Yehudis asks: I have recently started baking with spelt flour. Are the amounts from which one must separate challah the same as for wheat flour?
Answer: Rambam writes that a person who assesses the amount of dough for separation of challah by its weight, will never achieve an accurate separation. The reason for this that since shi'ur challah is a certain volume of dough, the specific gravity of each type of flour has to be taken into account when determining the correct weight.
There are two main opinions as to the volume of dough from which one has to take challah. According to Rav Chaim No'eh, the amount is 2.488 litres, whereas Chazon Ish holds that 4.32 litres is the appropriate size.
Members of Rav Efrati's Beis Hamedrash have researched this subject and the table below sums up their findings. [Reproduced with many thanks.]
GRAIN SPECIESACCORDING TO RAV C. NOAHACCORDING TO CHAZON ISHSEPARATION WITHOUT BROCHAwheat1666 grams2250 grams1200-1250 gramsbarley1419 grams2084 grams1050 gramsspelt1640 grams2205 grams1175 gramsoats1197 grams1805 grams890 gramsrye1391 grams2031 grams1040 gramsOne should note that there may also be variations in density within the same grain species. It is therefore advisable to add an extra fifty grams to the above amounts.
With all Halachic matters, please contact your local Torah-true Rabbi
