Made of elegant heavy brocade fabric, this challah cover
symbolizes greeting the sacred beauty of the holy day of Shabbat. Based in a stone archway, embroidered with
gold colored thread, a beautiful and colorful scene of the arrival of Shabbat
is masterfully depicted. A stone cobbled path snakes through the plush
landscape filled with green grass, trees, flowers and water. At the end of the
trail the sun is setting with two lit candlesticks, indicating the imminent
arrival of the holy day of Shabbat. The design is flanked by colored palm trees
on each side. The Hebrew words from the Lecha Dodi medley are embroidered on
the challah cover, expressing the message of the image. On the top of the
picture the Hebrew words “Lickrat Shabbat lechhu v'nelechhah”, which means
“Towards the Shabbat let us go and travel”, on the bottom of the picture, the
Hebrew verse continues, “ki hi mackor haberachah”, “For it is the wellspring of
blessing”. The edges are trimmed with gold thread in a scalloped design.
The challah cover is one of the few traditional and distinct
table setting items that characterizes a set Shabbat and Jewish holiday table.
The challah cover, as its name suggests, is used to cover the challahs while
the Kiddush is being recited. A special designed challah cover adds glory to
the Shabbat and holiday table.