how to cut challah bread

oomis, kasha l’shikcha is not a problem for women. How would one explain the Sephardic custom–we break the challah with our hand, instead of cutting it with a knife. Once cooled, wrap the bread in plastic wrap or foil and store at room temperature for up to 2 days. Tie into a knot with two ends sticking out. Let cool, then pulse in a food processor until the bread has broken down into fine bread crumbs. Is there a minhag to do this? It’s very interesting, and I would like to know of the source for it. Bare Feet In The Kitchen / Via barefeetinthekitchen.com. The little cut is in the shape of a Yud, a small line. A 3-strand braid is one of the simplest shapes to master. The blessing of the Challah bread is a serious and intimate portion of the Jewish wedding reception before the rest of the party gets underway. It’s usually round. Its exact origins are unclear, but most people agree that modern version started in Eastern Europe during the fifteenth century. Pinch the other end into the head and beak. I believe that there is a halacha that if you make the cut in the challah deep enough that if you would hold the challah from one end and the challah would break, then its not considered a shaleim. Many people cut the first slice from pull apart challos. Come up with a third option that satisfies both. "happened" upon your articles and have a feeling of pure joy reading them. The minhag survives the generations until it reaches you? The bread isn’t compared to the Altar, the table itself is. I have seen people cut the end of the challah off and put it to the side and then cut the rest. As such, on a loaf of bread, even during the week one should make their bracha on the whole loaf, then cut their slice. So as we grasp the Challah and make the blessing, we literally invoke G-d’s name onto our bread. The technical reason is that we are supposed to minimize the time gap between making a blessing on food and eating it. Divide the dough – using a bench scraper, a knife or a pizza cutter – into evenly sized pieces, one for each strand you’d like your braid … These two explanations for slivering the challah - compromising between two conflicting demands, and stamping G‑d's name on our food - represent the two most important elements to a Jewish home, harmony and holiness. Harmony means creating balance in our relationships with our fellow, holiness means enhancing our relationship with G-d. So we compromise. This topic has 52 replies, 18 voices, and was last updated. I heard from my rav that if you make a small cut and you can’t see it, you’re better off not making a cut at all. One she shmeers through the salt, and the other she shmeers with humous. Everyone wants the shpitz of the challah. This is the ideal way to deal with two conflicting forces. I have yet to hear someone read a page of Einstein, lehavdil, and announce that he made a mistake. In my family we FIGHT over the end pieces. Storing Leftover Challah. In a small bowl or measuring cup, combine lukewarm water, yeast, and 1 teaspoon sugar. The Hebrew word for year is “shana,” which comes from the Hebrew word “repeat.” Perhaps the circle illustrates how the years just go round and round. its not a Minhag. (OC 274:1, MB 4-5). So really when eating bread, we should have a slice cut and ready to eat before we make the blessing.<<. Come up with a third option that satisfies both. Divide each half into thirds and roll into long snake about 1 1/2 inches in diameter. ad hominem is a term from formal debating rules. I would use the same term to describe myself or any other member of this generation in comparison to the sages of generations prior. what I have seen to deal with this is during the week the bread or chala is sliced but not detached the bracha is said and then cut all the way or broken off. Is there a minhag to do this?”, they do this because they dont like the end piece, and feel it is not a nice piece to serve to others as well. Whether or not one believes in segulahs as having kochos, it is undeniable that a lot of people are doing these things. Squeak: The Gemorra Pesachim 66A describes people bringing their own knives from home for the Korban Pesach. This is the ideal way to deal with two conflicting forces. you clearly enjoy utilizing “superior” logic and a good debate. As with many things why I got married, my Rov told me there is no reason and it is detrimental to “add” for the sake of following other’s minhagim (granted, I have some strange ones, but after some research they seem to be mostly Yekke/GRA based). “I have seen people cut the end of the challah off and put it to the side and then cut the rest. Either make a bigger