A recent discussion on a social media group caused some controversy as many Jewish women did not know the true facts about challah.
Someone asked where to buy challah..... and people responded by naming several local bakeries, one of which was not a kosher bakery and which was operated by a non-Jew.
So here are the facts.
Challah must be made by a Jewish person, and there is a very valid reason for this. The literal meaning of challah in the Torah refers to the commandment of hafrashat challah—setting aside and consecrating a small portion of dough to G-d before baking. Only a Jew can do this setting aside and consecration of the small portion of dough.
We separate challah dough to fulfill a biblical commandment [mitzvah] that originally provided a portion of bread dough to the kohanim [Jewish priests] serving in the Holy Temple. Because the Temple no longer stands, we now set aside and burn a small piece of the dough in remembrance of this practice, symbolizing that our sustenance comes from G-d and is not for our use alone.
A non Jewish person does not have this obligation, and therefore even if they do it - which is highly unlikely as they probably don't know - it is not acceptable and does not fulfill the commandment. Only a Jewish person can make real challah. Any other challah originating from a source that is not Jewish is not acceptable.
If you didn't know this, and have been buying your challot from a bakery where the baker is not a Jew, then don't worry, because you can rectify this situation by fixing the problem and going to a Jewish bakery. By doing this, you will have done teshuva, and your past sin of buying the wrong [fake]challah will be turned into a mitzvah, because you have rectified the problem.
As Rebbe Nachman said: "If you believe you can damage, then believe you can fix.... if you believe you can harm, then believe you can heal." That quote is at the top of my blog, although it is hard to read now, a bit blurry, but it's there.
Even non-Jews, Bnei Noach, who make a blessing over challah on Shabbat, should adhere to this rule, otherwise their challah is fake challah.
According to traditional Jewish law [Halacha], a non-Jewish person cannot perform the religious separation of challah [hafrashas challah], and any separation they attempt is considered invalid. Furthermore, dough that belongs to a non-Jewish person is exempt from the obligation of challah separation entirely.
I hope no-one takes offence to anything written here, it is Torah, and there is no need to be offended.
❤️No offense at all… we non Jewish people need to know and learn these very important things… thank you
ReplyDeleteUh, 2-lbs of dough does not require hafrasha. FWIW, when i make challa, i use my bread-machine for kneading, and its max is 2-lbs, which is fine for my needs, not to mention my limited freezer space. I know this doesn't sound idealistic, but it is what it is.
ReplyDeleteThis person is anonymous and you had no problem putting this up.
DeleteI put yours up too, 11.31 no name and very little to say.
Deleteit is a courtesy to all readers to sign a name. It means people can respond to your comment without resorting to a time stamp.
Also, if a comment is written and it is questionable as to whether to publish or not due to it's content.... I am more likely to publish it if it contains a name, even if the content is dubious, because I can see that the author is at least making an effort and really wanting to be heard.
DeleteAlso, you must use at least 5 lbs. of flour (wheat, rye, spelt, barley or oats, any combination of those grains) for your challah recipe to be obligated to "take challah" (however, every community has their own amount of flour to be obligated to take challah, but it is generally 5 lbs.).Then it must be burned completely and thrown out. The amount of challah to take is about a shot glass amount of dough. Then recite the L'frashish challah blessing. Also, it cannot be burned in the same oven as the one you're baking your challah loaves. If it is less than 2.64 lbs. of flour, you are not obligated to take challah...anything between 2.64 and 5 lbs. you take challah without reciting the blessing of L'frashish challah. There are other halachot regarding taking challah if you are baking cakes or other pastries, so ask a Rav or another Jewish lady what to do...
ReplyDelete(Rebecca)
My daughter was taught by the rebetzin of the shule when she got married several years ago. the Rebetzin taught her to do the separation of the small piece of dough etc but never said anything about the quantity involved. maybe this is just something that is done as a ritual even if you only make a small amount of dough and you use that time to say a prayer or two. i don't know the actual rules I'm just responding to Rebecca above.
ReplyDeleteHailey
You take a kazayis (an amount of an olive...but the olives were bigger in earlier times, so it amounts to about a shot glass).
Delete