24 | SEPTEMBER 26 • 2024

Michael and
Steven Stryk

“During those first few days, I
was shocked and just froze up,”
Chabasov recalled. “I couldn’t bake.
I couldn’t even speak or sleep.”
Then, he reminded himself of the
first days of the pandemic and of
the comfort and purpose he got out
of baking, so he set out to work.
Chabasov and his crew began to
bake 300 challot every Shabbat to
deliver to soldiers fighting in Gaza.
Each week, he created a new shape
and a new braiding technique.
Now, the Instagram sensation with
503K followers is touring North
America, visiting different Jewish
communities to share his message
of Jewish unity and finding peace
through meditating and baking.
Chabasov asked all in the room
to shape and then bake their challot
in the memory and merit of those
who were killed on Oct. 7 and in

the hope of rescuing the remaining
hostages.
Every participant received a ball
of dough donated by Dakota Bread.
Chabasov offered his baking and
shaping tips, including how to create
the perfect ball of dough by using
a kitchen scale to weigh out each
ball of dough, shaping the round
ball before rolling out a strand and,
if desired, how to flavor the strands
with a generous coating of sesame
seeds.
Chabasov said from the first time
he baked a challah while living
among the Israeli community in
Berlin, he fell in love with it.
“Nothing tastes better than
the challah you make yourself,”
Chabasov said. “There is no one
perfect recipe for challah dough, but
the most important ingredient is the
love you put into the baking.”

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OUR COMMUNITY