Dividing a Ten-Pound Dough

Can one make a 10 lb. dough and divide it in half and give half to a friend so that she too can take challah with a beracha?

(A subscriber's question)

In theory, it is true that if one has in mind that they are taking challah on only half the dough, the second half would remain tevel (still require hafrashas challah) and one would make a bracha when they separate challah on the second half. However, Rav Schachter explained that one is not permitted to do this. Excluding the second half of the dough, is goreim a bracha she’eino tzricha (causes an unnecessary beracha to be recited), which is forbidden. Even if a dough is 10 lbs., twice the size that is necessary for hafrashas challah, still only one kezayis is separated as challah, as per Rema (Yoreh De’ah 322:5).

The Gerald & Karin Feldhamer OU Kosher Halacha Yomis is dedicated to the memory of Rav Yisroel Belsky, zt”l, who served as halachic consultant for OU Kosher for more than 28 years; many of the responses in Halacha Yomis are based on the rulings of Rabbi Belsky. Subscribe to the Halacha Yomis daily email here.