Thursday, October 22, as part of Shabbat San Diego, the Jewish community is hosting two mega challah bakes. Last year Shabbat San Diego’s huge challah-making class had 1,500 attendees. This year the class has expanded to two locations to accommodate even more participants.

Beth Israel’s Caring Community is encouraging your participation in one of these two mega challah bakes. One will be held in North County at the San Diego Jewish Academy and the other in East County at Tifereth Israel synagogue. You will learn about the significance challah holds in Jewish tradition and how to braid and bake your own challah.

What does challah-baking have to do with Caring Community? You may be aware that Beth Israel volunteers deliver “mish bags” to members who are bereaved, ill, or recently hospitalized. Included in these mish bags is a small challah. We are always in need of bakers willing to contribute challah for our mish bags. We’re asking you to “give us a challah” and make some for your fellow congregants!

To sign up for either of the two mega challah bakes, go to shabbatsandiego.org. Organizers expect the workshops to fill, so you’ll want to sign up as soon as possible.

Shabbat San Diego is a county-wide event October 22-24 this year. A project of the entire Jewish community, Shabbat San Diego offers a variety of cultural and religious events and includes all area synagogues and more than 100 local schools and organizations.

For more information about Beth Israel’s plans for Shabbat San Diego, visit the Shabbat San Diego web page.