Food Tourah – Vayeitzi

December 3, 2024 in Food Tourah

Because life so often happens around food, we’re spending the year exploring the weekly parshiot and finding connections to each week’s Shabbat menu.  Sarah, a seasoned Jewish educator, brings a wealth of knowledge to our discussions, while Alison, who loves creating dishes that bring people together, is excited to explore the weekly portions in greater depth. Each week we will give a brief overview of the parsha and then suggest ways to incorporate its themes into your Shabbat menu. This is our version of Julie and Julia – the charming movie in which a blogger challenges herself to make all 524 recipes from Julia Child’s 1961 classic Mastering the Art of French Cooking in just one year.  Lucky for us, we only have to cover 54 parshiot –  47 more to go!

Vayetitzi begins as Jacob leaves Beer-Sheba, fleeing from his brother Esau.  He stops for the night and when he sleeps, he dreams. He dreams of angels ascending and descending a stairway/ladder reaching to heaven. God promises to protect him and reaffirms God’s covenant with Abraham and Isaac. Jacob arrives in Haran and is immediately smitten with Rachel.  He works for his Uncle Laban for seven years to earn the right to marry Rachel. However, after seven years, Laban tricks Jacob into marrying Rachel’s older sister, Leah.  A week later, Jacob marries Rachel as well, agreeing to work another seven years for Laban.  Leah gives Jacob 4 sons, while Rachel struggles with infertility.  The sisters’ relationship is fraught, marked with rivalry and dissatisfaction.  After many years, Rachel finally has a son – Joseph. Over the years, Jacob’s family grows large with the births of his children, and he prospers despite Laban’s attempts to cheat him. Eventually, Jacob decides to return to Canaan with his family and possessions.

This week’s Food Tourah menu for Vayeitzei invites us to explore themes of angels and dreams! First, enjoy this  Creamy Dreamy Vodka Pasta followed up with a delicious Chocolate Dream Dessert. One recipe is vegan and the other is loaded with dairy – something for everyone! And of course we had to suggest an Angel Food Cake recipe. On a different theme, if you are baking your own challah this week, check out these videos of the Challah Prince and his intricate braids. His creations are a beautiful representation of the intertwined lives of Rachel and Leah.

B’tayavon and Shabbat Shalom,
Alison (Baraf) & Sarah (Roark)

To read past installments of Food Tourah – Click Here.

For a more in-depth look at this week’s parsha, visit Sefaria.com.