Challah for Parashat Bereshit

Every week, Julie Seltzer, artist and Torah scribe, bakes a challah depicting an aspect of the week’s Torah portion.

And God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept; and God took one of his sides…(Genesis 2:21)

וַיַּפֵּל יְהוָה אֱלהִים תַּרְדֵּמָה עַל-הָאָדָם, וַיִּישָׁן; וַיִּקַּח אַחַת מִצַּלְעתָיו

This challah is the first human, Adam. God brings sleep upon Adam, then takes one of its sides (often translated as “rib”) to create a woman. The remaining side becomes a man. This sleeping challah is in one piece now, but sliced right down the middle after making the blessing, just like the first human.