Knowra Matzah Matzah Matzah is unleavened bread made from flour and water, baked before the dough rises. Jews eat it during Passover, when leavened grain foods are traditionally avoided.
Passover : A Jewish festival commemorating the Israelites’ liberation from slavery in Egypt. Matzah is eaten throughout the festival and anchors its food restrictions.
Chametz : Leavened grain food prohibited during Passover in Jewish law. Matzah is the permitted counterpart to chametz during the festival.
Matzah ball : A dumpling made from matzah meal, eggs, and fat, often served in soup. It turns ground matzah into a familiar Passover dish.
Book of Exodus : The second book of the Hebrew Bible, which tells of Israelite enslavement in Egypt and departure from it. Its account connects unleavened bread with the hurried departure from Egypt.
Seder : A ritual meal held at the beginning of Passover, organized around storytelling, symbolic foods, and blessings. The seder places matzah on the table and explains its role in the Exodus story.
Matzah shemurah : Matzah made from grain guarded against contact with water from harvesting or, in some practices, from milling. Its stricter supervision illustrates how production rules shape ritual matzah.
Matzah brei : A dish of softened matzah cooked with beaten eggs, often fried or scrambled. It shows how matzah can become a breakfast or savory meal.
Deuteronomy : The fifth book of the Hebrew Bible, presenting Moses’ teachings and laws before Israel enters Canaan. It gives a further biblical explanation for eating unleavened bread at Passover.
Exodus : The biblical account of the Israelites’ departure from slavery in Egypt under Moses’ leadership. The haste of departure explains why the story associates matzah with bread made without rising.
Shmurah matzah : A common English name for matzah shemurah, produced with safeguards against unintended leavening. The term appears on products made under heightened Passover supervision.
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