Hilchos Hafroshos Chalah Part 2

  1. If a person has two portions of dough, neither one of which is large
    enough to require taking Chalah, and he would be willing to have the
    two portions combined into one, he can incur the obligation of taking Chalah
    by placing them together in a single container. Preferably, the two portions
    should be placed so that they touch each other, and no part of the dough
    should protrude from the container. If it does, the container should be
    covered with a cloth. If the two portions belong to different people, they
    may not be combined unless it is clear that both of them would agree.

  2. A portion of unbaked dough that is not large enough to require
    taking Chalah cannot be combined with baked dough that is also
    not large enough to require taking Chalah, to form a larger unit that
    requires taking Chalah. Baked dough and unbaked dough are considered
    two different types of food. Chalah taken from one is not counted
    toward the Chalah that should be taken from the other.

  3. If dough that is large enough to require taking Chalah is divided
    into small portions from which Chalah would not be taken, the
    portions are exempt from the mitzvah of Chalah only if they were
    separated intentionally.

  4. It is preferable to take Chalah after the dough has been kneaded
    into a single unit. After Chalah has been taken, a quantity of flour
    less than the quantity that requires Chalah may be added to the
    dough. A larger quantity may be added only if, when Chalah was taken,
    the stipulation was made that the Chalah taken would exempt flour
    added later.

  5. It is preferable to take Chalah from the unbaked dough, but Chalah
    may also be taken from the baked dough and the blessing may be recited.

  6. Sometimes it is preferable to take Chalah after the dough is baked.
    For example, Chalah is taken from matzos only after the dough is
    baked to avoid delay that might cause the matzos to become chametz. Chalah
    is taken from lekach, which is prepared with a very loose dough, only
    after it is baked, and without reciting the blessing.

  7. Chalah is taken from thick dough that will be cooked rather than
    baked (such as noodles or jelly doughnuts) without reciting the blessing.
    But if a portion of the dough will be baked, the blessing is recited.

  8. Even though the mitzvah of Chalah pertains primarily to the owner
    of the dough, the Rabbis placed this mitzvah upon women because it was a
    woman who caused the loss of the “Chalah of the world,” that is,
    the death of Adam HaRishon. Therefore a woman should try to prepare dough on
    Erev Shabbos in a quantity that requires her to take Chalah, and she
    does not need the permission of her husband to take Chalah.
    Nevertheless, her husband should take Chalah once in the course of
    the year so that he may fulfill the mitzvah with his own hands.

  9. The blessing that is said for the mitzvah of taking Chalah should
    be recited while removing the Chalah. After the Chalah has
    been removed, it is declared to be Chalah by saying: “This is Chalah.”

  10. It is customary to remove a k’zais of dough as the Chalah.
    It is then burned by itself. A Yisrael (non-Kohen) may not
    benefit from the burning of Chalah. If it is difficult to burn the Chalah,
    it should be tossed away in a respectful manner. It should be wrapped in two
    plastic bags before it is discarded.

  11. If a piece of the Chalah falls back into the dough, one should
    consult a Rabbi.

  12. On Shabbos, it is forbidden to take Chalah. On holidays, if the
    dough was kneaded before the holiday, it is forbidden to take Chalah.
    If it was kneaded on the holiday, it is permissible to take Chalah.

  13. If one remembers on Shabbos that Chalah was not removed from the
    bread (or any other baked goods from which Chalah must be taken),
    then, in Eretz Yisrael, it is muktzah, for it is tevel (untithed
    produce), and tevel is muktzeh. Outside of Eretz Yisrael,
    where bread may be eaten and the Chalah removed after Shabbos, it is
    not muktzah.

  14. Regarding the taking of Chalah on Shabbos bein hashmashos (between
    sunset and night-time): In Eretz Yisrael, if there would be nothing
    to eat if Chalah were not taken, it may be taken. Outside of Eretz
    Yisrael, where bread may be eaten and the Chalah removed after
    Shabbos, it is forbidden to take Chalah bein hashmashos.