No matter how many years go by, how many generations, some things never change. I love these things that keep me a part of the historical chain. Moments such as those of a mother and her daughter, passing forward the secrets of her kitchen. Those secretes will remain forever in their hearts. 

Shabbat is the holy day of the week in traditional Jewish life. Naturally, kitchen activities are all around it. And what is more symbolic than fresh, homemade Challah to bless the weekend?

Some communities have a tradition of baking Challaot (plural of challah) before giving birth as a sign of good luck. In the Soviet Union, the government led to an almost complete obliteration of Jewish traditions. In my family, as in many others, not many traditions were left. But now, being a grownup in Israel, I am rejuvenating old traditions, to be passed over to the next generation.  And perhaps because we live in a digital and innovative world, there is nothing more heart-warming than a thousand years old tradition, mother and daughter, making the dough, and the smell of freshly baked challah next to the Shabbat candles.