1,000 women from Montreal Jewish community make Challah

MONTREAL – More than a thousand Jewish women took part in a Mega Challah Bake last Thursday.

Many from the Jewish community make the special Jewish braided bread every single week.

“You never get tired of it, I mean it’s so good,” said 17-year-old Leah Lezare. “I love it!”

While most women make it alone in their own kitchens, the Mega Challah Bake event gave them the opportunity to get together before the high holidays.

“We’ve done it in our own Chabad Houses, and we’ve done it on a small scale, but never like this,” said co-organizer Sarah Raskan.

The recipe is simple:

Tzivi’s Challah Recipe

3 packages dry yeast

1/2 tsp. sugar

1 cup warm water

Combine ingredients and let stand for a few minutes.

1 cup sugar

4 eggs

14 cups flour

1/2 cup oil

4 tsp. salt

3 cups warm water

Mix it all together and knead for 10 minutes. 

Place dough in large oiled bowl, cover with a damp towel and let rise.

Separate Challah and say Blessing.

Shape into loaves.

Bake at 375 degrees for approximately 20 minutes or until nicely browned. 

But for these religious women, it’s not just about making bread. Each ingredient has it’s own special meaning and the method is more of a spiritual experience.

“It’s one of the three basic mitzvahs or commandments that the Jewish woman have, so it makes it very special,” explained Miriam Davis, as she began kneading the dough.

“I mean men can’t do it, only women can do it.”

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For Lezare, one of the best parts of making Challah is the braiding.

“That’s the really fun part to do . . . then you put it in the oven and when it comes out it’s just so good!”