2,000 Woman Attend Mega Challah Bake in Brazil

If one Jewish woman making Challah can bring many blessings to her home, imagine the power of two thousand woman united, kneading their dough and then praying together, bringing positive energies and blessings to all those around.

After having over one thousand woman last year, and having to turn people down because there was no more space in the hall, Chabad of Sao Paulo, Brazil, searched for a larger hall with double the capacity. In ten days, all the tickets had sold out. Mother and daughters, together with Grandmothers, friends, sisters, young and old, unaffiliated and orthodox, joined together for this memorable evening.

The organizers of the event, Chani Alpern of Beit Chabad, Pessy Gansburg of Chabad’s Centro Novo Horizonte, Frida Tawil, and Karen Feldman, thought through every detail so that everything should go smoothly.

The dimension of organizing such an event is mind boggling. Every person received a kit with all the ingredients necessary to make the dough, set up on 202 tables, using 2.6 ton of flour, 4,500 eggs, 234 liters of oil, 360 kilos of sugar, 1,800 packages of chocolate chips, 2,000 aprons and spoons. 180 volunteers were on hand to help the women prepare the challah.

Ana Rosa Rosenberg, the Master of Ceremonies for the evening, opened with a dance group from the Hebraica Club, and then Daniela Barzilai recited a chapter of tehillim. Mrs. Gansburg then led everyone through all the steps of making Challah dough, while giving mystical insights for each ingredient.

While the dough was rising Aliza Nachum inspired everyone to sing and dance with her beautiful voice. There was a flash mob planned, with all the volunteers dancing to the music. Sonia Weitman was honored to lead everyone in making the Bracha and pray for blessings for the New Year.

The round Challos were braided, to be taken home and baked. Everyone was given a beautiful magazine about Challah called “Entrelacar,” written by Devorah Yanni and Brenda Dorf.

Please note: The following video contains scenes of women dancing, and may not be appropriate for men and boys. View at your own discretion.