Jewish Women Connect Through Baking Challah

Growing up in Brooklyn, N.Y., Rivka Schmerling remembers her grandmother making challah, an egg bread symbolically eaten in the Jewish tradition. The aroma of the fresh bread baking in the oven took over the entire house.

In an attempt to bring back those memories for her, and without access to a Kosher bakery nearby, Rivka began baking her own challah at home.

“I do not like to cook,” Schmerling admitted. “But there are no kosher restaurants here.”

She was unsuccessful at first, but gradually practiced each week following her grandmother’s recipe. After attempts that resulted in flour-coated walls, she eventually mastered the process.

Schmerling decided to teach others how to bake challah during a monthly workshop, “Loaves of Love,” at Chabad of Venice & North Port.

At the first workshop earlier this month, more than a dozen women attended, eager to learn the art of creating the delicious bread.

Each participant baked two loaves of challah, one to take home and one to give to a friend or person in need.

With all the ingredients, bowls and measuring cups set up neatly on tables, they partnered up and followed the instructions left on a card on each table.

“A mitzvah, which is translated to a commandment, connects us to Hashem (God) and every mitzvah is one strand that connects you,” Schmerling said as the group waited for the dough to rise. “And challah is one of the three mitzvahs that are especially given to women.”

Schmerling also explained the spiritual significance of challah and shared more stories.

Soon, the women were practicing their braiding techniques, brushing egg wash on their dough and sprinkling the loaves with poppy and sesame seeds.

Before the night was over, the aroma of fresh challah filled the air.