Challah making draws hundreds for Shabbat San Diego

Isaac Barken, 3, gets ready to help his mother make a challah
Isaac Barken, 3, gets ready to help his mother make a challah


By Donald H. Harrison

Donald H. Harrison
Donald H. Harrison
Challah makers work under Stars of David chandeliers in Tifereth Israel Synagogue's social hall
Challah makers work under Stars of David chandeliers in Tifereth Israel Synagogue’s social hall

SAN DIEGO – No doubt about it, the Jewish community of San Diego made a lot of dough Thursday night, Oct. 22.

And community members will bake it into challot (challahs) in time to serve them with Friday night Shabbat dinners throughout the county.

It was all part of the Shabbat San Diego celebration, which was a component of the global Shabbat celebration being held over the same weekend in 550 cities in 65 countries around the world.

At Tifereth Israel Synagogue an estimated 400 children and men and women were led through the ritual of challah making by Paula Mantell and Laurel Bessler.  Each participant received a bowl for kneading, the seven ingredients (yeast, sugar, water, oil, eggs, salt and flour) and a souvenir apron celebrating the togetherness of the global Jewish community.

Larry Vigdor shows himself to be a two-handed chef
Larry Vigdor shows himself to be a two-handed chef

Paula Mantell said the seven ingredients remind us of the days of the week, with two in particular – sugar and oil—representing respectively the sweetness in our lives and the specialness—the anointing—of the community “when we do this together.”

Paula’s husband, Michael Mantell – a member of the Shabbat San Diego steering committee – said a columnist once asked if a Jew kept only one mitzvah which one would be the most impactful, and the chief rabbis of South Africa and Great Britain responded “Shabbat.”

The question led to “the largest world unity Shabbat in history—amazing!” Michael Mantell said.

Selwyn Isakow, who was the community co-chair with Robyn Lichter of Shabbat San Diego, said the challah making was the opening event in several days of events anticipating, then celebrating, and finally reflecting on Shabbat, which all told is expected to attract over 20,000 participants in San Diego County alone.

Selwyn Isakow
Selwyn Isakow

“Tonight we are all one,” Isakow said.  “Yes, we may have different customs but we are all Jews and we understand the importance of respecting each other’s beliefs.  Shabbat San Diego believes in inclusivity and cooperation irrespective of denominations, affiliations or life styles…. The mosaic of the Jewish people’s disparate beliefs is indeed truly amazing as we come together to celebrate Shabbat with the objective of building a strong, vibrant, growing and sustainable community here in San Diego.”

Reflecting the diversity of Shabbat San Diego was the presence of leaders from different streams of Judaism.  For example, Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal of host congregation Tifereth Israel Synagogue is a spiritual leader in the Conservative movement; Rabbi Devorah Marcus, who joined in the singing of Hebrew songs to keep the bakers entertained, is a Reform rabbi; Rabbi Rafi Andrusier, who led a prayer for Israel, is the head of Chabad of East County, and Rabbi Simcha Weiser, an Orthodox rabbi, is the headmaster of the Soille San Diego Hebrew Day School.

“While we enjoy this evening,” said Isakow, “we think of the senseless violence our brethren in Israel are suffering.”

Indeed, Israel was never far from the thoughts of the participants.  The evening began with the singing of both the American and Israeli national anthems led by Debbie Mishek.

When challah is consumed on Friday nights, it is traditional to tear the bread, rather than to cut it with a

Rabbi Devorah Marcus of Temple Emanu-El
Rabbi Devorah Marcus of Temple Emanu-El
Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal of Tifereth Israel Synagogue
Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal of Tifereth Israel Synagogue
steve, eliana and Randi Rose
Steve, Eliana and Randi Rose
Claire Altman and granddaughter Hazel Elizabeth Altman
Claire Altman and granddaughter Hazel Elizabeth Altman, 4

knife.   Rabbi Rosenthal explained that “a knife is made of metal and it is a sign of war. The challah of Shabbat is a sign of peace.  You don’t want to use an implement of war on a symbol of peace, and so you tear the challah for the sake of Shalom.”

In a brief interview, Rosenthal described Shabbat San Diego as “important because it brings the community together in a common cause and effort.  And as Ahad Ha’am (a Hebrew essayist) said ‘more than the Jewish people have kept the Shabbat, Shabbat has kept the Jewish people together.’”

Beth Klareich, program director of Tifereth Israel Synagogue, said a corps of approximately 40 volunteers worked on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday to make ready for the mass challah preparation.  The baking will occur in the homes of the individual participants, where many will celebrate Shabbat with guests.  Others will attend communal dinners.

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Harrison is editor of San Diego Jewish World.  He may be contacted via donald.harrison@sdjewishworld.com