 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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