By Rabbi Hayim Asher Arking and Rabbi Ezra Ghodsi
When fulfilling the misvah of hallah, it is an auspicious time to pray and ask Hashem for one’s wishes.
How much flour does one need to use to separate hallah?
- From 8.5 cups (2.5 lbs.) up to 13.5 cups of flour, hallah is separated without a beracha.
- From 13.5 cups (3.85 lbs.) of flour and up, hallah is separated with a beracha.1
How much hallah should be separated?
Only a small amount of dough needs to be separated for hallah, irrespective of the size of the batch. According to some, it is preferable to take a piece of dough the size of a k’zayit (1 ounce).
What is the process of separating hallah?
To separate hallah, hold onto a piece of the dough (only partially separating it from the rest of the dough) and recite:
Baruch attah Adonai, Elokenu Melekh ha’olam asher kidishanu bimitsvotav,
vitsivanu lehafrish hallah terumah.
Remove the piece and then declare: הֲרֵי זוֹ חַלָּה.
Even when separating hallah without a beracha, the declaration of הֲרֵי זוֹ חַלָּה is still recited.
What should I do with the hallah that I separated?
The piece of dough should be double wrapped in silver foil and placed in the oven or in a fire to be burned. After it is burned it may be discarded while fully wrapped.
Is hallah separated from cookies and cakes?
Hallah is separated not only from bread but even from cookies, cakes, and muffins, etc., provided that the necessary amount of flour is used for the dough.
However, if the cake or muffins are baked from a liquid batter, the hallah is separated after they are baked. Before hallah can be taken the cakes or muffins need to be joined together with the following process:
1) Everything should be placed together on a tray that has a lip.
2) Ensure all the cakes/muffins are touching.
3) The tray should be fully covered (e.g., with a towel).2
The towel may then be removed, the beracha is recited, and a piece should be removed for hallah. When separating the hallah declare: הֲרֵי זוֹ חַלָּה.
Can one large batch of dough be divided for a hallah bake?
Some opinions allow one person to make many separate batches of dough (with each batch meeting the required amount) that are then individually given out. However, many discourage this practice. Rather, each woman should make her own dough (with the required amount) and may then separate hallah with a beracha. One dough should not be split up between multiple women, even if only one beracha is being recited.