Never Mess Up Challah Again - The 7-Step Guide to Hafrashat Challah You’ll Want to Share
7 Steps on How to Separate Challah (Hafrashat Challah – הפרשת חלה)
A sacred act connecting our homes to the holiness of the Temple — setting apart a portion of dough as an offering to Adonai.
1. Prepare the Dough
English: Make your bread or challah dough using at least about 5 lbs / 2.25 kg of flour so that the mitzvah of separating challah applies.
Hebrew: הכן את הבצק שלך כרגיל, תוך שימוש בכמות מספקת של קמח (לפחות כְּ־2.25 קילוגרם), 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.
2. Gather the Dough Together
English: After kneading, bring all the dough into one bowl — it should be one mass before separating.
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.
3. Say the Blessing (if required)
English: If the dough is large enough, recite the blessing:
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.
Hebrew: בָּרוּךְ אָתָּה יְיִ, אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׂר קִדְשָׂנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיוּ וְצִוָנוּ לְהַפְרִישׁ חַלָּה.
Transliteration: Baruch Atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha’olam, asher kid’shanu b’mitzvotav v’tzivanu l’hafrish challah.
4. Separate a Small Piece
English: Take a small portion (about an olive’s size) and say: “This is challah.”
Hebrew: קח חתיכה קטנה מהבצק ואמור: זות חלה.
Transliteration: Kach chatichah k’tanah min ha-batsek v’emor: “Zot Challah.”
5. Set the Portion Aside
English: Place the separated piece on a small plate or foil. This piece is holy and not to 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.
6. Dispose of It Respectfully
English: Traditionally, the challah portion (which in Temple times was given to the priests) is now burned or wrapped and discarded respectfully.
Hebrew: בימינו, החלה נשרפת בתנור או נעטפת ונזרקת בכבוד.
Transliteration: B’yameinu, ha-challah nisrefet ba’tanur o ne’atafet v’nizreket b’kavod.
7. Offer a Prayer of Thanksgiving
English: After separating the challah, 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: יהי רצון שתתקבל ההפרשה כבימי אבותינו. יהי ביתנו מלא ברכה, שפע ושלום על-ידי ישוע המשיח.
Transliteration: Yehi ratzon she’titkabel ha’hafrashah k’vimei avoteinu. Yehi beiteinu malei berachah, shefa v’shalom al y’dei Yeshua haMashiach.
May your hands be blessed as you bake, and may your home be filled with peace and sweetness this Shabbat.
