We have to remember that our practice concerning hametz is much more stringent than in the time of the Gemara. According to the Gemara, as long as the flour and water are being acted upon like being kneaded it can’t become hametz. Only when the dough rests for 18 minutes does it become hametz. Today the clock starts as soon as the water and flour touch. From that moment until the matza is removed from the oven no more than 18 mins can elapse.
Today’s daf TB Pesakhim 46 elaborates other cases where a multiple of 18 minutes determines the halakha. We begin with the Mishna discussing a case when the dough is not showing signs of rising even though 18 mins has elapsed. “Deaf dough is dough for which it is difficult to determine if it has been leavened. It is comparable to a deaf-mute, who cannot communicate. If there is dough similar to it in that water was added to both at the same time, which became leavened, the deaf dough is prohibited. Although it has not shown external signs of becoming leavened, it can be presumed that the deaf dough has also become leavened.” (Sefaria.org translation) Rashi explains is called deaf dough because it’s like a person who has ears, but one cannot tell whether he hears are not.
The Gemara asks the obvious question what happens if you don’t have
another batch of dough to compare the deaf dough. “If there is no
dough similar to it, what is the halakha? Rabbi Abbahu said that
Rabbi
Shimon ben Lakish said: According to the Sages, leavening occurs in the
time it takes a person to walk the distance from Migdal Nunaya
to Tiberias, which is a mil, two thousand cubits.” (Sefaria.org translation)
The answer is that you can assume the dough has become hametz if enough time has elapsed for person to walk a mile. Some poskin says that the time to walk a mile is 18 minutes. Others say the time to walk a mile is 22 minutes. While still others say the time to walk a mile is 26 minutes. Because of the issues surrounding hametz, we have chosen to be strict and choose the smallest amount of time, 18 minutes. (Shulkhan Arukh, Orekh Hayim, 459:2)
Now the Gemara teaches other applications for 18 minutes. “Rabbi Abbahu[1] said that Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish said: With regard to a kneader, i.e., one who kneads dough for others and should maintain the ritual purity of the dough; and similarly, with regard prayer (Rashi-to pray and to spend the night)[2], and with regard to washing hands before eating, one must search either for a ritual bath to immerse the vessel he is using to knead the dough[3], or for water to purify his hands, provided that water is accessible within the time it takes to walk four mil, eight thousand cubits[4].” (Sefaria.org translation)
For the baker time is money. If the vessel he is using is ritually
unready and needs to be immersed in a mikvah, the baker needs to be compensated
for his travel time of no more than 72 minutes. Rabbi Yosei qualifies these obligations.
“Rabbi
Yosei, son of Rabbi Ḥanina, said: They taught that one must search for water to wash one’s hands
before eating or prayer for the amount of time it takes to walk four mil
only when the water is before him, in the direction that he is
traveling. However, when it is behind him, he need not return even a mil.
Rav Aḥa said: From this
statement one may infer that he need not return a mil, but he
must return less than one mil in order to obtain water.” (Sefaria.org translation) From here we
learn that the rabbis were considerate of a person’s time and effort when
deciding Jewish law.
[1] “Rav Naḥman bar Yitzḥak said: Ayvu said
this halakha” (Sefaria.org translation)
[2] Synagogues
also served as inns
[3]
Too many young people don't know the comic genius of Abbott and Costello. Here
is one of the classic routines where Abbott describes his job in a bakery to
Costello. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_EzWYy87yS4
[4] 72
minutes
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