Men Baking Challah

Question

I’ve heard baking Shabbat challah is a mitzvah reserved for women. Can a man fulfill the mitzvah instead? I know how to do it better than my wife does, and I enjoy it much better and have more spare time. My wife prefers when I do it.

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Answers

  1. The Just Ask! - AskTheRabbi.org Team

    The mitzvah of baking challah is not “reserved” for women. It might be true that it is considered to be more in the women’s domain, but it is not a mitzvah that is solely for women. Men can absolutely bake challah, too. Subsequently, you can bake the challahs at home and you and your entire family can enjoy them! Of course, all of the various mitzvahs that pertain to challah, such as separating a small portion of the dough for the mitzvah known as “separating the challah portion,” are applicable, and if you knead a large enough amount of dough, you should separate this challah portion with a blessing.

    Best wishes from the AskTheRabbi.org Team