I Was Given a Loaf of Bread and I Don't Know If Challah Was Taken

I was given a loaf of bread by a neighbor and I am concerned that she did not separate challah (a portion of the dough to be burned). Is there anything I can do?

There is no need to ask the neighbor if she has already separated challah, especially if one understands that this might cause embarrassment. Challah can be taken even after the loaf has been baked (Shulchan Aruch Yoreh De’ah 327:5). One should simply remove a piece from the loaf and without reciting the bracha say “this shall be challah.” Although it is questionable if anyone aside from the owner of the loaf or their proxy can separate challah (see Yad Avrohom Yoreh De’ah 328:3), in this case there is no need to ask permission. The loaf was given as a gift. You are now the owner and may take challah. In chutz la’aretz (the diaspora) one may even eat some of the loaf and separate challah afterwards (Shulchan Aruch Yoreh De’ah 323:1). However, one must leave over a piece which is large enough that there will still be something left over after separating the challah.

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.