Throwing Challa
Question
Why do some people throw the challa on Shabbat?
Answer
Shalom!
Thank you for your question.
There is a custom originating with, or at least made famous, by the Chasam Sofer who would throw the pieces of challah to those seated at his table. It is explained that the bread upon which we recite the Hamotzi is compared to the limbs of the offerings which were sacrificed on the altar. It was a mitzva to toss the limbs into the fire on the altar.
Nevertheless, one who does not have this custom should not begin it as virtually all authorities forbid throwing food especially bread.
On a related note, The Shulchan Aruch when writing the halacha of hamotzi specifically writes that it is done using a knife. However, there are those who rip the challa apart on Shabbat rather than slice it. This is based on the teaching that a table symbolizes the altar of the Holy Temple, about which it is written: “Do not raise an iron [blade] upon it.” It is explained that we want to distance iron, metal, and the like from the altar because iron shortens man’s life, while the altar “prolongs it.” As such, since the table is like an altar, there is custom of not to cut the challa with a knife on Shabbat in order to recall this teaching.
OC 167 and commentaries