Challa

/ˈxɑːlə/ noun

Definition

A variant spelling of challah, a braided or twisted loaf of bread eaten by Jewish people, especially on the Sabbath and holidays.

Etymology

From Yiddish and Hebrew 'challah', derived from Hebrew 'ḥalla' meaning bread or loaf. The word entered Yiddish from Hebrew during the medieval period and has multiple English spellings reflecting different transliterations from Hebrew.

Kelly Says

The number of braids in a challah is often meaningful—two, three, or six braids can represent different biblical concepts, making the bread itself a form of edible symbolism in Jewish tradition.

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