Pesach is rushing to arrive and we are once again hit with that question: "So what is chametz again and what do I need to take out?"
Chametz is the Hebrew word almost universally translated "leaven" in our English bibles and most often is attributed to risen baked products or just bread that has been baked with yeast. While it's true that both these fall into the category of chametz it may not totally answer the question?".
Our ancestors in Egypt did not have "yeast" as we have today, instead they had to wait for their dough to "become leavened". So how does dough become leavened then?
Naturally leavened breads rise over time as they draw in wild yeast spores from the air. As the unique and complex family of friendly bacteria thrive on the nutrient rich whole grain flour they produce carbon dioxide gas, this is was causes air bubbles in your dough and ultimately gives a finer texture to your bread. But while it takes some time to make a full fledged risen sourdough bread it doesn't take long for leavening to begin. Our sages of blessed memory observed this process closely noting that when rye, wheat, spelt, oat, or barely flour are mixed with water they naturally begin the leavening process in as little as 18min*. Therefore if dough was not rolled and cooked within that time frame it would not be matzah("unleavened bread") but it would in fact be chametz dough.
This is also why all chametz isn't necessarily full out risen bread. Yes all breads are chametz but all chametz isn't “risen” bread. Pasta, cookies, crackers, breaded fish, pitas, grain based alcohols, etc. are just a few other things that are chametz because they have all been allowed to become at least partially leavened. Which dawned on me this year that I can't stop at the obvious, I can't assume I know the appearance of sin or arrogance, it could very well be hiding behind the appearance of good. I need to be diligent to search it out because just because it doesn't possess the obvious appearance of leaven doesn't mean it isn't...a little bit of leavening still leavens the whole lump...hmm that sounds familiar..... :]
For more a more in depth article about chametz I recommend the below article written by Tim Hegg.
The following is a list taken from the above article and what we personally go by when it comes to removing the chametz from our dwellings:
1.Any of the five grains or flour made from them, to which water has been added and allowed to sit long enough to begin the fermentation process (18 minutes is the accepted time according to the Sages). If fermentation occurs, they have become leavening agents. They are not to be used during the festival.
2. All prepared foods that contain any of the five grains (sandwich breads, even pita bread, since it may have been allowed to sit too long before being baked; cereals, cookies, crackers, etc.) are prohibited. Prepared foods made from kitniyot do not need to be removed (unless one wants to adhere to the additional Ashkenazic rabbinic fences). So, for instance, corn tortillas are okay, as are foods made from rice.
3. Noodles purchased from the store, made from one of the five grains are prohibited, unless they are marked as Kosher for Pesach. (You can make your own noodles as long as they are cooked right away after water is added to the flour, if you are using flour ground from one of the five grains).
34. Beer, whiskey and the like, which are made from fermented grains, are prohibited. (Not all alcoholic beverages are prohibited. For instance, some vodka is made from potatoes and does not therefore contain chameitz).
5. Substances containing leaven or leavening agents but which are never eaten do not need to be removed, since the primary commandment is that one is not to eat leavened foods nor have leavening agents that would be added to foods. Thus, cleaning agents, pet food, etc. that contain one of the five grains do not need to be removed.
6. Medicines containing leaven are not prohibited during the festival, on the principle (pikuach nefesh) that those things necessary to sustain life generally take precedents over other commandments.
7. Wine and vinegar (other than grain vinegar) are not considered chameitz because they are not made from grain products, and are therefore useable during the festival
-excerpt from "What Foods are Prohibited During Chag HaMatzot?" by Tim Hegg
* note that the 18min is calculated using cold water only. If one uses hot water the fermentation begins much faster! When making matzah coldest is best!
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