SARASOTA COUNTY, Fla. (SNN) — Community Day School added a Jewish twist to the Halloween season with their annual “Challah-ween Bake-Off Festival.”
Aspiring bakers rolled up their sleeves to create their best challah, which is a special bread in Jewish cuisine and tradition.
The festival always takes place on the Friday after Halloween.
“What you’re seeing here today is joyful chaos. In preparation for the Jewish Sabbath for Shabbat, every Friday night at sundown, one of the traditional foods that is made is challah,” said Rabbi Michael Shefrin.
Bakers brought their finest challah to be taste-tested by a panel of judges, with a trophy and bragging rights awarded to the winner.
There was also challah braiding and a mouthwatering challah “schmear” bar.
Judges and contestants were a mix of students and school and Jewish community leaders.
“We judge them on how they look, taste, smell. It’s just a fun, hands-on day of learning and it’s a celebration of how diverse our community really is,” said Head of School Dan Ceaser.
The festival wasn’t all about the delicious bread. Students also spread love and hope by creating cards for the school’s “Cards for Peace” initiative, sent to Israeli soldiers.
“We’re just celebrating and trying to make peace for Israel,” said a Community Day School student.
The “Challah-ween Bake-Off Festival” has been a tradition for the past 6 to 7 years, and the school has no plans to stop it.
“Every culture, every tradition has bread, everybody breaks bread. It’s something that even if it looks different or tastes slightly different, it’s something we can all share. So it’s just a great way to sort of live our mission, which is bring kids from different faiths, backgrounds, experiences together and share a common experience,” said Ceaser.
