The holy rabbi kept an open house. All travelers were welcome. No one in need was ever turned away. One Friday, a non-Jewish beggar came in and asked for a piece of bread. The holy rabbi’s wife had only whole challahs in the house at that moment – challah that she had just baked l’koved Shabbos (in honor of Shabbos). She did not want to cut into one of these special challahs, but her husband urged, “Cut the challah, blood won’t come from it.”

The holy rabbi kept an open house. All travelers were welcome. No one in need was ever turned away. One Friday, a non-Jewish beggar came in and asked for a piece of bread. The holy rabbi’s wife had only whole challahs in the house at that moment – challah that she had just baked l’koved Shabbos (in honor of Shabbos). She did not want to cut into one of these special challahs, but her husband urged, “Cut the challah, blood won’t come from it.”

She did as her husband asked, and gave the non-Jewish beggar as much bread as he wanted to satisfy his hunger.

Sometime later, the holy rabbi had to travel along the road through a forest. He was lost in thought and was amazed at the beauty of the forest. There, he was surrounded and seized by a gang of robbers who took away everything he had. Then they marched him to their leader, who would decide whether or not to kill him.

The leader of the robber gang turned out to be the very same man to whom the holy rabbi’s wife had fed her challah! He recognized the rabbi at once, and told his men, “This holy rabbi kept me alive. Do not harm him in the least – and return everything that you have taken from him!”

The robbers did as they were ordered, and the holy rabbi was allowed to leave in peace.

When he returned home, he told his wife of his adventure and concluded by reminding her, “As I told you: ‘Cut the challah, blood won’t come from it.'”

 

 

 

Bread Machine Challah

4 Jumbo eggs, room temperature add water to make 1cup		3 1/2 cups bread flour
3-4 Tablespoons white sugar		1 Tablespoon yeast or 1 packet of yeast
4 Tablespoons olive oil or avocado oil		1 egg, beaten
1 ½ teaspoons salt		1-2 tablespoon water

Directions

Place liquid ingredients into pan of the bread machine

Combine dry ingredients and then add to the liquid in the Bread Machine pan

Select Dough cycle; press Start.

After the machine is done, take the dough out, and place it on a very lightly floured board, punch the dough down, and let rest for 5 minutes.

Divide the dough in half. Then divide into 4 equal pieces, roll into ropes about 12 to 14 inches, and braid into a loaf. Do the same with the remaining other half. Gently put the loaves on a greased cookie sheet or bread pans, mist with water, and let rise for 1 to 1 1/2 hours in a warm, draft free place, until double in size.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). In a small bowl, beat together 1 egg and 1 tablespoon water.

Brush risen loaves with egg mixture. Bake in preheated oven for about 20 to 25 minutes. If it begins to brown too soon, cover with foil.

 

 

 

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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Tell it to your children, and let your children tell it to their children, and their children to the next generation. (Joel 1:3)

Rachmiel Tobesman is a motivational speaker and Maggid (spiritual Storyteller). He is available for speaking engagements or storytelling, Click here to contact us

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