However, meal-offerings – which were also unleavened bread –
were made specifically with lukewarm water. If it is good enough for the
sacrifices, why not for regular matzah? The Mishnah related to this meal
offering is:
ALL MEAL-OFFERINGS MUST BE KNEADED
WITH LUKEWARM WATER AND MUST BE WATCHED LEST THEY BECOME LEAVENED. (Menachot
55a)
The “watcher” is an official, a priest, who insure that the
dough does not rise.
If this was said of [very] careful
men [priests], shall it [also] be said of those who are not careful?
In other words, the priest could be trusted to insure that
the process is followed correctly, but the ordinary Israelite, baking matzah
in his or her own home, could not.
Very interesting to see this kind of professionalization.
This would be expected surrounding the sacrifices, which could only be done by
a priest. But extending it to restrictions of Passover baking is unusual!
No comments:
Post a Comment