Braided Bread

Question

Dear Rabbi,

Every Friday I make Challah for Shabbat. When asked why I braid them, I had no answer! What is the historical/traditional significance to braiding Challah?

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Answers

  1. The Just Ask! - AskTheRabbi.org Team

    I have heard several reasons for braiding Challah for Shabbat. One reason is as follows: The three braids are symbolic of the commands to observe Shabbat that appear in the Ten Commandnments. One braid represents the word “Zachor” — “Remember.” A second braid represents the word “Shamor” — “Guard.” The third braid is for “b’Dibbur Echad” — that these commands of “Remember” and “Guard” were said by God simultaneously and as one unit.

    Another reason for braiding Challah is that Shabbat signifies and reminds us of three different, important concepts: The Creation of the World, the Exodus from Egypt and the Messianic Era. This is also the reason for three distinctly worded main prayers on Shabbat, as opposed to the weekday prayer, which is of identical wording three times a day (the theme of the fourth prayer of Shabbat — Mussaf (“additional”) is said for the additional Temple sacrifice for Shabbat, and also applies on Festivals.) This idea also provides an understanding for the three meals eaten on Shabbat.

    By the way, the word “Challah” that is mentioned in the Torah is not referring to the Challah that we eat on Shabbat and Yom Tov. It refers to the command to separate a small amount of the dough that one kneads when baking bread. In Temple times, this portion of dough (called “Challah” by the Torah) was given to the Kohanim, the priestly tribe, who were responsible for the Temple services. Today, there is a rabbinical command to separate “Challah” from the dough and burn it, since in order to eat it there is a requirement for the Kohanim and the separated Challah to be ritually pure — a state that does not presently exist.

    Best wishes from the AskTheRabbi.org Team