Why Women Keep Niddah, Challah, and the Sabbath Lamp

(Genesis 6:9:) THESE ARE THE GENERATIONS OF NOAH. [Let our master teach us: For how many transgressions do women die at the time of their childbirth? Thus] our Rabbis taught: For three transgressions women die at the time of their childbirth — [because they are not careful concerning niddah (menstrual separation), concerning challah, and concerning the kindling of the lamp; and these three commandments are from the Torah]. Whence niddah? As it is said, "And if a woman has a discharge, her discharge being blood" (Leviticus 15:25). And whence challah? As it is said, "Of the first of your dough you shall set aside a portion as a contribution" (Numbers 15:20). Whence the Sabbath lamp? As it is said, "And you shall call the Sabbath a delight" (Isaiah 58:13). And why were the women commanded concerning these commandments? Rather, our Sages said: Adam was the first of the world's creation, and Eve came and spilled his blood, because he listened to her, as it is said, "For dust you are, and to dust you shall return" (Genesis 3:19). The Holy One, blessed be He, said: Let the commandment of niddah blood be given to her, [that she may gain atonement] for that blood which she spilled. And why the commandment of challah? Because Adam was the challah of the world, and Eve came and defiled him. The Holy One, blessed be He, said: Let the commandment of challah be given to her, that she may gain atonement for the challah of the world which she defiled. And whence that Adam was the challah of the world? Thus our Rabbis taught: Once the woman puts water into the dough, she lifts up her challah; so too did the Holy One, blessed be He, do. Rabbi Yose ben Ketzarta said: Once the Holy One, blessed be He, put water upon the earth, immediately Adam lifted up his challah from the earth, for thus it says, "And a mist went up from the earth" (Genesis 2:6) — and immediately, "And the Lord God formed [man]" (Genesis 2:7). And the commandment of the lamp — because Adam was the lamp of the Holy One, blessed be He, as it is said, "The lamp of the Lord is the soul of man" (Proverbs 20:27); and Eve came and extinguished it. The Holy One, blessed be He, said: Let the commandment of the lamp be given to her, that she may gain atonement for the lamp which she extinguished. Therefore the women were commanded concerning the commandment of the lamp on the Sabbath. The Holy One, blessed be He, said: If you are careful with the Sabbath lamp, I too will give light for that, as it is said, "And the Lord shall be your everlasting light" (Isaiah 60:19).