Our Story
It all started with a mother's desire to give back to Beit T'Shuvah, a Jewish-based treatment center where her son was in recovery.
Every week, she taught residents how to make challah, a traditional Jewish bread that's both delicious and meaningful.
At Beit T'Shuvah, residents are encouraged to find their passion and purpose in life, and baking became yet another opportunity for those in recovery to discover their potential. One resident, a professional pastry chef, worked alongside her to create a unique challah recipe that received overwhelmingly positive feedback.
The challah was so good that more residents joined in the baking process, and soon the delicious loaves were distributed during Shabbat services. Our community members were so impressed that they began ordering the challah, and before long, word got out beyond our community about the deliciousness of our bread.
Today, Baked T'Shuvah is a thriving social enterprise that provides vocational training to residents of Beit T'Shuvah and offers delicious challah to customers both near and far.
Our story is one of hope, redemption, and the power of community to transform lives.
Why Challah?
Challah isn't just any bread - it's a symbol of life and transformation.
Traditionally made with eggs and braided, challah is the Jewish Sabbath and holiday bread. It's surrounded by folklore and tradition and loaded with symbolism that dates back centuries.
In fact, the first mention of challah traces back to 15th century Austria. Housewives would knead the dough on Thursday, let it rise overnight, and get up early on Friday to bake it. Often, they would bake all the bread for the week at the same time, so as not to waste fuel. The distinctive smell that emanates from the oven and fills the house when it's baked is the Sabbath aroma that pervades the memories of the old Yiddish-speaking world.
At Baked T'Shuvah, we honor this tradition by bringing the old world to the present. Our challah isn't just a delicious bread - it's a reminder of the power of community, transformation, and hope. Whether you're celebrating a special occasion or simply enjoying a slice with loved ones, every day can be a challah-day with Baked T'Shuvah.
Our Founder
Jackie Elkins, the founder and head baker of Baked T'Shuvah, has always had a love for baking.
Her passion for the craft led her to take classes such as "Pie Camp" and "Bread Camp" to learn from professionals and hone her skills. She has an endless sweet tooth and finds joy in making and giving delicious baked goods to others as a way to show love.
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