Hear ye! The Challah Prince arrives in Northbrook

Get ready to roll out the red carpet! Challah royalty is coming soon to Chicago.

Idan Chabasov-a.k.a. the Challah Prince-will host a workshop on Sept. 25 at Temple Beth-El in Northbrook. In preparation for the High Holidays, the Israel-based baker-who has more than 470,000 Instagram followers-will teach home bakers how to replicate his magic with their own dough.

Chabasov got his start in 2017 when he lived in Berlin. Missing the tastes of Israel, he’d host Shabbat dinners with friends, but had trouble finding challah. “It was very disturbing for me,” he reflected.

When he eventually found a few token loaves of challah at a local Jewish bakery, he thought they tasted “horrible.” A friend encouraged Chabasov to try making it for himself, so he did. “I fell in love. The first time I smelled it in the oven, I knew this is something that I want to do for a long time, if not forever,” he said, laughing.

In January 2020, he started an Instagram account so family and friends could follow along on his challah journey. Then came the COVID lockdown, which resulted in more people spending time in their kitchens. Chabasov received invitations from Jewish organizations to lead Zoom challah classes, allowing him to reach broader audiences.

Originally, the Challah Prince’s Instagram page showed followers how to make the dough into different baked goods, including Jerusalem bagels, pizza, and more. In an ironic twist, Passover sparked Chabasov’s discovery of his true passion for making challah.

It’s customary to bake challah in the shape of a key on the Shabbat after Passover. Chabasov noticed that people were making their keys in creative, innovative ways. He officially found his calling: getting creative with challah dough.

“When I did research, I noticed that not a lot of bakers were focusing on braiding,” he said. “I felt there was a need out there. Challah [is] way more than just a piece of bread. It’s very spiritual.

Chabasov filmed only his hands braiding the dough and paired the videos with “nice background music,” he said. “For me, as a former dancer, it was like dancing with my hands,” he said.

The Challah Prince is also certified as a meditation facilitator and rebirthing therapist. Eventually, he said, he would like to combine his “breath work with his bread work.”

“We are holding so much energy in our hands,” Chabasov said. “We release a lot of the energy we hold in our body with the kneading [and] with the braiding, which helps us to feel relaxed.”

While his adept fingers can braid up to 11 strands of dough, Chabasov feels most connected to the four-strand challah. Popular in bakeries throughout Israel, four strands can be used to make various shapes, including a heart and Magen David.

Since October 7, Chabasov explained, making and braiding challah has helped keep him “sane” during “intense” times.

Even though Chabasov specializes in braiding, the Challah Prince offers important advice when it comes to finding the perfect recipe.

“Just be happy you’re baking challah, and it’ll be tasty,” he said. “It doesn’t matter if you use 100 grams or 50 grams of sugar…Just come with a big smile on your face. Enjoy the process, love the process, and it’ll be delicious. I promise you.”

The Challah Prince is bringing his joy and expertise of challah making to Temple Beth-El in Northbrook on September 25 at 6:30 pm. For more information or to register, visit tinyurl.com/TheChallahPrince, or contact Holly Hamburg at [email protected].

Mimi Sager Yoskowitz is a writer and former CNN producer raising her family on the North Shore. She’s a current trustee of the Jewish Women’s Foundation and former Young Women’s Board member. Connect with her on Facebook or Instagram @mimisy6.