Food Tourah – Vayeshev

December 16, 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 – 45 more to go!

This week’s parsha, Vayeshev, focuses on the story of Jacob’s favored son, Joseph. We all know the story of Joseph and his “ornamented tunic” – otherwise known as the “amazing technicolor dreamcoat”! Joseph recounts dreams of his brothers bowing down to him, which only fuels their resentment.  Overcome by jealousy, Joseph’s brothers ultimately push him into a pit, which results in his being sold into slavery.  His brothers bring his tunic home to their father, Jacob, as evidence of his death.

Joseph is brought to the land of Egypt.  While in Egypt, Joseph spurns his master’s wife’s advances and in return she accuses him of assaulting her – he is put in prison.  While in prison, Joseph skillfully interprets the dreams of Pharaoh’s jailed courtiers. One, a cupbearer, whose dreams foretell his release and reinstatement, and the other, a baker, whose dreams foretell his execution. Joseph asks that the cupbearer speak of him to Pharaoh in the hopes of his own release, but once freed, the cupbearer quickly forgets his promise.

How could we not suggest a recipe inspired by Joseph’s beautifully colored coat?  This technique for Tie Dye Cookies is not only vibrant and eye-catching but also a fun way to bring the story of Joseph to life in your kitchen and around the Shabbat table. Next, we wanted to add some Egyptian flavor to your menu.  While exploring, we came across this recipe for Koshary: Egyptian Lentil and Rice Recipe.  This hearty, comforting dish is a staple in Egypt and a perfect option for the vegetarians around your table. With its combination of lentils, rice, pasta, and flavorful tomato sauce, Koshary is both satisfying and unique. We’d love to hear if anyone out there was already familiar with this dish!

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.