cut or skip it. “In my family we FIGHT over the end pieces. Basically baking challah is just like making any other bread, Schreiber explains. Your little mind decided that this is the only reason and therefore you feel it is right to discontinue a minhag that was started by much greater Yidden than yourself? Wolf, they did not use a metal knife in the BH”M. Making an incision in the bread it not just a minhag, it is a Halacha in Shulchan Aruch. This is the ideal way to deal with two conflicting forces. Write CSS OR LESS and hit save. I realized that it was doing more harm than good. The little cut is in the shape of a Yud, a small line. “There is a minhag not to eat the end of a loaf because it is either kashe l’shikcha or other reasons”. Very nice. I believe this is due to halachos of “Shalaym” for Lechem Mishna being different than those of Bracha, but my memory may be going on me. Also, it there an actual halacha about this inyan (regarding men, I mean)? But why for challah? I believe you are refering to the Mishna in Chulin on Daf 15b? If you want to make stuffed french toast, slice your challah at least an inch thick, carefully cut a pocket almost all the way to the edge of the slice, and fill it with: I didn’t disrespect the minhag. Cut remaining piece of dough in half; cut each half into thirds. So we compromise. When baking large amounts of bread, cake, or cookies, we make a berachah and take off a small piece of dough as the challah. We don't actually slice the bread, but we make a small cut so as to quicken the slicing but still leave the loaf whole. And, squeak, I’ll thank you not to issue ad hominem insults. And for that reason, I actually stopped cutting the challah before hamotzi about a year ago. You must be logged in to reply to this topic. Even people who read the whole paper often have no intelligent comments to make. Like brioche, challah is an enriched bread, which is "a fancy way of saying the dough contains fat, eggs, and sugars, which tenderize the dough to create a soft, even crumb." (Some have the custom to cut both challahs at all meals.) Some say they represent a crown that reflects our coronating God as the King of the world. … (This halacha was seen in the sefer V’zos HaBracha, and checked again by me prior to this post). There are two reasons for making a cut in the Challah before the blessing. Challah is a bread that should be in everyone’s repertoire. feivel- the synopsis at the end of your first post made a very big impression on me- I will not be able look at challa without remembering these 2 key points in our lives. I have seen opinions who are against this practice, as they feel this will add hefsek (i.e. So during the month of Tishrei when everyone bakes round challos we ignore the letter vav? … Shabbos is the day that brought wholeness and completion to creation, and so we honor it by blessing on complete loaves. I’ll add the Rambam Maase HaKorbans 4:7 writes that l’chatchila a knife that is a kli shares should be used, b’dieved even a sharpened reed is suficient. 2 55:24). If you enjoyed this article, we encourage you to distribute it further, provided that you comply with Chabad.org's, Kabbalah, Chassidism and Jewish Mysticism. That really is a sensible thought that never really occurred to me. These two explanations 1.compromising between two conflicting demands, and 2.stamping G-d’s name on our food – represent the two most important elements to a Jewish home, harmony and holiness. There is also an inyan to start cutting the bread on the crustiest part. The weird thing is that they don’t serve that end piece. Wolf – I’m sorry you took my phrasing as a personal attack. PS- agree with squeak & feivel. GAW, I will look at what you referred me to. But one need not search for the mark and cut in that exact spot … For celebrating everything from Hanukkah to Sunday supper, challah is the just the bread for the job. Melt 2 tablespoons of the butter in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat Designed and powered by. We asked our Rav and he said we are not required to take it back on. Challah Bread Pudding With Kahlua Cream Sauce. Carefully place braid on one of the braided loaves on the cookie sheet, stretching top braid if necessary. And the challah itself is in the shape of a Vav, a straight line between the two Hehs. Once the dough has finished rising, use a bench scraper to cut the dough into even pieces. I realized that it was doing more harm than good.”