The first portion of your kneading, you shall separate as a dough offering (challah) . . . In all your generations, give the first of your kneading as an elevated gift to G‑d. (Numbers 15:20–21)

When the Jewish people first entered and settled the Land of Israel, one of the gifts they were commanded to give to the kohanim, the priestly tribe, was challah—a portion of dough separated from their kneading bowl every time they baked bread.  Today, we do not actually give the challah to the kohen. However, we still observe the mitzvah by burning the challah portion, as its sacredness prohibits us from using it (http://www.chabad.org/theJewishWoman/article_cdo/aid/2689640/jewish/Womens-Special-Mitzvot.htm).

The mitzvah of separating challah is one of the special mitzvot entrusted to the Jewish woman, who is so influential in shaping the values and attitudes of her family.  I really connect with the idea that baking challah is like raising children.  They won’t “rise” like the yeast unless there is a lot of “sugar” added (praise, joy, laughter and fun).  After you add the sugar, you can add a pinch of salt (criticism, discipline, seriousness).  Notice that there is a lot more sugar than salt, but both are critical in balance.  Next, you knead the dough, pulling and pushing and shaping.  And then you leave it alone!!  You’ve already put in the right ingredients and shaped it with your hands – time to let them learn, develop and grow on their own.  Every blob of dough is different, even when I use the same ingredients.  Sometimes it rises easily, other times it takes longer to rise, or it rises and falls and rises again — just like children.  Finally, you separate the dough, remembering that it’s really out of your hands and into G-d’s hand, and with this sanctification you have completed the mitzvah of Hafrashat Challah.

For this mitzvah, I taught my girlfriends how to bake challah.  There was a huge interest, and I ended up teaching three separate classes to a total of 16 friends.  We had fun getting messy and learning a bit of Torah in the process.  And if each of these women teaches it to her daughters, the tradition will continue through the generations.  How rewarding!