The pomegranate was revered for the beauty of its shrub, flowers, and fruit—symbolizing sanctity, fertility, and abundance. It is one of the “Seven Species” the land of Israel is praised for, and pomegranates embroidered in “blue, purple, and crimson” yarn adorned the hem of the high priest’s robe. The Song of Songs, which draws on the pomegranate as a symbol of beauty, compares the cheeks of a bride behind her veil to the two halves of a pomegranate. Its use extends beyond the Bible, as well, appearing on ancient Jewish coins and as a metaphor in several rabbinic writings. 

Many of us think of challah as a shiny, braided loaf of eggy, slightly sweet bread. The word comes from the Hebrew Bible, where it denotes a type of bread loaf, possibly a ring-shaped loaf. Challah also designates the portion of the first batch of dough presented to God, as well as other loafs involved in offerings.

On the eve of Shabbat, two challah loaves are placed on the table, a reference to the double portion of manna that fell from heaven on Fridays, so it would last through Shabbat, during the exodus. In one of the most common shapes of challah, the braided strands form 12 “humps,” which are said to represent the 12 tribes of Israel.