Chalah: how & when to take...

baShem YHWH ‘el `olam, YHWH `immakham,

Challah in our times

Bikkurim 5-8:

One can only bless on challah as follows: FLOUR must be cubically measured (not by weight). To start with, at least 1 omer is required for the blessing.

3964.395393774 CC
3.964395393774 liters
1.04728246753247 gallons
16.7565194805195 cups

Torah rules: One must use a minimum of an `omar of flour of wheat barley, rye, oats, and/or spelt. Hallah is only separated from path yisra'el.

Rabbinic rules for today: In the land of Yisra'el, one must separate one Hallah - which is 1/48 and have it burnt by a Kohayn. This kohayn must be pure from impurity that results from a physical conditions like leprosey, seminal emissions, menstruation, & ghonorea. These are things that a Kohayn can purify with a miqwah. This does not refer to such things such as Tum'ath meth. However, issues (such as if he is challal) do disqualify the kohayn from accepting it... In the locations from kazibh to 'amana, a second Hallah is separated with no minimum measure and is given to a kohen to eat, impure or not. It is not burnt. It is preferable that it be larger than the 1/48 but this is not mandatory.

IN THE DIASPIRA: Hallah is separated which is 1/48 and it is given to a kohen who is pure from impurity that results from physical conditions only - not things such as Tum'ath meth. It is not burnt. If you can’t find a kohayn who meets these conditions, you must burn it.

Regarding doubts on bakeries: If one is in the Diaspora, if one buys from a baker who is a Jewish `am ha’araS, one is required to separate Hallah - because of the doubt. But in Surya or the land of Yisra'el, this is not required. I have been told that this is not true anymore and one must assume that Hallah is not separated all the time – even in Surya or Yisra’el (ie: to treat things as one does in the Diaspora.)

Regarding path גוים, from which no Hallah is separated, see ma'akhaloth 'asuroth 17:12-13. Although the sages forbid the buying פת גויים , RaMb"M mentions places where this type of bread was bought from them (in pressing times) - and how it was considered a leniency. From his wording, this was okay (in his eyes), since he never says they were doing wrong - as he does in other places. Only that they were being lenient.

More discussion:

> I am writing to you to share some information that I have found and to

> ask some questions.

> Please, note the following:

> bikkurim 8:13

> הַלּוֹקֵחַ מִנַּחְתּוֹם עַם הָאָרֶץ בְּסוּרְיָה, וְאָמַר לוֹ

> הִפְרַשְׁתִּי חַלָּה--אֵינוּ צָרִיךְ לְהַפְרִישׁ חַלָּה מִסָּפֵק:

> כְּשֵׁם שֶׁלֹּא נֶחְשְׁדוּ כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל בָּאָרֶץ עַל תְּרוּמָה

> גְּדוֹלָה, כָּךְ לֹא נֶחְשְׁדוּ בְּסוּרְיָה עַל הַחַלָּה. אֲבָל

> הַלּוֹקֵחַ בְּחוּצָה לָאָרֶץ מִן הַנַּחְתּוֹם, צָרִיךְ לְהַפְרִישׁ

> חַלָּה מִסָּפֵק; אֲבָל הַלּוֹקֵחַ מִבַּעַל הַבַּיִת, וְאֵין צָרִיךְ

> לוֹמַר הַמִּתְאָרֵחַ אֶצְלוֹ--אֵינוּ צָרִיךְ לְהַפְרִישׁ מִסָּפֵק.

> When a person purchases bread from a baker who is a common person in

> surya and [the baker] tells him: "I separated Halla," [the purchaser]

> does not need to separate Halla because of the doubt. Just as the

> entire Jewish people in ‘araS yisra’el were not suspect [to ignore the

> separation of] the great taruma, so too, in surya, they were not

> suspect [to ignore the separation of] Halla.  When a person purchases

> [bread] from a baker outside of the Land, he must separate Halla

> because of the doubt involved. If, however, he purchases from a

> private person - and needless to say, if he enjoys his hospitality -

> he is not required to separate Halla because of the doubt.

> -----

> From what I understand, separating Halla is only required of bread in

> ‘araS yisra’el and only during the time when there can be yobhel, min

> hattora; And that Jewish bread in the Diaspora and bread in ‘araS

> yisra’el when there cannot be yobhel, Halla must be separated only middibhreham.

OK.

> This seems to be saying that in any case, when buying from a private

> person or enjoying someone’s hospitality, one does not separate Halla.

As a guest, OK, according to what RMBM says; as a buyer, I do not agree. Unfortunately, the Ashkenazic custom has been that Hallah has NEVER EVER been taken as required, so you must assume that all Jews who bake quantities of bread that require Hallah need to have Hallah taken by you from their bread, whether buying or just visiting. And by the way, the bakeries here in Israel live by the Ashkenazic custom and do not take Hallah as required EVER! ALL Israeli bread and ALL bread of Jews where you are must be assumed to be forbiddent to eat till you take out the Hallah.

> This seems to be saying that if one is in the Diaspora, if one buys

> from a baker who is a Jewish `am ha’araS, one is required to separate

> Halla because of the doubt.

> But in surya, this is not required, thus making me think that in ‘araS

> yisra’el this is not required.

No! It is a matter of objective fact: NO BAKER in Israel behaves according to what is written in M"T (or even what is written in Sh"`A.

> The Torah does not require a minimum, but the Rabbinic minimums are

> 1/24th for private and 1/48th for selling,

No, at this time, all are to take 1/48.

> thus I assume if one buys bread from a `am ha’araS Baker in the

> Diaspora, one must separate 1/48th and not 1/24th as he would from

> bread he bakes himself.

No, 1/48 at home for you, too!

> Of course, in the case when one is eating/buying non-Jewish bread, Halla is not separated.

====================================================================

One must use a minimum of an `omar of flour of wheat barley, rye, oats, and/or spelt Or he doesn't separate Halla.

Halla is only separated from path yisra'el.

In the Diaspora, one Halla is separated which is 1/48 and it is given to a kohen who is pure from impurity that results from a physical conditions only, not things such as Tum'ath meth. It is not burnt.

Regarding doubts on bakeries:

If one is in the Diaspora, if one buys from a baker who is a Jewish `am ha’araS, one is required to separate Halla because of the doubt.

Regarding path goyim, from which no Halla is separated, see ma'akhaloth 'asuroth 17:12-13

 

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