Women’s Circle to explore taste, mitzvah of challah

Knead spirituality?

By Jewish Review

“Knead Spirituality?” Then the Portland Jewish Women’s Circle’s challah baking program Nov. 1 may be just what you’re looking for.

Beginning at 7:30 p.m., Nov. 1, at a private home, the event will feature a demonstration on mixing challah dough. Women will then be able to select one of three doughs—white, whole wheat or spelt—to braid into their own challah to bake and take home for Shabbat dinner the next day. While the bread bakes, participants will learn the spiritual aspects of challah baking.
   
“Challah baking is one of three mitzvoth specific to women,” said Simi Mishulovin, PJWC contact. “It’s about taking everyday bread and making something spiritual out of it. The Torah says when a woman bakes challah, it brings a blessing on her home.”
   
While bread is a staple food item and important nutritionally, eating challah can also be viewed on a spiritual level, said Mishulovin.
   
“The most mundane can be elevated to spiritual,” she said. “Wheat is a grain that symbolizes independence since each grain stands independent of the others. And water is a unifier that bonds things together and gives life to everything. So our daily bread becomes symbolic of our need to reach out to others and bring them into the community.”
   
Mishulovin said the women’s circle hopes to bring together at least 40 women to bake challah that night.
   
“In the Zohar it says if 40 women bake challah with a blessing, it could be merit for childless couples who would like to have a child,” she said. “Therefore the Jewish women’s circle would like to get 40 women to bake challah and keep in mind people in the community who would like to be blessed with children.”
   
All participants will receive a refrigerator magnet called “The Mitzvah of Separating Challah,” which includes the steps and blessing for the mitzvah. The magnets were created by the Raichik family in memory of Mishulovin’s grandmother Rebbitzen Lea Raichik.
   
PJWC will host seven programs in the coming year (see box). Admission is $10 per program or $36 for all seven programs. To sign up or for information on this and future programs, contact Mishulovin at 503-977-9947 or pjwc@chabadoregon.com.