Monday, August 26, 2013

Pesachim 41 – Mustard

One should not put the flour into a condiment made with vinegar, nor into mustard, which also contains vinegar. Still, if he did put flour in them – he needs to eat it right away. That is because vinegar slows down leavening, so if he eats it before it leavens, he is safe.

However, Rabbi Meir says that it must be burned immediately. Some say this is because Rabbi Meir considers vinegar as helping to leaven, not slowing it down. Others, however, say that Rabbi Meir agrees about vinegar slowing down leavening, but he is afraid that if you allow eating the mixture, then people may be negligent and not eat it soon enough.

As a preface to laws of cooking the Passover lamb in a subsequent chapter,  the Talmud gives a few rules here. One should not cook it in water or in any other liquid, but only roast it on fire. However, once it is roasted, he can baste it or eat it with relishes.

Water used by a baker to wish her hands contains flour. Such water should be poured out onto a sloping surface, for otherwise, this water itself may leaven.

Art: In the Vinegar Factory in Hamburg by Gotthardt Kuehl

No comments: