Reasons to love kosher challah

Challah bread is instantly recognisable, and many people have grown up eating it without even realising that it has a special significance for Jewish people. While most bread, as long as it is not made with animal fats or dairy, is parve, or neither non-kosher or kosher, many Jewish people still prefer to eat the kosher challah, made using traditional methods and reminding them of their families or their childhoods. While some people choose to make challah themselves, it is now more common to buy specially-made challah, baked to kosher standards, either through local bakeries or through online stores.

The significance of challah

Challah bread is familiar due to its braided appearance, and due to the fact that many Jewish families choose to eat this bread at special times, including on the Sabbath, and on holy days. The tradition of marking Sabbath with challah goes back to the requirement that the Sabbath meals, and holiday meals, begin with a pair of bread loaves. Challah is the two loaves, symbolised by being bound together in a braid. Sometimes, bakers make each loaf out of six different strands or braids, and then braid these together to form 12 lines of bread. This is known as the 'twelve tribes' challah, standing for the 12 tribes of Israel. This bread is traditionally sacred and special, and this makes it an important ingredient for the family feast during holy days in particular. This means that obtaining it can be very important, and if you don't have the time or the tools to make it yourself, then looking for a kosher bakery online can be the best alternative.

Finding challah online

There are a number of specialist suppliers of kosher breads, grain and dairy, and so finding a kosher challah that is suitable for your family celebration is easy as long as you know what you are looking for. You can find a range of breads from Jewish bakeries, but you specifically need the braided breads which are labelled as challah. These may be less easy to find from a bakery, but there are kosher groceries and online suppliers of all kosher goods who may be able to supply you with the challah that you want.

Keeping challah

One of the features of kosher challah dough is the piece which is discarded as the bread is being made. If you buy in kosher breads, you will know that this special ceremony has been performed, but many choose to repeat it for themselves when the bread arrives. The offering doesn't have to be more than a handful of bread, but whether you discard or burn it, the challah will have to be carefully wrapped in order to keep it away from anything else.