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The bread of seven heavens – pan di siete cielos

A traditional bread made by Spanish Jews before the expulsion of all Jews from Spain in 1492 (what’s new?). The tradition was kept alive by some of those Sephardic Jews in the countries where they managed to find refuge (what’s new?)

The bread is enjoying a revival in modern times and here’s what it means.

This loaf was made by Jeremy. Using white flour and olives with sour dough starter he formed a ball of dough in the centre to represent Mount Sinai surrounded by seven rings of dough to represent the seven heavens
A ladder on the side to climb the seven rings of heaven to reach the top of the mountain
The two tablets of stone containing the 10 commandments
The scroll in which the five Books of Moses – the Torah – are written
A fish representing fertility
A flower – because the mountain burst into flower at the time of the giving of the law
A bird – because the birds stopped chirping at the time of the revelation

This is the first time Jeremy has baked it – he regrets that the decoration is not very professional. He would welcome a gift of appropriate pastry cutters!