Avodah Zarah Matzah
Is this a knock-off of Hirhurim’s Great Shatnez Potato Chip (scroll down to Nov. 12 there) conjecture? Or is it real? If it is, do we start eating hand shmurah the rest of the year, as the latest chumrah? Would the Meiri call it avodah zarah? To find out, you’ll have to go here. If you are still worried afterwards, look at Shut Kesav Sofer (Yoreh Deah) #83 s.v. v’hinei ha –Ramoh.
“…while a small quantity is used for — get this — church seders, which ‘demonstrate what Jewish life was like in bible times.'”
Someone should point out to them that matzot in use by Ashkenazim today- even handmade- are nothing like the ones used in Biblical times.
Although I did once see a photo of a Last Supper reenanctment which used hand matzos.
My father (an accountant) once had a client who was active in his local church. He realted to him that the church uses only Manischewitz Extra Sweet Concord for the wine part of the same ceremony. Go figure.
This is no joke and is a matter for a recognized, qualified posek to decide, not well-meaning or amused bloggers and commenters. One would hope that the machine matzo makers involved have already received such guidance from their kashrut supervisors’ organizations—or, better yet, from entirely neutral poskim with no financial interest in increased production volume.
Also, do we know who is buying kosher wine and for what? Is this in the same category as the above?
I can see distinctions being drawn between putting out a product for general sale (how do you keep non-Jews from buying something as ubiquitous as machine matzo, anyway, assuming that you wanted to?) and launching a targeted marketing campaign.
Mishmar can’t credit for anything around here, even facetiousness.
(Grumble, grumble…)
See: Shulchan Aruch YD 141:1 and Igros Moshe YD I #69
BTW Bob, if financial interest is the issue, how do you differentiate between this case and Rabbis supported/elected…. by their community?
KT
Joel Rich asked, “BTW Bob, if financial interest is the issue, how do you differentiate between this case and Rabbis supported/elected…. by their community?”
A broader base of support is less likely to bias decisions in individual kashrus investigations and the like.