With midterms twisting students’ minds, the Jewish Student Organization (JSO) decided to twist dough instead. JSO is taking a much-needed break with its Challah Bake and Take event — a hands-on cultural experience that promises warmth, flavor and fun. On Monday, Nov. 3, from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the Lake Erie Room of the Oakland Center, students braided, baked and bonded — all for free.
For many students, the last few weeks have been a whirlwind of exams, projects and late-night study sessions. Stress can accumulate, and finding time to relax can feel impossible. This event offers a simple solution: step away from the textbooks and screens, roll up your sleeves and immerse yourself in something creative.
Baking bread isn’t just about good food — although free, tasty food is often a great motivator for eternally hungry college students — it’s about slowing down, working with your hands and sharing a moment of calm with your friends. The rhythmic motion of braiding dough can be surprisingly soothing, and the aroma of fresh bread is guaranteed to lift your spirits.
But this event is more than just a stress-reliever; it’s a cultural experience. Challah is a traditional Jewish bread typically enjoyed during Shabbat and other holidays. Its golden, braided form symbolizes unity and continuity, reminding those who bake it of the importance of community and tradition.
“Challah is the centerpiece ceremonial bread for Ashkenazi Jews,” Rachel Mennies, baker and writer at Wordloaf, said. “[For] those of us who draw their cultural origins spanning from Eastern Europe to Germany or thereabouts, whose ancestors spoke Yiddish alongside whatever language needed to survive in their home country.”
By opening this event to all students, the JSO hopes not just to share a recipe, but a story — a chance to learn about Jewish customs in a welcoming, interactive way.
“Make Monday meaningful with OU JSO,” the student organization said. “Join us for Challah Take & Bake, where we’ll braid and learn together. You’ll head home with a fresh challah and the experience of braiding it yourself.”
Food is more than something tasty to be consumed; it’s a bridge between cultures. Whether you’re Jewish or simply curious, participating in the Challah Bake and Take is an opportunity to connect, ask questions and appreciate the meaning behind the meal. You’ll leave not only with a warm loaf of bread, but also with a deeper understanding and appreciation for a tradition that has been passed down for generations.
“Unlike other enriched breads, a truly kosher challah is made without dairy or meat derivatives, relying on vegetable oils for fat and a contested number of eggs — which are considered pareve, or neither dairy nor meat, in the kosher laws known as kashrut,” Mennies writes.
So, if midterms have left you feeling drained, the JSO invites all students to recharge and learn about the culture. The student organization invited students to come for the bread, stay for the conversation and walk away with a new skill — and maybe a new tradition.
