Challah

Challah is a traditional festive Jewish bread of rich yeasted dough, invariably served on the Sabbath and religious holidays. It is not just a bake but a deeply symbolic dish with ancient traditions.

Classic challah is baked from an egg-enriched dough, which gives it a golden colour, a tender texture, and a slightly sweet taste. The most characteristic feature of challah is its braided shape: the dough is usually plaited from three, four, or six strands, and for some holidays made round (a symbol of the continuity of the year). Before baking, challah is brushed with egg for shine and often sprinkled with poppy or sesame. Every element has meaning: on the Sabbath two loaves are placed in remembrance of the double portion of manna. Aromatic, elegant, and festive, challah is an important part of Jewish culinary and spiritual culture, well known and loved in Ukraine too.