Plural of halkah; plural form of a variant spelling of challah, the braided loaf of bread traditionally eaten in Jewish households, especially on the Sabbath.
From Hebrew 'challa' or 'hallah,' referring to the portion of dough given to the priest in biblical times. The word entered English through Yiddish and Hebrew-speaking communities, with multiple spelling variations.
The braided pattern of halkahs isn't just decoration—Jewish tradition teaches that the three to six strands represent different values like unity, faith, and peace, woven together like a community.
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