Note 44 — II. OUR DUTIES. (continued 2)

The loaves are called birchoth (‏ברכות‎), taashir (‏תעשיר‎), or challah (‏חלה‎). The first name they received as symbols of God’s blessing, the double portion of manna which the Almighty sent to the Israelites on Friday because of the Sabbath (see Rashi on Gen. ii. 3). The verse, “The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich” (‏תעשיר‎, Prov. x. 22), suggested the second name. Challah reminds us of the commandment to give the first part of the dough to the priest (Num. xv. 17–21). Although at present this commandment cannot be carried out, we separate a small piece, called challah, of the dough which we prepare for bread, and burn it, after having recited an appropriate blessing.44 It is customary to prepare the dough for the Sabbath loaves at home, in order to be able to act in accordance with this custom. This is one of the religious acts which it is the special duty of women to perform, and some of the pious women of Israel (‏נשים צדקניות‎) have the praiseworthy custom to lay something aside for charity when performing this or similar religious acts.