Commentary on Parashat Achrei Mot-Kedoshim, Leviticus 16:1-20:27
Every week, Julie Seltzer, artist and Torah scribe, bakes a challah depicting an aspect of the week’s Torah portion.
Do not sow your field with two kinds of seed; do not wear clothing that is a mixture of two kinds of material. (Leviticus 19:19)
שָׂדְךָ לֹא-תִזְרַע כִּלְאָיִם; וּבֶגֶד כִּלְאַיִם שַׁעַטְנֵז, לֹא יַעֲלֶה עָלֶיךָ
The rule not to mix linen and wool is referred to as “shatnez;” not mixing different seeds is called kilayim. We see kilayim depicted here in two different challahs, each of different grains. One is a blending of whole wheat molasses dough with white dough, and the other is the blending of two very different seeds: poppy and sesame.
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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.