How college students are combining thier love of baking with a piece of their Jewish culture to benefit charitites and organizations. BY FRANKIE SAILER | PHOTO BY TORI SAMPSON
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n the Jewish culture, challah is so much more than just a loaf of bread. The term challah refers to the act of separating dough into parts before it is braided into a final loaf. Challah was first introduced historically when a blessing was said over two loaves, and then distributed to the children of Israel during their Exodus from Egypt. Challah is an integral part of Shabbat, the weekly holiday celebrated on Friday nights honoring the day of rest in the Jewish religion. Challah comes in different shapes and sizes that all have different meanings, such as the circular shaped loaf that’s only eaten on Rosh Hashanah, which symbolizes the cyclical nature of a new year. At Syracuse University, students involved in the organization Challah for Hunger are sharing their love of challah and using it to help impact the greater Syracuse community. Roughly seven years ago, Challah For Hunger at Syracuse University began. Challah For Hunger is a nonprofit organization that makes and sells challah to raise money and donate to the Meals On 50 | baked
Wheels of Syracuse and Mazon, an international organization that helps to fight hunger in the US and Israel. The chapter was started by Rebecca Leon, who had a passion for helping others and a personal connection to challah that she wanted to share. She had learned about similar Challah For Hunger organizations across other college campuses, and took the initiative to start her own. The current president, Ariel Hylton, explained that she had come with a sorority sister early in her freshman year, and fell in love with the organization. She was quickly offered a position on their executive board and eventually worked her way up to president. Hylton’s love for challah comes from her memories of making it with her family during the holidays. Challah For Hunger gives students the ability to bring together their cultural roots with their passion for community service. The organization is extremely inclusive, and does not require members to be religious, but to have enthusiasm for baking
