Fall 2004 | Updated May 2025<\/p>\n\n\n\n
[For a related article about the halachos of hafrashas challah <\/em>for gluten-free blends, whole wheat flour, sourdough and at challah bakes, click here<\/a>.]<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the many ways Klal Yisroel serves the Ribbono Shel Olam is through the performance of mitzvos hateluyos ba\u2019aretz<\/i>, mitzvos<\/i> that are dependent on the Land of Israel. Those who live in Israel have many opportunities to fulfill these mitzvos<\/i>. In chutz la\u2019aretz<\/i>, the mitzvah of hafrashas <\/i>challah <\/em>is one of the only agricultural mitzvos<\/i> that we are obligated to perform.1<\/a><\/sup> <\/p>\n\n\n\n It is well known that this is one of the mitzvos<\/i> performed preferentially by women. Furthermore, one honors the Shabbos by baking and being mafrish <\/i>challah <\/em>on Erev Shabbos.2<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n The following are halachic guidelines<\/i> based on the psak<\/i> of Rabbi Moshe Heinemann shlit”a<\/i>.3<\/a><\/sup> <\/p>\n\n\n\n Products kneaded from chameishes minei dagan<\/i> (wheat, spelt, barley, oats, and rye) are obligated in hafrashas challah<\/i>. Baked goods produced from other grains are exempt from this mitzvah<\/i>. One is obligated in hafrashas challah<\/i> only when the dough was mixed\/kneaded while in the possession of a Yehudi. If the dough was kneaded in the possession of a non-Jew, and the Yehudi then acquires the product, there is no obligation for hafrashas challah<\/i>.4<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n For example, challah is not taken from bread or cookies manufactured by a non-Jewish company, even when a Jewish customer buys them. The same is true when one purchases frozen dough kneaded while it was owned by a Gentile. However, if one purchases dough that was mixed\/kneaded while it was owned by a Jew who was not mafrish challah<\/i>, one must perform hafrashas challah<\/i> as soon as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Min Hatorah<\/em>, the amount of flour one must knead to be obligated in hafrashas challah<\/em> is an asiris ha’eifa<\/em>. This is equivalent to the volume of 43 \u2155 eggs.5<\/a><\/sup> The exact volume of an “egg” is questionable due to various factors, including the possible “downsizing” of the eggs used today in comparison with those used in Talmudic times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u25ba Separating Challah (hafrashas challah<\/em>) Without a Bracha<\/strong> \u2013 One should separate challah without a bracha when kneading a dough that contains at least 8\u2154 cups of wheat flour (on average 2.6 lbs.).6<\/a><\/sup> <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u25ba Separating Challah With a Bracha<\/strong> \u2013 There are differences of opinion as to how much flour is needed to recite a bracha. Some individuals do so when kneading at least 12 \u00bc cups of flour (slightly more than 3 \u2154 lbs.).7<\/a><\/sup> Others only do so when kneading at least 5 lbs. of flour8<\/a><\/sup> (about 16 \u00bd <\/sup>cups of flour). When being mafrish<\/em>, l\u2019chatchila<\/em> one pulls off a kezayis<\/em> of dough.9<\/a><\/sup> <\/p>\n\n\n\n These measurements apply when baking bread or any other Hamotzi<\/i> product. When kneading dough for baking pas haba\u2019ah b\u2019kisnin<\/i> (e.g., cake and cookies), for boiling (e.g., noodles), or for frying, one is mafrish challah<\/i> if 2.6 lbs. (8\u2154 cups) of flour are used. A bracha is not recited even if more than 5 lbs. of flour are used.10<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n After kneading,11<\/a><\/sup> while standing, one should hold with the right hand,12<\/a><\/sup> a k\u2019zayis<\/i> of the dough (without detaching it) and recite13<\/a><\/sup> the bracha: \u201c\u2026asher kidshanu b\u2019mitzvosav v\u2019tzivanu l\u2019hafrish challah <\/i>\u201d (some add the words min ha\u2019eesa<\/i>).14<\/a><\/sup> One should then pull off the dough.15<\/a><\/sup> At this point, some recite the words \u201charei zu challah <\/i>\u201d (one may not say this until the piece has been pulled off). When being mafrish<\/i> without a bracha, one should simply pull off the dough and say \u201charei zu challah<\/i>.