Spiritual Baking

Posted: Fri, Jul 18 2008, 6:40 am Post subject: Spiritual Baking

This might sound silly to some of you, but I actually had a rather meaningful, therapeutic Challah baking session today.

Since getting the book The Secret of Challah I've really been trying to put more meaning into each step of the process of Challah making.

The sifting of the flour, adding the ingredients (although I don't take it as far as some I've read about who sing and dance as they go, reciting Tehillim and such), the mixing... I use this time to.. well, as Lt. Lenina Huxley said, "enhance my calm".

And after this week, I really needed it.

Apparently more than I thought because as I looked down into this huge bowl of dough I totally lost it. For about 5 minutes I stood there bawling my eyes out as I released the stress of the past few weeks. When I finally calmed down enough, I said the Bracha for Hafrashat Challah, pulled off a piece and began punching the dough down.

I divided the dough into 6 parts, each one to be divided into strands for braiding. The first one, as I rolled the strands, was dedicated to just thanking HaKadosh Baruch Hu for everything.

The second was dedicated to asking Hashem to help people I know realize their dream of becoming parents either for the first time or again. Two strands were dedicated to two specific couples I know and the other two were dedicated to the anonymous members of the various boards and forums.

The third and fourth were dedicated to those who needed healing - physical, mental, emotional.

The fifth was dedicated to my children.

And the final one was for my husband and myself.

I wonder if it will taste different this week...
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Gold Member Joined: Oct 25 2007 Posts: 1607

Powerful and inspiring... Will try to have a little more kavana next time I bake challah....

And Yesha, good luck with the stressing times are going through now... Gam ze yaavor!

Posted: Fri, Jul 18 2008, 6:58 am Post subject: re: Spiritual Baking

wow yesha ,I'm sure it will!
that was very inspiring.

when my daughter can home after her 2nd yr of sem in tsfat,she makes challah she sings shabbos kodesh, shabbos shabbos kodesh!!!

when I make challah next week I will remember what u wrote.
thanks for sharing!

Posted: Fri, Jul 18 2008, 8:38 am Post subject: re: Spiritual Baking

Lovely to read that Smile

I will definetely have a look around for that book!

Gold Member Joined: Jan 27 2008 Posts: 1202

Yesha, the womens mitzva of hafrashas chala is compared to tnufas lechem hatamid.
yehi ratzon all u'r tefilos should be miskabel ltova. very inspiring.

Gold Member Joined: May 14 2008 Posts: 1668

Yesha thank you SO much for sharing this incredible experience with us! I, too, have been known to break down during challah baking,and I always try to have kavana. But I really liked how you dedicated actual strands and loaves to ppl - that is beautiful and IY"H I'm going to start trying that too!

May Hashem speedily answer all your prayers and give you the strength, focus, and calm to carry out this mitzvah always! Smile

Platinum Member Joined: Mar 20 2005 Posts: 5262

Gorgeous!!! I often find that Baking challah is such a spiritual activity for me and a time I really daven. I love it though that you dedicated each strand to someone. I never thought of that. Really thank you for sharing.

Posted: Sun, Jul 20 2008, 1:36 pm Post subject: re: Spiritual Baking

Even though I dont make enough to take challah and make a bracha, I have kavana that these challahs are made to honor the shabbos, and I say out loud at the different stages "lekoved shabbos kodesh", I like the idea of davening for other things too, thanx for the inspiration.

Posted: Sun, Jul 20 2008, 1:41 pm Post subject: re: Spiritual Baking

so beautiful...

Posted: Mon, Jul 21 2008, 7:41 am Post subject:

Is that book 'Likrat Challa' in hebrew?
At the moment, I have no energy for baking challa (or doing anything else in the kitchen for that matter). But I am considering to make challa in early labor, maybe. I should buy the ingredients.
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