Shmurah Matzah

Shmurah means watched, and it is an apt description of this matzah, the ingredients of which (the flour and water) are watched from the moment of harvesting and drawing.

The day chosen for the harvesting of the wheat is a clear, dry day. The moment it is harvested, the wheat is inspected to ensure that there is absolutely no moisture. From then, careful watch is kept upon the grains as they are transported to the mill. The mill is meticulously inspected by Rabbis and supervision professionals to ensure that every piece of equipment is absolutely clean and dry. After the wheat is milled, the flour is again guarded in its transport to the bakery. Thus, from the moment of harvesting through the actual baking of the matzah, the flour is carefully watched to ensure against any contact with water.

The water, too, is carefully guarded to prevent any contact with wheat or other grain. It is drawn the night before the baking, and kept pure until the moment it is mixed with the flour to bake the shmurah matzah.

Also in the bakery itself, shmurah matzot are under strict supervision to avoid any possibility of leavening during the baking process. This intensive process and careful guarding gives the shmurah matzah an added infusion of faith and sanctity — in fact, as the matzah is being made, all those involved constantly repeat "l'shem matzot mitzvah" — "We are doing this for the sake of the mitzvah of matzah."

Shmurah matzot are round, kneaded and shaped by hand, and are similar to the matzot that were baked by the Children of Israel as they left Egypt. It is thus fitting to use Shmurah Matzah on each of the two Seder nights for the matzot of the Seder plate.

If you have not yet received your complimetary Shmurah Matzah,
please contact us.

Dear Friend,

With the approach of the joyous Pesach (Passover) Holiday, we at Chabad Brisbane are pleased to share with you and your family a Chabad custom (of long standing) to present fellow Jews with hand-baked Shmurah Matzot. These Matzot will enable you to fulfill the requirements for the middle Matzah on both Seder nights, the first two nights of the festival (Monday and Tuesday evening, 29 and 30 March 2010).

These Matzot have been carefully supervised throughout their process since the time of wheat harvest (see above for more details about these special Matzot). We at Chabad Brisbane, are cognizant of the relative unavailability of these Shmurah Matzot to the general public, and deem it a privilege to make them accessible to you.

Dvoiry and I, together with Chanoch and Sarah Chanah Sufrin wish you and your family a happy, healthy and joyous Pesach.

Rabbi Levi Jaffe