Siman 463

It is permitted to singe two stalks of grain together. Similarly, it is permitted to fill a pot with stalks to dry them in an oven, and we do not fear that perhaps through the heat, water will emerge from one stalk and fall upon its fellow, because this is fruit juice and it does not cause leavening. And even according to our custom that we do not knead with fruit juice, as I wrote in the previous siman, nevertheless we do not fear this, for such emission from the stalks is not so common. However, the primary practice of singeing stalks is not common among us at all, and it appears that this was in the Land of Israel, where there was much oiliness in the wheat. Just as parched grain is not common among us, because our wheat is lean and not fit for this.

And the stalks and the wheat that were roasted in an oven or in fire, if one ground them—one may not cook them in water, lest they were not roasted well and will come to a state of himutz. And even if the flour itself was roasted in an oven—we fear lest it was not roasted well, and when it comes into water—it will become chametz. And there are those who permit cooking roasted flour (Beit Yosef), because the heat of the fire dominates it more than it dominates the wheat. And ex post facto one may rely on this opinion, but even this matter is not common among us at all.

This is the wording of the Tur: But with baked and ground matzah—it is permitted, and we do not fear that perhaps one will come to substitute it with flour… and the Rif and my lord, my father, the Rosh, wrote simply to permit it with baked matzah. And in the Gemara it says that even with baked matzah it is forbidden, where there are slaves who are negligent with mitzvot or the like, for there is reason to fear that they will come to soak even flour. Thus far his words. And the commentators (Beit Yosef and Bach) wrote that from the Gemara it is not difficult, for there is another version in the Gemara that it is permitted, see there. And I wonder at the Tur and at the commentators, for in the Gemara there is no mention at all of baked matzah, and this is the wording of the Gemara (40b): Rav Papi permitted the household of the Exilarch to stir a pot with chasisi. Rava said: Is there one who permits such a thing in a place where slaves are common? Some say: Rava himself stirred a pot with chasisi. And Rashi explained "chasisi"—flour of parched grain. And this is the flour made from parched grain that has been explained, as the Tur himself wrote. And if so, what connection does it have to baked matzah? And even according to the explanation of the Tosafot that it is flour of lentils, nevertheless this is all made from parched grain, and we decree on account of parched grain of wheat. But what relevance is there to baked matzah? And it requires great study.

And vatika, which is a cooked dish made of oil and salt with flour—it is permitted to make it on Pesach if there is no mixture of any water at all. And even salt of water, nevertheless, since it is a small amount and its form has changed from the form of water—it has no power against the oil. But when there is a large amount of salt—one must be concerned and forbid it according to the law of fruit juice with water. And this too is not common among us. And when one seasons new pots, in which they cook flour and water and vinegar in order to harden them and strengthen them—one should not season on Pesach except with flour of baked matzah. And this too is not known to us.