The Mitzva of Challah

The Mitzva of הפרשת חלה, the separating of the dough when baking bread, was a Torah law in Eretz Yisrael. The Rabbis enacted that this law also be observed outside of Israel, so that it should not be forgotten.

There are those who held that even in Israel it becomes a Torah law when the majority of the Jewish people are living in Israel. This is derived from the wording of the Torah itself. There is an extra word used when describing this Mitzva. First we are told, כי תבואו אל הארץ, “When you enter the land.” This is followed by an extra word, בבואכם, “When you enter.” This redundancy teaches that when the majority of Jews enter the land, it becomes a Torah law.

The Sefer Hachinuch explains that since bread is such an important staple in our diets, Hashem added a Mitzva related to the dough, so that there will be a Divine blessing when we eat bread.

There is a commentary known as “Or Lechaim” that says the word חלה, is a hint that we begin elevating and educating our children from birth.

The ״ח״ in the word, חלה, hints to the Brit Mila at eight days. The ״ל״ hints to the Pidyon Haben that takes place at thirty days. And the ״ה״ refers to ה׳ שנים למקרא, that we begin teaching Torah to children at five years old.

There are many Halachic details related to our separating from the dough, and the blessing we make while doing so. Nevertheless, it is clear that we can sense the added level of sanctity that is added to the bread we eat, when this Mitzva is observed.