"Challah Prince" Challah Bake

by Penina Charry, SSLI '27

Last Thursday, Idan Chabasov, also known as the “Challah Prince,” came to Schechter for a challah bake. During the program, attendees learned how to braid challah, and how to make interesting designs out of the dough, like a six-strand challah.

Idan Chabasov (A.K.A the "Challah Prince") making challah. (SSLI Instagram)

Schechter parent Mastaneh Pedram said that in addition to learning how to braid, attendees also learned “intricate and interesting ways [to braid the challah], as well as how to stretch the challah….” Chabasov showed everyone how to make designs such as circles and hearts.

Pedram found the program “very inspiring. … he made it like an art, and it was fun and beautiful at the same time.” Ms. Esther DuBow, Director of Jewish Education and Community Engagement, was also inspired. She shared, “The next time I make [challah,] I'll try to do… a different braiding style.”

The proceeds from the program went to the Student Activities Fund, which helps pay for exciting programs for the student body. DuBow described that this fund supports fun school events like “the Tu Bishvat seder [and the Tu Bishvat] goodie bags," along with the Purim Carnival for the lower school, and the off-site Purim activities for the upper school.

Schechter community congregated at the Challah Bake on Thursday. (SSLI Instagram)

DuBow explained, “We had an exhibit up, which was the same exhibit that we showed to our upper school on Friday.” This exhibit, which was set up by Schechter alum parent Anat Yossefy, had postcards of all former and current hostages in Gaza with links to “cominghomesoon.online.” As it says on their website, this project, led by artist Inbar Hasson, provides “digital stories of hope.” 

There are many hostage families who are not tech-savvy, Yossefy explained at the program. So, this project lets these families know that they are supported from all over the world. The website explains that they are “forming a living diary” for each hostage and moving “weekly to different venues, symbolizing [their] commitment to [the hostages’] return.”

The Schechter community was proud to welcome Idan Chabasov, the “Challah Prince,” and we pray for the immediate return of the hostages.

Penina Charry is a writer for Paw Print Now and has been published on the site since October 2023. Penina is currently a freshman at the Schechter School of Long Island and can be reached at the following email address: pcharry27@schechterli.org.