For Jewish women, making challah is infinitely more meaningful than just making a regular loaf — it’s a duty of religious dimensions. The Mishnah in Shabbat instructs us to “take care in..
. separating challah” (2:6). Though the mitzvah applies to both genders, some women feel a particularly feminine pull towards mastering the historic ritual which has been passed down through generations.
It was that visceral urge to bake challah and share it with loved ones that inspired Badannie Gee, a TV producer turned celebration cake baker, to begin hosting her self-styled ‘challah-brations’, teaching other women the culinary art. "Making challah is a beautiful and totally underrated ritual that we are lucky and blessed to have. Whether you’re religious or not, it’s something that we share every week,” she said.
“On top of that, what I’ve created is more than just making a loaf of bread, but a space where people feel held and can share and talk." The former television producer, who, during the pandemic pivoted from a 20-year career in television production to set up Piped Dreams Bakery says her challah baking groups began last year, after a special trip to Israel. The Highgate-based baker was inspired by a challah bake she attended there in August 2023 for her niece’s wedding.
As the female relatives of the bride and groom kneaded dough, they each shared a special memory or a tender sentiment about the couple. Gee felt a powerful sense of female Jewish lineage. �.
