History and symbolism
The origin of the tradition is attributed to Hasids in Abov, where they used to make special challahs in the shape of a key on the Sabbath after Passover. The reason for this lies in the transition period from man food to eating the grain of the land:
The end of the Haman era: Upon their entry into the Land of Israel, Haman passed, bread from heaven that provided them with food for 40 years of wandering in the desert. The Israelites had to learn to provide for their own livelihood, and the key symbolized for them the opening of the gates of livelihood and economic success.
Renewing the connection with the land: eating the grain of the land symbolized a deeper connection to the land and the blessing of divine abundance. The key is seen as a tool to open the natural gates of abundance and blessing.
Over the years, the custom spread beyond Hasidism in Abov and became the common property among many Jews. The reasons for this are:
Powerful symbolism: the key carries a strong symbolic charge, combining both the human need for work and perseverance, and the dependence on God’s blessing.
Hope for a good livelihood: in a time when livelihood was not always guaranteed, the keystone symbolized hope and faith in the ability to earn a living with dignity and abundance.
The first source in which the virtue is mentioned is in the book of Rabbi Avraham Yehoshua Hashil of Afta, author of “Ohav Yisrael” and this is the language of his dedication: “The custom has been since ancient times to name the challah on the Sabbath after Passover with keys. And a key is made on the challah, and the custom of Israel is Torah.” (I love Israel for Kotim, a small page)
Additional interpretations:
In addition to the main reasons, there are additional interpretations attributed to the custom of the keyless entry:
Opening the gates of heaven: the key is seen as a symbolic opening to the gates of heaven, through which you can ask for blessing and success in all areas of life.
Inner work: the custom reminds us of the need for inner work and spiritual growth, a necessary condition for opening the true gates of abundance.
Another point, about the way of the secret: the key symbolizes the work that the person does on his part, in terms of “Open for me a door like the point of a needle and I will open for you like the door of a hall”. We open with the mitzvah of Shabbat, and the mitzvah of counting the Omer, and the Holy One, blessed be He, will open his good treasure for us, and the verse will be fulfilled in us: “And the heavens flew above and the gates of heaven opened.”
Connection to the days of the Omer: The counting of the Omer, which takes place between Pesach and Shavuot, is also related to inner work and a process of spiritual growth. The key symbolizes the opening of the heart and mind towards receiving divine abundance.
Ways of preparation
The key ring can be made in different ways:
Plaiting the challah: the challah itself can be plaited in the shape of a key, using various plaiting techniques.
Challah decoration: You can bake a regular challah and stamp a key shape on it using a special tool or a template.
Embedding a key: Some people practice embedding a real key inside the challah before baking.
The importance of custom
It is important to note that the custom is a matter of belief and personal view.
Preparing challah and eating it on the Sabbath after Passover, with pure intention and prayer, can be a source of inspiration and strength in our personal way. They remind us of the importance of hard work, faith and hope, while connecting more deeply to Jewish tradition and values.
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