challah

noun

Etymology: From Hebrew חַלָּה (ḥallá, “loaf”), influenced by Yiddish חלה (khale).

1. A traditional bread eaten by Ashkenazi Jews, usually braided for the Sabbath and round for a yom tov.

   “[…]it is a time-honored custom that when women bake challah-loaves for Sabbath and Yom Tov use, they specifically prepare a dough large enough to be obligated in challah, so they can fulfill the mitzvah of separating challah[…].”

   “Posting photos of his Shabbat candles and challah on Friday night, [Mark] Zuckerberg said that he would be giving the ceremonial cup to his eldest daughter, Maxima.”

2. The commandment to separate a portion of bread or bread dough for the cohanim (Numbers 15:17–21); in contemporary practice, the portion is burned until inedible.
3. The portion separated in fulfillment of the above.