After you've finally finished putting away your Pesach items, it's time to make Schlissel or Key Challah (shlissel challah, or key challah. Shlissel originates from the German word for key: shlüssel.) It is an old and established custom that on the first Shabbos after Pesach, we shape a challah into the form of a key or stick a real key inside a regular challah.
Baking a shlissel challah is deeply rooted in Jewish mysticism, specifically the Kabbalistic idea of "Tirayin Petichin," symbolizing the opening of Heaven's gates for blessings. This custom, prevalent in Chassidic communities, serves as a segulah for Parnassah, inviting good fortune. Historically, baking shlissel challah post-Passover has been practiced for centuries.
Legend has it that imprinting a key onto the challah dough or shaping the bread like a key invokes blessings from above. This mystical teaching suggests that our actions and prayers are keys to unlocking divine abundance. It's believed that making Schlissel Challah is a conduit for attracting Heavenly sustenance, emphasizing the spiritual connection between faith and provision.
To perform this sacred tradition, you can either impress a key into challah dough (be sure to sterilize the key first if you choose that method) or form the challah into the shape of a key.
The Sefer Ta'amei Haminhagim (a leading work on Jewish traditions) cites the custom. The Sefer HaTodah by R' Eliyahu Kitov says the following regarding this practice: "The Shabbas after Pesach when we announce the coming of Iyar some…have the custom to make challah in the form of a key and to sprinkle it with sesame seeds. This is to remind us of the Mahn [Manna] that began falling (in the desert) in the month of Iyar; it also symbolizes that the 'key' to our parnassah [livelihood] is in Hashem's hands. We pray that Hashem will …shower us with abundance."
The earliest written source for this custom is the sefer Oheiv Yisrael by Rabbi Avraham Yehoshua Heshel, the Apter Rav. He calls schlissel challah "an ancient custom" and offers several kabbalistic interpretations.
Some include Sesame seeds to depict mahn as they are small and white. As it says about the mahn, "they were like small seeds, white, and [tasted] as if they were dipped in honey."
Some rabbis indeed opposed (and still oppose) this custom. Some even refer to it as a meaningless superstition, possibly even derived from non-Jewish custom. (Many European traditions serve an elaborate Easter bread around this time of year, commonly marked with a cross.) Others decry the practice of hoping for a segulah (omen) to open the gates of parnasa instead of trusting entirely in G-d.
There's a beautiful story about the Maharal M'Prague that has yet to be confirmed, but the legend tells an episode about this famous tradition. (Source:https://atasteofchallah.com/explaining-shlissel-challahs/)
Klal Yisroel was persecuted relentlessly by non-Jews with blood libels and one year after the Seder night; the Maharal was sitting and learning in his room at home; the key to the shul was with him, hung up in its place on the wall. The key suddenly fell to the ground. He picked it up and put it back on the hook. After it was hung up, it fell again. He picked it up once more. And then it lost a third time. This time, he realized that Shomayaim was trying to tell him something, so he checked the shul. When he arrived, he saw that the paroches had been moved out of place. He opened the Aron Kodesh and saw, hidden inside the Aron, what looked like a bottle of wine. After opening it, he realized it was a bottle of blood; the non-Jews were trying to set up a blood libel against them! Quickly, he pulled out the bottle, poured out the blood, and rinsed it. He then poured wine inside instead. The next morning, gentiles burst into shul with the police, yelling and screaming. They went straight to the Aron Kodesh – they knew where to go – and pulled out the bottle. The kehilla was very frightened, but the Maharal was calm as he watched what happened next…the police opened it up and smelled it; it was only wine! They got very angry at the perpetrators and threw them in jail. Miraculously, the entire kehillah was saved. It was a huge hatzalah for the whole Jewish community. Afterward, it is told that the Maharal wanted to do something to commemorate this special miracle. He knew that everyone bakes challah right after Pesach – especially in those years when they had no other food besides the bread they made themselves – so he told his Rebbetzin to bake the challahs for that week in the shape of a key.
Engaging in this ancient tradition of placing a key in the challah on Shabbas when we welcome the month of Iyar and the shabbas that follow Pesach is a fun and fascinating custom. It speaks volumes about the depth and history accompanying every great Jewish tradition. Many find empowerment and joy in upholding this unique practice.
