Challah: Difference between revisions

[[Image:separating_challah.jpg|200px|right]]

==General Guidelines==

# The Mitzvah of removing Challah is only Biblical in [[Israel]] and when majority of Bnei Yisrael reside in [[Israel]]. There is nonetheless a Rabbinic Mitzvah of Challah outside [[Israel]] and in [[Israel]] when there is a minority of Bnei Yisrael in residence there. <reF>Rambam (Bikkurim 5:5-6) writes that The Mitzvah of removing Challah is only Biblical in [[Israel]] and when majority of Bnei Yisrael reside in [[Israel]]. There is nonetheless a Rabbinic Mitzvah of Challah outside [[Israel]] and in [[Israel]] when there is a minority of Bnei Yisrael in residence there. The Mitzvah of Challah is counted as one of the 613 mitzvot by the Rambam (Sefer HaMitzvot Asin #133) and Sefer HaChinuch (385).</ref>

# If the dough is kneaded with eggs or fruit juice, there is some doubt as to whether one needs to separate Challah; therefore, one should knead into the dough some liquid that is considered a "משקה" [e.g. water, milk, bee's honey, wine, oil], and then one can separate Challah with a Beracha <ref> Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 35:7 </ref>.

# The Mitzvah of Challah applies to the owner of the Challah who is baking the dough, whether that is a man or a woman. However, the woman has preference over a man in fulfilling this Mitzvah as it is particularly relevant for women.<ref>Mishna ([[Shabbat]] 2:6), Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 35:8, Yalkut Yosef YD 328:12</ref>   

# According to Ashkenazim, some say that the Minhag is to remove Challah with a Bracha when making a dough that is 5 pounds or more and remove Challah without a Bracha when making dough that is 3 pounds or more. <Ref>Shulchan Aruch YD 324:1 and Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 35:1 write that the amount necessary in order to be obligated in Challah is 43.2 [[KeBaytzim]] of flour.[http://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/777708/Rabbi_Hershel_Schachter/Parsha_Shiur_-_Shelach_5772 Rabbi Hershel Schachter on yutorah.org] (Shiur on Parshat Shalach, min 50) states that the Ashkenazic Minhag is to remove Challah with a Bracha if the dough is 5 pounds or more and without a Bracha if the dough is 3 pounds or more.</ref> Others say that the Minhag of Yerushalyim is to take Challah off without a Bracha if the dough is 2.65 pounds (1200 grams) or more and to remove Challah with a Bracha if the dough is 3.67 pounds (1666 grams) or more. <ref> Halichot Shlomo (Moadim vol 2 pg 338 note 54) writes that this was the Minhag in Rav Shlomo Zalman’s house and that of Yerushalyim. </ref>

# According to Sephardim, one should take off Challah with a Bracha when making a dough with 3.44 pounds (1560 grams) or more of flour and it is a pious practice to remove Challah without a Bracha when making a dough with 2.65 pounds (1200 grams) or more of flour.<Ref>Yalkut Yosef YD 324:6</ref>However, some say that one should only remove Challah with a Bracha for dough that is 5.29 pounds (2400 grams) and without a Bracha for dough that is 3.67 pounds (1666 grams).<ref>Rav Modechai Eliyahu (comments on Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 35:2</ref>

# If one makes less than the amount required in Challah in separate loaves, but then puts them back into the same vessel--the vessel combines these pieces to make a Shi'ur of Challah <ref> Mishna Challah 2:4, Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 35:3; See Pesachim 46a-b </ref>.

# The text of the Bracha upon removing Challah is "ברוך אתה ה, ' אלוקינו מלך העולם אשר קדשנו במצוותיו וצונו להפריש חלה". <ref>Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 35:1</ref>

# After reciting the above Bracha one should remove a [[Kezayit]] of dough and burn it. The Minhag is to burn the piece of dough in the same oven that the bread is baking.<ref>Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 35:1</ref>

==Forgot to Remove Challah==

# If one forgot to remove Challah Erev [[Shabbos]]: if you are outside of [[Israel]], you leave over a slice, and separate Challah from it after [[Shabbos]]. This slice must be slightly bigger than the Shi'ur Challah. <ref> Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 35:9 </ref>.

==Sources==

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[[Category:Land of Israel]]