\u201d If a liquidy batter (e.g., chocolate cake) is prepared, one must perform the hafrasha<\/i> only after the product is baked.16<\/a><\/sup> <\/p>\n\n\n\n The challah should then be burned17<\/a><\/sup> as soon as possible until it is completely charred. One should not store the challah <\/i> for future burning (e.g. freeze it for burning at biur chametz<\/i> on Erev Pesach, as this undermines one of the reasons we burn the dough, shelo yavo leydai takala<\/i>, that one will not accidentally mix this dough (which is challah <\/i>) with regular dough and inadvertently bake and eat it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The <\/i>challah may be burned in a regular oven or toaster oven if it is wrapped in foil. However, one may not burn the challah in an oven that is simultaneously baking bread or other products.18<\/a><\/sup> After burning the challah <\/i>, it should be wrapped in something waterproof and discarded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the most complex yet important aspects of hilchos <\/i>challah is \u201ccombining\u201d two doughs into one. This issue, known as hitztarfus<\/i>, can be divided into three categories:<\/p>\n\n\n\n If two or more doughs individually do not have a shiur large enough to require hafrashas challah<\/i>, but collectively add up to a shiur<\/i> (as addressed earlier), under certain conditions halacha<\/i> states they are mitztaref<\/i> (collectively add up to a shiur<\/i>). For example, if one kneads three separate doughs, each using two pounds of flour (i.e. individually, there is no obligation to be mafrish <\/i>challah on each small batch), they now collectively add up to six pounds. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If one does not care that the doughs are mixed with each other,25<\/a><\/sup> one is obligated in hafrashas <\/i>challah if they meet any of the following conditions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n The above also applies if someone baked several batches that add up to a shiur hachayav b\u2019challah<\/i> (i.e., a large enough amount that one is obligated in hafrashas <\/i>challah – see section B) and stores them in one bag or container. For example, if a woman uses two pounds of flour to bake rolls on three different occasions, and stores all the unwrapped27<\/a><\/sup> rolls in one container, the six pounds are now mitztaref<\/i> and she is required to be mafrish challah<\/i>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The same applies to other products, including cookies, stored in a bag or plastic container. Under any of these conditions, if the doughs combine to make the required shiur<\/i>, one is mafrish <\/i>challah from one dough. This action would take care of challah for all the doughs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For example, if one kneaded two 3 lb. batches and placed the doughs in one container, allowing them to touch, one would recite a bracha<\/i> and only be mafrish<\/i> a k\u2019zayis<\/i> from one of the batches (since there is now a total of 6 lbs.). If one kneaded two 1\u00bd lb. batches (i.e., if each dough was left alone, they would not require hafrashas challah<\/i>), and placed them in a container allowing them to touch, one is mafrish<\/i> a k\u2019zayis<\/i> from one dough without a bracha<\/i>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If two doughs are kneaded separately and each dough individually has a shiur that is obligated in challah<\/i>, these doughs are mitztaref<\/i> if they are min hamukaf<\/i> (\u201cin the same vicinity”). This means as follows: If they are not in containers they are min hamukaf<\/i> if they are in front of the individual being mafrish <\/i>challah or the doughs are anywhere in the same room.28<\/a><\/sup> If the doughs are in containers, they are min hamukaf<\/i> if the containers are open and next to each other.29<\/a><\/sup> <\/p>\n\n\n\n Under these conditions, one may be mafrish <\/i>challah <\/em>from one dough and it will apply to all the doughs that are min hamukaf<\/i>. For example, if one kneads two doughs, that each use 5 lbs. of flour, and the doughs were on different tables in the same room, one may be mafrish<\/i> on one dough and have in mind for this separation to work on the other dough.30<\/a><\/sup> <\/p>\n\n\n\n The same halacha<\/i> applies if one dough has a shiur<\/i> and the other doughs do not.31<\/a><\/sup> For example, if one dough consists of 5 lbs. of flour and the other dough consists of 2 lbs., and they both are in front of the individual being mafrish <\/i>challah or on tables in the same room, the 2 lb. dough is mitztaref<\/i> with the 5 lb. dough. One is only required to be mafrish<\/i> a k\u2019zayis<\/i> from the 5 lb. dough.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As previously indicated, if one kneads a batch that has a shiur<\/i> that requires hafrashas <\/i>challah and forgets to take challah until after it was baked, one may still be mafrish<\/i> on the fully baked goods. It is not necessary to bring all the loaves together for the hafrasha<\/i>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For example, if one bakes six loaves of bread from one batch using a total of 5 lbs. of flour, and these six loaves are now stored in different freezers, one can simply perform the hafrasha<\/i> on one loaf, even if the other loaves are not present.