I make a lot of challah. The retreat center I live at often engages in a specific process involving challah, and I’m lucky enough to sometimes get to be the chef for the weekend, which means I’m the one responsible for making said challah.
I could probably write a whole book about challah, and maybe someday I will. It’s a truly magical bread, and the making of it is a potent process.
Sometimes I cook with friends; sometimes they make the challah; sometimes I do…sometimes we create it together. Sometimes the kitchen is full of chaos and noise while I’m kneading the dough and braiding it. Sometimes I’m happy; sometimes I’m sad. Every challah is perfect, even the imperfect ones, and every challah-making experience is a ritual in its own right and comes with its own challenges and lessons.