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.
Panelists include:
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.
Ben Siman-Tov — nicknamed BenGingi — was trained as a chef in Israel and Italy but found his real passion in mixing flour, salt and water. “We are all bread” is his motto, and he spreads his fervor in short recipe videos that have captured the hearts of almost a million viewers with simple techniques and BenGingi’s enthusiastic “YAAAS.”
In partnership with FOODISH, the culinary wing of ANU, the Museum of the Jewish People.