[Avodah] Yeast isn't chameitz

[Zev Sero]

Micha Berger wrote:
> On Sat, May 02, 2009 at 09:31:54PM +0300, Michael Makovi wrote:
> : Oats: The Gemara says the five grains are all types of wheat or
> : barley. However, oats are not a type of either.
> 
> RHSchachter's similar position was discussed on list, probably annually.
> It is leshitaso -- he also follows science over a lack of mesorah WRT
> the chilazon. Yet, as I pointed out in the last few iterations, RHS
> records that his rebbe (RYBS) wouldn't accept any new chilazon based on
> scientific research nor would allow questioning the identification of
> the gemara's orez with rice.

Huh?  How is that related to science, or to lack of mesorah?  It's
precisely the mesorah that questions the identification of "orez" with
"rice", while the science of linguistics would seem to rule out such a
question.

As for oats, it seems to be only Rashi who identifies them as shibolet
shual, and he doesn't give any source or reasoning.  All other *Torah*
sources translated it otherwise.  So once more there's no lack of
mesorah, there's at most two competing mesorot, and science supports
the majority position.

-- 
Zev Sero                      The trouble with socialism is that you
zev at sero.name                 eventually run out of other people’s money
                                                     - Margaret Thatcher