Braiding with Royalty

Among the many pandemic pastimes, bread-baking was one of the most fruitful. The Siegel JCC’s Program Director, Katie Glazier, led a virtual challah-baking lesson while the stay-at-home order was in effect, with many members tuning in to follow and bake along. It was during this time that Katie discovered the Challah Prince – an Israeli-born, self-made challah artist.

Idan Chabasov, the Challah Price, has become an Instagram sensation with videos of some of the most beautiful challah braids. With a background in professional dancing, video production, and PR, it is Idan’s mission to bring art into the Challah baking world.

Now, Jewish Federation of Delaware and the Siegel JCC are partnering to bring the Challah Prince to our community in Delaware.

When Idan visits Delaware, he will host two challah braiding sessions: one for families with school-age children and a second for adults (and teens). Our time with the Challah Prince is intended to serve a variety of purposes:

First – Traditional challah baking can be very intensive, with time to prepare the dough hard to come by for many. While there are certainly ways to speed up the process (e.g., instant yeast), the idea of spending all day preparing the challah is daunting. The dough that will be used during our sessions with Idan will be prepped ahead of time, allowing participants to focus on learning how to braid, show their creativity, and finding the joy in the process.

Second – In light of the war in Israel, now is such an important time to connect with Jewish culture and history. With Idan, we will have an opportunity to talk about our traditions in a really delicious way. Braided loaves will be sent home with participants to bake in time for Shabbat that week.

Third – Now, more than ever, we are craving opportunities to engage within our community. We hope that people will connect with one another through the process. We cannot wait to see photographs of each person’s baked loaf!

Challah is more than just a delicious loaf; it holds deep meaning and significance in various cultures and traditions. This braided bread has become a symbol of unity, blessings, and the power of coming together. The act of making Challah involves meticulous braiding, which represents the intertwining of lives and the importance of togetherness within families and communities.

Beyond its physical form, Challah carries spiritual significance as well. It serves as a reminder to pause, reflect, and express gratitude for the blessings in our lives. Breaking bread together not only nourishes our bodies but also strengthens the bonds between individuals. In a world that often feels divided, Challah serves as a beautiful reminder that we are all connected.

As myjewishlearning.com put into words, “of the essential elements comprising Judaism, perhaps the most universally known and beloved is challah, the centerpiece of the weekly Shabbat table and many holidays.” Each week, challah is delivered to the J to be sold to community members, and the holding up of the challah during the singing of the ha’motzi is seen among some of our youngest early childhood center students.

We are so excited to make challah art and build community together.