[Avodah] Yeast isn't chameitz

[Micha Berger]

On Tue, Jun 02, 2009 at 03:39:32AM +0000, rabbirichwolpoe at gmail.com wrote:
: What is the proposed alternative to oats in the 5 species?

Rashi, the Meiri, the Rosh and the Bartenura translate "shibboles shu'al"
as "avena" (oats). that appears to be the majority, so if it weren't for
the scientific issues (it's not closely related to either wheat or barley,
in fact it is further than wheat is from barley; it's not indigeneous
to the Middle East), that would be open-and-shut the way to go.

The Rambam has "se'orim midbarim -- wilderness barley".
The Arukh (11th cent) says it's either "avena" (oat) or "secale" (rye). 

So, I think the answer to your question would be rye matzah.

That said, if the celiacs in question are so sensitive to gluten they
can't handle spelt or oats, there probably isn't anything they can eat
for matzah without getting sick. Gluten is needed to make dough, it's
the fiberous molecule that makes dough one big lump. If the grain were
entirely gluten free, it wouldn't be possible to make matzah out of it.

Tir'u baTov!
-Micha

-- 
Micha Berger             Like a bird, man can reach undreamed-of
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