By COLlive reporter
Mrs. Chanel Lipskier, wife of Rabbi Motty Lipskier, founder and director of The Beis Medrash of Crown Heights, has come up with a unique way to raise funds for the men’s evening learning center.
Lipskier is selling loaves of her homemade, egg-free, spelt challah at Apple Drugs on Kingston Avenue under the name ‘Chai for Challah’.
The idea originated from Lipskier’s sister Hindel Levitin, shlucha in Palm Beach, Florida, who first launched the Chai for Challah fundraiser in her community and then “franchised” with Lipskier in Crown Heights.
This past Friday, the first week the spelt Challahs in their sleek, modern packaging were offered in the Crown Heights store, they sold out, and all the samples were taken.
The cost for two challahs is $18, which is how ‘chai for challah’ got its name, or $10 each. They are available in a variety of flavors including cinnamon-sugar, poppy, sesame, onion and raisin.
“Nobody likes that heavy feeling you get after eating regular challah on Shabbos. This challah does not have that effect. You’ve got to try it for yourself,” Chanel Lipskier told COLlive.com.
100% of the proceeds from sales go directly to The Beis Medrash, a center for shiurim and chavrusas located at 580 Crown Street and established in loving memory of Rabbi Levi Deitsch OBM.
Apple Drugs, owned by the Gutleizer family, agreed to carry the challah in their store at no charge to the Beis Medrash.
“We are happy to do our part to promote good health in Crown heights and we love the Beis Medrash and love what they’re doing,” says Linda Gutleizer.
The challahs will also be available for purchase in Judaica of Great Neck.
To make a customized order please email [email protected].
To get a hechsher the product can not be made at home, only in a designated facility where all ingredients coming in can be monitored. My niece was doing a home business of decorated cookies and could not get a hechsher for this reason. Renting a place cuts into the profit/tzedaka intake.
While I do understand that technically, spelt is a form of wheat, the fact is that spelt is not quite wheat. I am allergic to wheat and I do not react to the spelt challos made by The Beis Medrash the way I react to wheat. In fact, I feel so good after eating these challos that I slice up whatever is left after Shabbos and freeze the slices and use them during the week. They’re GOOD and good for me too. G-d bless the Lipskiers and The Beis Medrash, and G-d bless Apple Drugs for selling them without taking… Read more »
its’ great to see that people are conscious of kashrus
Those wanting spelt are usually conscious of sugar as well – I’d be thrilled to give up baking and get these every week if the sweetener was only honey, no sugar.
My Father used to live in ch he had a fish store and did not carry the ch hechsher and one day the rabbonin came and told him that he has to carry their hechsher he said why it`s fish and only has kosher fish in the store they said that`s not the point because he is in ch he must have a ch hechsher if not they will make him have such hard time that he will be forced to close so he took the hechsher (which coast him a small fourtune) he now lives in somewere in europe… Read more »
So cute!
This is what’s known as A BAKE SALE!!!! 1,000s of schools and organizations across the country do this every week and they don’t involve the government and board of health and blah blah blah. If you son’t want to buy the spelt challas then don’t, but don’t hock a chynik about city ordinances. and if you wouldn’t be a shabbos guest in her house then don’t buy the challas either. but if you would be a guest in her house and if you’ve heard of BAKE SALES then zy gezunt.
i bought that challah on friday and nobody could eat second course, we all got so full on that delicious challah, i think next time i’ll serve it for dessert!
go beis medrash and the lipskiers!!!
its in the new crown Condo. where the ohel nosson shul is on shabbos. and i watched their video and saw many bochrim so…. i guess thats your answer,
hey member this: eat spelt you melt?? hahaha!
MAYBE YOU ARE NOT AWARE THAT SPELT IS VERY EXPENSIVE?? I HOPE THY ARE EVEN MAKING A GOOD PROFET!
those who are complaining about the money- no one is forcing you to buy it… its a fundraiser- so yes its a bit more then and average challah. If you cant afford to give extra tzedakah then dont buy the challah! consider it a luxury item…Love the idea, and i wish the lipskers much luck.
