English: “He took curds and milk.” Yet he did not bring bread. Ephraim the kasha-maker, the disciple of Rabbi Meir, said: That day Sarah became niddah, and Avraham our father ate ordinary food in a state of purity.
On the daf / in context: The absence of the bread that had been promised is explained by Sarah’s sudden onset of niddah, which rendered the dough impure; Avraham therefore served only dairy and meat that remained pure.
Type of Learning
Derash on the verse (Bavli sugya) — not a formal named middah of the 13. The missing bread is accounted for by a change in Sarah’s status.
What Is Learned
Sarah became niddah that day, so the bread (prepared by her) was not served; Avraham, who ate ordinary food in purity, brought only the dairy and the calf.