Community Challah Baking in Honor of Shabbat Olami, World Shabbat

A couple of weeks ago, Jews all over the world participated in The Shabbat Project, and one of the big activities was community challah baking, the Challah Challenge. Here in Shiloh, the local Inner Circle Women's Center sponsored the challah challenge, organizing it in a synagogue hall. Women of all ages came to mix and knead their challah dough together. 

The Inner Circle Women's Center in Shilo, is a program of The Ne'eman Foundation USA/Canada/Israel.  The purpose of the center is to encourage and support women's activities to strengthen women and to give to the community as a whole- including new mommies, meals on wheels, cooking for the seniors, support groups etc...

While the challah rose, there was entertainment and inspiring words. We could have listened all night, but it was soon time to "punch down" the challah dough and then "take challah" for the blessing. 

After the blessing, the challah was shaped and painted with egg. Finally we took the challah home for baking. Many of the challot were then given as Shabbat gifts to new families, that had recently moved to Shiloh.

It was a lovely inspiring evening, and everyone thanked Sara Katz of The Inner Circle Women's Center for organizing such a pleasant and successful event.