Gluten-Free Shemurah Oat Matza!

Why Choose Gluten-Free Oat Matzas?

20 years ago, Dayan Osher Westheim, Shlita, and the Manchester Beis Din were very concerned about providing oat matza for people unable to eat regular wheat matzas. Rabbi Kestenbaum was also very concerned. He saw a little girl of 9 weeping bitterly because she feared that she will not be able to have any matza on Pesach even after she would become Bts Mitzva. Rabbi Kestenbaum became determined to help her, and so the Journey began.

Rabbi Ephraim Kestenbaum:

20 years have passed, and today, after much trial and tribulation (and the search that led them to a small patch of gluten free oats in Scotland), our delicious and healthy gluten-free matzas are available around the world.

The oats have been specially bred with lower gluten content. Many people (such as those with Celiacs Disease and other allergies/intolerances) cannot eat wheat gluten, and countless others are unaware that they could benefit from gluten-free or reduced wheat-gluten diets.

Karen's Story

When my second son was in the fourth grade, it became apparent that something was going wrong.  While he was an ADHD child from the beginning, his behavior in school was changing, and not for the better.  After much research on my part, I found a chiropractor who practiced Kinesiology (Muscle Testing) in regards to both allergies and intolerances.  These were important distinctions, as I was soon to learn.

This Doctor used his vials of substances to narrow down what was bothering my son.  In the end, we found that Eliahu, my son, was intolerant of both wheat and spelt.  While he was not allergic, which would have meant his body would have had an immune response to the substance, we found he was intolerant.  This meant, for Eliahu, that he had brain wave changes.  The way this manifested was in his ability to control, or not, his anger.  If he had wheat in his system, then he got into fights at school.  If he did not have wheat in his system, then he managed himself, asked for help from a teacher, and walked away from irritation.

Eliahu had no problems with the flour Kamut.  However, Kamut is not one of the "five grains", and while it is a member of the wheat family, we can not make "Ha-Motzei" on it.  Therefore, I was desperate to find something he could use for Passover.

As each of you has had to cope with this initial panic, I too, found gluten free oat matza.  While Eliahu did not need gluten free, this wonderful matza provided us with year-round ability for him to 'wash, make motzei, and bentch' with the rest of the family.

I was so grateful.  At that time, I had an international Kosher gourmet gift basket business.  Since I was shipping out daily, I asked Rabbi Kestenbaum if he needed help in reaching others who needed his product.  He said yes, and my service to the wheat-free, gluten-free community was born.

So... you see, I am not a store, nor do I have my gift basket business any longer.  I am, however, a Kinesiologist, a Reflexologist, an Aromatherapist, and an Energy Psychotherapist - all thanks in part, to my search for how to help my son. 

And I am also, the Oat Matza Lady!

- Karen Beleck

High Quality Matza, Made With Care

"The baking also presents many problems, and because the oat flour lacks gluten, it is very hard to knead and to bake. Often we suffer a huge amount of wastage.... There is only one machine matza bakery in the world at this time which is able to cope with these special needs. Their specially trained staff are to be commended for their exceptional performance and unstinting efforts, and strict adherence to the complicated halochos. The baking requires the presence of Rabbi Kestenbaum and his children at all times for guidance and support."

- http://www.glutenfreeoatmatzos.com/about.html