. !Shabbat Shalom According to Wikipedia: ….”Jewish tradition, the three Sabbath meals and two holiday meals each begin with two complete loaves of bread. That little slice is in fact pretty big. So we have a conflict. This method, illustrated in this step-by-step guide, begins at the top of the loaf. i am aware of the din of Shaleim, and considered editing that part out, im not sure why i didnt. Sorry Squeak, they certainly did use metal knives. What is the meaning of this custom? This cut should be made such that it is not deep enough that were you to lift the smaller part the larger part would not come up with it (ibid). The five fingers on each of our two hands that hold the Challah are the two Hehs, which is the fifth letter in the Hebrew alphabet. At least, I can’t remember any mekor. The little cut is in the shape of a Yud, a small line. Home › Forums › Bais Medrash › Minhagim › Cutting the Challah. Before you decide whether you need to keep a minhag, first find out if your family really has the minhag or its just something “picked up along the way”, as “a nice extra”. Thanks, Jothar. Use a serrated bread knife to avoid smashing the loaf. Slice yourself a piece and cherish the pillow-soft interior, simultaneously rich and slightly sweet. YOU are not a rabbi? The weird thing is that they don’t serve that end piece. Many things about the loaf are symbolic; for example, the braids represent love and unity. This is a practice that I started observing on my own – not at the instruction of a Rav or any other official. Wolf, if you do learn it is your family’s minhag, Well, therein lies the tale. "The dough is mixed, fermented, shaped, risen, and then baked," he says. I simply decided that, for me, for the reasons presented, following the minhag* was defeating it’s very purpose. Here’s the mystical one. I’m not sure I understand what you’re saying here. The Shabbat meal is the perfect scene to work on both - finding harmony among conflicting viewpoints around the table, and creating holiness by bringing more G‑dliness into the conversation. I am a "hidden" Lubavitcher, and my desire to strengthen the bond has gotten a huge dose of encouragement - now I shall be"h (G-d willing) read your articles and continue growing. “And the Challah itself is in the shape of a Vav, a straight line between the two Hehs.”. But I started observing it for the reason presented — and when it no longer made sense for me to do so, I stopped. but why are we not nohiag to make a small cut in the bread before the Brocha during the week to minimize the hefsek? this forum is not a debating society, however. By making a small cut on the bread, we are actually placing G‑d's name onto the challah and inviting the divine presence to join our meal. There are many names of G‑d in Hebrew. With a toothpick make a hole for the eyes and … So how does this idea fit into that really fascinating and meaningful concept? I noticed on Friday night at the meal that before you blessed the challah, you made a small cut in one of the loaves. For the analogy to be true, they would be okay to use a knife on the bread, but have to ensure that their tables aren’t made via a process involving metal. The “halacha” doesn’t apply on shabbos. Use challah for sandwiches, toast, or as a side for dinner. I’ll be more than happy to debate the issue with you, but you don’t have to insult. >>The technical reason is that we are supposed to minimize the time gap between making a blessing on food and eating it. GAW, I recently learnt that my husband’s grandparents have the minhag to not eat gebrakts on Pesach, but his parents abandoned that. And then I end up spending far more time looking for the cut I made than if I had just left it alone. The source for cutting into the bread before making the blessing is in order to minimize the appearance of interruption between the blessing and the eating (S.A. O.C. nice hobby. Bread crumbs. Give the shpitz to a pregnant woman at the bris so she should have a boy, and give some wine from the kos of a chosson and kallah’ sheva brachos wine tp single people, as a segulah for getting married. So really when eating bread, we should have a slice cut and ready to eat before we make the blessing. Challah before hamotzi about a year ago desirable that people are giving to. Are we not nohiag to make a small line often served on the top of the for... Is most desirable to you, which is not a debating society however. Sticking out ( whole ) when making brachos Forums › Bais Medrash › minhagim › cutting challah. Not just a minhag or a halacha they should do so only academically thinking! On complete loaves I believe you are refering to the Mishna in on! The reasons presented, following the minhag * was defeating it ’ s minhag, it ’. Ferrell January 18, 2008 we are supposed to minimize the time between. 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