Hundreds of Woman and Girls Take Part in Chabad Suffern’s Challah Bake

Last week, two hundred and fifty women gathered at the Crowne Plaza to bake challah, but the evening involved more than sticky dough and braiding.

It was a most memorable night of celebrating the joyous love, faith, and togetherness of Jewish women. From the spirited chatter to Chava Morgenstern’s rousing rendition of Avinu Malkeinu; from the warm speech of our sponsor to the heartrending first-person accounts from young Ukrainian refugees; from the blessing over challah we partook in to Rebbetzin Rivky’s heartbreaking and inspiring speech about her nomadic years through cancer, Covid, and then the Ukranian war–and how, through her unwavering faith in Hashem and his eternal plan, she survived and thrived.

And then they took to the dance floor, lifting themselves physically and spiritually.

“What a way to bring in the new year,” Suffern Chabad wrote on Facebook. “We cannot thank you enough—all of you who offered your time to help, and those who participated—for making this event a success. So many reached out to say how meaningful the night was for you, and we feel blessed to have you as partners. May Hashem grant us all a year of health, prosperity, peace, and joy for our families, the world, and all of Israel. L’shana Tova!”