Commentary on Parashat Pinchas, Numbers 25:10 - 30:1
Every week, Julie Seltzer, artist and Torah scribe, bakes a challah depicting an aspect of the week’s Torah portion.
If a man dies, and has no son, then you shall pass his inheritance to his daughter.
אִישׁ כִּי-יָמוּת, וּבֵן אֵין לוֹ–וְהַעֲבַרְתֶּם אֶת-נַחֲלָתוֹ, לְבִתּוֹ
And if he has no daughter, then you shall give his inheritance to his brothers.
וְאִם-אֵין לוֹ, בַּת–וּנְתַתֶּם אֶת-נַחֲלָתוֹ, לְאֶחָיו
And if he has no brothers, then you shall give his inheritance to his father’s brothers.
וְאִם-אֵין לוֹ, אַחִים–וּנְתַתֶּם אֶת-נַחֲלָתוֹ, לַאֲחֵי אָבִיו
(Numbers 27:8-10)
This challah is an inheritance chart, according to the Torah text. The challah shapes are the official genealogical symbols:
square = male
circle = female
x = dead
challah
Pronounced: KHAH-luh, Origin: Hebrew, ceremonial bread eaten on Shabbat and Jewish holidays.
Torah
Pronunced: TORE-uh, Origin: Hebrew, the Five Books of Moses.
