A Challah board is a special tray, which Jewish people use every Shabbat
meal. They put two whole loaves of Challah on the Challah board, which is
usually a decorative cutting board.
The Challahs on the challah board are covered with Challah cover while we
say Kiddush. Two reasons are given for this:
The first one is as a remembrance of the dew that covered the mahn, both
above and below. What is the mahn? When God brought the Jewish people
out of Egypt, they spent 40 years in the desert on their way to the Land of
Israel. Their survival during this time was totally from the Almighty. He
provided a constant source of water and protection. And for food there was
mahn a crystal-like substance that fell from the heavens each day. The mahn
fell with a covering of dew, on top and below. The dew was a sort of
preservative, as well as insurance that the freshness remains intact, keeping
the taste new and stimulating. Thus, by placing the challahs between the
protective layers of the challah board from underneath and the challah cover
from above, we invoke this beautiful symbolism each Shabbat at our meal.
The second reason is so as not to "embarrass" the bread while we bless
over the whine. Of course, inanimate objects don't become "embarrassed";
but we can learn a powerful lesson (mussar haskel) from this - if we are so
careful about not embarrassing the bread, and for that we put it covered on
a challah board, how much more must we be careful with the feelings of other
people.
After the blessing over the Challah, the Challah cover is taken off. At that
point, the challah is removed from the Challah board and passed around so
that each person would be able to tear a small piece off and eat it.
After the Kiddush, the remains of the challah are putted on the challah board
again so that everyone could enjoy it during the meal.
Accordingly, there are Challah boards and knives made especially for the
Shabbat table, often made out of olive wood or stone. Also, many boards
have slated tray for bread crumbs to fall through and make for an easy
cleanup.
meal. They put two whole loaves of Challah on the Challah board, which is
usually a decorative cutting board.
The Challahs on the challah board are covered with Challah cover while we
say Kiddush. Two reasons are given for this:
The first one is as a remembrance of the dew that covered the mahn, both
above and below. What is the mahn? When God brought the Jewish people
out of Egypt, they spent 40 years in the desert on their way to the Land of
Israel. Their survival during this time was totally from the Almighty. He
provided a constant source of water and protection. And for food there was
mahn a crystal-like substance that fell from the heavens each day. The mahn
fell with a covering of dew, on top and below. The dew was a sort of
preservative, as well as insurance that the freshness remains intact, keeping
the taste new and stimulating. Thus, by placing the challahs between the
protective layers of the challah board from underneath and the challah cover
from above, we invoke this beautiful symbolism each Shabbat at our meal.
The second reason is so as not to "embarrass" the bread while we bless
over the whine. Of course, inanimate objects don't become "embarrassed";
but we can learn a powerful lesson (mussar haskel) from this - if we are so
careful about not embarrassing the bread, and for that we put it covered on
a challah board, how much more must we be careful with the feelings of other
people.
After the blessing over the Challah, the Challah cover is taken off. At that
point, the challah is removed from the Challah board and passed around so
that each person would be able to tear a small piece off and eat it.
After the Kiddush, the remains of the challah are putted on the challah board
again so that everyone could enjoy it during the meal.
Accordingly, there are Challah boards and knives made especially for the
Shabbat table, often made out of olive wood or stone. Also, many boards
have slated tray for bread crumbs to fall through and make for an easy
cleanup.
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Links:
Challah cover
Contemporary Judaica
Hamsa hand
Hanukkah menorah
Jewish jewelry
Jewish gifts
Seder plate website
Yair Emanuel
Challah board
Hamsas
Women's Tallit
Challah cover
Contemporary Judaica
Hamsa hand
Hanukkah menorah
Jewish jewelry
Jewish gifts
Seder plate website
Yair Emanuel
Challah board
Hamsas
Women's Tallit
Challah board.com
Challah Board
