Simple Simcha Challah

Roll out 8 strands, separate into 5 and 3

For the 5 Strand Challah, Start with 3 on one side and 2 on the other

Always bring the outside strand over from the 3 to the the inside of the 2, then there is a new `3`

The 3-strand challah (top in picture) is a basic 3-strand simple braid

Flatten out the center of the `5 strand challah` and you will put the `3 strand` on top of it

Like this! Now you are ready to add `volume` by putting the `3` on top of the `5`

Voila! Simcha!

 Blessed is the one who will eat at the feast in the Kingdom of God.

Luke 14:15

 

DId you know there is a challah called a Simcha Challah?

Simcha means Joy, in Hebrew. This challah is to mark joyous occasions such as a wedding or a special celebration.  Of course, you can make a Simcha Challah for Shabbat too, as Shabbat is a time of `oneg` or `delight`.   You often will see a Shabbat Challah is made with 3, 4, 5, or even 6 strands, and often made as 2 Challah loaves to remember the double portion that God provided in the wilderness and continues to provide on Shabbat as we trust in Him.  The Simcha Challah is  8 strands in one challah!

Traditionally because of the festive nature of the Simcha, you would often see that the Simcha Challah is large and voluminous! to be able to be served at a gala party!!  I had the idea on a recent Shabbat to make a smaller sized Simcha Challah. 

I call it a Simple Simcha Challah because it is a little `scaled down` from a regular Simcha Challah, so it becomes more simple.  To represent the joy and gladness and yet a family size that can be served modestly.  My idea for this was to make the strands smaller and thinner so it could be beautifully appropriate and a little more humble for your Shabbat table.

The parsha I made it for was the week of `Chayei Sarah` (note: On the posting of this post we are already moving along and are in Parsha Vayishlach, where the promised generations have come forth and now Jacob`s name is changed to Israel!) where Abraham sends his servant to find a bride for Isaac, so it had a wedding theme in the Torah portion and it seemed fitting to have a Simcha Shabbat!!  Shabbat is also a `preparation` for the wedding feast that we will have when Messiah Yeshua returns, so I like to think of Shabbat as a `practice` for that time when we will be feasting in the Kingdom of God and eating the bread and drinking the cup of wine with Yeshua Himself.

I am thinking back to our fore-mothers like Sarah whose challah was said to stay fresh all week and her home had a divine light and stayed lit through the week.  She is the matriarch of the family of God going all the way back in the generations.  When we make challah it is also a good time to pray and as you are kneading the dough you can give praise to the LORD and pray for your loved ones and for Israel.  We pray for God to choose a God-ly spouse for our children, and trust in Him for all things.  

 I am also thinking forward to the future banquet and that Shabbat of the Messianic Kingdom!!  

I always love both the scene where the servant of Abraham goes to find the bride, and Rebecca answers his prayer and draws water for both him and his camels!! This is a drawing that I probably post every year on this parsha.  And exemplifies the Bride of Messiah who has the quality of chesed, loving kindness, and pours out her love in abundance and heart of willingness to serve, as we see she gave the water to both the servant and all those camels!!!

So she said, “Drink, my lord,” and she quickly lowered her jar onto her hand and gave him a drink. ¹⁹ Now when she finished giving him a drink, she said, “I’ll also draw water for your camels until they’ve finished drinking.”   Genesis 24:18~19

Hallelu-Yah! 

Shavu`a Tov! Have a good week to all!

 Love,

 ❤️

Shayndel

Go out, daughters of Zion,
    and gaze upon King Solomon,
with a wreath his mother placed on him
    on the day of his marriage—
    on the day of his heart’s joy.

                         Song of Songs 3:11 💖 

 

PS This is an upload I did which has a little more about the Simcha Challah! It is from Parsha Yitro, which comes a little later in our reading, but it does contain a mini-tutorial (from about 4 minutes into the video), and the verse above from Song of Songs.   If you are moved to try making this challah or just to enjoy it as the message continues the theme of Simcha, may you you be filled with the joy of the anticipation of the wedding and `Gazing on the King`, our King and Messiah Yeshua!  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTZKu_8qjDk&t=316s