The bread on the Rosh Hashanah table looks different from the bread on every other Shabbat of the year. Instead of the familiar braided loaf, Jewish families serve round challah — a circular, often crown-shaped bread that carries deep symbolic meaning for the Jewish New Year. Rosh Hashanah 2026 begins at sundown on Friday, 11 September and ends at nightfall on Sunday, 13 September, which means it's worth ordering or planning your challah bake well before that date.
In this guide we cover exactly what bread is eaten on Rosh Hashanah, why it's shaped the way it is, and where to find the best kosher round challah, challah-baking cookbooks, and challah covers to complete your table. All products featured are kosher certified — we always recommend verifying certification on packaging for your own requirements.
Jump to a section: Round Challah | Artisan Challah | Bake Your Own | Cookbooks | Challah Covers | What to Look For | FAQ
🍞 Round Challah for Rosh Hashanah 2026
The traditional bread of the Jewish New Year.
The short answer to "what bread is eaten on Rosh Hashanah" is round challah — not the long braided loaf served every other Shabbat. The circular shape represents the continuous, unbroken cycle of the year, and the hope that the coming year will be whole and complete, without sharp edges or sudden breaks. Some bakers shape it into a spiral to echo this idea of an ongoing cycle rather than a straight line with a beginning and an end.
Rosh Hashanah challah is also dipped in honey rather than salt, and it's traditionally sweeter than everyday Shabbat challah — another way the bread itself carries the holiday's central wish for a sweet new year. Stern's Bakery is one of the most trusted names for ready-made kosher challah, and all three of these are pareve, so they can be served at either a meat or dairy Rosh Hashanah meal.
🥖 Artisan Kosher Challah
Handmade challah with a richer, bakery-style crumb.
If you want something closer to a bakery counter than a supermarket shelf, Greens Bakery makes a range of handmade kosher challah with a noticeably richer, more brioche-like texture. Their egg challah in particular has a softer, more golden crumb than a standard everyday loaf, which makes it feel more special for a holiday table. As with any enriched bread, check the ingredient label if you're serving a strictly pareve meal — egg challah is still pareve, but always worth confirming with the packaging in front of you.
Staff pick — bake your own challah
The Best Bread Maker for Kosher Challah
Prefer to bake your own round challah from scratch? The Zojirushi Home Bakery Virtuoso Plus is the bread maker the kosher community keeps coming back to. One dough cycle gives you enough dough for two challahs — then you shape it into a round or spiral, let it rise, and bake it in your own oven.
- Double kneading blades — handles challah's rich egg dough perfectly
- Dough-only setting — mix and rise in the machine, shape and bake in the oven
- Delay timer — set it the night before, wake up to fresh dough ready to shape
Why it's perfect for kosher baking: baking at home gives you complete control over every ingredient — no shared equipment, no hidden dairy. Completely pareve, every time, and you can fulfil the mitzvah of hafrashat challah yourself.
🍞 Free Challah Recipe with Blessings
Baking challah at home is one of the most meaningful Jewish kitchen traditions. Download our free printable challah recipe — complete with the Hebrew blessing for separating challah (hafrashat challah), transliteration, and step-by-step instructions. Perfect for Rosh Hashanah or any Shabbat.
📚 Challah Baking Cookbooks
For bakers who want to go deeper than a single recipe.
If our free recipe above gets you hooked, these three cookbooks take challah baking much further — from a serious deep-dive into Israeli bread baking, to a fun way of getting kids involved, to inventive sweet and savoury twists on the classic loaf. Any of these makes a thoughtful gift for someone who loves to bake for the holidays.
🧵 Challah Covers for Rosh Hashanah
A finishing touch for the holiday table.
Traditionally, challah is covered with a cloth until after kiddush — a practice with a few different explanations, from not "embarrassing" the bread before the wine blessing to symbolising the dew that covered the manna in the desert. A beautiful challah cover also simply dresses up the table for the holiday. These three offer a range of styles, from richly embroidered silk to a crisp white satin finish.
🔍 What to Look For When Buying Rosh Hashanah Challah
A few things worth checking before you order.
- Check the certification symbol on the listing photos. Look for a recognised hechsher (such as OU, OK, Star-K, or Kof-K) directly on the packaging shown in the listing, not just in the description.
- Round, not braided. If you're specifically after the traditional Rosh Hashanah shape, check the product photos — some bakeries sell both braided and round versions of the same recipe.
- Pareve is standard, but always confirm. Most challah is pareve, made with oil rather than butter, so it works at a meat meal. Enriched or bakery-style challah can occasionally include dairy — check the label.
- Order timing matters for freshness. Fresh challah doesn't keep for long. Order close to the holiday, or choose a version described as freezer-friendly if you're buying ahead.
- Challah covers are Judaica, not food. They don't carry kosher certification themselves — there's simply no certification category for a textile item.
- When in doubt, verify directly. Use the OU Kosher product search or contact the certifying agency if a product's kosher status isn't clear from the listing.
❓ Rosh Hashanah Bread — Frequently Asked Questions
What bread is eaten on Rosh Hashanah?
Round challah is the bread eaten on Rosh Hashanah, replacing the long braided challah served on a regular Shabbat. It's typically dipped in honey rather than salt, reinforcing the holiday's wish for a sweet new year.
Why is challah round on Rosh Hashanah?
The round shape represents the continuous cycle of the year and the hope for a complete, unbroken year ahead. Some bakers shape it into a spiral for the same reason — an ongoing cycle rather than a line with a start and an end.
Is Rosh Hashanah challah different from regular Shabbat challah?
Yes — beyond the round shape, Rosh Hashanah challah is often slightly sweeter than everyday challah, and it may include raisins or be baked with a honey glaze. It's also dipped in honey at the table rather than salt.
Can I use regular braided challah for Rosh Hashanah?
There's no strict requirement to use round challah — it's a widespread custom rather than a law — but most families follow the tradition specifically for its symbolism during the Days of Awe.
Is challah pareve, dairy, or meat?
Traditional challah is pareve, made with oil rather than butter, which means it can be served at either a meat or dairy Rosh Hashanah meal. Always check the ingredient label, as some enriched or bakery-style versions can vary.
When is Rosh Hashanah 2026?
Rosh Hashanah 2026 begins at sundown on Friday, 11 September 2026 and ends at nightfall on Sunday, 13 September 2026.
What is the mitzvah of hafrashat challah?
Hafrashat challah is the commandment to separate a portion of dough when baking bread at home, and recite a blessing before setting it aside. It applies when baking a large enough quantity of dough, and you can find the blessing in our free Challah Recipe with Blessings.
The Kosher Hub is not a Kosher Authority. For any advice please refer to your local Kashrut Authority.
As an Amazon Affiliate we earn from qualifying purchases.
You Might Also be Interesting in our other Rosh Hashanah Info
