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How to Separate Challah

Step by Step Guide to Hafrashas Challah

Wash your hands three times. Put a few coins in a tzeddaka box.

Putting your hands on the dough, say the blessing for separating challah (see image below).

hafrashas challah bracha
image-1051

Then, pull off a piece and hold it up in your right hand. Only this piece should now be in your hand. Directly after the blessing, say this text:

Harei Zu Challah

This piece is now your separated challah and must be disposed of correctly. It cannot be eaten or used.

Give yourself time to really pray at this special opportune moment. Add personal prayers as well for yourself, your family and dear ones.

One of the many prayers you may say at this time is the one below:

hafrashas challah tfila
image-1052

Here is a hafrasha card with tfilos with the text above of the bracha plus more special tefilos to say while doing the mitzva of separating challah.

After you have finished your hafrasha and prayers, leave the dough, covered by the plastic, to rise until doubled in bulk, about an hour or a bit more.

And then, enjoy! You are ready to shape!

May your home always be filled with the blessing of the Torah about challah:

להניח ברכה אל ביתך, (Yechezkail, 44:30)

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  • What People Say…

    Such a Lovely Thing

    This is such a lovely thing that you're doing, Tamar – ממש מזכה את הרבים! I'm not terribly surprised, you do that quite frequently. And it's an opportunity for me to express my sincere appreciation as one of the "רבים" who benefit from your creative initiatives- Yasher Kochaich.