APRIL 8 • 2021 | 21

S

everal times a month, 
Jewish women can 
tune into a new broad-
cast that celebrates the art of 
making delicious 
challah bread.
The traditional 
braided bread of 
Eastern European 
origin is at the 
center of Flour 
Power, a virtual 
challah baking 
class taught by master baker 
Pam Turkin. In these 90-min-

ute Zoom sessions, partici-
pants are shown how to create 
their own dough, how to braid 
it and learn about the unique 
hidden power of challah.
“Jewish women are drawn 
to the idea of making challah, 
but they don’t necessarily 
understand the power of it 
and how it can affect your 
home,” explains Shaindel Fink 
of Partners Detroit, an organi-
zation that offers a wide vari-
ety of programs to enhance 
Jewish life in Metro Detroit.

Fink explains that challah is 
associated with the power of 
prayer and that baking chal-
lah can help people connect 
with their Jewish heritage and 
culture. Challah can promote 
memories, tradition and a 
sense of community, all three 
of which are touched upon in 
the virtual program.
Each session of Flour 
Power, which was officially 
launched in January of this 
year, costs $18. Registration is 
limited to 12 people per class 

to help ensure an intimate 
small group experience. The 
$18 fee includes the delivery 
of a gift bag to each partici-
pant with a full-color challah 
cookbook with recipes of 
different origins, a pair of 
candles, an ornate blessing 
card and a do-it-yourself chal-
lah cover for parents to create 
with their children. The bags 
are usually delivered to the 
participants’ houses within a 
week following the program.
Participants will tune into 

continued on page 22

Shaindel 
Fink

Online baking class celebrates the mitzvah of challah.

ASHLEY ZLATOPOLSKY CONTRIBUTING WRITER

FAR LEFT: 
Pam Turkin 
demonstrates how 
to braid challah. 
Turkin walks 
through each step 
in the process. 

CENTER: An 
intricately braided 
challah ready to 
bake.

LEFT: After 
each session, 
participants have a 
ready-to-eat loaf.

