Jewish culinary traditions: Challah bread and New York bialys

Traditional Jewish baked goods continue to maintain a presence in culinary culture, ranging from homemade challah bread to long-standing commercial bakeries in New York.

Challah is a traditional braided yeast bread often associated with Shabbat and Jewish holidays. It is characterized by a soft, airy texture and a slightly sweet flavor, typically made using oil rather than butter to adhere to kosher dietary practices. The bread is often prepared in various braid styles, including three, four, or six strands, and can be shaped into rounds for Rosh Hashanah.

In New York, Kossar’s Bagels & Bialys, established in 1936, identifies as America’s oldest bialy bakery. The bialy, which originated in Bialystok, Poland, is a round dough with a dimpled center filled with onion. Unlike bagels, bialys are baked without being boiled in water. The bakery serves as a historical link to the Jewish immigrant families of Manhattan’s Lower East Side.