Passover: Rich Matzah, Poor Matzah

(3) You are not to eat it with leaven; seven days you are to eat it with matzot, bread of affliction (lehem oni), for with trepidation you went out from the land of Egypt. (Everett Fox, translation)

Why does the Torah state "lehem oni"? To exclude [from use] matzah that has been kneaded with wine, oil or honey.

May it not also mean to include sponge cakes, honey cakes, pastry, pudding cakes and pancakes?

Scripture says, "lehem oni", thus excluding all these for they are not the bread of poverty, the words of Rabbi Ishmael.

But the sages say he can fulfill his obligation with them…

So then why does it say "lehem oni"? To teach that one should not knead with wine, oil or other juices…

(1) Rabbah bar Bar Hannah said in the name of Resh Lakish: Dough that has been kneaded with wine, oil or honey—one is not liable for karet if one eats it after it has become hametz.

(2) Rav Papa and Rav Huna the son of R. Joshua were sitting in front of Rav Idi bar Avin, and Rav Idi bar Avin dozed off. R. Huna son of R. Joshua said to Rav Papa: What is the reasoning of Resh Lakish?

(3) Rav Papa said to him: for the verse says, "You are not to eat it with leaven; seven days you are to eat it with matzot, bread of affliction (lehem oni)." For things which a person can use to fulfill his obligation for matzah, he is liable if they are [eaten in the form of] hametz. But these things, since one cannot use them to fulfill his obligation [at the seder] for they are matzah ashirah (rich matzah), one is not liable for them if they are [eaten in the form of] hametz….

(4) Rav Idi bar Avin woke up and said to them: Little children, Resh Lakish's reasoning is that these [liquids] are all fruit juices, and fruit juices do not cause [dough] to become leavened.

(1) Our Rabbis taught:…R. Akiva says: The Torah says "matzot" implying that different types of matzot can be used. If so, why does the Torah say "lehem oni"? To exclude dough that has been kneaded with wine, oil or honey…

(2) But does R. Akiva hold that one cannot use dough mixed with wine, oil or honey? But does it not teach: "One does not knead dough on Pesah with wine, oil or honey…And R. Akiva stated: I was sitting with R. Eliezer and R. Joshua and I kneaded dough with wine, oil and honey and they didn't say anything to me…..

(3) This is not a difficulty: One refers to the first night and one refers to the second night.

(1) THE LAWS OF WETHER FRUIT JUICES LEAVEN; 7 SECTIONS Fruit juice without water does not leaven at all and is permitted to eat on Pesach Matzah which was kneaded with fruit juice, even if [the dough] was idle all the day. However, one may not fulfill his obligation with it, because of its Matzah Ashirah, and the verse states "lechem onee".

(2) Fruit juice with water accelerates leavening more than other dough, therefore one should not knead with them and if kneads with them he should bake it immediately.

(3) It is permitted to knead with wine even though it's impossible that there wasn't a drop of water which fell into it at the time of pressing. Even initially, it is normal to put water at the time of pressing in order to permit [impurities] via connecting flow. Nevertheless, we are not concerned about this since afterward, the water is neutralized in the [proprotion to the] wine prior to kneading the dough.

(4) Egg liquid and all other liquids are generalized with fruit juice. REMA: and in these countries [Ashkenaz] it is not practiced to knead in fruit juice and even to batter the Matzot is only practiced after they are baked and still hot. One should not deviate from this when not a time of need. The needs of the sick or elderly are [examples] of this.