[Avodah] What is Chametz?

[Micha Berger]

On Thu, Mar 25, 2010 at 02:30:30PM +0000, kennethgmiller at juno.com wrote:
: To me, a very significant word here is "called". Chazal say that when
: these grains are used it is *called* chometz, and when those grains are
: used it is *called* sirchon. Same chemical effect, different terminology.

And we also find by hilkhos Shabbos, that shinui sheim is what defines
nolad. So, there is much about how we experience things, including our
mental boxes, rather than how things are. As people here know, this is
one of my pet topics.

However, I think here it's cart & horse. Is it mutar because it's not
called chameitz, or do we refuse to call it chameitz because it's mutar?

In this case, I think the list of grains is a gezeiras hakasuv. "Eretz
chitah use'orah" refers to two families of grains, including 5 species.

And thereforew WRT RSZ's post, I think the question of whether or not
we ever find another grain with enough gluten to make a real dough
isn't relevent. Even if another such grain existed, or were genetically
engineered, the question would be whether it qualifies as chitah or
se'orah, nor not.

Tir'u baTov!
-Micha

-- 
Micha Berger             It isn't what you have, or who you are, or where
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