BRAIDING CHALLAH: UNITING THE COMMUNITY

NCJW BCS WOMEN JOINED THE NORTHERN NEW JERSEY GREAT BIG CHALLAH BAKE

Entering the Rockleigh Country Club the evening of Thursday, October 22, we were assailed by a wall of sound that quite took our breath away! 1,400 excited women and girls were packed into the Grand Ballroom, all with one purpose in mind – to join in solidarity to make Challah and link to a chain of Jewish women throughout the world performing the same mitzvah. The Great Big Challah Bake was not only taking place here in Bergen County, but was part of a global event simultaneously occurring in 465 cities around the world. Organized by WIZO (Women’s International Zionist Organization), this project supports WIZO’s work in Israel, this year focusing on WIZO’s battered women’s shelter in Jerusalem.

Several members of the Bergen County Section of the National Council of Jewish Women partook, partnering with WIZO, Sharsheret, the Kaplen JCC on the Palisades, Hadassah, the Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey, Lubavitch on the Palisades, and the Rockleigh.

Tables of women in pink aprons stretched as far as the eye could see. Each person was provided with the bowl, cloth, implements and pre-measured ingredients needed for our challahs. From the podium, we were instructed step-by-step how to mix, knead and braid the challah dough, with a commentary informing us of the spiritual significance of each ingredient and each piece of the process. While the dough was left to rise, music and dancing filled the room. We were then shown an inspiring video on the WIZO battered women’s shelter. Each participant left with two gorgeous challah loaves to bake at home.

The Great Big Challah Bake was a unique experience. It was exciting to be a part of this world-wide event and it was certainly an evening we will never forget.

Read more: NCJW joins the Bergen Great Big Challah Bake | The Jewish Standard

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