SALT.
The Myth, The Legend, The Torah
Pre-publication version
By Mordechai Z. Hecht
Traditionally, we find the world over, that Jews, any time when eating bread[1] in a meal dip the bread in to salt[2]. Most often perhaps you will notice this on Shabbos, when two loaves of Challah are blessed upon[3] and sliced. After which, the challa is then dipped into salt, passed around for all to share.[4] The question is why? Why do we dip bread into salt? What is the reason and the source for this practice?
SALT
In the world of medicine[5] there is a great discussion over the importance and purpose of salt in one’s diet. Surely some would like to say this is the reason. As a Jew I say, “why not”?! But at this point we will focus on the Torah’s perspective of salt, and leave the medicinal and dieticianary perspective for another time.
The Blessing in Salt
It is interesting to note at first, that the first place of salt mentioned as a condiment is in the book of Iyov 9;45 (See footnote 5 below).
Eat Salt with Bread
In addressing the question and approaching the answer we turn to the code of Jewish law, in addition to other places of mention[6]) where we are taught that one must eat bread with salt,[7] as it is written:
“It is a mitzvah to bring salt to the table and to dip the bread into the salt before eating it. Because, “Shulchan Domeh Lamizbayach” – our table is compared to the Altar, and eating is compared to a sacrifice[8],
As it is written in the Torah:[9]
“You shall season everyone of your Mincha’s -meal offering sacrifices[10] with salt. You should not leave out the salt from being placed upon your meal offerings because G-d made a covenant. You shall offer salt on all your (burnt) offerings.”[11]
Rashi, once again explains onthis verse: “A covenant was made with salt, from it’s inception in the six days of creation and was promised that the waters that were to remain on earth [and not remain and exist in – Shomayim – heaven, lit. Translated as: “there is water”] would be close to the Korbonot -sacrifices in the temple, by way of their salt content on the Mizbayach-Altar, and by Nisuch hamayim -the water drawing ceremony, [sort of a way of addressing the sensitivity of the “water of earth”, appeasing her, after being notified that they would remain on earth].
This then is an established source for this conceptual requirement of salt being eaten with bread.
Salt as a Protection
In the code of Jewish Law of the Rav[12] he writes:
“One should not start to bless on the food until there is salt or a side dish – a spread, so that it shall be eaten with a taste[13] and due respect to the blessing[14]…..it has become customary to place salt on the table because, and he quotes the above mentioned, but then he adds: when Jews sit by a table and they are waiting for one another to wash their hands for bread, and they are without mitzvoth, the Satan decrees evil upon them, and then the Brit–covenant of Salt, protects them[15]. Therefore it is a mitzvah to put it on the table EVEN IF you don’t eat from it (as protection).
It has been received, he continues, that it has become custom to dip the bread in the salt 3 times.”
Dip three times the bread
Why does the Rav say to dip 3 times. Perhaps this is because, if you look back at the verse you will notice three times the word salt referred to in the verse, seems a bit redundant, don’t you think. But rather is referencing three types of sacrifices accompanied by salt and this is apparently a source for the custom to dip one’s bread three times in the salt.[16]
The curse in Salt
Above we mention the positive aspect of salt and the great mitzvah of eating bread with salt. But there is a second side to this coin.
The first place where we find mention of salt in the Torah is in the story of the destruction of the city of Sedom (and Gemorrah)[17].
It is this story that I wish to expound upon, for I have found some amazing insghts in the commentaries here on this topic of salt.
After G-d had decided to destroy the city of Sedom because of their evil ways the Torah tells us that G-d spared Lot and his wife and when theyr enabled to escape G-d stold them not to look back as the city is destroyed, Lot’s wife, apparently could not contain herself and she turned around, at which point she immediately turned into a pillar of salt. In the verse referring to this phenomenon it is written:
“ …And his wife peered from behind him (Lot, her husband) and she became a pillar of Salt.”
The question that comes to mind is, why Salt? What could be the significance in her turning into salt of all things and of all methods of reprimand?
Rashi, the primary commentary on the chumash explains: “She sinned with salt and she was stricken with salt”[18] Lot said to her, “give a bit of salt to these guests” and she said to him, “This bad custom too, you come to put into practice in this place!”[19] This is why she became a pillar salt, of all things.[20]
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Appendix:
Washing Hands after eating Bread, and Salt
It is written in the code of Jewish law, “Laws of Mayim Achronim - washing hands after meals”[21], that one must wash his hands after eating a meal, before reciting grace after meals. One of the reason’s given amongst others, is because of a certain “Melech Sedomit” which is a dangerous salt. Stating - that if it comes in contact with the eye it can be harmful. So we wash our hands to assure we wash it off and refrain from harming ourselves.
The Rav notes, that although this Melach Sedomit is no longer around and therefore some opinions hold it does not apply, others disagree he says, and so we still require this practice.[22]
What I would like to note on this Melach Sedomit is as follows. Although we can’t make homiletics of Halachic rulings, perhaps we can introduce the idea from the commentaries on the destruction Sedom and the story of the salt there, to this law.
