Matzah for the Jew without teeth

 

Question:

I have an elderly Jewish friend, without teeth, that can’t eat matzah. What are the options for him, can I grind the shmurah matzah into a powder and give it to him?

 

Answer:

You may grind it. If this is difficult to swallow you can drink some water with it.

If that is not possible you may soak it in cold water, however care must be taken not to soak it for 24 hours long, and that it it does NOT dissolve in the water. One should make sure to only soak pieces of matzah which are at least the volume of a kezais, not less.

In a case where you cannot eat even matzah soaked in water and soaking it in wine or other drinks helps, one may do so. It should be pointed out that this solution is only as a last resort. Healthy people who have eaten the matzo soaked in liquids other than water must eat again another kezayis of matzah.

 

Sources:

לטחון את המצה – ברכי יוסף סימן תסא סק״א. שו״ת חת״ס או״ח קכז בתו״ד. חיי״א קל, ב. ארחות חיים ספינקא תסא, ז. משנ״ב שם בביה”ל שם ס”ד, ושו”ת בנין ציון סימן כט

להשרות – שוע”ר שם סי”ב-י”ג. וראה גם משנ”ב שם ס”ק י”ז. ויש שכתבו להקל במטבל במי פירות שרק בשרוי׳ אסרו ולא בטיבול – ראה משנ״ב שם סקי״ח ע״פ רבינו מנוח. ובמג״א סק״ז החמיר גם בטיבול.

 

 

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