A challah baking event in support of Yesh Tikva was held at Congregation Ohr Torah in Edison shortly before Rosh Hashanah. Nearly 100 women representing the communities of Edison, Highland Park, East Brunswick and the surrounding areas joined together for the mitzvah and to honor the memory of community member Moe Berkowitz, whose wife is a fertility mentor for Yesh Tikva.

Elie Salomon, organizer of the event and a Yesh Tikva board member, said that the challah baking was a nationwide event to bring awareness of the organization to join friends locally and across the world in taking challah (Hafrashat Challah) before Rosh Hashanah in the merit that all those facing infertility should be blessed with healthy children this year. In-person events were held at six locations in New Jersey, Arizona, California, Connecticut and Nevada, but participants could also be part of the event remotely from the comfort of their own kitchen.

“Any opportunity for Jewish women to come together in purpose is powerful. This challah bake is so amazing in that it brings a diverse group of community women together to pray, connect and grow,” said volunteer Marla Rottenstreich.

Six local synagogues supported the initiative: Congregation Ohr Torah in Edison; Congregation Ahavas Achim, Congregation Ohav Emeth, Khal Chassidim, and Sephardic Congregation Etz Ahaim of Highland Park; as well as the Young Israel of East Brunswick.

Yesh Tikva brings hope and support to Jewish men and women facing infertility with 45 mentors who help the one in eight couples who are diagnosed with infertility each year. Yesh Tikva is dedicated to supporting people dealing with infertility while simultaneously raising awareness and sensitivity within the broader Jewish community.

For more information visit: https://yeshtikva.org/