Challah for Parashat Chukat

Slaughtering the red heifer.

By

Commentary on Parashat Chukat, Numbers 19:1-22:1

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

They will bring you a red heifer. (Numbers 19:2)

וְיִקְחוּ אֵלֶיךָ פָרָה אֲדֻמָּה

red heifer challah

The red heifer, whose ashes purify the impure, is about to be slaughtered. When the “slaughtering” (ie, cutting of the challah) took place following the hamotzi blessing, we discovered that the neck bled from the cut–a bright red beet was baked inside!

red heifer challah

Discover More

Modern Israel

Modern Israel at a Glance

An overview of the Jewish state and its many accomplishments and challenges.

High Holidays on Zoom

High Holidays During Coronavirus

High Holiday Zoom Services: How to Get the Most out of Them

Try these seven tips to make the holiday sacred and special, even if you're not going to synagogue in person.

American Jews

Black-Jewish Relations in America

Relations between African Americans and Jews have evolved through periods of indifference, partnership and estrangement.