This time last week, Bakers Hall was pleased to welcome Ray Rinkoff of Rinkoffs Bakery to lead two Challah Braiding Workshops for the Jewish Square Mile Foundation.
We believe this was the first public demonstration of traditional challah making ever to take place in the City of London. The Jewish Community has been a key part of City of London life for generations, with evidence of settlement by 1068, centred around what is now Old Jewry, a short walk from Bakers' Hall.
Gaby Morris, trustee of the Jewish Square Mile Foundation, said: “Bread has a way of bringing people together. To be making challah, openly and in good company, in the City for the first time feels rather special. It is a simple act, but one that speaks to continuity, resilience and community.”
Although not every participant could manage to produce loaves with quite the artistry of the professionals from Rinkoffs, everyone went home happy and ready to break bread, as generations before us have done.
Photography: Black and white images: Lee Simmons/ Jewish Square Mile; colour image: Gaby Morris / Jewish Square Mile
