Each participant received a crisp new blue Temple Emanuel Challah Bake Apron, along with a recipe place-mat and bowl. At each assigned spot, there were pre-measured containers that contained flour, sugar, salt, water, an egg and oil. We were lead by community members each step of the way. We said blessings together. After you put on your apron, you were ready to place the water, yeast and salt into your bowl and mix it. After waiting five minutes, you were instructed to place half the flour, the oil and the egg into the bowl and mix it. Then mix in the remaining flour. We were then instructed to kneed the dough. Then we put a napkin over the bowl and let the challah dough rest for 30 minutes while we:
talked with community members; or
snacked over fruit; or
tasted challah from local bakeries; or
practiced braiding at a braiding station; or
gave tzedakah; or
picked our toppings for our challah; or
played games with the kid focused DJ.
After the dough rose, we learned how to braid the dough. Then we sprayed our baking pan with cooking spray and transferred our beautiful dough to the pan and covered it. The cover included baking
Once we arrived home, we preheated the oven, applied an egg wash, applied our toppings and baked each beautiful loaf. The house smelled AMAZING.
There were parents with kids. There were tables of teenagers making challah together. There were tables of women making challah. There were grandparents with grandchildren making challah. And the recipe is easy enough to replicate at home.
A very successful community challah bake doesn't happen without community volunteers or a leader. Our leader, Terri Schwartz Russell thought of everything, and I know I can't wait to do it again.
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