עברית
Halachot and Customs
Separation of Challah from Two Separate Bowls of Dough
Question
Hello Rabbi, if I have two separate bowls of dough (of the same type of bread), each containing 1 kilogram of flour, do I need to combine the two doughs in order to recite the separation blessing, or can I separate from just one bowl?
Thank you in advance.
Answer
Hello,
In such a case where both doughs are of the same kind, but neither of the doughs has a sufficient amount on its own, you can separate challah with a blessing in one of the following ways:
1. If the two doughs are slightly attached to each other - you can separate challah with a blessing (Shulchan Aruch Yoreh De'ah 338:1). They must be attached such that when you separate them, a small piece of dough is pulled away from one another (Taz 338:1).
2. If you place both doughs in one basket (that is, any container that has an interior) - the basket counts them together, and you can separate challah with a blessing even if the doughs are not attached (Shulchan Aruch there, Taz Orach Chaim 657:2). Some are stringent and require the doughs to touch each other even while placed in the basket (Biur HaGra there, note 3; Nekudot HaKessef end of YD 336; and see Mishnah Berurah 657:6 and Sha'ar HaTziyon 657:9).
It is important to ensure that no whole dough or complete loaf comes out of the container (see Rema and Taz Yoreh De'ah there. And see Shach who argues and holds that all of the bread must be inside the basket for them to combine).
Blessings,
Hillel Meirs