Sedom was a wicked place, and was eventually was destroyed. Lot’s wife even after given another chance proved herself to be corrupt - after looking back. Apparently, what the underlying corruption of Sedom, as we see with Lot’s wife and her punishment was their cruelty to humans and their disregard for human life. Seen once again in her “looking back”[23] – as well as not feeding the needy and not helping people in need with charity. Hence they left a very negative aura and affect on the mere concept of salt. And so, being that salt can have a Sedom-factor, and being that we eat salt in every meal, and this salt can have a negative connotation to it[24], so to rectify that (in addition to the biblical concept of eating bread with salt as discussed above) we wash our hands of salt at our tables, where we always need to remember to host guests accordingly and that there can always be a component of bad even to something good, if not treated properly and regarded accordingly. Eating is also a service to G-d. A holy and divine practice! And, being that it’s possible that at the end of a meal we can get impatient with guests for example, even the one’s we are presently hosting, we go ahead and wash our hands with water to wash away the “salt”– the “sedom-factor-salt” and remind ourselves to be kind and holy and pure. Even after all is already said and done for this meal. Continuing to live in the spirit of “on all your sacrifices you shall bring salt” –proper salt – righteous salt. Leaving us with three connections to salt, 1) the sacrifice in the temple, 2) on your table, and 3) hosting and treating your guest properly.
[1] After washing one’s hands, three times on each hand and then making the blessing Netilat Yadayim, and then breaking bread (code of Jewish law).
[2]Ramban asks what does it mean a “covenant” was made between G-d and salt and he attempts to explain that, Salt is water, and because of the power os the sun it hem it become salt ( the water becomes salty), water by nature waters and causes growth, but salt by nature causes just the opposite thingsto dry up. So in fact we find that there are two components to salt, fire and water [ as we see when we cook it turns to water, the material fiber of the food, and melts snow like heat and fire and turns the snow into water. So too says the Ramban, the kingdom of David is by nature fire and water. And so inturn we are fire and water. So, the covenant is actually between us and G-d, just as salt and water are one, so too we and G-d. But that is if we bring out the water aspect – chesed – kindness and not fire- gevurah – severity”. So, when eating bread with salt we are reminded of this idea of our responsibility to G-d and our covenant. [Salt: lit. a derivative of water. A seasoning or spice available throughout the world anytime of year. Salt may come in many different colors and gradients depending on it’s location of cultivation. There is sea salt, refined table salt, iodized salt. Salt is a definitive combination of chloride and sodium is a vital commodity and mineral which is needed by all known living beings in small quantities.]
[3] For the Lechem Mishna – the requirement for two breads on Shabbos. Corresponding to the double portion of the Heavenly Manna which fell in double portion on Friday for Shabbos, as collecting Manna was prohibited and unavailable on Shabbos.
[4] With exception to the high holiday season when we dip in Honey ( and salt according to some opinions).
[5] Many Journals of Medicine, beyond the scope of this article report that salt has always been known as a strong anti bacterial agent and very useful in many practical cleansing purposes as well as medicinal uses.
[6] See
[7] Laws of Breaking Bread, Kitzur Shulchan Aruch.
[8] There is also a belief that it is a reminder of the verse in Genesis "by the sweat of your brow you shall earn your bread" - sweat being salty
[9] Vayikra 2,13
[10] Meal offering sacrifices consisted of flour and oil…and salt. Apparently, just as their bread was offered with salt, although we don’t have a temple and an altar today, we are still instructed to maintain this part of the practice always.
[11] This is where the Law ends.
[12] Rav Shneur Zalman of Liadi – founder and first Rebbe of Chabad Chassidism, Author of Code of Jewish law. Section 167,8
[13] A lesson that some learn here is: Salt also adds taste to everything. Our bond with G-d is supposed to add meaning and flavor to every moment of our lives; even when we are not directly involved in spiritual pursuits.
[14] This follows the Torah idea that physical pleasure can be used as a vehicle in the service of Hashem.
[15] We no longer have the altar to atone for us. Now, our table is our "altar," because we share our food with the needy, and this atones for us, and keeps the Satan away.
[16] Kli Yakar Bereishis 19;26. See Talmud Bavli Sanhedrin 104b. See Talmud Bavli Menachot 21. See also Likutei Biurei Hamitzvos MihaRamabm in Mikraos Gedolos who explains that, the salt was brought on three categories of items in the temple, and in some places salt was a definite, you had to have salt no ways out, in other places not. In other words if you didn’t bring it was ok. [Which can be the basis for a discussion of “how important is the salt with the bread today..].
[17] Bereishis 19:26.
[18] Bereishis Rabbah 51,5.
[19] Ibid. 50:4.
[20] The question that arises here now is that we see that the practice of serving salt in meals, and to guests, was an ancient one, even before the Temple was established and the laws written to commemorate the Temple? To answer this question e can say, that perhaps this was before the Torah was given and the commandment was just that, a nice gesture, only after the Torah was given did it become a mitzvah as we have it now.
[21] Shulchan Aruch (Harav) 181, 1-9, 1 and 9 particularly.
[22] As with many laws that even though the original reasons for the practice are no longer, the customs and laws remain, both on a Halachic level and surely on a spiritual level.
[23] See Ramban ibid. The sin of looking back was a horrible one, no one should ever want to see the destruction and loss of others and even their own. G-d sometimes does things because they are necessary, we are not to dwell on them. Perhaps, supporting this idea of removing the “salt of sedom-factor”.
[24] In addition to medically, where too much salt is no good. Which perhaps stems from the negative aspect of salt spiritually.