Sacred Foods: Challah: Divya

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Sacred Foods: Loaves of bread that bring the community together

The smell of raw dough waved through the air as we entered the home. I had never really cooked before, without anything burning, so this was a very new experience for me. I didn’t know what Challah was or even how it tasted before that day. We split up into groups of two do get someone on one time with the dough. The beautiful masterpiece of braided bread seemed like a daunting challenge that was impossible. The next hour was filled with laughter, fun, and steady instruction; by the time it ended, I had a perfect challah in front of me. While it baked in the oven, we went out to the garden to pick some crunchy pears. While eating them together, we discussed the traditions of Challah and how it relates to our own personal traditions.This experience not only taught me how to make delicious bread, but it gave me some personal insight into Jewish traditions. I learned about the different types of Jewish believers and how the Challah is eaten during certain holidays. This once in a lifetime opportunity to experience the making of Challah in the authentic setting taught me the importance of meals and foods built around traditions and family. Overall, this special event introduced me to the beauty of religious foods and the community that is built around them. I will definitely be making Challah for my family during the holidays!
 








Divya Gupta is a junior at Blue Valley North. She has been part of the leadership team of KCIYA for three years started the youth blog this year. Her biggest passions included writing and community service!

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