They wore jeans and T-shirts or long skirts and wigs. They came from every part of Orange County. They came in smiling and left energized.
Twelve hundred local Jewish women gathered in solidarity at the Momentous Sports Center in Tustin for the Sixth Annual Orange County Mega Challah Bake. The evening of braiding and bonding gave the women a chance to learn how to make a challah, sing, dance and socialize with people from all over Orange County. Food and drinks were available for purchase before the event, offering an opportunity for even more socializing.
Chaired once again by Shana Segall, the challah bake committee brought together women from various organizations in the Orange County Jewish community. The grassroots effort culminated in the county’s largest Jewish women’s event of the year.
The challah bake evolved from the Shabbat Project that began in South Africa and spread all over the world. The concept is to transcend barriers and bring Jews from all walks of life together to celebrate Shabbat. Organizers describe it as an opportunity to rejuvenate family and community life, restore Jewish pride and identity and strengthen Jewish unity across the globe. This program was partially funded by a grant from the Albert and Rhoda Weissman Arts Endowment Fund, a joint program of Jewish Community Foundation Orange County and Jewish Federation & Family Services of Orange County.