Why can’t the year be braided?
by Jeremy Moses • September 24th, 2008 12:39 PM
Category: Daily Life & Practice, Holidays
I hate the High Holidays. I know, I know. I’m not alone. Who actually enjoys the crowded shuls, the breakup of the weekdays, the sermons…the list goes on.
I have a different reason. I hate round challahs. In fact, I hate everything about the hamotzi portion of meals during the High Holidays. Seriously, honey on challah is just plain gross. I’ve tried different types of honey (whipped looks like it would taste better but looks are deceiving) and nothing has changed my opinion.
It isn’t just that I hate round challahs and honey. It’s that I LOVE normal challah and salt. In fact, it’s probably my favorite part of Shabbat dinner. And the High Holidays takes that away from me. How can I properly eat gefilte fish when there is honey residue in my mouth and on my fingers?
I would rant about raisins in challah as well, but I’m scared I would be forced to use swear words. So I’ll stop now.
12 Responses to “Why can’t the year be braided?”
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Meredith Kesner Lewis
Member Since: Jun 2007 Posts: 50
This is so unfortunate. My husband and I loved eating honey on our hallah for our first year of marriage. In fact, we try to have newlyweds at Shabbas dinners now so we can share in the tradition with them.
Jnas08
Member Since: Sep 2008 Posts: 5
Good point, Jeremy. Honey on Challah is gross.
ygirl
Member Since: Sep 2008 Posts: 2
I prefer braiding the challah into a ring shape - round, braided, symbolic and pretty!
I prefer a four stranded braid made very long and looped into a wreath-shape.
Matzah2
Member Since: Mar 2005 Posts: 466
>>I hate the High Holidays.
Pathetic. One who reduces the meaning of these holidays to the nuances of traditional eating really just does not get the point. Clearing the spiritual plate and getting a new one - that is the point.
>>How can I properly eat gefilte fish when there is honey residue in my mouth and on my fingers?
Um…drink some water? Wash your hands? Eat some challah with salt after the honey bit?
matthue
Member Since: Jul 2008 Posts: 33
Not that I can speak for Mr. Moses, but I think he was being ironic….
Also, lots of Hasidim and other traditional folks will use salt, and only add honey later, as an afterthought. Because the reason we use salt is symbolic of the offerings in the Holy Temple, and that applies to Rosh Hashanah as well as Shabbat.
(None for me, though — I’m a honey kinda guy. And I like braided challah better, although it’s good to have a month with round challah to remind me why.)
Jeremy Moses
Member Since: Sep 2008 Posts: 23
Wash my hands? I just washed my hands 2 minutes before! How can that be convenient?
The Doctor
Member Since: Feb 2004 Posts: 1112
Mattheu,
I make a traditional braided challah and then coil it into a round shape.
As the noted talmudist Hannah Montana would say, “best of both worlds.”
matthue
Member Since: Jul 2008 Posts: 33
Clearly, we’re going to need a special recipe section for this.
(Round, braided challah, I mean…not Chana Montana.)
ygirl
Member Since: Sep 2008 Posts: 2
Ah, the wisdom of little Chanale… Oy.
I’ll see if I can find a picture/diagram of the round, braided challah. It really is the best (in my opinion).
The Doctor
Member Since: Feb 2004 Posts: 1112
It’s actually quite simple. braid the linear challah as usual, then take the braided product and coil it in a circle.
Ezekah
Member Since: Oct 2006 Posts: 513
Are you meshaga? Just imagine how much dough you will need to go all the way around that hole in the middle!
The Doctor
Member Since: Feb 2004 Posts: 1112
What, you make a bagel for the holiday?