Challah Bread
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| Braided Challah Loaf |
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| Flower-Shaped Challah |
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| Challah Spirals |
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| Challah Crown |
Challah
is a loaf of yeast-risen egg bread that is traditionally eaten by Jews on
Shabbat (Sabbath), on ceremonial occasions and during festival holidays. The
word “challah” is also used to refer to the portion of dough that is
traditionally separated from the rest of the dough before baking. The plural of “challah” is “challot.”
Challah Shapes and Symbols
Challah
is often braided using anywhere between two to six strands of dough. Less
common challah shapes include spirals, keys, books and flowers. On Rosh
Hashanah, for instance, challah is baked into spiral rounds (symbolizing the
continuity of creation), braided rounds (symbolizing the ascent to Heaven) or
crowns (symbolizing God as the King of the Universe).
Bird
shapes are derived from Isaiah 31:5, which states: “As hovering birds, so will
the Lord of hosts shield Jerusalem.” When eaten during the meal before Yom
Kippur, a bird shape can also represent the idea that one's prayers will soar
to Heaven.
Seeds
(Poppy, Sesame, Coriander) are sometimes sprinkled on challot just before
baking. Some say the seeds symbolize the Manna that fell from Heaven while the
Israelites wandered in the desert following their exodus from Egypt. Sweeteners
like honey can also be added to loaves, likewise representing the sweetness of
Manna.
Challah in Jewish Ritual
Two
loaves of challah (challot) are placed on the Sabbath and holiday table. Two
loaves are used in commemoration of the double portion of Manna that was
provided on Friday to the Israelites in the desert following the exodus from
Egypt (Exodus 16:4-30). The two loaves remind Jews that God will provide for their
material needs, even if they refrain from working on the Sabbath day.
The
loaves are usually covered with a decorative cloth, which reminds us how when
Manna fell from the sky it was protected by layers of dew.
A
blessing known as Hamotzi is recited over the bread before it is eaten:
Baruch Atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha'olam, hamotzi
lechem min ha'aretz.
“Blessed are you, Lord our God, King of the Universe,
who brings forth bread from the earth.”
Following
the blessing, the challah can either be sliced with a knife or broken apart by
hand. Pieces of the bread are then distributed for all to eat.
Challah Tithe
The
term “challah” also refers to a small piece of dough that is traditionally
separated from the rest of the dough before baking. This piece of dough is
separated in memory of the portion of dough that was set aside as a tithe for
the Jewish Priests in Biblical times.
Challot Covering
A
challah cover is a special cloth used to cover the two braided loaves
(challah) set out on the table at the beginning of a Shabbat or Yom Tov meal. While
its appearance lends a decorative and ceremonial aspect to the set table, its
presence serves both a Halakhic and symbolic function.
At
the beginning of a Shabbat or holiday meal, a blessing must first be made over
the wine (Kiddush) in order to sanctify the Shabbat. This is followed by the
blessing over the bread (challah), which begins the meal. However, in the
hierarchy of blessings mandated by the Sages, the blessing over bread should
precede the blessing over wine. In order to preserve the priority of the wine,
and not to “shame” or “embarrass” the bread which should be blessed first, the bread is “removed” by concealing it from view
with the challah cover.
Remembrance
of the Manna
The
placement of the challah under the challah cover and over the Shabbat
tablecloth (or over a challah cutting board) also recalls the Biblical scene of
the manna which the Israelites ate every day following the Exodus from Egypt. When
Moses told the people about the manna, he said that it would fall for them
every day of the week. However, in deference to the holiness of Shabbat, the
manna would not fall on that day. Instead, two portions of manna would fall on
Friday, enough for that day and for the Shabbat (Exodus 16:22-26). This is
given as the reason for the use of two braided loaves at Shabbat and holiday
meals, as the challahs represent the double portion of manna that fell in honor
of Shabbat.
Each
morning the Israelites found the manna in the fields, encased in two layers of
dew to preserve its freshness.
Rashi
describes the way the manna was found:
“Thus we see that the dew fell upon the ground and the
manna fell upon it, and then dew fell again upon this, and so it was as though
it were carefully packed in a chest” (Rashi on Exodus 16:13, quoting Mechilta,
Yoma 75b).
Thus,
we place the challahs beneath a challah cover and over a tablecloth (or challah
board) to recreate the miracle of the manna at our own Shabbat tables.
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Challah Bread Cover
Two homemade whole-wheat Challot placed on a
decorative olive-wood cutting board and covered by a traditional embroidered
Shabbat challah cover.
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Challah Covers For Sale at a Store in Jerusalem
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