My Little Challah Maker

The moment I knew I was having a girl I couldn't wait for the day we would make challah and light shabboes candles together. Every shabboes Sadie watches me light candles. She stands by my side participating in a tradition passed on from Jewish mother to daughter for generations. When I cover my eyes with my hands Sadie covers her eyes and prays alongside me. Together we continue a tradition hundreds (if not thousands) of years long. We are another link in the chain of Jewish women. When Sadie turns three she will light her own candle for the first time and hopefully pass on the custom to her daughter.

Another beautiful tradition passed on from mother to daughter is making challah. Last Friday Sadie helped me make challah from scratch. We stirred the flour, sugar, oil and eggs together. Every ingredient was greeted with a "what's that?" Sadie's desire to participate slowed down the process a lot - a simple stirring of ingredients became a battle of who could stir and how much of the ingredients would stay in the bowl while Sadie stirred.

Once the dough rose on its own for a few hours Sadie and I spent over an hour kneading the dough. I loved watching Sadie work the dough with her fingers. Her enthusiasm and joy was infectious. Making challah with Sadie became an act of bonding. Sadie and I were infusing our challah with love.

Sadie's happy, crooked smile covered in melted butter made the whole day worth it!