Is GMO Non-Rising Wheat Kosher for Matzah?

With the proliferation of Genetically Modified Organisms hitting the market, I was wondering, if one modified wheat so that it could not leaven, could it be used to make matzah?

Reply

Other than for Passover, I can’t imagine much of an incentive to create wheat that doesn’t rise. But whether or not such wheat will ever be developed, your question is a fascinating one!

When discussing the mitzvah of eating matzah on Passover, the Torah tells us, “You shall not eat leaven with it [the Passover offering]; for seven days you shall eat with it matzah . . .”1

The Talmud explains that since the prohibition of eating leaven is juxtaposed with the command to eat matzah, one can only fulfill the mitzvah of eating matzah on Passover night with matzah that is made of grains that can potentially leaven (i.e., wheat, barley, spelt, rye and oats). Dough made from other grains (such as rice) may appear to be rising, when in fact the grains are turning rancid and and are in the process of spoiling.2

Most commentaries explain that the Talmud is not only telling us what types of grain can be used, but it is giving a specific requirement: The mixture of grain and liquid used for the matzah must be susceptible to leavening, while at the same time, it can’t have become chametz. If it doesn’t meet this criteria, it can’t be used to fulfill the obligation on Passover night.3 4

This is in line with what we say in the Haggadah:

This matzah that we eat, for what reason? Because the dough of our fathers did not have time to become leavened before the King of the kings of kings, the Holy One, blessed be He, revealed Himself to them and redeemed them.

In other words, the matzah is something that could have become chametz, but didn’t.

Based on this, it would be problematic to use GMO non-chametz wheat for the matzah at the Passover Seder.

Although your question is theoretical at the moment, the answer has practical implications. For example, see Can I Have Gluten-Free Matzah on Passover?

There’s a lot more to Passover matzah than simply a baked flour-and-water mixture that did not leaven. Ideally, one should use hand-made shemurah matzah, at least for the Seder night. To learn more about shemurah matzah, see A Tale of Two Matzahs: Why Shemurah Matzah? and The Difference Between Shmurah Matzah and Regular Matzah

You can order handmade shemurah matzah here.

Footnotes

Deuteronomy 16:3.

Talmud, Pesachim 39b-40a.

Rabbi Moshe ben Nachman, Nachmanides, Milchemet Hashem on Talmud, Pesachim 10b. Even according to Maimonides, Mishneh Torah, Hilchot Chametz Umatzah 6:5, where it is implied that you can use for matzah something that cannot become chametz, it would seem that that only refers to something that cannot become chametz because of the water or something else, but the flour itself would need to be something that could become, at least in theory, chametz. See Lechem Mishneh, ad loc.

See Shulchan Aruch, Orech Chaim 453:1, and Magen Avraham ad loc; see also Magen Avraham 454:1 and 471:1; Pri Megadim, Mishbetzot Zehav, 461:2, Shulchan Aruch Harav 462:1; see also the Lubavitcher Rebbe in his Haggadah Shel Pesach Im Likutei Taamin Uminhagim, vol. 2, p. 397-99.

By Yehuda Shurpin

A noted scholar and researcher, Rabbi Yehuda Shurpin serves as content editor at Chabad.org, and writes the popular weekly Ask Rabbi Y column. Rabbi Shurpin is the rabbi of the Chabad Shul in St. Louis Park, Minn., where he resides with his wife, Ester, and their children.

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26 Comments

Bochur April 2, 2017

Yeshiva student here...
Seemingly the answer to this question would depend on the two opinions quoted in Shulchan Aruch Harav 453, 7. According to the first opinion, taste of wheat is of paramount importance and therefore, although this particular dough will not rise, nonetheless it would be considered wheat and considered matzah. According to the second opinion, the dough must be able to rise, and would preclude non-rising wheat from being used for Matzah. Reply

C. Rader Massachusetts April 11, 2017

The article is a logical examination of the question of whether the obligation to eat matzoh during Passover can be satisfied if the matzoh is made from a grain flour which can't be leavened. The logic has nothing to do with how the grain got to have this property. It has nothing to do with the issue of GMO technology.

Many of the comments, however, seem to begin with an anti-GMO stance and then try to justify that stance by interpreting Jewish law.