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If one bakes using a shiur hachayav b’challah<\/i> with the intention of separating the finished product into smaller items for distribution, one should be mafrish challah<\/i> without a bracha. For example, if a first grade class kneads a batch of dough using 5 lbs. of flour, and the batch is divided into ten parts, with each child baking her own roll to bring home for Shabbos, they should be mafrish challah<\/i> without a bracha. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The same applies when baking for Mishloach Manos<\/i>. If an individual kneads a large batch of dough (e.g. using 5 lbs. of flour) with the intention of distributing the baked goods (e.g., rolls for Mishloach Manos<\/i>) to others, one does not recite a bracha when being mafrish challah<\/i>.32<\/a><\/sup> To recite a bracha<\/i> there must be a shiur<\/i> obligated in challah<\/i> used for one family. For example, If one baked using 10 lbs. of flour and 5 lbs. (or according to some, even 3\u2154 lbs.) are for one family and the other 5 lbs. are for distribution, one would recite a bracha<\/i>, as the 5 lbs. for the one family is enough to obligate one in hafrashas challah<\/i>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If one person bakes dough with 5 lbs. of flour and uses half of it this Shabbos<\/em> and freezes the rest for eating next Shabbos<\/em>, challah<\/em> should be taken with a bracha<\/i> after the dough is kneaded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If one bakes without using any water, but rather bakes using only fruit juice or vegetable oil, a bracha<\/i> <\/em>is not recited and one cannot burn the challah. Due to the complexity regarding this halacha<\/i>, the Shulchan Aruch<\/i>33<\/a><\/sup> advises that one should always use water34<\/a><\/sup> when baking a shiur hachayav b\u2019challah<\/i>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The reason is as follows: challah can only be burned when it is tamei<\/i> (impure). To become tamei<\/i>, it must first become muchsher L’kabel tumah<\/i>. This means water or other specific liquids35<\/a><\/sup> have come in contact with the challah. If none of these specified liquids are used, the challah can never become tamei<\/i> and therefore cannot be burned and a bracha<\/i> is not recited. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It should be noted that, nowadays, wheat kernels used to make regular wheat flour are tempered with water. This process makes them muchsher l’kabel tumah<\/i>. Therefore, nowadays when baking with regular wheat flour,36<\/a><\/sup> one may l’chatchila<\/i> knead these products without water, recite a bracha<\/i> when being mafrish<\/i> (if there is a shiur<\/i>), and burn the challah after hafrasha<\/i>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The problems related to kneading without water as addressed by the Shulchan Aruch<\/i> would still apply when baking with rye or spelt flour, since these grains are not tempered (unless they are made into flakes). Similarly, the problems would apply to oat flour, barley flour and whole wheat flour since the kernels that are ground to make these types of flour are not always tempered or steamed, making it possible that they are not muchsher l’kabel tumah<\/i>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Therefore, one should only knead whole wheat, barley, spelt, and rye flour with at least a small amount of water or with one of the liquids that is muchsher l’kabel tumah<\/i>.<\/p>\n\n\n\nA. Products<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
B. Measurements<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
C. The Procedure<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
D. Errors<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
E. Combination of Doughs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\u25ba If Each Individual Dough is Less Than a Shiur<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n
\u25ba If One or More Doughs Has a Shiur<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\u25ba If One Forgot to Take Off Challah From the Original Batch<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
F. Special Cases<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\u25ba Dividing a Dough<\/b> <\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\u25ba Baking Without Water<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Final Thoughts…<\/h2>\n\n\n\n