{"id":27,"date":"2015-04-17T09:41:33","date_gmt":"2015-04-17T09:41:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.breadbeckers.com\/blog\/?p=27"},"modified":"2015-07-16T15:26:04","modified_gmt":"2015-07-16T15:26:04","slug":"braided-challah-bread","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.breadbeckers.com\/blog\/braided-challah-bread\/","title":{"rendered":"Braided Challah Bread"},"content":{"rendered":"

by Sue Becker<\/strong><\/p>\n

Celebrating the Sabbath<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"IMG_1476\"<\/a><\/span>The first mention of the word challah is found in the Bible in Numbers 15:20.\u00a0 God instructs the Israelites to “offer up a “cake” (challah) of the first of their dough for an offering to the Lord”. Today, challah typically refers to the entire loaf of an egg-enriched yeast bread traditionally eaten by Jews on Shabbot (the Sabbath), ceremonial occasions and festival holidays.\u00a0 On the Sabbath, two loaves, usually braided, are placed on the table to represent the double portion of manna that was provided by God for the Israelites in the wilderness to remind them that God will provide even if they refrain from working.<\/p>\n

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The braided loaves are a symbol of love, peace and unity.\u00a0 As one goes through the 6-day work week our efforts are directed outward.\u00a0 The idea of the Sabbath is one of unity, absorbing the blessings of our outward week\u2019s work and directing them inward into our homes and lives.\u00a0 The 6-strand braided loaf beautifully represents the intertwining of all the diversity in our lives throughout the week and bringing them together in unity and harmony.<\/p>\n

So often today when we hear the word Sabbath our thoughts turn to a legalistic list of “don’ts” – don’t work, don’t travel, don’t have fun.\u00a0 Yet, truly experiencing a Sabbath, you will find it a great revelation that it is a day of refreshing and many “do’s” – do spend time with friends and family, do relax and read, do enjoy a slower pace, do join the your community in worship and fellowship, do nap without feeling guilty about not doing work, do enjoy a day of rest.<\/p>\n

A common greeting on the Sabbath is Shabbat Shalom, a peaceful Sabbath.\u00a0 Most often we think of peace as simply the absence of conflict.\u00a0 Shalom actually means to restore in the sense of replacing or providing what is needed in order to make someone or something whole or complete.\u00a0 It means having no deficiency.\u00a0 In reality, God made the Sabbath for man (Mark 2:27) so that we could cease (rest) from our work on the seventh day as He did so that we might be restored, renewed and refreshed.<\/p>\n

The greeting, Shabbat Shalom, is actually a blessing:\u201cMay your day of no work be peaceful.\u00a0 May you become whole and restored during your ceasing from laborious work.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rest from our work may take on many forms, but most importantly it allows us to simply enjoy life.\u00a0 Perhaps we would look forward to our work week more enthusiastically if we paused to enjoy a Sabbath rest.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is not a matter of keeping the Sabbath but of the Sabbath keeping you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Braided Challah Bread<\/strong><\/p>\n

A rich, soft textured bread, perfect for any occasion!<\/p>\n