Yeshiva Har Torah’s eighth-grade girls participated in a communal challah bake, coordinated by their Director of Student Activities, Mr. Rafi Allman, and hosted by their dedicated teacher, Morah Tzippy Erblich, during the sacred week leading up to Yom Kippur, known as Aseres Y’mei T’shuvah. The event offered these young students the opportunity not only to acquire knowledge, but also to immerse themselves in the hands-on practice of the mitzvah of making and separating challah.
Morah Tzippy started the program by teaching the students about a woman’s mitzvah to separate challah, the importance of it, and where it originated from. In the times of the Beis HaMikdash (the Holy Temple), those who baked challah were commanded to give a portion of their dough to the kohanim (priests) who worked in the Beis HaMikdash. This portion of dough acted as compensation to the kohanim. However, since we no longer have the Beis HaMikdash, we still perform this act of separating dough as a reminder of the mitzvah that we had to separate. When it comes to who separates the challah dough, a woman takes priority over a man, as it is preferred that she act on this mitzvah.
When teaching about this mitzvah to her students, Morah Tzippy stressed the importance of a woman’s mitzvah to make and separate challah and what it symbolizes. She stated that “this time of year is an auspicious time to daven and ask for things from Hashem, so there is no better time than now to teach them about this.” She helped students understand the opportunity to bond when making challah, whether it’s with a mother, sister, cousin, or aunt. After her presentation, one student remarked while braiding the challah that it reminds her of “arms intertwining around each other, similar to the Shabbos table.” This remark reflects Morah Tzippy’s message of a woman’s power and ability to empower in their home perfectly. Morah Tzippy believes a woman’s capability in creating and fostering a loving atmosphere in her home is one of the most important things a woman can do.
The communal challah bake hosted by Mr. Allman and Morah Tzippy for the eighth-grade girls of Yeshiva Har Torah serves as a meaningful reminder of the mitzvah of making and separating challah. This event, held during the Ten Days of Repentance before Yom Kippur, not only educated the students about their heritage but also emphasized the significant role women play in preserving traditions and fostering a loving atmosphere within their homes. Morah Erblich’s dedication to imparting these values and teachings to her students is a testament to the importance of passing on traditions that connect generations and strengthen the bonds of the Jewish community.
