Why do we eat challah on Friday night?
The term “challah” is applied more widely to mean any bread used in Jewish rituals. On the eve of Shabbat, two loaves are placed on the table to reference the Jewish teaching that a double portion of manna fell from heaven on Friday to last through the Saturday Shabbat.
Challah functions as a physical metaphor for manna from heaven at the sabbath meal. It is baked for sharing during shabbat; candles lit, wine poured, blessings made and prayers shared.
In modern times, Jewish families often set two challah loaves for the Sabbath meal. This represents double portions of manna that fell from heaven on the sixth day, which allowed the Israelites to rest on the seventh day, instead of worrying about collecting food.
Rabbi Abba said: And on Shabbat one is required to break bread for the meal over two loaves. What is the reason? Rabbi Abba answered: Because in the Torah portion that discusses gathering manna on Friday for Shabbat, the phrase: “Lechem Mishneh”, “Twice as much bread” (Shemot/Exodus 16:22) is written.
"The reason that we do the round challah versus the braids for Rosh Hashanah is because the year is round — it represents that idea. This looks like a crown, for crowning God as king on Rosh Hashanah." The round shape also symbolizes the desire for "goodness without end" for the upcoming year (via Chabad.org).
Shabbat meals or Shabbos meals (Hebrew: סעודות שבת, romanized: Seudot Shabbat, Seudoys Shabbos) are the three meals eaten by Shabbat-observant Jews, the first on Friday night, the second on Saturday day, and the third late on Saturday afternoon.
Shabbat, the climax of the Jewish week, begins each Friday night, and the Kiddush (“sanctification”) is the traditional home ritual declaring the unique holiness of the day. Recited over a cup of wine at an elegantly set table just before the festive meal begins, the Kiddush sets a tone of peace, beauty and majesty.
If a non-Jew wants to make Challah it is completely acceptable and it is not cultural appropriation.
In the Bible, challah is the portion of bread that is set aside and given to the priests to eat (Numbers 15:19-20).
According to rabbinic tradition when the Israelites were in the desert a double portion of manna fell because It would not fall on Shabbat. Also, challah is usually shaped as a long loaf. On Rosh Hashana the challah is round to symbolize, metaphorically, the circular nature of the year.
Why can't Jews use toilet paper on Shabbat?
You're not allowed to tear things on Shabbat, so it's not a matter of not being able to use toilet paper, it just has to be cut up in advance. Some people have a custom of using tissues (Kleenex) on Shabbat, but I prefer cutting up regular paper into sections and using as needed.
Most authorities classify tearing toilet paper (or attached tissues) under the melachot of koraya (tearing), mechatech (measured cutting), and/or makeh b'patish (finishing touches). [2] As such, one must be sure to cut toilet paper before Shabbat or use tissues that are dispensed one-by-one.
According to Jewish law children have to show honor and respect to their parents by do or not doing some specific things. Replying to @mandymiller1977 We are allowed to use toilet paper on shabbos, we just are not allowed to tear on Shabbos. So many Jewish families will pre tear it or use tissue paper.
Before taking the first bite of food, the following blessing is recited: Baruch ata Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha-olam, hamotzi lechem min ha'aretz. Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who has brought forth bread from the earth.
This custom is based on the idea that just like the Jews in the dessert received manna everyday from God – we too, get our livelihood from God. We need to have faith everyday and remember that the “key” to our livelihood is in God's hands.
Nothing leavened is eaten by Jews or in their houses during Passover. The only bread served for Passover meals is Matzos, which are big square dry crackers made with no yeast and no baking soda. No, challah is a leavened bread. Leavening is not permitted during Passover.
It goes without saying that flushing a toilet is permitted on Shabbat.
Common theology. Many Christian theologians believe that Sabbath observance is not binding for Christians today, citing for instance Colossians 2:16–17.
The most traditional greeting on Shabbat is the easiest: “Shabbat Shalom” meaning, good Sabbath! You might also hear Gut Shabbes, which is Yiddish for good Sabbath. Saying Good Sabbath or Good Shabbes is a great way of greeting someone on Shabbat without speaking Hebrew.
Yes, there are zero laws that forbid drinking alchohol on Shabbat. On the contrary, on Shabbat and other festivals we say “Kiddush” which is a sabctification of the day, at the evening meal and at lumch, and it is done on wine (unless the person cannot have alchohol for some reason).
What is the most sacred day in Judaism?
The holiest day of the Jewish year, Yom Kippur means “day of atonement.” It takes place on the tenth day of Tishri, the first month of the civil year and the seventh month of the religious year in the lunisolar Hebrew calendar.
According to standard halakhic literature, the purpose of lighting of Shabbat candles is to dignify the Sabbath; before the advent of electric lighting, when the alternative was to eat in the dark, it was necessary to light lamps to create an appropriate environment.
To the rabbis, a meal without salt was considered no meal. Furthermore, in the Torah, salt symbolizes the eternal covenant between God and Israel. As a preservative, salt never spoils or decays, signifying the immortality of this bond.
In order to preserve the priority of the wine, and not to "shame" the bread which should be blessed first, the bread is “removed” by concealing it from view with the challah cover.
The word challah may be derived from an ancient Hebrew word that meant “portion.” In Biblical times, Jews were to give a portion of their bread to the kohanim, or priests, every Sabbath.
References
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shabbat_meals
- https://www.quora.com/Are-Jews-allowed-to-drink-alcohol-on-Shabbat
- https://www.thedailymeal.com/1026166/the-reason-challah-is-round-for-rosh-hashanah/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Challah_cover
- https://www.tiktok.com/@miriamezagui/video/7214932633959107882
- https://outorah.org/p/74173/
- https://www.thejc.com/judaism/jewish-words/challah-1.5930
- https://www.thedustyapron.co.nz/life-of-bread/challah-is-a-friday-thing
- https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-symbolism-behind-the-challah-loaf
- https://www.maltzmuseum.org/blog/putting-challah-in-context/
- https://outorah.org/p/76469/
- https://www.quora.com/Why-is-there-challah-bread-on-Shabbat
- https://www.lilyrosebakersblog.com/shlissel-challah/
- https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/yom-kippur-history-traditions
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Challah
- https://www.quora.com/Do-you-think-its-cultural-appropriation-as-a-non-Jewish-person-to-bake-challah
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sabbath_in_Christianity
- https://www.quora.com/Is-it-true-that-many-Jews-are-not-allowed-to-use-toilet-paper-during-the-Shabbat-day
- https://www.exploringjudaism.org/holidays/shabbat/erev-shabbat/friday-night-kiddush-the-deeper-meaning/
- https://18doors.org/_jewish_greetings_cheat_sheet/
- https://anewscafe.com/2007/12/26/redding/happy-challah-days/
- https://www.bostonjcc.org/app/uploads/2022/10/shabbat.blessings-over-bread.pdf
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shabbat_candles
- https://www.quora.com/Is-challah-eaten-during-Passover
