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.
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 by Anat Mayer
Frosted glass and stainless steel Challah board by Anat Mayer
12.2" x 15.8"
This unique piece of art includes several motifs, each of which is significant in the Jewish
culture. The Land of Israel was blessed with “SEVEN SPECIES” from the garden and the
vineyard as told in Deuteronomy (8/8). “A land of wheat, and barley, and vines, and fig
trees, and pomegranates, a land of oil olives, and olives, and honey”. This unique piece of
art brings the aroma of the land of Israel into your home.
12.2" x 15.8"
This unique piece of art includes several motifs, each of which is significant in the Jewish
culture. The Land of Israel was blessed with “SEVEN SPECIES” from the garden and the
vineyard as told in Deuteronomy (8/8). “A land of wheat, and barley, and vines, and fig
trees, and pomegranates, a land of oil olives, and olives, and honey”. This unique piece of
art brings the aroma of the land of Israel into your home.