I'm especially intrigued by the commenters who refer to mixing seeds. When you look at all the anti-GMO arguments, one of the most prominent is that GMO crops are used for mono-cultures. That anti-GMO argument is invalid, but never mind that. It is clearly the exact opposite objection to the one here about not mingling different kinds. Reply

Anonymous 76437 April 7, 2017

Well, I say that if cross bred fruits are forbidden, then so are all GMOs Reply

David Gottfried New York City April 20, 2017

in response to Anonymous:

Please tell me: What is the source for your contention that cross bred fruits are forbidden. (I have not studied Talmud). I have heard that a nectarine is a cross between a peach and a plum. Are nectarines not kosher. Reply

Anonymous Simsbury April 7, 2017

There would be no commercial value to wheat flour that resists fermentation. But what about GMO wheat that delays rising? This would make it easier to make matza. Reply

C. Rader Massachusetts April 13, 2017

in response to Anonymous:

It would be so very much easier to begin with newly harvested wheat, quickly dried and reduced to flour, then baked before it has a chance to rise. Reply

Sue Kanata April 6, 2017

The world has been in turmoil over GMO (Genetically ModifiedOrganisms) In many nations or states, public lobbies have sen to it that the sale of GMOs are banned entirely from the food sources of these conscientious nations.
If you read about this science gone wrong, GMO wheat, in particular, has been causing Celiac disease. People have been desperate with discomfort. GMO technique includes fertilizers and insecticides, which are promoting cancer in humans, and committing crime agains tnature like killing off the bees in alarming numbers. At least one type of bee is now on the endangered species list. I feel that your response was perhaps not helpful enough toward the quest presented by a follower. Kosher ought to respect nature as well as (but monumentally) the wellness of digestion! Reply

C. Rader Massachusetts April 13, 2017

in response to Sue:

Sue, your comment is quite remarkable. You state things as facts which are just not true.

I could quarrel with all of your claims, but the easiest one to debunk is your claim that GMO wheat has been causing celiac disease. Sue, there is no GMO wheat in commercial use anywhere. Nobody is eating it, so how can it be causing disease?

You actually seem to be blaming GMO breeding methods for a bunch of agricultural practices which preceded the use of GMOs, even some which the GMO breeding has made unnecessary.

Jews are certainly used to discussions about what constitutes proper observance of Jewish law. That, to a great extent, is what the Talmud is for. It's seldom as easy as you seem to make it. Scholars disagree with one another and analyze carefully and logically. That's what the author of this article was doing. What you are trying to do is oppose the GMO breeding method and reinterpret Jewish law to support your cause. Reply

Luke Ohio April 23, 2017

in response to C. Rader:

GMO is *not* breeding. It is laboratory manipulation. There is a huge difference. GMO "corn", for example, is not corn, it is something that only superficially resembles corn. Reply

Stuart Kaplan Chapel Hill, NC April 6, 2017

I'm a retired agronomist. Please consider the following:

Wheat contains within it the so-called rye genome. It is likely that there was a combination of a primitive wheat (e.g., spelt, eincorn) with rye several thousand years ago resulting in the production of hexaploid bread wheat. Thus, what we call "wheat" today is itself a natural product of crossing of two distinct yet related species. And we can still produce hybrids between hexaploid wheat and rye today to produce another cereal, triticale. So, please be careful when assuming that species are somehow "pure".

Hormones are not injected into any produce. If that's an urban myth, it's a doozy. The same goes for livestock. At one time, bovine growth hormone was examined as a way of stimulating milk production in dairy cattle but the difficulties in making this practical have eliminated that from commercial consideration for many years. Yet the urban myth continues.

I would comment more but I'm out of room. A gut Pesach. Reply

S U.K. April 7, 2017

in response to Stuart Kaplan:

Reply Mr Kaplan Does this imply that all wheat is no longer kosher?

Urban myths? Reply

KDR Oklahoma April 9, 2017

in response to Stuart Kaplan:

Maybe I do not understand what you are saying. I understand you suggesting that hormones are not used in bovine "production". If by produce you mean the animal that is being raised for market, I have every reason to believe hormones are certainly used in such animals. I live in Oklahoma, raise my own beef (as do most of my neighbors). I have knowledge of a common practice of transporting livestock to the vet by trailer loads to have hormone chips placed in the ear. I understand chips are cheap and can significantly boost growth rate. I understand FDA suggests such practice is safe. I understand there are many drugs being pulled off the market each year that the FDA said was safe but someone is making money suing the manufactures of these drug for the harm done. It may be safer to avoid GMO and hormoney food. If it can be done and there is money in it the only way I would bet is to grow my own. Reply

