With daf TB Menakhot 53 we began the fifth chapter of our massekhet. Our attention returns back to the minkha offering. The minkha offering must be matzah and not hametz (leavened bread-gg) as proved by the Gemara. ““And this is the law of the meal offering: The sons of Aaron shall sacrifice it before the Lord in front of the altar…And that which is left of it Aaron and his sons shall eat; it shall be eaten as matzot” (Leviticus 6:7–9). These verses demonstrate that there is a general requirement that meal offerings (the minkha-gg) must be brought as matza.” (Sefaria.org translation)
One may think that the issue of hametz and matzah is black or white, the bread is either matzah or hametz. Today’s daf introduces a middle stage in between matzah and hametz called si-ur (שִּׂיאוּר). Si-ur refers to dough that has begun to become leavened, but has not yet attained the full status of hametz. The Mishnah in Pesakhim (48b) cites a dispute regarding the physical definition of si-ur: R. Meir defines si-ur as dough whose surface has become pale, while R. Yehuda holds that a dough is not si-ur until it becomes to develop cracks.[1] Rabbi Meir classifies si-ur as a subcategory of hametz. This is in contrast to R. Yehuda who views si-ur as neutral-neither hametz nor matzah.
Up to now we’ve
described a minkha offering as flour
mixed with oil. For the first time we hear that warm water is also part of the
recipe. Ҥ Rabbi Perida raised another dilemma before Rabbi Ami: From
where is it derived with regard to all the meal offerings that must
be brought as matza that they are kneaded with lukewarm water so
that the dough will be baked well, as only a small amount of oil is added, and
that one must watch over them to ensure that they do not become leavened
while kneading and shaping them? Shall we derive this halakha from
the prohibition concerning leavened bread on the festival of Passover, as it
is written: “And you shall watch over the matzot” (Exodus 12:17),
which indicates that one must watch over any dough that is supposed to be made
into matza, to ensure that it does not become leavened?” (Sefaria.org translation)
The answer is yes. This is the source that warm water is also added to the minkha offering.
Water is the
magic ingredient that causes the dough to rise as the above text proves. Once
one adds water the dough needs to be watched to make sure it doesn’t become hametz. The Rishonim debate whether
fruit juice acts like water as a leavening agent as well.
Ramban holds
that if the minkha offering contains fruit juice and oil, it can never become hametz.
Olive oil is no less a fruit juice than grape juice. The above text read
smoothly. Only when water and not fruit juice is added to the mixture of flour
and oil does one have to be careful that does not become leavened.
Rambam disagrees.
Even just fruit juice by itself mixed with flour, the dough can become hametz.
Is egg matzah permitted on Passover since fruit
juice is part of the recipe? Go ask your Rabbi for the answer of this question.
[1] Art Scroll Talmud, Schwartz edition of Kodashim, tractate Menachos, page 53a1, note 4
