LOAVES OF TORAH

Harper explores the Torah through imaginative challah creations.

“Challah is no ordinary bread,” writes the author, a rabbi, “it is rich with religious and spiritual resonance, as well as powerful sensory memories that are often connected to community and culture.” As described in the book’s introduction, which surveys the long history of the eggy, yeasty, braided bread throughout Jewish history, challah has long been a staple of Jewish cultures throughout the diaspora. By the 18th century, Ukrainian Jews were baking “increasingly elaborate challah shapes for different holidays” (birds and ladders for the pre-Yom Kippur fast, hands for Hoshana Rabbah, and keys for the Shabbat after Pesach), while Moroccan Jews were embedding whole eggs in a “thin ‘cage’ of dough” to represent Haman’s evil eye during Purim. After exploring this rich legacy, the bulk of the book takes readers through the Torah, with individual chapters devoted to Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy, respectively. The major stories from these biblical books are given brief synopses, along with learned commentary from Harper that balances astute scholarship (backed by hundreds of citations) and exegesis with applications to daily life. An assistant rabbi at Temple Beth Elohim in Wellesley, Massachusetts, with an advanced degree in Hebrew literature, the author is a talented scholar and teacher, both strengths on full display as she distills complex, theologically dense material into an easy-to-read format. While this narrative on its own makes for a thoughtful book, the triumph of this volume lies in its highlighting of the gorgeous, creative interpretative bread that accompanies each story. While on the surface, Harper admits, “Challah dough may have some limits as an artistic medium,” the variety, symbolism, and beauty of the loaves are the undeniable stars of the book, displayed in full-page, high-quality glossy photographs. The book’s final section includes tips on baking and shaping challah, enabling readers to learn more about the Torah while participating in “Floury Fun.”

A rare combination of cookbook and theological commentary, both visually stunning and profound.