Mega Challah Bake in S. Paulo Unites 1700 Women in Support of Israel

Unity, emotion, and good decisions managed to overcome the fear and anguish that has gripped everyone since the terror attack on 10/7.

Gathering thousands of women to bake challah has been a trademark of Mega Challah Bake in S. Paulo, Brazil, for over a decade. But this time, it was different. The meeting took place on an emergency basis, in support of the tragic and senseless situation that has befallen Israel and the entire Jewish world. The 1,500 participants and 200 volunteers were there, asking, praying, committing to good decisions, and begging for miracles to be revealed as soon as possible.

The event was the result of a task force that worked in record time, within a week. The maxim that Am Israel is “one body, with one heart” was realized: so many hands and talents from dozens of shluchos from each Chabad-Lubavitch institution in town, along with the full support of the A Hebraica club, shaped the Mega Challah Bake #UnitedforIsrael with skill, quality, safety, and a lot of emotion.

The evening was excellently led by shlucha Chani Begun and community activist Elisa Nigri, and the challah recipe was orchestrated on stage by shlucha Mussi Shildkraut, who compared the unity of so many different women to the unity of different ingredients, forming one dough. We are, after all, one people.

In addition to the challah, the evening’s attractions touched the souls of those present, in a mix of pain and joy, and, above all, solidified our commitment to take action. The mitzvot of women were emphasized in a great call to action. Everyone was moved by a video of testimonials of women who light Shabbes candles and/or attend the mikvah monthly. At the end, it showed the Rebbe speaking about the promise that Israel is our land for all eternity and that we have the spiritual ammunition in our hands to ensure that.

A candle was lit in the midst of the dark hall to honor the victims of the massacre. Each woman lit her cell phone flashlight to the sound of Ani Maamin, unable to hold back the tears.

But the emotion reached its peak during the Hafrashat Challah blessing, recited by shluchah Rivka Antebi from the Beit Chabad Lametayelim, which has been welcoming Israeli backpacker soldiers for decades and organized the return flight for nearly 300 soldiers.

Before the blessing, each woman took a piece of paper from her apron pocket. There were 1.500 names written in total, among the names of the wounded, for refuah shleimah; the soldiers on the frontlines, for protection; and the hostages, for a speedy and healthy release. Each participant could think of that name not as a statistic but as a yid, who is a world unto themselves.

The night was crowned with a music show, and the dance took over the audience, in a mixture of joy, inspiration, hope, and faith that we will certainly emerge victorious – as we have always been throughout the history of our people. May we no longer know suffering and may we see the complete Redemption with the coming of Mashiach today.