Hi,
I think today's daf reveals the real reason for "Shlissel Challah" on the Shabbos following Pesach- challah with the design of a key, or challah with a real key actually baked into it.
It is alleged to be a segulah for parnassah (sustenance).
Here's the real deal ??
https://www.star-k.org/articles/kashrus-kurrents/13110/the-knead-to-know-the-rise-of-sourdough/
Before yeast was commercially produced in the late 19th century, homemakers would set aside a piece of the previous day's risen dough and use it to leaven the next day's batch...
Sourdough Starter Implications on Pesach
Some sourdough bakers prize starters that have survived for generations and were produced from pedigree mother starters - some over one hundred years old!
But from a halachic standpoint, sourdough bakers who do not sell their chometz must discard their starters before Pesach and "start over" once Yom Tov ends.
In fact sourdough possibly cannot be sold at all with other chametz as per Rabbi Sholem Fishbane shlita "Let's Talk Kashrus: 2 -A New Dough Rises" (TorahAnytime https://MyTAT.me/v69345 )
We can make an assumption based on all this, that many people preferred not to purchase from a bakery, right after Pesach, rather bake their own, and we see in today's daf that Home baked bread Kikaros Shel Ba'al ha'Bayis have unique design.
Mordechai Salzer
Shalom,
Wonderful to read your insightful comments about the possible origin of Shlissel Challah! You are saying that people would specifically bake their own bread after the Isur Chametz of Pesach, instead of going to a baker, and they would make it into a particular shape, unlike loaves produced in the bakery which look all the same.
I would understand that more explanation is required to tell us why it is in the shape of a key and why it is a Segulah for Parnasah.
Can I refer you to the Oheiv Yisrael (Parshas Shemini) who provides further reasons for the custom, as well as the Sefer Taamei ha'Minhagim (596 and 597). One of the reasons given is because it was around this time of year, mid-Nisan, that the Mann stopped falling, and thus the Jewish people -- who were entering the land of Israel -- began to eat from the produce of the land, and therefore they especially needed Parnasa since the Mann would no longer be provided.
Warmest regards,
Yishai Rasowsky