When Haley Lerner went into labor with her first daughter in July, she was thinking about dough.
The home baker who sells her challah, the sweet braided bread that accompanies many Jewish families' weekly Shabbat dinners, had 25 balls of dough rising in her Golden Valley refrigerator when she left for the hospital.
The dough survived, and it wasn't long before she was back filling orders for her business, Challot By Haley, which she launched at the start of the pandemic after losing her job as an event planner.
"I was devastated losing my job. I was six months pregnant," Lerner said. "I thought, 'I have to do something to keep my mind busy and useful. I'll just bake.' "
She started with challah, the quintessential Jewish loaf present at most holiday and sabbath meals. While not specifically linked to Hanukkah, which begins at sundown Dec. 10, many Jewish families will have one on their Shabbat tables during the festival.
Lerner instantly discovered there was a strong demand for challah in the Twin Cities, fueled by social distancing's disruption of communal rituals.
"Because we're not able to be with our community these days, it's really up to the family unit to foster their sense of Judaism within their home," she said. "People are leaning into traditions that weren't necessarily part of their lives before the pandemic, making sure they are part of their lives now."
Plus, "challah is delicious," she said. "Who doesn't want homemade bread?"