Is it open to bochurim as well? Or just married guys?
are you also selling spelt challah or regular? you are so creative!
hatzluch rabba
These challahs are beyond delicious!!
I would trust the Lipskier’s hechsher before any other because I know they are such mehudar people in all areas!!
so nice that it’s all going completely towards The Beis Medrash!!
what a great and delicious idea!
As a Torah observant Jew I would NEVER masser on another yid without a heter from a Rav! Unfortunately though, there are many “frum” yidden in your neighborhood that would.
I was advising that as they have put this onto a public forum, they should make sure that everything is in order (and if it’s not they should change things now)!
It shouldn’t be too hard to get a hechsher. In Israel, even the frei shb’frei recognize that you need a hechsher
MOTY IS THE BEST
DELICIOUS! does not even taste healthy for those who were saying that they don’t like spelt.
try the cinnamon sugar- heaven!
as far as kashrus, the lipskier’s kashrus is better than any kosher symbol out there.
It can be wheat free without being gluten free!
In this case I think it’s a fundraiser, not for profit so it’s going to tzedakah. No?
mushka klein is super!
please remove 311 from your speed dial, haltz zich ein abissel and live and let live
Good point no.6/ And if you dont want to eat it without hashgocho dont buy it/I I trust the lipskiers and wud eat their bread faster the any of these hashgochos based on politics and money. So much hatzlocho to Chanel and Moty
You have to be rich to buy challah?????
I hate spelt but I love this idea
Maybe bake regular challahs as well
Spelt is sooo good!!
For your sake, please make sure to review the NYS cottage laws. You can be hit with really big fines if you don’t comply. Also, ditto to comment # 3. You really should get a hashgacha.
on the contrary, it is the corrupt ways of some of the hechsherim that cause people to eat what they please with no regard to anything. it is honest folks like the lipskiers and others that are selfless and giving to the the CH community and the lubavitch community at large, that enrich us and inspire us to do good as well. and i would like to add to comment # 6: if you trust the ppl making it, good! – if you dont, then the best hechsher in the world couldn’t help you!! kudos to the Lipskiers!! you should… Read more »
I’m on a very tight budget ; can these Challos be purchased with food stamps ?
Benveniste
I agree. What’s to stop me selling MY delicious challah or home-bottled jam to raise funds for my kids’ Chabad Houses? Or a food pantry? Or a homeless shelter?
As much as I think this is a great idea & they certainly look delicious I don’t think selling without Hashgacha is the way to go. Unfortunately, to get Hashgacha she will need to pay a small fortune to the Beis Din & that defeats the object. Tricky.
Thank you so much… great initiative.. can it bee made available at more locations?
that is very cool.
This is a common misconception. Spelt is a type of wheat. I love the idea and the packaging. But labelling a spelt product wheat free is a big mistake. Good lUck! I plan to buy a challah next shabbos!
Products made from spelt should not be marketed as “wheat free”. Because spelt contains a gluten similar to the gluten found in wheat, it can be equally as dangerous for people with wheat allergies or mal-absorption disorders. Although there is a growing trend towards spelt as a wheat alternative (especially in the frum community), the FDA considers spelt a form of wheat, and has issued huge fines to manufacturers who have labeled spelt products as “wheat free”. Your packaging is beautiful and well designed. Please consider changing or removing the “no wheat” statement. Both to avoid a run in with… Read more »
This is amazing!!!!! really great great great!
if u trust the person making it.. (its not a company) it doesnt need a hashgacha.. just as they sold bread till “hashgacha” became a busisness
that is a really nice way to strengthen the community. kol hakavod.
spelt is an ancient form of wheat. People who are truly allergic to wheat should not be eating spelt.
not that I don’t trust the kashrus, but one person selling things without a hechsher can cause a huge pirtza of everyone selling their own homemade whatever….
we all need to learn to do such beautiful peulos. sounds wonderful in all ways
I bought them for Shabbos and they were out of this world!!!!