The Men of Buckhurst Hill had Their Own Challah Bake

Last week, Rabbi Odom Brandman of Chabad Buckhurst Hill in England ran a Men’s Challah Bake and  Cholent Evening with the help of his wife Henny.

Ladies’ Challah Bakes have been extremely popular generally and at Chabad Buckhurst Hill especially over the last few years, with lots of packed sell-out events every time a Challah Bake is advertised. Recently, A few of the men approached Rabbi Odom and asked why such an event couldn’t be put on for men, and of course it could, so it was!

It was a Challah Bake with a twist, there has to be a break, to allow the dough to rise, so to make the evening really special, the team at Chabad prepared 3 different cholents, 2 different Yapchiks and 2 different kugels, to be served with cold beers and soft drinks.

As is traditional now at large Communal Challah Bakes, a bowl was prepared for each participant with all their ingredients laid out in little bags and cups to ease the process. The guys had loads of fun mixing, kneading and then shaping their challahs, and the smells of the cholents’ cooking got everyone kneading harder and ready for the break! Rabbi Odom, who sometimes takes a turn in the kitchen, personally made the two yapchiks, one with mincemeat and the other with cubed beef, and one of the three cholents! The cholent, complete with eggs, bones, loads of meat and homemade kishka, was delicious and enjoyed by all.

The baking was done at home, and about an hour after everyone left, the pictures came flooding in of all the guys having baked their challahs at home!

All participants are eagerly waiting for the next similar event, Rabbi Odom said.