The Beginner's Guide: Challah Separation - Not Just a Women's Evening for Blessings

A women's evening featuring challah separation accompanied by words of Torah and spiritual strengthening has become a popular event capable of reinforcing faith and drawing others closer. However, it is important to remember that challah separation is not a ritual reserved solely for women's gatherings; it is a mitzvah that every woman can perform at home, in her own time, privately, between herself and her Creator.

The origin of the mitzvah of challah separation is found in the verses "Speak to the children of Israel and say to them: When you enter the land that I am bringing you into: When you eat the bread of the land, you shall offer an offering to Hashem: From the first of your dough you shall offer a challah as an offering, as the offering of the threshing floor, so you shall lift it up; from the first of your dough you shall give to Hashem an offering throughout your generations" (Genesis 15:18-21). There is a positive commandment to separate a portion from the dough intended for baking, when it reaches the necessary amount for challah separation. Therefore, in any bakery or pizza place holding a kashrut certificate, there is a kashrut supervisor who ensures, among other duties, that challah is separated from the dough batches. According to laws of kashrut, dough over a certain amount must undergo separation, and until this is done, it is called 'tevel,' and eating from it is forbidden.

Why did Hashem give us this mitzvah? It is written in the 'Sefer HaChinuch' that, as we know, the primary food for humans is sustenance and bread, and Hashem wanted our food that nourishes our body to also have a special component that impacts our soul. What is that special component in bread that can influence our soul? Holiness. Holiness enters the bread by performing the mitzvah of challah separation. Thus, bread nourishes both the body, through its nutritional components, and the soul, through the holiness introduced via the mitzvah.

In the words of the Sefer HaChinuch: "Because a person's life is sustained by food and most people live on bread, the Divine wanted to merit us with a continual mitzvah in our bread, so that blessing shall rest upon it through the mitzvah, and we shall receive spiritual merit, thus making the dough food for both the body and the soul."

Another reason relevant to the time of the Temple, is that challah was given to the priests serving in the Temple, who due to their holy service did not have time to make bread for themselves. The offering of challah to the priest allowed him to fulfill his spiritual mission in holiness.

The mitzvah of challah separation is one of the special mitzvot for Jewish women, where the woman precedes the man in its fulfillment. This mitzvah of the woman rectifies the sin of Eve, who caused the first man to sin and brought about his death. The first man was described as "a pure challah," and it is said that Hashem formed man from the earth, akin to one who separates challah from the dough. Since Eve tainted the 'challah of the world,' women rectify this sin through the mitzvah of challah separation.

It is mentioned in the holy Zohar (Parashat Shlach, page 174a) that after performing this mitzvah, the angels Michael, Gabriel, and Nuriel project spiritual lights, as well as the forefathers, and so the Divine Presence dwells there. At that hour, when the Divine Presence is present, there is great power for prayer to be effective. Therefore, the special time after performing the mitzvah of challah separation is an auspicious time for receiving prayers.

The Weekly Challenge

Find an available evening during the week, and perform challah separation. You don't need to invite friends or family. Do it modestly, between you and your Creator. Utilize the auspicious time after the challah separation for prayers and requests from the depths of your heart.

What does the woman gain during challah separation? Rabbi Zamir Cohen in a short video on the secret and virtue of challah separation according to Kabbalah:

Why did Hashem command us in challah separation, how is it done, and what are its virtues?

Rabbi Shai Amar in his lesson on the laws of challah separation. Watch:

Read also:

The Order of Challah Separation - May it be His Will

Planning to make a challah separation? A compilation of important laws to know

From what amount of flour must one separate challah, and from what amount must one also bless?

Read here the full laws in the Yalkut Yosef on the topic of challah separation