Inside the Jewish Bakery: Challah

Unlike most breads, which are based on specific formulas and ingredients, challah is defined by its role as sanctified bread that recalls the Temple sacrifices and is the centerpiece of the Shabbes table. In Inside the Jewish Bakery: Challah, you'll find not only representative recipes for challah’s infinite variations, but also comprehensive braiding instructions, as well as an engaging commentary on its place in Ashkenazic Judaism.

About the Authors 

Stanley Ginsberg, a native of Brooklyn, grew up in a close-knit neighborhood where generations lived side by side. He learned to cook and bake from his grandmother, who lived just upstairs in the same apartment building, and has continued cooking and baking ever since. He and his wife, Sylvia, currently live in Southern California.

Norman Berg, a Bronx native, graduated from the baking program at New York City’s Food and Maritime Trades High School and spent the next twenty-five years as a professional baker and general manager at several bakeries that became Bronx institutions, including Weber’s, Enrico’s, Yonkers Pastry and Greystone Bakery. Norm and his wife, Janet, still live in the Bronx.