The loaves are called birchoth (‏ברכות‎), taashir (‏תעשיר‎), or challah (‏חלה‎). The first name they received as symbols of God’s blessing, the double portion of manna which the Almighty sent to the Israelites on Friday because of the Sabbath (see Rashi on Gen. ii. 3). The verse, “The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich” (‏תעשיר‎, Prov. x. 22), suggested the second name. Challah reminds us of the commandment to give the first part of the dough to the priest (Num. xv. 17–21). Although at present this commandment cannot be carried out, we separate a small piece, called challah, of the dough which we prepare for bread, and burn it, after having recited an appropriate blessing. [73] It is customary to prepare the dough for the Sabbath loaves at home, in order to be able to act in accordance with this custom. This is one of the religious acts which it is the special duty of women to perform, and some of the pious women of Israel (‏נשים צדקניות‎) have the praiseworthy custom to lay something aside for charity when performing this or similar religious acts. Another act performed in honour of Sabbath and Festivals is the kindling of special lights before the holy day comes in, to indicate symbolically the approach of a day of light and cheerfulness. This duty is likewise the privilege of the housewife [74] or her representative. Before [75] kindling the lights the following blessing is recited: ‏ברוך אתה … וצונו להדליק נר של שבת‎ “Blessed art thou ... and hast commanded us to kindle the sabbath lights.” ‏יום טוב‎, ‏יום הכפורים‎, ‏שבת ויום טוב‎, or ‏שבת ויום הכפורים‎ is substituted for ‏שבת‎ according as a Holy-day, the Day of Atonement, or these days when they happen to fall on a Saturday, come in. On Festivals, except the last days of Passover, the following blessing, called ‏שהחינו‎, is added: ‏ברוך … שהחינו וקימנו והגיענו לזמן הזה‎ “Blessed art thou ... who hast kept us in life, preserved us, and enabled us to reach this season.” NOTES.