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 Shabbat Parashat Toldot 5785Ask the Rabbi: Loaf Status of Pull-Apart ChallotRav Daniel MannAnswer: Fundamentally, a pull-apart challa is at least one lechem. However, whether even a standard challa with a weak connection between different parts of it is considered complete depends on whether when you lift it by its smaller part, the weight of the heavier part does not cause it to break (Mishna Berura 167:11). Even though “a challa is only as strong as its weakest link” (and here there are many), usually if the challa is not very big, it will pass the test. If it does not, then you will need it to be considered multiple complete lechamim, which we will now discuss. The Shoel U’Meishiv (I,I:167), discussing a baker whose challot come out stuck together, rules that even if one leaves them connected, they count as multiple challot because the norm is to separate them well before consumption. Orchot Chayim (Spinka, 274:1) brings those who disagree, and the Shemirat Shabbat K’hilchata (55:6) does not clearly decide between the opinions. The Shoel U’meishiv apparently did not apply his leniency to one baking special challot whose purpose is to be separated only after making Hamotzi. Therefore, if you want to count this challa as multiple lechamim, you should separate the sections before the beracha (see Chazon Ovadia, Shabbat II, p. 176). Even if one could consider them multiple challot while connected, it is unclear why one would not follow the recommended procedure of having one on top of the other, which is not so feasible when connected (see Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chayim 274:1). The remaining question is: if we consider the pull-apart challa one loaf, then if we pull it apart, does it become multiple incomplete loaves? This point is a machloket dating back a couple hundred years. The Machatzit Hashekel (274:1) says it depends on intention. If one did not intend that they should connect during baking but they did, they are separate, complete challot. Presumably, even if they definitely will stick together to some degree, if that is as a matter of circumstance and not desired, it is not a problem. If the intention was that they bake connected and separate them later, he leaves it as an unsolved question whether after separation they are considered complete. Rav Meir Arik (Minchat Pitim, OC 274:1) posits that they are complete even if they were purposely stuck together. A related application arose with the advent of machine matzot. The matzot were baked as sheets of multiple matzot, perforated before baking to make it easier to cut after the baking. (The contemporary production lines I saw are different.) There is a big machloket as to whether each matza is valid for lechem mishneh or whether the sheet was one lechem and the individual matzot are incomplete pieces (see opinions in Lechem Ish 3:19). In some ways our case is more lenient because each section was at one point a separate piece of dough, which were joined together and will be separated back to the original pieces. On the other hand, the matza is more likely to look fully complete in its final stage. In summary, if the sections were separated relatively cleanly from each other before Hamotzi, most poskim assume that each (group of) section(s) is a kikar of lechem (see Shemirat Shabbat K’hilchata ibid.; Chazon Ovadia ibid.; this is the apparent implication of Shulchan Aruch, OC 168:3). If they separated in a way that one section is complete plus some of its neighboring piece is stuck to it and the latter piece is incomplete, then only the former is a kikar (it is preferable to remove the extra challa to make it look more complete (see ibid.)). If all pieces have something missing or if one wants to be machmir, one can, before Shabbat, return them to the oven to start re-crusting, thereby forming a new loaf unit (see Shemirat Shabbat K’hilchata 55:10).  Top of page Print this page Send to friend |
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Toldot 5785
Toldot 5785
