The Separation of Challah, part 2 vol.2 no.5

As we have previously mentioned, an individual dough containing less than three and one quarter pounds of flour is not obligated in the separation of challah. However, the combination or association of individual doughs is regarded for halachic purposes as one large quantity and when totalling three and one quarter pounds of flour necessitates the separation of challah. The following guidelines are helpful in determining such combination and association. It should be noted that once this combination or association has been established the obligation of separating challah from each dough remains even after they have been detached from each other.

1. If the individual doughs are pressed together to the extent that part of one remains attached to the other even after their separation they are regarded as one.
2. If the individual doughs share a common enclosure, e.g. a container, they are regarded for halachic purposes as associated to each other and are considered one. Most halachic opinions maintain that the enclosure must be a complete one, covering all of the sides of the dough. If the doughs extend above the walls of the container challah should be separated without reciting the brocha over its separation. In this situation it is best to place a cloth or towel over the top and sides of the dough to complete the enclosure, and then (given the proper amount of flour, three and one half pounds) the brocha is recited.
3. A special example of association through enclosure is the placement of multiple doughs in one oven at the same time. This association regards the doughs as one and necessitates the separation of challah even in their present form as bread. In this situation one may choose to separate the challah in the dough form by combining the doughs prior to their baking through any of the methods mentioned above.
4. The principle of enclosure is limited to the doughs themselves sharing one common enclosure. However if the bread or doughs are individually wrapped in bags or enclosed in their own containers they are not considered associated. Therefore if bags of bread, each containing less than the required amount of flour, are placed together in a freezer or refrigerator they are not regarded as associated to each other and do not neccesitate the seperation of challah.

It is important to note that our discussion regarding the association of doughs is limited to doughs of similar nature. In such cases the owner could, theoretically, accept their combination and therefore they are considered one. However if the doughs are of different natures, e.g. whole wheat and regular flour, since their combination is inacceptable to the owner they can not be regarded as one and do not necessitate the separation of challah.

Use to go to the next halacha page.

Use to return to the home page or to return to the halacha index.

Kollel Toras Chesed: Meeting The Challenge!