April 26, 2010 by PrinceF
Literally a Two Foot Long Braided Challah
I attempted my first Challah a few days ago. Challah is a traditional Jewish bread that is honestly in my top 3 favorite breads and one of the few Jewish foods that I do in fact crave. The recipe that I was using was directly from the bread book that I have been speaking of and it did not disappoint. Oddly enough my neighbors, a Hasidic jewish family just had a baby tonight, coincidence, or, wait for it, sign….? I am going to bake them a loaf of challah and take it over as a congratulations.
They have always been a really nice family, always inviting me to their wild sounding Shabbat parties. The day I met them I learned the hard way that a married Hasidic woman cannot touch another male when I tried to shake her hand and say hello. She nearly slammed herself into the wall behind which she was standing to avoid skin contact with me. Lesson learned, but it did bring up an interesting thought. What if I was part of some other religion in which I was required to shake any married females hand upon meeting them. Would I have to chase her down saying “you don’t understand I have to do this!” Who wins in that situation? Would I go to hell for not getting the official shake?
Luckily for me, I am part of no such religion, but I do still feel the urge to bring them some fresh baked Challah. Will they enjoy it? Will they even accept it? “No sorry we only eat fresh Rabbi blessed Challah, not conservative Jew from the main line hand made Challah”. I kid.
Flash forward to yesterday. I went to give them the Challah. “Oh that is so sweet of you but we only eat food that is prepared kosher in our own home”. Dang it, I had a feeling that would happen. Oh well, I was able to deliver Challah to a few friends in the building and give some to the ladies that work at Whisk. If you live around Williamsburg, NY, and are looking for a good place to get some kitchen supplies, stop by Whisk on Bedford Avenue between N5th and N4th.