Dr. Harry Hamburger Miami April 9, 2017

in response to Stuart Kaplan:

I am not retired, and keep up with the dangers of GMO foods. I am also a farmer and grow organic produce, and raise organic animals. Reply

S United Kingdom April 16, 2017

in response to KDR:

Not urban myth Thank you, for confirming that growth hormones are used in cattle. Eating the meat or dairy products from these cattle can cause, especially for some women, sever side effects and illness -see postmenopausal bleeding. Reply

S U.K. April 6, 2017

Hormones in food In this changing world, where all food is rapidly becoming contaminated to such an extent that many food stuff is not safe to eat. This clearly demonstrates why HaShem specified a kosher diet. Our forefathers would not have had the food issues we are experiencing today.

Even with a kosher diet, as the above question raises many issues of what is happening with foods.

I recently came across articles regarding hormones being injected into watermelon and cucumbers, then we have carcinogenic pesticides sprayed on fruit. Fruit and vegetables maybe packed in Europe but they are not European in origin. Is it kosher to eat foods that have rapid growth hormones in them? This includes beef and chicken. Reply

Dr. Harry Hamburger Miami April 6, 2017

in response to S:

Certainly not. Reply

S United Kingdom April 16, 2017

in response to Dr. Harry Hamburger:

Thank you, for your response. Reply

sunil subba India April 5, 2017

Thanks for giving the speicfics of the moisture content when the correct matzah is prepared as it is very sacred as the quality of the bread should replicate the original.On the other days it does not matter it seems. Reply

Anonymous North Plainfield April 5, 2017

Given the biblical prohibitions against mixing seeds, I would think that anything GMO would have to be treyfe. Could one make kosher matzah from treyfe wheat? I would rather doubt it. Reply

Luke Herda New Lexington April 5, 2017

Nothing that is GMO is food. And, not being food at all, it certainly cannot be Kosher. Pretty simple. GMO entities only resemble the plants from which they were mutilated. GMO "corn" is not "corn", it only resembles corn. And so on. It is pure evil, applied to plants in order to destroy humans. Reply

Yoni April 7, 2017

in response to Luke Herda:

If it isn't food, I would think it doesn't need to be Kosher! After all, dirt and wood, which are not food, are fine to eat. Kosher is only a requirement for food. Non-food doesn't need to be Kosher! Reply

Dr. Harry Hamburger Miami April 5, 2017

GMO is genetically engineered, often with part of the genome of other plants, insects, or animals combined with the wheat. It is an abomination to the Lord, and no GMO wheat or food should be eaten anytime, let alone Passover. By fooling with the genetic code and adding things, the factories are playing G-d, and will be punished severely, along with the society that uses such products. How about a duck, sheep combination? Both are individually kosher, but when combined they become a monstrosity....a Frankenstein food. Reply

Brian Sandridge Simsbury April 7, 2017

in response to Dr. Harry Hamburger:

See Stuart Kaplan above. Zealous piety is not what Hashem wishes from us. Rather give charity, feed the hungry, clothe the naked and quit feeling holier-than-thou! Reply

Jacob Illinois April 10, 2017

in response to Dr. Harry Hamburger:

Then how can you eat corn at all as it was originally created by man from another plant? In fact the same can be said about most of what we have today. Reply

Vicki atkinson Gonzales TX April 5, 2017

GMO Shouldn't even be Kosher at all because it is the mingling of seeds with other DNA. Unlike hybrid it uses different bacteria species. Reply

C. Rader Massachusetts April 11, 2017

in response to Vicki atkinson:

Vicki, we're talking about wheat here. Scientists know that modern wheat originated by the merger of three different wild grasses. Specifically, the three wild grasses each have genomes with seven chromosome pairs. Modern wheat has twenty one chromosome pairs. Talk about mingling!

Meanwhile, there is presently no GMO wheat in commerce, so it's rather difficult to know what you think is being mingled with what. For centuries, people have taken Lev. 19 -19 to mean "Don't plant, say, corn and wheat in the same field." Nobody has taken it to mean "Keep bacteria out of wheat fields." Nobody has considered the presence of microorganisms in farm fields to be what is meant by mingling of seed in Lev 19 - 19.

If you seriously want to understand God's commandments about food, you need to learn more about food. Reply

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