The Story of the Challah Cover

When the Jews travelled in the desert for forty years, they subsisted on the manna that miraculously fell from heaven every day. The challah we eat on Shabbat is actually in place of that manna. Since the manna was encased between layers of dew that preserved its freshness, we envelop the challot between the tablecloth and the cover, reliving the manna miracle at our Shabbat meal.

 

While the challah cover’s appearance lends a decorative and ceremonial aspect to setting a table, its presence serves both a halakhic and symbolic function.

 

At the beginning of a Shabbat or holiday meal, Kiddush is made over the wine first in order to set apart Shabbat. This is followed by the blessing over the challah, which begins the meal. However, in the hierarchy of blessings prescribed by the Sages, the blessing over bread should precede the blessing over wine. In order to preserve the priority of the wine, and not to "shame" the bread which should be blessed first the bread is “removed” by concealing it from view with the challah cover.

 

There are many explanations for this tradition but the one I love the most is to save the challah from feeling bad as it waits for its turn.

 

Some may laugh at this explanation but I just love that we are so concerned about hurting the challah’s feelings. If we are mindful of the feelings of an inanimate object, then how much more so should we be of another person’s feelings. What a beautiful way to remember compassion and kindness while fulfilling the mitzvot of Shabbat.

 

Imagine how ordinary life would be without all our deeply symbolic explanations of traditions. Finding meaning in the ordinary is what brings magic and connection to our lives. I love to think that the challah covers we make at Blixon Fyfe, made with such loving intention, can bring a little bit of compassion and kindness into the world.

 

Love Nicolene

xxxx