Florida Women Join Challah Bake

On Thursday evening, Sept. 18, over a 100 women from Florida’s First Coast gathered at Chabad Jacksonville’s Mandarin Headquarters to unite, be inspired and most of all learn to make Challah.

The event was in tribute to Esther Ohayon’s upcoming first yartzeit. Esther was tragically killed last year on Yom Kippur eve walking to Kol Nidrei services. Two of Esther’s daughters participated in the program, Ilana who had just arrived from Israel the night before and Orly who has miraculously survived the accident and fully recovered.

The program was sponsored and coordinated by the Shluchos of the 6 Chabad Centers in the Greater Jacksonville Area: Chabad Mandarin/Headquarters – Rivkie Kahanov and Nechamie Browd, Chabad at the Beaches – Leah Kurinsky and Esther Wilansky, Chabad of Southside – Chana Novack, Chabad of S. Augustine – Fraidy Vogel, Chabad of Fleming Island – Shaina Feldman and Chabad of S. Johns – Dinie Sharfstein.

The program was a big hit, it included words of inspiration, the significance of the special Mitzvah of Challah, and memorial to Esther Ohayon.

The women were moved by the slide show presentation of Esther.
Everyone enjoyed the hands-on experience of kneading and shaping the Challah.

As one of the participants put it, “The energy in the room was palpable, having a large crowd of Jewish women gathering together is awesome, it’s even more special when we’re doing a mitvah together”.

“Rivkie, beautiful program, Challah came out fantastic and delicious. Now I know my new Mitzvah for the New Year for every week” said Debbie Nabert, one of the attendees.
Women left on a high note to usher in the New Year.