Master Hafrashat Challah in 7 Easy Steps — Complete Guide in English, Hebrew & Transliteration - Perfect for Study, Devotion, or Shabbat Printables
The 7 Steps on How to Separate Challah, written in English, Hebrew, and Transliteration so you can use it for study, devotion, or inclusion in your Shabbat printables.
This ancient mitzvah, Hafrashat Challah (הפרשת חלה), is a holy act that connects the home to the Temple service — setting apart a portion of dough as an offering to the Lord.
🍞 7 Steps on How to Separate Challah
(Hafrashat Challah – הפרשת חלה)
Step 1: Prepare the Dough
English:
Make your bread or challah dough as usual, using a sufficient amount of flour (at least about 5 lbs / 2.25 kg) so that the mitzvah of separating challah applies.
Hebrew:
הכן את הבצק שלך כרגיל, תוך שימוש בכמות מספקת של קמח (לפחות כ־2.25 ק"ג), כדי שתחול מצוות הפרשת חלה.
Transliteration:
Hachen et ha-batsek shelcha k’ragil, toch shimush b’kamut maspeket shel kemach (lefachot k’2.25 kilogram), kedei she’tachul mitzvat hafrashat challah.
Step 2: Gather the Dough Together
English:
After kneading, bring all the dough into one place or bowl — it should be one combined mass before separating the portion.
Hebrew:
לאחר הלישה, אסוף את כל הבצק למקום אחד או לקערה אחת — שיהיה גוש אחד לפני ההפרשה.
Transliteration:
Le’achar ha-lishah, e’sof et kol ha-batsek le’makom echad o le’ke’arah achat — she’yihiyeh gush echad lifnei ha-hafrashah.
Step 3: Say the Blessing (if required)
English:
If the dough is large enough to require a blessing, recite:
Blessing in English:
Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us to separate challah.
Blessing in Hebrew:
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ, אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם,
אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו וְצִוָּנוּ לְהַפְרִישׁ חַלָּה.
Transliteration:
Baruch Atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha’olam,
asher kid’shanu b’mitzvotav v’tzivanu l’hafrish challah.
Step 4: Separate a Small Piece
English:
Take a small portion of the dough (about the size of an olive) and say:
“This is challah.”
Hebrew:
קח חתיכה קטנה מהבצק (בערך בגודל זית) ואמור:
"זֹאת חַלָּה."
Transliteration:
Kach chatichah k’tanah min ha-batsek (b’erech b’godel zayit) v’emor:
“Zot Challah.”
Step 5: Set the Portion Aside
English:
Place the separated piece on a small plate or foil. This piece is holy and should not be eaten.
Hebrew:
הנח את החתיכה שהופרשה על צלחת קטנה או על נייר כסף. החלק הזה קדוש ואסור באכילה.
Transliteration:
Hanach et ha-chatichah she’hufr’shah al tsalachat k’tanah o al niyar kesef. Ha-chelek hazeh kadosh v’asur b’achilah.
Step 6: Dispose of It Respectfully
English:
Traditionally, the challah portion (which in Temple times was given to the priests) is now burned in the oven or wrapped and discarded respectfully.
Hebrew:
בימינו, החלה (שבזמן המקדש ניתנה לכהנים) נשרפת בתנור או נעטפת ונזרקת בכבוד.
Transliteration:
B’yameinu, ha-challah (she’bizman haMikdash nitnah la’kohanim) nisrefet ba’tanur o ne’atafet v’nizreket b’kavod.
Step 7: Offer a Prayer of Thanksgiving
English:
After separating the challah, take a moment to thank the Lord for His provision and invite His blessing over your home:
“May this offering be accepted as in the days of our forefathers.
May our home be filled with blessing, abundance, and peace through Yeshua the Messiah.”
Hebrew:
יְהִי רָצוֹן שֶׁתִּתְקַבֵּל הַהַפְרָשָׁה כְּבִימֵי אֲבוֹתֵינוּ.
יְהִי בֵיתֵנוּ מָלֵא בְּרָכָה, שֶׁפַע וְשָׁלוֹם עַל־יְדֵי יֵשׁוּעַ הַמָּשִׁיחַ.
Transliteration:
Yehi ratzon she’titkabel ha’hafrashah k’vimei avoteinu.
Yehi beiteinu malei berachah, shefa v’shalom al y’dei Yeshua haMashiach.
