Once there was a woman who lived in Israel near the sea. Every day, she baked four loaves of bread. She would give three of the loaves to people in need. And she’d keep the fourth one for her family.

One day, after she’d given away three of the loaves of bread, a fourth person came to her door. What could she do? So she gave that person the fourth loaf of bread. And then she realized that she had no more flour in her barrel to bake another bread. So she went off to the store to buy some more. She walked along the seashore, humming to herself. After she had picked up the sack of flour from the store, she put it onto her head to carry it and began to walk back home.

Suddenly, the sky grew dark, and a storm rose up. A great gust of wind whirled around her head and blew the sack of flour off of her head and out to sea. Well, she ran after the sack, shouting, what did I do to deserve this injustice? How will I feed my family? But there really wasn’t anyone around to hear her. So she turned away from the sea and started to walk back home.

But on the way home, she changed directions. And instead of walking home, she walked all the way to Jerusalem, and she went straight to the palace of King Solomon the Wise. When the guards saw how determined she was, they let her right in to see the king. She began to tell the wise King Solomon all about the sack of flour and the gust of wind.

But as she was just about finishing her story, there was a great big commotion as 10 sailors carrying 10 sacks of gold burst into the room. We want to give these sacks of gold to the person who saved our lives, one of them said. King Solomon listened with great interest. How did this person save your lives? the King said.

Well, we are traveling merchants. And we were sailing close to the harbor when our ship began to sink. There was a hole, and we were sinking fast. The ship would have sunk, and we would have drowned. But just as suddenly, the water stopped flooding in.

We examined the hole, and we saw a bag of flour there. The flour had mixed with the water, and it made a dough. And the dough plugged up the hole and stopped the water from flooding our ship. This sack of flour saved us. So we want to reward the person whose sack it is. We were told to come to Jerusalem because you are the wisest king, and you would be able to help us.

A sailor pulled the sack out of his pocket and handed it to the king, who laughed as he turned to the woman. Would you recognize your sack? he asked. Of course, she said. My name is on it. The king examined it. And lo and behold, there was her name.

King Solomon said, of course, it is you who deserves the reward from these grateful sailors. Your sack of flour saved them. Without it, they surely would have drowned. And so she took the gold. She bought a lot more flour and was able to feed everyone in need.

Flour Woman’s Challah

Makes 2 braided loaves

INGREDIENTS

DIRECTIONS

• In a large mixing bowl, mix water and sugar add yeast and let sit

• Beat eggs, salt and oil until well blended

• Add the flour one cup at a time, beating after each addition, graduating to kneading with hands as dough thickens.

• Knead until smooth and elastic and no longer sticky, adding flour as needed.

• Form dough into a ball and place in an oiled bowl, turning to coat all sides. Cover with a damp clean cloth and let rise for 1 1/2 hours or until dough has doubled in bulk.

• Punch down the risen dough and turn out onto floured board. Divide in half and knead each half for five minutes or so, adding flour as needed to keep from getting sticky.

• Divide each half into quarters and roll into long snakes about 1 1/2 inches in diameter. Pinch the ends of the four snakes together firmly and braid. from middle. Pinch ends of the finished braids together.

• Grease two baking pans and place finished braid each. Cover with towel and let rise about one hour.

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

• Beat the remaining egg with 1 tablespoon of water and brush a generous amount over each braid.

• Sprinkle with poppy seeds or any other desired topping (optional).

• Bake at 350 degrees F for about 20 to 30 minutes. Bread should have a nice hollow sound when thumped on the bottom. Cool on a rack for at least one hour before slicing.

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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