The Separation of Challah, part 1 vol.2 no.4

In Bamidbar (15:17) we are taught about the commandment of separating challah . Challah is the portion which one must separate from any dough produced by a Jew made from the five grains (wheat, barley, rye, oats, spelt). Although in earlier times this portion would be presented to a Kohain, nowadays since our Kohanim no longer retain the ritual purity necessary to partake of the challah, the challah portion is burned.

The portion separated should preferably be no less than a kezayis, the equivalent to approximately one fluid ounce. The brocha of "...lihafrish challah min ha'esa" (...He who has sanctified us...to separate challah from the dough) is recited immediately preceeding the separation of the challah. Prior to the separation of the challah it is inappropriate to eat from the dough or the bread baked from it. Variant opinions exist in determining the volume of flour content in the dough for the obligation of challah. According to one commonly accepted opinion, challah is separated from any dough containing at least three and one half pounds of flour. However, the brocha is only recited if the dough contains at least three and three quarter pounds of flour.

If the original dough was divided afterwards into smaller portions the obligation of challah stilll remains. In this case challah for the entire dough may be separated from any one of the new portions. (According to the Aruch Hashulchan (Y.D. 326 # 10) this rule applies even if the dough was kneaded with the intention of dividing it afterwards.)

Even if the dough was baked prior to the separation of the challah, the obligation of separating challah still remains. As when challah is separated as dough, an ounce of bread should be detached and burned. Nonetheless, the correct procedure is always to separate the challah in its dough stage.

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