In the previous Halachot we have explained that if one needs a dough that contains 1,560 grams (or a little less than 3.5 lbs.) of flour, one must separate a piece of dough as “Challah” and then either burn or discard it.
Whole Wheat Flour
As we have explained, the amount necessary to obligate separating Challah is 1,560 grams of flour or more. However, this amount must reflect the amount of flour, not other additives and if 1,560 grams is reached only after other ingredients are mixed in the flour, the dough is exempt from separating Challah.
A small amount of waste or chaff that is mixed into the flour is included in the amount necessary to separate Challah (Mishnah Challah, Ch. 2). There is an important detail we must bear in mind though.
In prior generations, wheat grinding and production was much more labor-intensive than it is today. Therefore, when they wished to grind wheat into a more nutrient-rich version (called “whole wheat” today), they would not remove the outer layer of bran from the wheat kernel and instead, they would grind it as is. Some still follow this process today.
Nowadays, however, when peeling the wheat kernels is much simpler, there are those factories that produce whole wheat flour by using regular white flour and then mixing some separated bran back into it. When this is the case, even if one has a bowl containing 1,560 grams of whole wheat flour, that is not the true amount of pure flour because the bran is taking up some volume as well. Thus, one should find out how the flour was produced or use a bigger amount of flour in order to avoid doubt. (Nevertheless, in cases of doubt, one should separate Challah without reciting a blessing. See Rambam and Maran Ha’Shulchan Aruch, Yoreh De’ah Ch. 324:3. See also “Lehafrish Challah” by Hagaon Harav Shimon Maimon Shlit”a.)
Connecting Two Doughs
When one prepares two doughs and neither of them have the requisite amount for Challah, both doughs are exempt from separating Challah. Nevertheless, one may not specifically make a dough that is less than the prescribed amount for Challah in order to be exempt from the Mitzvah (Shulchan Aruch YD 324:14).
Thus, in a situation where there are two bowls, each containing less than the prescribed amount for Challah but when combined reach the correct amount, the doughs should be joined and then Challah should be separated.
The doughs are joined by bringing the two bowls together and taking a piece of dough from one bowl and connecting it well to the dough in the other bowl, like a bridge, such that if one were to remove the “bridge,” a little piece of the bigger dough would come of with it. In this way, the doughs are considered combined and one small piece of Challah can be removed from one of the doughs on behalf of both.
Putting Two Doughs into One Vessel
Another way to join both doughs together is by placing them both into a large vessel, such as a bowl or box, and in this way, even if they are not touching one another, they are considered combined.
If placing the doughs in a large vessel is not possible, Maran Ha’Shulchan Aruch (Ch. 325) quotes Rabbeinu Peretz who rules that covering them with a cloth combines them.
Combining Baked Loaves
In the event that Challah was not separated before the dough was baked and the dough has already been baked into multiple loaves of bread, cakes, or cookies, one can combine them even after having been baked in the same manner as above, i.e. either placing them in a large vessel together or covering them with a cloth. In this way, separating a small piece from any loaf will exempt all of the loaves.
Summary: One must make certain that the dough contains 1,560 grams of pure flour, not including other additives. If the dough is split into several vessels, each containing less than the required amount, the doughs should be connected to one another using a piece of dough as a “bridge,” by placing the doughs in a larger vessel, or by covering the doughs with a cloth or towel. In this way, one can separate one piece of Challah for all of the doughs.
All of the above applies when the doughs are all of one type. If there are several types of dough, we shall discuss this in the next Halacha, G-d-willing.
