On February 20th, 2020, just four months after the last JSA Challah Bake, young women from all college campuses gathered once more in a spiritual and fun evening to make an important staple of all Shabbat meals – challah! This event, organized by the Jewish Students Association (JSA) of St. John’s University, was particularly dedicated to be a Mother-Daughter Challah Bake where students can fulfill this wonderful mitzvah with their biggest role-models.
Beginning just after sunset, the women joined the JSA family in the D’Angelo Center to prepare the holy bread. Upon arrival, the ladies were greeted with a delicious catered Shawarma dinner and warm smiles from the JSA executive board members who had just finished preparing the room for the event. Within twenty minutes, the mere conference room was transformed into an environment of bustling energy and excitement as students and mothers reunited with friends and family and met new faces.
As the last couple of women arrived, William Dayanayev, the President of JSA, opened the night with a brief speech recounting the illustrious history of the student organization that started with three students and grew to what now consists of nearly 300 students. President Dayanayev explained all proceeds from the Challah Bake would go towards running JSA and hosting a variety of events, such as holiday celebrations, weekly meetings, Shabbatons, and future challah bakes. He then introduced the Challah Event Leader, Mrs. Rebecca Levy, who is a neurotherapist whom many recognized from her wonderful shiyurs in the Bukharian Jewish Congregation of Jamaica Estates. Mrs. Levy led the young women and mothers throughout the night in the Kosher and spiritual preparation of the Challah. As the ladies claimed their bowls and rolled up their sleeves, they began what would become an exciting and unforgettable night.
Mothers and Daughters
As opposed to the previous Challah Bake JSA hosted in November 2019, this challah bake was extra special in that it was dedicated for all the young women and their mothers. Hand in hand, the mothers and daughters partook in the mitzvah of making challah while also learning more about their Jewish values. In an interview with the Religious Chair of JSA, Daniella Bababekov stated that, “Baking challah is one of a woman’s three major mitzvot… and what better inspiration than a mother and daughter baking challah and encouraging each other to engage in this mitzvah… girls can [also] bake and bond with their moms and learn together during the shiyur.”
Freshman Gabriella Borukhov participated with her mother and sister, sophomore Daniella Borukhov, in making the challah and her thoughts on this arrangement were in sync with what Religious Chair Bababekov had in mind for the event. “I got to spend quality time with my mother while trying to get close to Hashem” stated Gabriella. “We got to bond over how to properly mix and knead the challah while saying a prayer to Hashem so that our family can be blessed and only see good days.”
With regards to the mother-daughter aspect of this challah bake, Vice President of JSA Isabella Yunaev added that “I loved being a part of the Mother Daughter Challah Bake…I was able to pray to G-d with my mom right beside me. We were able to share the spiritual connection with each other. Girls usually go to challah bakes with their friends, however you can see the smiles on all the mothers and grandmothers faces that they were able to share something so special.”
Making the Challah
Preparing the challah came with a multitude of steps through which Mrs. Levy led the girls and their mothers as they followed along using the beautifully placed bowls, ingredients, and place mats with printed instructions provided by JSA and EMET, a close educational partner of the student organization. Mrs. Levi stressed of the importance of thinking of their prayers while making Challah. A crucial step in the process also involves separating a portion of the dough to symbolize the dough that used to be given as an offering during the times of the Beit HaMikdash. In current times, this portion of the dough is burned.
While making the dough, Freshman Michelle Aronbayev explained, “The environment was very welcoming and warm. The executive board was constantly going around trying to help people make the challah. The room was filled with smiles and the connection between the mothers and daughters making their challah was beautiful!” Freshman Gabriella Borukhov also added that the environment was very spiritual and positive and enjoyed the fact that the speaker took the time to acknowledge the symbolism behind each ingredient. Mrs. Levy explained that what seems to be mere flour actually symbolizes sustenance and our relationships with others; the water symbolizes life and Torah since as we cannot live without water, we also cannot live without Torah; the yeast represents growth and expansion; the eggs represent renewing a lifecycle and fertility; oil was used by the Kohen Gadol to light the Menorah in the Beit HaMikdash and symbolizes holiness and purity; sugar of course represents sweetness; and salt represents discipline.
As in the previous challah bake, while the dough was given time to rise, the lights were turned off and a spiritual song was played as the mothers and daughters took the time to pray for what they needed. Religious Chair Bababekov stated, “We definitely accomplished our goal of making challah bakes more spiritual like we did last time. When the lights were turned off and “Aba” was playing and the women were davening it was once again a beautiful, magical sight and feeling… when the lights are off, and the music is touching your soul, and the world is turned off for a second, and we are speaking to the creator of the world… nothing else matters, and this is the taste of Shabbat that they are preparing for with their challah.” Gabriella Borukhov also added that, “It felt as if Hashem was there with us and answering our Brachot and prayers. I truly believe Hashem was there and helped all of us connect to Him.”
Organizing the Challah Bake
Before all events hosted by JSA, and notwithstanding this challah bake, the executive board members worked diligently and meticulously to assure the event was a success. Treasurer Nina Aronov stated that, “When planning for the challah bake, it took a lot of team work. We had to sit down as an executive board and discuss exactly what we wanted and our vision for this challah bake. Like every challah bake, the night before we had to sit and separate all the ingredients in the perfect amount so it would be easy for the people making the challah.”
Additionally, Religious Chair Bababekov said that, “It was much easier planning for the challah bake this time being that it was our second time this year. We knew the recipe, the exact amount of ingredients and calculations, where to get all the items like bowls and aprons…we did make some small changes in order to make people more comfortable than last semester such as decreasing the amount of seats at a table to that it will be more roomy…We also set up a water station in order to give everyone ‘pre mixed’ warm water…as opposed to them mixing hot and cold water themselves at their tables.”
Braiding Forward
After the event, everyone took their challahs and some souvenirs, such as the JSA custom-made aprons home and baked their beautiful challahs for Shabbat the following day. Natalie Pleshty, a very dedicated help throughout the preparation of the event, said “my challah came out very fluffy and soft, perfect for the Shabbat table!” Gabriella Borukhov seconded and said, “The challah was absolutely delicious, I am definitely using this recipe in the future. We had so much dough left so I decided to make chocolate croissants for my friends and family…I am looking forward to the future JSA challah bakes!” Finally, Vice President Yunaev also added that, “the challah bake came out exactly how we envisioned it to be. It was a good idea to make third challah bake semi-annual because we make it more accessible for women to complete and share the mitzvah of making challah.”
This event could not have taken place without those who attended, the dedication of the executive board, and the sponsors of the Jewish Students Association. Due to this, JSA asks that anyone who can support the organization in any way please donate on their website: donate.jsasju.org. JSA hopes to continue its semi-annual challah bake tradition next semester to bring young women together to perform a crucial and special mitzvah with their family and friends.
By Sharona Priyev
JSA Kneads It Up In 3rd Semi-Annual Challah Bake
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