Q&A: Are Soft Matzot Permitted for Ashkenazim?
Are Soft Matzot Permitted for Ashkenazim?
Question
Hello Rabbi! What is your view regarding soft matzot for Ashkenazim? Is it less severe than legumes for Ashkenazim, according to those who think there really is a prohibition on legumes? Regarding legumes, I understand that it is more of a custom than a "decree," but I have no idea about soft matzot. I am considering making soft matzot with a group at home. I still haven’t eaten legumes on Passover, but like you, I am also considering permitting legumes for myself and my family this coming Passover.
Answer
That is a question I do not know how to answer. Neither of them is severe, so how should I decide which is more severe? I do not know what exactly you mean by soft matzah, but last year they sold matzot like lafa with kosher certification from several important and fairly conservative halakhic decisors. In that I see no problem.
Regarding making them at home, it is advisable to make sure you have the necessary halakhic and practical knowledge (for example, handling the dough, etc.).
Discussion on Answer
Regarding the Seder night, the Rema wrote that the custom was to eat thin wafers.
We’d be happy to see a video of the preparation of the soft matzah, including all the stages.
By the way, what is the thickness of the soft matzah? As far as I know, the Russians make soft matzot (not dry ones), but they are 3 to 4 cm thick and not crispy, and you need teeth to chew them.
Where are you getting Passover-kosher flour from? As you know, regular flour is not leavened food, but it is not fit to use because during milling they add water to make things easier for the machine.
So in Krakow they had the custom to eat thin wafers. So what? Wait another year or two and a custom to eat soft matzot will develop here. It has already started.
It may be that even according to the Rema this is fine, because it seems to me that the soft matzot are thin (almost the same thickness as the hard ones). And the meaning of thin wafers in the Hebrew Bible (Tanakh) is very thin ones, as opposed to regular matzah bread or matzah loaves that have some volume. I do not think a wafer has to be specifically hard like plywood.
And one more thing. I assume you mean that you are considering eating them. Because I do not know the concept of "considering permitting" something that is already permitted as it stands. 🙂