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impressive transformation, she was quick to point out it hadn’t happened overnight. It
was always one commitment which inspired the next, as if improvement and growth
were inevitable. And perhaps they were. Rifky made no secret of the catalyst, the initial
inspiration that struck her as a young 27- year-old mother — to be mafrish challah every
single erev Shabbos. Challah is roshei teivos “chutz l’derech hateva,” and indeed it
seems as if there must have been challah’s transformative powers at play.
KALLAH CHALLAH
With Rifky’s passing leaving a void in our hearts and the desire to connect to her purity
and energy, her dear friend, the indefatigable Blimie Brunner, conceived a beautiful and
fitting tribute that would continue to inspire while collecting zechusim leilui nishmasa.
Rifky’s life force was her challah baking. She recognized the incredible opportunity this
mitzvah provides. To that end, the Ohel Rifka Challah Gmach was founded, offering a
unique service: kallah challah.
On her wedding day, when a kallah has such tremendous koach, allowing her to be
mafrish challah provides her with an additional conduit for her precious tefillos!
And now we are looking at starting the gmach in Montreal too! The process is rather
simple. Volunteers sign up to the group chat. Each kallah dough request is posted and
any volunteer has the option to grab the mitzvah for herself. A monogrammed towel
and techina card are delivered to the volunteer to bring to the kallah at the designated
time.
The volunteer brings dough to the kallah at the address (home or hall) and time
specified. The kallah makes the brocha and the volunteer takes the dough back home.
Some amazing volunteers create a seudah challah or bilkelech for the yichud room, or
breakfast rolls for the following morning, but those are absolutely extras. The goal is to
provide the kallah with the awesome opportunity to amplify her tefillos’ reach. As one
volunteer gushed, “Thank you for the zchus! I'm on a high! It was absolutely beautiful
connecting with a kallah (who was a stranger — until I arrived with my dough); I
davened for her and she will do the same for me. I can’t begin to express the emotions.
I'm experiencing right now!
A kallah’s mother shared, “You have no idea what the kallah challah did to our home! It
shifted the focus of the day from hectic wedding prep and concern over perfect makeup
... to suddenly feeling that the day was a heilige day. The challah dough transformed the
atmosphere.”
NOT ASKING FOR DIAMONDS
The ORCG operates through generous volunteers inspired to be part of this powerful
movement. We’re eage to get both more volunteers and also to have more kallahs
become aware, so they don’t pass on the opportunity to be mafrish challah on their
wedding day — for free.
If you’re inspired to volunteer, reach out to P.H Deutsch 514 970 1773 or 514 273 1773
and we’re thrilled to get you on board! All her life, Rifky gave generously and graciously.
The challah gmach is our opportunity to reciprocate.
Bio:
In the Tri-State area, volunteers and kallahs can contact Ohel Rifka Challah Gmach at
י
929-257-1333 and kallahchallah@gmail.com "נ יולה ןויצנב תב ה"ע דבכוי הקבר נ"על
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