This excerpt from "The Secret of Challah" by Shira Wiener & Ayelet Yifrach provides clear and concise directions for both Ashkenazim and Sepharadim on how to perform the mitzvah (commandment) of Hafrashat Challah – separating the dough when making challah. The instructions provide the Hebrew, English and transliterated text of the blessing. Separating the dough is considered one of the three special commandments given to women, along with candle lighting before Shabbat and the laws of family purity.
How to Separate Challah
1. Place the dough in front of you, before it has been formed into any sort of shape.
2. Some have the custom to give charity or wash hands (netilat yadayim) without a blessing before fulfilling the mitzvah. This is a favorable time for personal requests and prayers (see prayers for Hafrashat Challah).
3. Recite the blessing. It is the custom to stand while performing this mitzvah.
Ashkenazi Custom
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲֹשֶר קִדְֹּשָנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו, וְצִיוָּנוּ לְהַפְרִיֹש חַלָּה מִן הָעִיסָהBaruch Ata Adonai, Eloheinu Melech Haolam, asher kidshanu b'mitzvotav, v'tzivanu l'hafreesh challah min ha-eesah.Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us to separate challah from the dough.
Sephardic Custom
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲֹשֶר קִדְֹּשָנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו, וְצִיוָּנוּ לְהַפְרִיֹש חַלָּה תְרוּמָהBaruch Ata Adonai, Eloheinu Melech Haolam, asher kidshanu b'mitzvotav, v'tzivanu l'hafreesh challah terumah.Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us to separate challah terumah.
Chabad Custom
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲֹשֶר קִדְֹּשָנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו, וְצִיוָּנוּ לְהַפְרִיֹש חַלָּהBaruch Ata Adonai, Eloheinu Melech Haolam, asher kidshanu b'mitzvotav, v'tzivanu l'hafreesh challah.Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us to separate challah.4. Remove a small piece from the dough, lift it, and say:
הֲרֵי זוֹ חַלָּה, 'this here is challah'
The piece of dough can be of any size. The custom is to separate a kazayit – 28 grams (approximately one ounce), or the size of a ping-pong ball.
5. Burn the separated dough or wrap it in two layers and discard it. It is preferable to burn the piece of dough that has been separated, but not in the oven. If the challah is burned on the gas range, it should first be well wrapped in aluminum foil so that the dough does not touch the grate. Another option is to place the piece of dough inside a tin-can and burn it on a lit gas range. If burning the challah cannot easily be done, it may be wrapped in two layers of a material such as aluminum foil or plastic bags and discarded.