BJH: Hi Bracha. First of all, Thank you for giving away free challahs to those who request one every week for the past several months in the merit of the return of the hostages! Kol Hakavod!! We are excited for more people to learn about and gain from this meaningful initiative. Please begin by sharing a bit about yourself, including your cooking and baking background.
Bracha Shor: I got started cooking when I was 17 because I became a vegetarian and my mom said she’s not making a second meal for me, but I’m welcome to make whatever I want. That’s where my love of exotic cooking started. I love the bold flavors and the textures. When I lived in the Old City I started Sweet & Good Catering because it’s something that I love to do. I love to share in people’s simchas. I believe baked goods are truly like a hug. They are meant for sharing. I love the whole process!
BJH: How did you come up with the idea to give away challah?
BS: After my father passed away about seven years ago I wanted to find a meaningful gemach in his memory. We started making challahs and giving away the ones we didn’t need. Then when the war started I wanted to do something that built achdus and built merit, something in the spiritual realm for the return of the hostages. We can all daven, give tzedaka, and do good things, but I wanted to do something on a bigger scale in their merit. At this time we are giving away 134 challahs.
BJH: Have you seen or heard about the challah program leading to more chessed and more achdus?
BS: Yes, definitely. First of all, we have a core group of people that volunteer on Wednesdays at noon to braid the challahs. We also have people who deliver to those that can’t pick it up. We have people who donate to sponsor the ingredients. Additionally, someone from our local Girl Scout troop reached out several months ago seeing if we can provide a few challahs for their camping trip. I’m sure the land of the campsite was elevated so high with the kavanos of the girls saying a bracha on and eating the challahs.
BJH: Here’s another— A BJH reader shared that her young son is so proud of himself for picking out 2 challahs each week. They pick up one for ourselves and one for their older neighbors. He loves dropping the challah off at their house as he says Good Shabbos and scurries away. The neighbor is left grinning ear to ear!
BJH: Has anything unexpected happened because of this initiative?
BS: Yes! I usually post on the Facebook group “We’re Jewish Baltimore Women, Hon” when I’m looking for braiders or deliverers or for people to reserve a challah. But I also post about it on my own page. A number of non-Jews have reached out to say how appreciative they are and how happy they are that we are thinking about the hostages and we’re trying to get them back.
BJH: What is your goal with this initiative?
BS: One of my ultimate goals is to remember the hostages. It’s not always so easy in our day-to-day life. It’s been 7 months! It’s been a lot of time. Since I do this every week I remember it, I think about it.
BJH: Who is Eitan Avraham ben Efrat?
BS: Every week in the email we specifically mention Eitan Avraham ben Efrat. He is the cousin of the Flamms, a family in our community. He was taken hostage after being shot or injured in some way while saving lives at the Nova festival. He was there as a security guard. We want him back. We want them all back.
BJH: Well said. Thank you! Anything else you’d like to add?
BS: I know this is Hashem’s plan. And I thank Hashem for his beautiful and amazing plan. And that I get to be a part of it. I know it’s for the good. But now I want the hostages back.
For more information please contact Bracha Shor at bshor@sweetandgoodcatering.com
“Bracha Shor has been bringing challah to Ner Tamid Montessori over the last few months. The teachers and other staff members absolutely love the challah and enjoy being a part of something to honor our hostages in Israel. We hope that all of the brachot and simcha that the challah bring create endless mitzvos in honor of the hostages and our soldiers in Israel.”
-Director of New Tamil Montessori
