The Blessing On Challah

Taking Challah with a bracha as part of a group of 40 women in the merit of couples not yet blessed with children has been cited as a wonderful segulah. These women prepare the requisite amount of dough, and after the bracha and yehi ratzon is recited, they intone the name of the individual(s) for which they are davening.

Stories abound of those that have been blessed with a child after a group has undertaken hafrashat challah – separating challah, for their sake ~ in their z’chut.

When being "mafrish" without a bracha (more information on the laws of challah), one should simply pull off the dough and say “harei zu Challah".

With a bracha - with the Right Hand take a k'zayis of Dough (before detaching it) and recite:

"Boruch Atoh Ado-nay Elo-heinu Melech Ha'Olam Asher Kidshanu B'mitzvosav V'tzivanu L'hafrish Challah"

"Blessed are You, Lord, our G-d, King of the Universe, Who has sanctified us with his Commandments and commanded us to separate challah (from the dough)."

Detach the challah and recite:

"May it be Your Will, Eternal, our G-d, that the commandment of separating challah be considered as if I had performed it with all its details and ramifications. May my elevation of the challah be comparable to the sacrifice that was offered on the altar, which was acceptable and pleasing. Just as giving the challah to the Kohein in former times served to atone for sins, so may it atone for mine, and make me like a person reborn without sins. May it enable me to observe the holy Sabbath (or Festival of...) with my husband (and our children) and to become imbued with its holiness. May the spiritual influence of the mitzvah of challah enable our children to be constantly sustained by the hands of the Holy One, blessed is He, with His abundant mercy, loving-kindness, and love. Consider the mitzvah of challah as if I have given the tithe. And just as I am fulfilling this mitzvah with all my heart, so may Your compassion be aroused to keep me from sorrow and pain, always. Amen."

The detached Challah should then be burned.

The power of this prayer is strong! Enhance your Shabbos table with

homemade challah this week and help a couple realize their dream of

building a family. Donate to Puah now.