Women
This past week, Ohr Chana High School’s annual Mother–Daughter Challah Bake brought together more than 200 mothers, daughters, grandmothers, and teachers for an evening filled with warmth, purpose, and joyful connection at the Bukharian Jewish Community Center in Forest Hills, Queens. From the moment guests entered the beautifully arranged hall, where tables were set elegantly with bowls filled with all the necessary challah ingredients, including flour, sugar, yeast, oil, eggs, and water, the atmosphere radiated family, tradition, and heartfelt excitement.
The program opened with a hearty dinner, which allowed families to settle in and enjoy one another’s company before transitioning into the formal program led by the commendable 12th-grade student events team. Afterwards, the room joined together for a communal Perek Tehillim recited for the safety of Eretz Yisrael and Am Yisrael, setting a unified and spiritual tone for the night. Principal Mrs. Wolowik then delivered heartfelt remarks. She thanked the mothers and daughters for participating in an event that celebrates their bond and highlights the special mitzvah entrusted to Jewish women — Hafrashat Challah. She also expressed gratitude to program directors Leba and Mushka, Mrs. Khaimov, and the dedicated student committee for crafting such a meaningful and thoughtfully executed event.
Following her remarks, Rabbi Vaknin delivered an uplifting D’var Torah on the Parshat Hashavua, weaving the legacy of Sarah Imeinu and the spiritual leadership of the Jewish woman within the home into the theme of the evening. He left the crowd inspired with his memorable message: “Don’t show Hashem how big your problem is; show your problem how big Hashem is!”
Soon after, the heart of the program began when 11th-grader Pnina Itzackov and her mother invited everyone to join them in preparing the challah dough. Together they taught the spiritual significance of each ingredient and demonstrated step-by-step how to prepare the dough. As they worked, the entire room rolled up their sleeves and mixed the ingredients along with them, creating a powerful moment of unity and shared purpose. Their presentation included a personal story Pnina shared about taking on the mitzvah, which made the experience especially touching.
Once the dough was set aside to rise, the student choir performed a moving “Challah Bake Song,” about the uniqueness of the Mitzva of Hafrashat Challah, with the entire audience joining in the uplifting melody. The atmosphere grew even more spirited when a lively Jeopardy-style mother–daughter game followed. With questions on categories such as Jewish Women of History and Bukharian Culture, four mother–daughter teams competed enthusiastically, adding laughter, excitement, and a sense of communal pride to the evening.
Throughout the night, participants were encouraged to take upon themselves a new mitzvah, such as calling a grandparent before Shabbat or enhancing the Shabbat table with inspiring points one can readily apply during the week. Each commitment earned a raffle ticket. The grand prize, a mother–daughter dinner at an upscale restaurant, was won by Daniella Khaimov. Moreover, every family received a beautiful, personalized oven mitt as a keepsake, a thoughtful touch prepared by the 12th-grade event heads.
As the atmosphere reached an even higher spiritual peak, Mrs. Leah Maksumov recited the bracha of hafrashat challah and offered an insightful explanation of the mitzvah’s deeper meaning in one’s life. She spoke about the importance of a woman’s joy in creating Shalom Bayit and shared a beautiful insight that the gematria of “Amen” equals “Malach,” symbolizing that each blessing sends forth a protective messenger. The lights dimmed as the room collectively made the bracha, creating an unforgettable moment of connection and holiness. In addition, candles were lit in memory of Rabbi Meir Baal HaNess, adding yet another layer of meaning to the evening.
Holding their beautifully braided challahs ready for baking, the mothers and students left the event moved, inspired, and filled with a renewed sense of unity toward tradition, community, and one another. It was an unforgettable evening of spiritual enrichment, togetherness, and celebration of Jewish womanhood.