Great Big Challah Bake Brings 500 Together at Temple Israel

More than 500 Westchester residents came together for the Great Big Challah Bake, kicking off The Shabbat Project. The event took place on Thursday, November 10, 2016, at Temple Israel Center in White Plains.

The Shabbat Project is a global, grassroots movement that brings Jews from across the world together around their shared heritage of Shabbat. Jews of all walks of life — religious, secular, and traditional; young and old; from all backgrounds — came together with the common goal of preparing for the Jewish Sabbath by baking challah.

The event was held in collaboration with UJA-Federation of New York in Westchester, the JCC of Mid-Westchester, the Westchester Jewish Council, the Shames JCC on the Hudson, UJA-Federation's Engage Jewish Service Corps, the Jewish Renaissance Experience, Young Israel of Harrison, Temple Israel Center, and Seasons.

Live screens around the room displayed instructions about kneading and braiding from Rebbetzin Faygie Bienenfeld of Young Israel of Harrison, who spoke about the traditions surrounding baking challah. While the dough was rising, the group broke out in spirited dancing to the sounds of Israeli music played by the DJ, celebrating their unity and shared heritage.

"This year, UJA has challenged us not only to build community by participating in the Challah Bake, but to transform it into a mitzvah opportunity, too," said Event Chair Nicky Ziman of Scarsdale. "With that mandate in mind, each of us will share some of our dough to make challah rolls that will go to clients of agencies that UJA-Federation supports."

The challah rolls were included in bags of food packaged the next day, Veterans Day, at the JCC of Mid-Westchester in Scarsdale. After children decorated the bags and included cards inside, they were filled and delivered to the homebound elderly through DOROT Westchester and distributed through the Bronx Jewish Community Council's food pantry. Both are UJA-Federation beneficiary agencies.

"When you're hungry, what do you do? Do you ask your mom what's to eat? Go to the fridge and see what's inside? Open the drawer to take out some goldfish or a granola bar?" Brooke Fina of Scarsdale asked the children in the room. Fina served as chair of the event with Elizabeth Brucker of Scarsdale. "I'm here to tell you that if you do any of these things, you are really, really lucky. There are many people who don't have that luxury. They might not know where they'll find their next meal. And they might not always have food in their homes."

Seventy-five bags of food were packaged for delivery to those in need locally.