By Ben Strober

Giving back to the Jewish community has always been a priority to senior neuroscience major Chen Menashe.

For her first three years, Menashe worked with other charity organizations as part of the University of Maryland Hillel, the school’s center for Jewish life. This year, Hillel allowed her to help with an issue she cares about deeply — food insecurity.

“Hillel reached out to Elizabeth and me because they knew what we’ve done in the past,” Menashe said. “They told us they wanted us to start our own chapter, so we knew what we wanted to do.”

In collaboration with Hillel, Menashe and her roommate, Elizabeth Tabbouche, founded 3 Strands, a weekly Challah bake that students participate in to create community and help put an end to food insecurity.

Every Thursday, students meet at the Hillel, where they braid challah. The bread is then sold on Fridays, with the proceeds going to Yad Yehuda of Greater Washington, a nonprofit volunteer group working to eradicate food and financial insecurity for Jewish families in the Metropolitan Washington area.

“The reason we decided to choose them is because they’re giving financial aid, which I personally think is sometimes more helpful,” Menashe said. “It focuses on specific families and what they need personally.”

Although the event is about Jewish tradition and partners with Hillel, 3 Strands doesn’t have the intent of being spiritual or exclusive to Jewish students.

“We’re very open. You don’t have to be Jewish to come braid,” Menashe said. “Our goal when we’re braiding is to collaborate with everyone.”

Due to tight COVID-19 restrictions with Hillel last year, braiding wasn’t a possibility, according to Menashe. Since the lifting of the restrictions this fall, increasing numbers of students have started to come in each week. In the first week, 22 students came to braid, with 28 volunteering the following week, according to Menashe.

Adam Bershad, director of Engagement and Israel Experiences at Hillel, believes that 3 Strands can create impactful service for the Jewish community.

“It’s a new organization, and what they want to do is create a fun and engaging way to make Challah,” Bershad said. “Whatever the profit is, they give back to the organization, so it’s a good way for students to give back to the community.”

Bershad also has a strong stance on the issue of food insecurity.

“I think it’s one of those hidden issues, whether it’s on college campuses or in local areas, people don’t really talk about it,” Bershad said. ”This is a way to help give back and make sure that less are going hungry.”

One of the volunteers is freshman business major Ryan Golder, a Maryland native and Jewish student.

Golder says he discovered 3 Strands through the First Look Fair, and ever since then, Golder  and his friends attend every week. From the moment Golder arrived, he instantly felt at home.

“When I first walked in, everyone was so welcoming,” Golder said. “Everyone was so nice, and it went pretty quick too. It was a quick and easy way to do community service, which I really liked.”

Even though Golder has practiced Jewish traditions throughout his life, he never braided challah. But it came easy to him.

“I got the hang of it pretty quick,” Golder said. “It’s fun and not too challenging.”

Golder considers himself less religious than the average Jewish person, but he believes that a strong community can be created through 3 Strands, regardless of one’s religious beliefs.

”I feel like anyone can do it. I brought a friend that isn’t Jewish at all, and he had a fun time doing community service.”

Bershad believes that members can see the event as spiritual but also understands the perspective of the people who don’t look at it from a religious standpoint.

“I think it’s spiritual in the essence that we’re helping Jews be Jewish,” Bershad said. “At the same time, anyone’s allowed to come. It’s a really fun time; there’s good music, good food, good friends and obviously giving back to the community.”

Additionally, 3 Strands plans to collaborate with Hamsa UMD, an LGBTQ+ Jewish student group.

According to Menashe, the initial weeks of events have been more of a learning process, but she hopes more students keep coming for this unique experience. 

“I think the important thing about us is that we’re focused in our own community,” Menashe said. “My goal is that we have 50 people come every week and for all groups of people to be represented.”

Featured Image: The challah is braided into a circle for Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish new year. Photo taken on Sept. 22, 2022. Photo by Esther Frances.