Volumne 14 Number 4
March/April 1998
Adar/Nisan/Iyyar 5758

A Messianic Midrash From Baking Challah

by Debbie Ravid (a former KA member now living in Monterey, CA. Her husband, Earl, is the Rabbi of Sar Shalom Messianic Congregation in that city).

I have been honored with the opportunity to bake the challah (bread) for Shabbat services at Sar Shalom on and off for 10 years. It has always been a blessing but a routine Friday afternoon task, nonetheless. However, one Friday afternoon something special happened that would change the way I feel about baking challah forever.

In my Jewish cookbook, along with the challah recipe, there is a notation about saying a b’racha (blessing) and observing a ritual involving burning a portion of raw dough. I have used the same book for ten years and I have seen the blessing; and for ten years I have ignored it. I figured, “I am not under the law I am under grace. Doing this blessing and ritual is for others, not me. I don’t keep kosher. I’d feel silly doing that!”

But the Lord put on my heart, “Say the blessing and burn the dough, say the blessing and burn the dough.” So on this very special Friday, I decided that I would have faith…and obey.

This is the procedure. After the leaven and other ingredients have been combined in a certain order, the dough is kneaded and allowed to rise once. It is then punched down and the dough is to be divided in half. It is traditional to make two loaves of challah for Shabbat to celebrate the double portion of manna given to the Jews in the wilderness just before each Shabbat. (Exodus 16:29) After dividing the dough but before the second rising period and the braiding and the baking, a small portion of the dough is to be pinched from one of the two portions and, according to tradition (Number 15:17-21), this benediction is to be pronounced (English translation); “Blessed art thou, oh Lord our G-d, King of the universe, Who has sanctified us by thy commandments and commanded us concerning the separation of the dough.”

As I said the blessing, I took the dough and put it on a bamboo shish kebab skewer, turned on the stove and held it in the flame. All of a sudden it was as if I had seen a movie, the entire picture came to me in a flood of words and images. I instantly understood why He commanded me to do this and why He commanded this to be done for thousands of years! I wasn’t just making challah! I was seeing a picture of life and salvation! Here is what He revealed to me.

Making and kneading the dough represent the time we are in our embryonic and infant stage, being knitted together and taking shape (Genesis 2:7, Psalm 139:13-16). Carefully allowing it to rise in a warm place without any sudden jarring movements is like our childhood; growing and being lovingly nurtured by those who care for us. Separating the dough into two portions, is like passing from the point where we are not responsible for sin to a point in our life where we are responsible for our sin (Ezekiel 18). Pinching off that small piece of dough and holding it up represents sin being recognized by both man and G-d. It is held up high for all to see. It will not be hidden and cannot be denied. (Luke 8:17) Putting the dough in fire kills all the leaven (sin) and is like our sin being utterly destroyed, that is forgiven and forgotten through Yeshua (1 John 1:9).

The loaves are now allowed to rise one more time. This second rising period is called ‘proofing’. This is when they “show their stuff, show what they’re made of, prove themselves.” This represents our walk with G-d, our lives. We show what we are made of. Our works, the proof of our faith (James 2:14-26).

Baking the challah is like being in the furnace of affliction; it is a testing. It is a trial and tribulation, like life itself. Ah!, but while the challah is in the oven what a delicious aroma fills the home (and my part of the neighborhood!). What other aroma on Earth is as good as bread in the oven? Messiah’s life is a blessing to G-d, a pleasing aroma in His nostrils (Ephesians 5:2). Now the challah is ready to take its rightful place on the table, in full view of all, as an acceptable offering to our Heavenly Father. What about our lives? Give it some thought next Shabbat.

“But thanks be to G-d, who always leads us in His triumph in Messiah and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place.” (II Corinthians 2:14)

URL:http://www.kehilatariel.org/3_4_98.html

Last Modified May 10, 1999