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May girls under bas mitzvah separate challah?

On a previous occasion we discussed the halachic issues involved in challah-baking events, noting that challah may not be separated with a brachah if the dough is then divided into small portions to be taken home by the participants.

A related question which is often asked concerns bas mitzvah celebrations where the bas mitzvah girl and her friends want to bake challah together. Assuming that the problem mentioned above doesn’t apply—either because the host family is keeping all of the challah, or for some other reason—may girls under bas mitzvah separate challah?

The halachah is that children during the year preceding halachic maturity, i.e. before their bar or bas mitzvah, which for girls is eleven, are deemed a mufla ha’samuch l’ish (near maturity), and if they separate terumah it’s valid—provided that they are aware Who they’re separating terumah for. Likewise, challah separated by girls this age is also valid. However, l’chatchilah (ideally), it should be done by girls who are already bas mitzvah. #495