Rambam in Chmetz Matza ch 7 hal 3 states that it means that people grab away the matzos from each other which excites the kids to stay awake. Meiri is more explicit. And the rishon, Mharam M’Challvah says we STEAL the afikomon from one another!!

The Chok Yaakov s. 472 ss 2 says the custom is the CHILDREN should STEAL the afikoman based on Gemora above. Same also in Be’er Heytev ss. 19.