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„s ir,
Q: Tell Me Why is always among
the first items which I read in our
Baltimore Jewish Times. I read this
column with pleasure, obviously.
I remember vaguely that I read
last year at Pesach that egg
matzah may not (or should not) be
eaten by just anyone.
I am a liberal Jew and I do not
eat egg matzah, but I buy lots of
boxes of chocolate-covered
matzah (which is egg matzah) as
gifts.
This warning has been brought
to my attention.
From reader M.B. in Baltimore,
Md.
According to Rashi, juice
may turn matzah dough into
chametz and thus may not be
used to make matzah for
Passover use. Later, rabbis re-
garded eggs as having the
same effect as juice and thus
forbade the use of egg matzah
on Pesach.
So why is egg matzah made
and sold for Pesach use, even
with kosher l'Pesach certifica-
tion? Rabbi Moshe Isserles of
Poland (c. 1525-72, known as
the Rama), the major rabbini-
cal authority of Ashkenazi Jew-
ry and commentator on the
Shulchan Aruch, ruled that
matzah ashira may be made
for and consumed only by those
who cannot digest regular
Q: I know that Jews were aboard
the Titanicwhen it sank, and I seem
to remember a touching story about
a couple — I believe their name was
Straus —who died together. Do you
remember this?
A: It is indeed a touching sto-
ry that stands as a remarkable
testament to true love.
Isidor Straus was the eldest
of three brothers, including
Nathan and Oscar, who during
the late 1880s became some of
the leading retail businessmen
in the United States.
Isidor was born in 1845 in
Germany, then came with his
parents in the early 1850s to the
United States. In the late 1800s,
Isidor became a board member
at the Abraham and
Straus and the R.H. Macy
department stores. He was
equally occupied with pol-
itics, serving in Congress
and becoming close friends
with President Grover
Cleveland.
Throughout his life he
was active in numerous or-
ganizations, both secular
and Jewish. He was a
member of the American
Jewish Committee and a
generous contributor to the
Jewish Theological Semi-
nary of America.
In 1871, Straus married
Ida Blum, also a native of
Germany. In the spring of
1912, the two set off on an
adventure together, sail-
ing aboard a luxurious new
steamer called the Titan-
A: Dear reader:
What a delight to re- ROY MITTELMAN
ceive such a lovely letter
from an obviously well-
educated, attractive,
thoughtful, sensitive and
clever person such as
yourself, for who else
could appreciate Tell Me
Why? Of course, there
was a slight error in your
first paragraph: "...among
the first items which I
read"? Tell Me Why
she dd always, always be
the very first item you
read.
Now, regarding your
question. Egg matzah —
made of flour, eggs and
apple juice — belongs to a
category of matzah re-
ferred to in Hebrew as
matzah ashira, or "en-
riched matzah."
ic.
Matzah ashira may not
Later, what happened
be used at the seder table Eggstra interesting news: Just who can eat egg matzah
those last few hours was
to fulfill the mitzvah of on Pesach?
related by the Straus fam-
eating matzah on Pesach
ily maid, who accompanied
because according to Jew-
ish law, the mitzvah may be matzah. This includes the el- the couple on the trip.
As the Titanic began to sink,
done only with matzah that is derly, the ill or those with spe-
made from flour and water cial gastrointestinal conditions. Mr. Straus directed his wife to
Twentieth-century rabbis join the other women and chil-
alone.
Flour-and-water matzah is added two new categories to dren as they boarded the
called lechem oni, "poor person's those who may eat matzah lifeboats. She refused.
"We have had many happy
bread" or "inferior bread." In its ashira: persons with dental
discussion of what changes problems who cannot chew reg- years together," she told him. "If
lechem oni to matzah ashira, ular matzah (egg matzah is rel- you go down with the ship, so
will I, for life is meaningless
the Talmud lists oil, honey and atively soft) and children.
The makers of chocolate-cov- without you."
wine, but not eggs. Later rab-
binical commentators also ruled ered matzah probably use egg
that juice, used in place of, or matzah because of its softness. Send questions to Tell Me Why,
with water, turned ordinary No doubt they assume that the The Jewish News, 27676
matzah into matzah ashira. Fi- only consumers of their prod- Franklin Road, Southfield, MI
48034, or fax to (810) 354-6069.
nally, the Shulchan Aruch (first uct will be children.
Actually, perfectly good All letters must be signed and in-
published in 1565), the next
major codification of Jewish law chocolate matzah can be made clude the writer's address. Ques-
after the Talmud, added eggs from regular matzah, but you tions answered in the column will
to the category of products that won't see it on a store shelf. feature only the writer's initials
You'll have to make it yourself. and city of residence.
enrich ordinary matzah.