#13: Baking Challah for Shabbat

Rabbi Eli Ozarowski
  1. The Rema (O.C. 242:1) writes that women have a widespread custom to bake special challot in honor of Shabbat. The Mishnah Berurah adds that performing the mitzvah of hafrashat challah (separating a small amount of dough) also serves as a form of rectification of the sin of Chava of causing Adam to eat from the Tree of Knowledge, which took place on Friday.
  2. Although some disapprove of the more recent custom to purchase challot in a bakery (Bi’ur Halachah), contemporary poskim defend the practice if one purchases special challot baked for Shabbat. Moreover, one who does not have sufficient time to bake their own challot or prefers the taste of bakery challot can also purchase challot without concern (Ohr L’tzion 2:47; Chut Shani 1:2:1; Dirshu Mishnah Berurah 242, citing R. Elyashiv).

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Dedicated by Fran Broder as a zechus for the hostages to be released safely to their families and may everlasting peace come to Eretz Yisrael in the merit of learning Hilchos Shabbos.