For as long as I can remember, the challah on the first Shabbat after Pesach was always the best tasting challah of the year, which clearly was due to our being deprived of challah for at least 10 days. The shape or design of the challah was irrelevant- it just tasted special.

Well, special challah on the shabbat  after Pesach has gone viral in the shape of a key known as  shlissel (key) challah. The popularity ( as well as the competitiveness  of making the most realistic , intricate key shape and or pattern) has grown tremendously in the past years, as have theories as to the origin of this rather strange practice. What most likely started  as a custom in Eastern Europe  or Germany as a symbolic omen for a good livelihood or financial success, seems to have now crossed all international  boundaries; has been enhanced by Jews from both Ashkenazic and Sephardic origins and has gained serious internet  and social media attention.

While there is no specific blessing or ritual associated with the shlissel challah phenomenon, ( which in and of itself makes it rather strange in Jewish tradition), there are certainly lots of ideas as to why we need to unlock the gates to prosperity right after Pesach. The most common  thought is that the  Manna stopped appearing from heaven in Iyar, the Hebrew month that is blessed  and sanctified on the Shabbat after Pesach. Without the Manna, the Jewish people needed to become more self-sufficient  in their quest for financial success ( literally for their food at the time). Other thoughts on the Shilssel Challah origin include trying to keep the gates of heaven ( which were opened during the holiday of Pesach) open longer.

Everyone who  bakes a shlissel challah ( my own family members included ) will tell you it is a symbol for good Parnassah (livelihood), and hey a little symbolic gesture never hurt anyone. I just wonder if the reason has to do with trying to recoup the financial outlay of the Pesach food shopping.

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)