Earlier this month, more than 250 women, men and children from across Chicago’s northern suburbs came together to bake challah – and show their solidarity with Israel – at the Great Big Chicago Family Unity Challah Bake, a joint program of NCSY’s Jewish Family Experience and Chicago Torah Network.

The program, held in conjunction with the international Shabbat Project, gave participants the chance to bake challah, while praying on behalf of the IDF and the Jewish people worldwide. Participants also received the name of an IDF soldier to pray for during and after the event.

“[The Challah Bake] was our first event out after October 7^th and it meant so much to connect with our larger family – the Jewish people – and quietly do an activity with prayer and with song,” says participant Lisa Azoory Keller of Highland Park, IL. “We felt stronger and uplifted being together.”

Other program partners included Camp Nageela, the Chicago JCC,  Darchei Noam, Heritage, the L’Chaim Center, and Torah Academy.