The purpose of the evening is to foster community, unity and sisterhood between all segments of the Jewish community
The Times
On Wednesday, Oct. 24, hundreds of Jewish women from Bucks County, Montgomery County and Philadelphia will join together to make Challah. At the event, led by the Bensalem Jewish Outreach Center, participants will learn how to create handmade challah, mixing, kneading and shaping their own traditional challah. The event is being organized by Malky Travitsky, co-founder of the Bensalem Jewish Outreach Center.
The purpose of the evening is to foster community, unity and sisterhood between all segments of the Jewish community.
Challah in its more widely-known usage refers to a braided bread traditionally eaten at Shabbat and other holidays, and is considered one of the most famous Jewish foods. But in its more basic, biblical meaning, challah is the piece of dough that is traditionally separated and consecrated to God while baking bread, a custom that has been performed by Jewish women for more than 100 generations.
The historic event carries added significance as Jewish communities worldwide will be celebrating “The Shabbat Project,” a once a year celebration of Jewish unity and learning. “The Shabbat Project” has Jewish synagogues and organizations hosting communal gatherings for men, women and children dedicated to fostering Jewish observance.
“Making and baking challah is something Jewish mothers have been doing ever since Judaism was a thing, the Bible even mentions Sarah as having made her own challah,” said Malky Travitsky. “To be able to make our own challah together with hundreds of other Jewish women will display the unity in the Greater Philadelphia community. There is no better time for this than right before The Shabbat Project.’”
Participants will leave with a handmade challah, an apron and other souvenirs. The event is open to the public and is scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 24. Doors open at 6:15 p.m. at Bensalem High School, 4319 Hulmeville Road. RSVP & more information can be found at www.Bensalemoutreach.org/challahbake. For more information please contact Rabbi Moshe Selengut at 862–290–5484.
