Challah Mitzvah
By: Betty Nelander
Palm Beach Daily News
Wednesday,October 1, 2014
Rebbetzin Hindel Levitin works on a round braid challah at the Sept. 22 Mega Challah Bake. When completed, the challah resembles a crown (right) in honor of the Jewish New Year. Photo by Ron Warren. 
Rivka Levitin (from left), Vida Sapojnikova, Emily Mandell and Kayla Esther Zakarin sing "Shabbat Queen" Sept. 22 at the Mega Challah Bake at the Marriott West Palm Beach. |
Challah mitzvah — A Mega Challah Bake, organized by 11 area Chabad centers Sept. 22 at the West Palm Beach Marriott, drew more than 400 women focused on the empowerment of Jewish women through a program that included speakers, song, prayer, dance and the mitzvah of baking challah.
Rebbetzin Hindel Levitin of Chabad of Northern Palm Beach Islanddemonstrated how to make a round braid raisin challah. “The toppings offered on the table were sweet and the challah was round in honor of Rosh Hashanah,” she said.
The program ended with hundreds of women dancing “as the feeling of unity spread … in an evening of celebration and anticipation of a happy, healthy and sweet New Year.”