There is a minhag to bake shlissel challah (shlissel means key in Yiddish) for the Shabbos after Pesach. Shlisel challos are best known as a segula for parnasa, though there are other reasons for it, as we will soon see. Some bake the challah with an actual key inside, some make the challah in the shape of a key and some put sesame seeds on top in the form of a key. There are those who make the challah flat to look like matzos. We will discuss this later on. The Ohev Yisroel says about shlisel challah that “the minhagim of our fathers are most definitely Torah”. There are many reasons given for this minhag of baking shlissel challah; we will go through some of them. (Some of the items written below can also be found in Taamei Minhagim, Nitei Gavriel, Sefer Hatoda’a and Minhag Yisroel Torah)
First of all, the second mishna in Rosh Hashanah says on Pesach we are judged on the grains, parnasa. Rabbeinu Nissim asks if we are judged on Rosh Hashana then how are we judged on Pesach? He answers that on Pesach it is determined how much grain there will be in the coming year for the world, but on Rosh Hashana it is decided how much of that grain each individual receives. The Meiri, however, says that on Rosh Hashana it is decided if one will live or die, suffer or not and other such things, but on Pesach is when we are judged on the grains. Based on this there are customs in Sephardic communities to do things Motzei Pesach as a sign that we want Hashem to give us livelihood. In Aram Soba (Syria) and Turkey they put wheat kernels in all four corners of the house on Motzei Pesach as a sign of prosperity for the coming year. (Moed L’kol Chai -R’ Chaim Palagi, Beis Habichira). From a mishna we already see that there is a connection between Pesach and parnasa.
Different ways of making Shlissel Challah
As mentioned above (reasons 8 and 9) there are those that make the challah round and flattish for this Shabbos, in the image of matza.
Some make the challah in the shape of a key.
Some attach a piece of dough in the shape of a key. Breslov Customs for Pesach (page 57) says this is the minhag of the family of Reb Elazar Kenig shlita and of Manistritch.
Sefer Hatoda’ah mentions making the image of a key with sesame seeds on top of the challah. These first three customs can, perhaps, be seen from the wording of the Ohev Yisroel in one place where he says we put the image of a key on the challah.
Some place an actual key in the challah. Perhaps this is done because of the wording in many places of indenting the challah with a key.
Either way it is done the key or image of the key is usually on top. An interesting observation about this. The Gemara quoted by the Yismach Yisroel (reason 6), about the key, is at the top of daf 31b. At the bottom of the daf is the mishna mentioning the women’s mitzvah of challah. Here to the key is on top and the challah on the bottom.
More on this topic: HERE
It’s also not minhag for most the men in CH to shower before mikveh. Doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do it…or at least think about doing it.
Cmon sheeple. You can’t be scared to see what the Jewish world has to offer aside from chabad. That’s what makes one ignorant.
I live in Kfar Chabad. Lived here for 6 years now. Everyone does this minhag here in one form or another – along with shluchim all over the world. Some make a challah shaped like a key. Some add an actual key to the top of the challah. But it is most definitely done by Chabad. Besides all that, why would anyone not want make a cute key shaped challah? If you make a key challah one year, that doesn’t mean you’re stuck doing it forever. Picking and choosing things that speak to you and help you isn’t a terrible… Read more »
it says in sefer hamihugim that ist our minhug NOT to do it!!!!!!
it is written specifically that it is not a chabad minhag. NOT a chabad minhag. check it up in the sefer.
To # 1: IT IS A CHABAD LUBAVITCH MINHAG TO PUT A KEY IN THE CHALLAH THIS SHABBOS! To #3 YES THIS IS A LUBAVITCH MINHAG. To #10: I’m not sure what “Post gimmel tamuz IDEAS” have to do with anything that is said here. I think that you should talk to your Mashpia and strengthen your Hiskashrus a bit! To #15: Please learn how to spell and then voice your opinion. To 16: Jewish is with a Kapital J! think about that! To 17: I see you are a very expirienced person. Therefore, dont worry about your dentist bills,… Read more »
I enjoyed your post the most.
I learned from experience:
Putting key into challah is a segulah for a broken tooth (and an expensive visit to the dentist).
old jewish custom
but do not put a key in side
MINHAG YISROEL TORAH HEE. WHAT IS GOING TO COST ANYONE TO DO IT.
DRATSIC TIMES CALLS FOR DRASTIC MEASURES AND THIS IS TRIED AND TRUSTED AND FROM HOLY SOURCES.
We have reached our goal (and passed it by a few, for insurance)
thank you for all those that participated, and please everyone can have this couple in mind, even without the baking. The wife is nearing 38, and contemplating giving up mikvah (“It’s not working anyway”)
May all of klal yisroel have only good news, and Moshiach NOW
Definitely count me in and thanks so much for posting .
I was trying to get a list of names that are in need of such a Brocha !
May this be a segula for all those in need !
I will please – count me
Did the Rebbe ever mention this? Or is this one of those post Gimmel Tammuz ideas
i will do it add me on .
I don’t remember in which sefer I read this… but somewhere it states to take the key, poke it into the dough as if you are actually placing a key into a key hole, and turn it as if you are opening a locked door. This may be an indication that we are asking Hashem to open the opportunities and possibilities to our prosperity and parnosoh.
Those look like Gumbo Chala’s
We are trying to get 40 women to bake and have in mind a couple that is having difficulty conceiving. We are up to 29, can u help?
When u take challah, have in mind for ARIELLA LIBA BAS ADIRA RIVKA CHAYA and EFRAIM BEN SARA
If possible, text to 347 721-2518 to be counted so we know we reached our goal – THANK YOU
I just finished baking my Challa with a key. Thanks for the explanation.
ith a group of women in my hslichus BH it was very nice
does anhyone know if this was done specifically in lubavitch?
ayin ze minhageinu.
http://www.chabadlibrary.org/books/
החלות והמצות
אין נוהגין כמנהג קהלי חסידים רבים שבשבת זו מנקבין את החלות במפתח, וגם אין נוהגין באכילת מצות מסויימות וכד’ (“געלע מצות”).
ואכמ”ל.
ראה בס’ מנהג-ישראל-תורה (עמ’ שלו-שלח), נטעי-גבריאל (ג, עמ’ קסט), קובץ תפארת-ישראל, ח (עמ’ 21).