It was an extraordinary evening and a true display of unity when the Emet JBoard hosted its first challah bake on April 24. Held at the Young Israel of Jamaica Estates, the room was literally overflowing with over 200 young women from St. John’s University, Queens College, Adelphi University, NYIT, and other campuses.
It was also a record-breaking night for Emet, as the event marked the organization’s largest challah bake to date. Planned meticulously for weeks, the event was described by JBoard member Julia Abayev as “one of the most meaningful experiences I’ve ever been part of. It wasn’t just about planning any ordinary challah bake. It was about bringing together women to feel the strength and emunah of being part of something bigger than us.”
From the moment guests arrived, the atmosphere was infused with purpose. Each attendee received a yellow ribbon pin in recognition of the hostages, and the venue featured hundreds of tea lights arranged in the shape of ribbons – a striking visual of hope and solidarity. The night began with a moment of silence, remembering the lives lost on October 7 and praying for those still held in Gaza. Since the event also coincided with Yom HaShoah, each attendee received a special memorial candle as well.
Rabbi Akiva Rutenberg, Emet Co-Founder and Director, welcomed the crowd and explained the significance of baking challah right after Pesach. The program continued with words of inspiration from Mrs. Devorah Kigel, who spoke about emunah and resilience in challenging times. Her words set the tone for the hands-on challah-making session, where the room filled with laughter and meaningful conversation. As the dough was set aside to rise, participants joined in heartfelt t’filos. The brachah of hafrashas challah followed, marking one of the most emotional aspects of the evening. Julia also reflected on the deeper symbolism of the night: “The tradition of baking a key-shaped challah after Pesach is powerful. After a time of renewal and freedom, we turn to Hashem and ask Him to ‘unlock’ the gates of blessing: for health, success, marriage, and all the things we hope for, deep in our hearts. This year, it meant even more. We dedicated the night not only to ourselves but to the hostages still held captive since October 7.”
The evening concluded with a kumsitz, as the young women joined their voices in singing Tov L’hodos. “The ruach in the room was indescribable. There was so much emotion, laughter, tears, and heartfelt prayer. It showed us that when we come together with faith and love, no matter how heavy the world feels, we can create light,” Julia shared. “It’s a night that neither I nor the JBoard will ever forget.”
In addition to Julia Abayev and the Emet team, the JBoard members who worked tirelessly on the challah bake are Ariel Akbashev, Liora Yunatanov, Rachel Tsadyk, Gabriella Samander, Emily Nisimov, and Aaron Koen. The Emet JBoard looks forward to their next collaboration!
