1. Question:If I make a large cake batter, do I need to take challoh? Introduction: When one makes a dough with intention to bake it, there is an obligation to be mafrish challoh if the dough contains a shiur challoh (Shulchan Aruch Yoreh De’ah Siman 329 Se’if 1-3). Shiur challoh is the equivalent amount of flour to the volume of 43.2 eggs (Shulchan Aruch ibid Siman 324 Se’if 1). There are various interpretations of this amount, and in contemporary terms the standard approach is to take challoh without a brocho from 1.2 kg of flour, and to take challoh with a brocho from no less than 1.67 kg of flour (see Shemiras Shabbos Kehilchoso volume 2, Perek 42, 9). Some are stringent and only say a brocho on 2.25 kg of flour. The other components of a dough (e.g. water, sugar and oil) will not combine with the flour for the required minimum amount (Derech Emunah Bikkurim Perek 6 s.k. 114). Practically, the obligation of taking challoh from a cake mixture will usually only be relevant when baking large quantities of cake (e.g. for an institution or for a large number of people) because generally a cake mixture will not contain 1.2 kg of flour. Discussion: The obligation of challoh applies to a thin batter (a b’lilo rako) as well as to a dough (b’lilo oveh) provided that the batter was baked and not fried (Shulchan Aruch ibid Siman 329 Se’if 2). However, there is a significant discrepancy between a regular dough and a thin batter regarding the stage of hafroshas challoh: Regarding a regular dough the obligation of challoh begins as soon as the dough is formed (Shulchan Aruch Siman 327 Se’if 2), and one should ideally refrain from separating challoh until all the components of the dough have been thoroughly mixed together (ibid Se’if 3). However, regarding a thin batter, since by definition it is missing the essential “gilgul” stage (i.e. where a dough is formed, which is only practically possible with a thick dough) it will only become obligated in challoh during the baking process and not before. Therefore, one should refrain from being mafrish challoh until after the cake is baked (Toras Ho’oretz Perek 4, 92-94, Mikdash Me’at Siman 327 s.k. 12, Derech Emunah Bikkurim Perek 8 s.k. 25, Mishpetei Eretz Challoh Perek 1, 2). Additionally, even if the batter contained a shiur challoh, if the mixture was divided among several baking trays or tins and each baking tray or tin contained less than the minimum shiur challoh it will not become obligated in challoh even during the baking, since at the stage where it could potentially become obligated in challoh (i.e. during baking) there is not enough flour together in one place to become obligated in hafroshas challoh (Mishpetei Eretz Challoh Perek 1, footnote 5). After baking, it will only be possible for the cakes to attain an obligation of challoh if they are combined. It is possible to combine baked items together using the mechanism of tziruf kli (regarding neshicha after baking see footnote ): Tziruf kli will obligate different pieces of dough or baked items in hafroshas challoh (Shulchan Aruch Siman 325 Se’if 1) even if they did not previously contain a shiur challoh and can be achieved where the separate pieces of dough or baked items are placed together in one receptacle (i.e. that has walls) even if they are not touching one another. Alternatively, the baked items can be placed on any surface, and covered with a cloth or towel and this will effect tziruf kli (Shulchan Aruch ibid). Regarding the oven itself serving as the receptacle to combine the items being baked within it – see footnote . Conclusion: A cake batter will be obligated in hafroshas challoh if it contains a minimum of 1.2 kg of flour. The obligation of hafroshas challoh for a thin, batter-like mixture will only occur during the baking and not in the batter stage. Therefore, if the batter is divided into several baking trays and tins, and each do not contain the shiur hafroshas challoh independently, there will be no obligation of hafroshas challoh unless the different cakes are combined, typically using the mechanism of tziruf kli. |
Challah
Leave a Reply