For thousands of years, we’ve kneaded it, braided it, salted it and prayed over it.
But whether in three, four or six strands, in round loaves for Rosh Hashanah, twin loaves for Shavuot or ladder-shaped ones for pre-fast Yom Kippur meals, challah is more than the Jewish staff of life. It’s a reminder of the manna God sent to the Israelites wandering in the desert, the aroma of Shabbat, the taste that unites us as a people across time and the continents.
To celebrate the miracle of the blessed loaf, we will explore All About Challah with creative bakers who are redefining the tender loaves at the heart of culinary Judaism.
With:
Idan Chabasov — known as the Challah Prince — received his royal status and garnered more than 475,000 Instagram followers when he began posting photos and videos of the results of his passion for shaping challot into human bodies, hearts and brains. Committed to using his artistry to spread light and love, he has more recently been baking challah for IDF troops and evacuees, including his Star of David challah.
Rabbi Vanessa Harper, author of Loaves of Torah, brings biblical narratives to life through creative challah designs, making Torah study tangible through bread.
Rabbi Deborah Prinz is the author of On the Chocolate Trail, which has generated museum exhibits, including "Semite Sweet: On Jews and Chocolate" at Temple Emanu-El’s own Bernard Museum and forms the basis for a picture book, The Boston Chocolate Party. Her forthcoming book is On the Bread Trail.
Moderated by Merav Oren, Founder & CEO of FOODISH – The culinary department of ANU – Museum of the Jewish people, Tel Aviv.
In partnership with FOODISH, the culinary wing of ANU, the Museum of the Jewish People.