Close to 300 women of all ages gathered at The Emanuel Synagogue in West Hartford on Sunday, March 5, to learn about the fine art of baking challah for Shabbat – as well as the traditions it encompasses – at the “Mega Challah Bake,” organized and hosted by Chabad of Greater Hartford. A step-by-step demonstration by several local challah-baking ‘mavens’ guided the women as they learned the fine art of baking the perfect Shabbat challah – from kneading and braiding and shaping the dough to adding toppings to slipping it in the oven. Guest speaker Bluma Rivkin of New Orleans talked about how ritual of making challah ups the energy in the home. As she prepared to intone the proper blessing, Joselyn Raub noted that, “While reciting the blessing a woman has a “direct channel” to God and it’s an opportune time to ask for all that is on her heart and mind” said Joselyn.

CAP: Flanked by her granddaughter Lilly Tempkin, Bonnie Wiener (far right) pays close attention to Chaya Matusof of Chabad (far left) who teaches her a new braiding technique.