Many of us associate Parashath Hayyei Sarah with the image of Sarah Immenu's tent and the freshly baked bread, which remained fresh from one Friday to the next. The Ari z"l states that one should prepare a total of twelve loaves of bread for each of the three meals of Shabbath.
A story is told about Hakham Moshe Ben Ezra, who lived in Baghdad and was known for his immense piety. Although he lived in extreme poverty, he was known for his devotion to the study of the Torah. Ereb Shabbah was the only time he made an exception and indulged by buying thirty six loaves of bread, twelve for each of the three meals. Unfortunately, many of the loaves of bread remained uneaten and got spoiled. His wife, upset over the wasted bread, took the mildewed bread to Hakham 'Abdallah Somekh, 'a"h, and presented them to him.
The Hakham called Hakham Moshe and advised him to use a total of twelve loaves of bread every Shabbath, four at each meal. The next Friday, Hakham Moshe bought a total of twelve loaves and kept them in their place. That evening, when his wife prepared the Shabbath table, she counted a total of thirty six loaves of bread and realized that a miracle happened to her husband.
From that time on she allowed her husband to buy thirty six loaves of bread every Friday.
