The world’s largest Matzah oven @ Manischewitz
I’m a big fan of factory tours. The process of industrial food manufacture is often fascinating. When I received an invitation to the 2010 Manischewitz Shmura Matza Run, I couldn’t possibly say no.
The Manischewitz factory has been baking Kosher-for-Passover Matzahs for months now, but the month before Pesach is exclusively for Shmura Matzah. The machines will be making only Shmura Matza from today until they stop for Pesach. I joined Senior Members of the Orthodox Union and other members of the press for the ceremonial start of the 2010 Shmura Run. My photos from the event are available here.
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| Shmura Matza Run @ Manischewitz |
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I thought the whole point of shmura matzos was that they were hand made. An impressive process and great photos nonetheless.
Shmura translates as “guarded”. The distinguishing quality of Shmura Matzah is the flour used. Where normal matzah flour is guaranteed to have not come into contact with water from the time it was milled, shmura flour is “guarded” from water from the time it is harvested.
Thanks for the pics. Working as a mashgiach in hotels you get a different feel for food preparations and the latest technology in kitchen appliances.
Any idea why the matza you held up in the last photo was rejected?
Hey Jonathan,
Nice photos, I’m also curious why the matza in the last photo was rejected?
Elaine
While the matzah was probably perfectly Kosher for Passover, in a factory environment the matzos aren’t acceptable until the process is running perfectly. They were having “thickness problems” at the beginning of the line, and the matzos weren’t coming out uniformly.
Those rejects were destined to become very expensive chicken-feed.
great photos.
indeed very expensive chicken-feed :-)