On Friday Night why is there a tradition to sprinkle salt on the challahs and is there a preferred procedure for doing this?
The Talmud (Brachos 55a) states that in place of the Bronze Altar, which stood in the Temple courtyard and was able to bring atonement for the nation, our own tables upon which we dine serve that purpose. While we used to gain atonement via offerings in the Temple, today the charity that we give to the poor “from our tables” is an atonement. In reference to this, and perhaps as a reminder to ourselves, we place salt on the table during our meals.
What comes of this practically is that just as all offerings were brought with salt, so too we must put salt on our tables. Based upon Kabbalistic origins the slices of bread are dipped in salt three times.
Sincerely,
R’ Daniel Fleksher