Our Divine Namesake

Through the ages, the baking and breaking of bread has been one of the most important activities known to humankind. Nobody knows when bread was first eaten, but archaeologists have discovered that the Lake Dwellers of Switzerland had learned to make bread as early as 10,000 years ago. They ground wheat, barley or millet, mixed the flour with water, rolled the dough into thin sheets and baked them on hot stones. The ancient Egyptians are believed to be the originators of modern bread loaves dating back to 1500 B.C. And the Romans had a well-developed bread business by 100 B.C. with more than 250 bakeries in the capital. Today, bread is of course a key component of the world’s dining table providing a low-cost, abundant food source, though of limited nutritional value.

Recently, the makers of Wonder Bread — that iconic staple of American kitchens for nearly 100 years — sold the much beloved loaf to a competing brand. The fluffy white slices of goodness,…