[Avodah] Chrein

[Zev Sero]

Micha Berger wrote:

> R' Zev Sero brought an indication from the SA haRav that cracker-style matzos
> weren't all that old when it was written.

I think I misremembered.  At least, I can't find it now.  What I did
find as a recent change is the emphasis on speed - the custom of doing
an entire batch, from adding the water to the flour until the final
baking, in less than 18 minutes.  That was a recent innovation.
The older custom had been to take a long time kneading the dough,
making sure it was thoroughly kneaded, and the 18-minute clock only
started once the dough was ready.  But by the SAH's day the modern
custom had caught on, and he seems to approve of it, but points out
that there is a down side - the dough can no longer be guaranteed to
be thoroughly kneaded, because of the rush to get it ready for rolling,
perforation, and baking.


> [the three] matzos were [...] made from an issaron of flour, enough for
> everybody to get a kezayis without supplementing "from the box"

It seems from the SAH that this was still the custom in his day; the
change to smaller matzot must have taken place even more recently.


-- 
Zev Sero               Something has gone seriously awry with this Court's
zev at sero.name          interpretation of the Constitution.
                       	                          - Clarence Thomas