WHAT IS “LOAVES OF LOVE”?
In addition to a) learning about challah b) making your own to take home c) we will be making challahs for you to give to someone who would most likely not have challah on their table this coming shabbos. [Co Sponsored by Mr & Mrs.Leora Schneck Danino – in honor of her Father Rabbi Shneck OB”M.]
WHAT IS CHALLAH (BAKING)?
Rabbi Mordechai Z. Hecht
Many people say “I always wondered what challah is? Why is it different then regular bread? What’s all the fuss about? Always wondered what "challah has been taken" meant on matzoh boxes too, it made no sense that challah would be mentioned on a matzoh box, since we eat matzoh instead of bread during Passover. Now I understand! How?
HISTORY:
I. The often braided challah, which is made with eggs, is the Jewish Sabbath‑and‑holyday bread. It is surrounded by folklore and tradition and loaded with symbolism. On festive occasions a blessing is said over two loaves, symbolizing the two portions of the manna that was distributed on Fridays to the children of Israel during their Exodus from Egypt.
II. The breads are covered on the table by a decorative challah cover or a white napkin, which represents the dew that collected on the manna in the morning. Poppy and sesame seeds sprinkled on the bread also symbolize the manna that fell from heaven.
THE NAME: CHALLAH
III. The name challah is derived from the Hebrew word used for portion in the Biblical commandment of the first of your dough you shall give unto the Lord a portion for a gift throughout your generations. Jews were biblically commanded to separate from their doughs one twenty‑fourth and give it to the kohanim (priests) every Sabbath.
IV. In post-Temple times the rabbis ordained that a challah (portion), which had to be at least the size of an olive, must be separated from the dough and burned. It is still a tradition for Jewish bakers and observant housewives to tear a tiny lump of risen dough from any type of bread and to burn it (usually wrapped in foil) in the oven or fire while making a blessing.
So why should I do this?
1) When one does this he brings blessing into their home (Yecheskel 44,30 – Prophet Ezekiel)
2) The Talmud teaches: In merit of three things women live long life – Careful with Family purity, Lighting Shabbat Candles and Challah…(Talmud Shabbos 31b)
3) Rabbi Yochanan said: Why in the torah is the Mitzvah of Challah next to the prohibition of Idolatry because when one makes and takes challah they nullify the idolatry and impurity of the world.
4) The Medrash Teaches: In the merit of 3 things the world was created: Challah, Tithes and Giting to the Temple…Taking from the earth and making something productive and giving it to a higher purpose is an outer worldly-experience which up lifts the world. (Medrash Bamidbar Rabbah 15.1,6)
5) When does one have true joy, when they are selfless and give of their own bread and share it with others (Medrash Koheles 9.17,2)
6) In Kabbalah it is written: The word challah is the numerical equivalent of 43 – the dough must be at least “43 eggs” in size for separation worthiness – in this amount of dough resides the Divine presence – the Shechinah and many blessing for all (Zohar Shelach 307) it is in this environment which we pray and ask G-d for all we need
7) One of the greatest Kabbalists of all time says: Why is it that man desires bread above all? Because in it lies the greatest holiness and opportunity to do good. It enlivens man. It is the source of all blessing for man. It is the source of blessing which effects the home and one’s entire livelihood. (Maharal of Prague- Rabbi Yehudah Lowe: Derech Chaim 5,8)
These are just some of the great reasons why we do this great and awesome mitzvah and when it is done with a large chorum of women, the blessing is even greater.
Join us!