Why do we say a blessing over the challah? (2024)

FAQs

Why do we say a blessing over the challah? ›

Jewish tradition calls for a b'rachah (blessing) expressing thanks to God before eating any food. It represents a recognition that people owe a measure of gratitude to God for providing food for all living things.

Before taking the first bite of food, the following blessing is recited: Baruch ata Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha-olam, hamotzi lechem min ha'aretz. Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who has brought forth bread from the earth.

Challah loaves are often braided. The three strands of the braid may represent truth, peace and justice. Another interpretation is that having two loaves of three-stranded braids equals six total strands, which symbolize the six work days of the week aside from Shabbat.

However, in the hierarchy of blessings mandated by the Sages, the blessing over bread should precede the blessing over wine. In order to preserve the priority of the wine, and not to "shame" the bread which should be blessed first, the bread is “removed” by concealing it from view with the challah cover.

A blessing over the challah, Jewish braided bread, signifies the beginning of the wedding meal. The s'eudah mitzvah is the celebratory meal, which often includes chicken and fish dishes. Another staple of a Jewish wedding reception is the Hora, or the chair dance.

We cover challah because the 2 challas on shabbat represent the double portion of manna that were given to the Jews in the desert on Fridays, because on shabbat no manna came down, so a double portion was given on Friday for shabbat as well.

Challah, the separation of a portion of dough, is among these commandments. The Torah states: “You shall offer up a loaf (challah) from the first of your dough as a gift” (Numbers 15:20). This loaf is among the twenty-four gifts that G‑d awarded to the kohanim, the priests.

Challah also plays an important role on certain Jewish holidays like Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. Challah is not eaten at Passover because it's a leavened bread (which is why we didn't sell it at Easter this year).

On the eve of Shabbat, two loaves are placed on the table to reference the Jewish teaching that a double portion of manna fell from heaven on Friday to last through the Saturday Shabbat.

The dough, however, is forbidden to be eaten until the challah is separated. Therefore, challah is separated and burned, to assure that it will not be eaten.

Who cuts the challah at a wedding? ›

Blessing of the Challah Tradition

Usually, an elder in the family or a rabbi say or sing a prayer blessing the bread, and then cuts it and takes a bite.

HaMotzi (Blessing Over The Bread)

First line: Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu melech ha-olam, hamotzi lechem min ha-aretz. Amen. Last line: Blessed are You, God, Spirit of the Universe, who brings forth bread from the earth.

The round challahs have no end, symbolizing (and actualizing) our wish for a year in which life and blessings continue without end.1.

Some people have the custom of ending the bracha with the words, “min ha'isa” (“from the dough”). After the separation, it is a good practice to say “harei zeh challah” (“this is challah“).

Baruch Atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha-olam, hamotzi lechem min ha-aretz. We praise God, Spirit of everything who brings bread from the land. Baruch Atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha-olam, asher kid'shanu b'mitzvotav v'tzivanu al achilat matzah. Blessed are You, Spirit of everything who commands us to eat matzo.