 Challah or hallah is a traditional Jewish bread eaten on Shabbat and
Jewish holidays (except Passover, when leavened bread is not allowed).
On Shabbat every Jew is commanded to eat three meals (one on friday
night and two on Saturday). According to Judaism, one is only considered
one who consumed a meal if he ate bread. Since of the three meal mandate
Jews will traditionaly eat a Challah before they eat their Shabbat meal.
Like with any other type of bread, the blessing
"Baruch atah Adonai,
eloheinu melech ha'olam, hamotzi lechem min ha'aretz." is recited.
Translated it means "Blessed ar You, Lord, our God, King of the
Universe, Who brings forth bread from the earth."
Kosher Symbols [read more...] |
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 The dough is made with an especially
large number of eggs, and sweetened with honey. The dough is
traditionally cut into three rope-shaped pieces and then braided
together before baking. An egg wash is applied to the dough to give
a golden color after being baked. Poppy or sesame seeds are
sprinkled on the bread before baking; the seeds represent manna that
God gave to the Israelites to eat while they wandered in the desert.
On Rosh Hashana, the Jewish new year, raisins are added to the dough
and the Challah is braided into a special crown shape, representing
God's crown.
The name refers to a small piece of dough which is reserved and
baked separatedly. This piece is then burned and thrown away after a
special prayer is said. This represents the destruction of the
Jewish temple.
Candle Lighting Blessing
Kiddush Blessing
Hand Washing
Challah Blessing
Challah Recipe |
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 Without
food we can't live. We all have heard the famous line, "Man does
not live by bread....". What does it mean? The verse comes from
Torah [Bible] and is a reference to the miraculous manna, which
fell from heaven daily during the Jewish people's sojourn in the
wilderness. The conclusion of the verse is that "rather, by the
utterance of God's mouth does man live." Thus, it is reminding
us about the true source of human sustenance.
What
makes something kosher and what is the spiritual meaning
kabbalahistic. |
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