Sherri Wisoff
Want to enjoy the fragrance of yeast rising, laugh and share community with hundreds of women and then experience the deep satisfaction of baking your own challah on Shabbat?
This year, the 2nd Annual Great Big Challah Bake is slated to take place nine days before the globally scheduled Shabbos Project, observed from sundown Friday, Nov. 11 until sundown Saturday, Nov. 12.
The bread-making day will be just one of thousands of state-wide and global events, all part of The Shabbos Project, bringing Jews from all walks of life and across the spectrum of all religious affiliations to celebrate one full Shabbat, together. The project’s goal is to create an opportunity to rejuvenate family and community life, and strengthen Jewish unity around the world.
The concept for this project, initiated three years ago, was the inspiration of of South Africa’s Chief Rabbi, Warren Goldstein. The grassroots project quickly escalated into an international phenomenon in 2014, involving roughly one millions Jews from all over the world, joining to celebrate not only pre-Shabbat Challah Bakes but post-Shabbat Havdallah concerts. Many observed Shabbat with full religious tradition for the first time.
“Our Great Big Challah Bake is a wonderful opportunity for women of all ages to come together, to have fun, do a mitzvah, perhaps learn something new, and build relationships with old friends and make new ones,” says Jodi Schwartz, this year’s co-chair with Shari Berman. “So, who is ready for some ‘Flour Power’?”
Last year at the Sandler campus challah bake, Rabbi Rosalin Mandelberg of Ohef Sholom Temple says she was delighted was delighted to find 140 women waiting to roll up their sleeves and knead some dough. At this gathering, she shared some of the deeper symbolism inherent in the shapes of various holiday challahs. “For example, on Shabbat, the loaves are braided to symbolize the intertwined arms of our community.… The 12 humps in the braided challah recall the miracle of the 12 loaves for the 12 tribes of Israel. Another way of symbolizing the importance of our entire community, our Jewish family and its unity.”
This will be a very uplifting evening, so tie on those apron strings and head to the Sandler Family Campus to reconnect to Jewish traditions and the spiritual joys of making challah bread. All the ingredients, bowls and recipes will be provided. Each participant will leave with two challahs ready to bake and enjoy for Shabbat dinner.
This event is sponsored by the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater. For more information and to register, visit www.JewishVA.org/challah-bake or call: 757-965-6138. Women of all ages only. Suggested $5 per person donation.