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Bread is considered a staple of life in the Jewish textual tradition. Biblical figures offer bread to their guests as a marker of hospitality, and the sacred showbread plays a role in the rituals of the Tabernacle and Temple. Many laws govern the preparation, baking, and consumption of bread. Bread is unique in that its consumption necessitates reciting the full Birkat HaMazon ("Grace After Meals").
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Bread from Heaven
TANAKH
The divine provision of manna was a test of the Israelites' faith and obedience to God's instructions. The Torah recounts how God provided manna from the sky to the Israelites in the desert, testing their adherence to God's commands on how to collect and consume it.
The Sacred Showbread
TANAKH
Preparing the twelve loaves of showbread was part of the regular service performed in the Tabernacle. The book of Leviticus details the preparation and arrangement of the showbread, emphasizing its role as a continuous offering consumed by Aaron and his sons.
The Bread of Hospitality
TANAKH
Abraham's offering of bread to his guests highlights the central role of hospitality and generosity in Jewish tradition. The Torah recounts how Abraham welcomes three guests, offering them to wash their feet and eat.
Bread in the Garden of Eden
MIDRASH
Some rabbinic opinions maintain that the Tree of Knowledge was a tree of wheat. Bereshit Rabbah, an ancient midrash on the book of Genesis, discusses that position, as well as the meaning of the blessing recited on bread.
Matzah and the Seder Night
MISHNAH
The consumption of matzah on Passover night is a unique practice that distinguishes it from all other nights. The Mishnah, the first codification of Jewish law from the early third-century land of Israel, outlines the 'Four Questions' that highlight the distinct practices of the holiday, such as eating matzah instead of leavened bread.
The Ceremonial Wave Loaves
COMMENTARY
The 'wave loaves' are a unique type of bread offering that highlights the ceremonial role of bread in Jewish rituals. Rashi, in his renowned 11th-century commentary on the Torah, explains the significance of the 'wave loaves' as part of the Shavuot offering, marking the wheat harvest and symbolizing gratitude to God.
The Mystical Journey of Bread
KABBALAH
Bread, in its various forms, serves as a mystical symbol of spiritual readiness and enlightenment, especially during the festivals of Passover and Shavuot. The Zohar, a foundational work of Jewish mysticism, explores the transition from unleavened to leavened bread as a metaphor for spiritual growth and divine connection.
Bread on the Table
TALMUD
Leaving bread on the table after a meal is a sign of gratitude to God, but how does this align with the prohibition against leaving pieces of bread as a form of idol worship? Rabbi Elazar's teachings in the Talmud resolve this apparent contradiction by emphasizing the presence of a whole loaf.
The Sacred Bread of the Temple
MISHNAH
The preparation of the two loaves and the shewbread in the Temple involved specific procedures and locations, with differing opinions from Rabbi Yehuda and Rabbi Shimon. The Mishnah, a foundational text of Jewish oral law from the early third century, details the intricate rules and debates surrounding these Temple offerings.
Baking Thick Bread on Passover
TALMUD
Beit Hillel permits baking thick bread on Passover, provided it does not exceed the thickness of one handbreadth. This debate between Beit Shammai and Beit Hillel is recorded in Tractate Beitzah of the Babylonian Talmud, which discusses the laws of biblical holidays.
Baking Bread for Shabbat
HALAKHAH
The practical considerations of baking bread for Shabbat have evolved from ancient to early-modern times. In the 16th-century Shulchan Arukh, Rabbi Joseph Karo provides guidelines for baking bread, highlighting the differences between ancient and early-modern ovens.
Sanctifying the Act of Eating Bread
CHASIDUT
Eating bread can be a spiritual act that leads to holiness, purity, and a closer connection with God. Rabbi Nathan of Breslov’s prayers in Likutei Tefilot emphasize the importance of washing hands, saying blessings with full concentration, and achieving mental clarity through these practices.
The Bread Dilemma on Shabbat
TALMUD
Rabbinic literature discusses the dilemma of overriding a rabbinic prohibition to prevent a greater sin on Shabbat. The Babylonian Talmud explores whether one can remove bread from the oven on Shabbat to avoid the liability of a sin-offering for baking.
The Nuances of Bread in Hebrew
COMMENTARY
Understanding the distinction between different types of bread in Hebrew can deepen our appreciation of Jewish rituals and traditions. Malbim, a 19th-century rabbi and biblical commentator, explains the linguistic nuances between the terms 'lechem' and 'challah,' emphasizing the importance of shape and form in defining challah.
The Spiritual Significance of Challah
REFERENCE
The commandment of separating challah is an act that some see as symbolizing the rejection of idolatry and the acknowledgment of God's sovereignty. Rabbi Hayyim Joseph David Azulai, an 18th-century scholar, delves into the spiritual significance of this practice.
The Essence of Matzah
JEWISH THOUGHT
The essence of matzah lies in its simplicity, and adding leaven or other ingredients transforms it from 'bread of affliction' to 'rich matzah.' The Maharal of Prague, in his work Gevurot Hashem, explores the symbolic nature of matzah, emphasizing its role in commemorating the Israelites' humble and hasty departure from Egypt.
Blessings Over Bread and Pastries
COMMENTARY
Pastries are treated differently from ordinary bread in terms of blessings and the Grace After Meals (Birkat HaMazon). The Mishnah Berurah, a central halakhic commentary by Rabbi Yisrael Meir Kagan, provides practical guidance on the blessings over food, including the distinctions between bread and pastries.
Portrait of Jewish Man, Yuri Pen. 1921 Poland
Portrait of Jewish Man, Yuri Pen. 1921 Poland
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