Food Tourah – Vayishlach

December 10, 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 t

o 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 – 46 more to go!

Vayishlach opens as Jacob prepares to return to his homeland and reunite with his brother Esau. Anxious about their encounter, Jacob separates his family and flocks into two groups, hoping that if one is attacked the other might survive. He sends his servants ahead with gifts for Esau and with a message that Jacob is coming in peace.

That night, Jacob wrestles with an unnamed figure – interpreted by some as an angel and by others as God – until dawn.  As the struggle concludes, the figure informs Jacob that his name will now be Israel, meaning one who struggles with God. This marks the first mention of the name Israel in the Torah, perhaps foreshadowing the Jewish people’s inclination to question and debate!

Shortly after this encounter, Jacob looks up to see Esau approaching. Jacob shows his brother deference by bowing to the ground, and Esau greets him warmly embracing him and kissing him.  Though reconciled, the brothers part ways, with Esau returning home while Jacob travels slowly to accommodate his family and flocks. This parsha also recounts the troubling story of Dinah, Jacob’s daughter, and the subsequent actions of her brothers Simeon and Levi. It concludes with two deaths: Rachel, in childbirth with Benjamin, and Isaac, who passes away at the age of 180 years.

After a night-long struggle with the enigmatic figure, Jacob has to be ready for his unpredictable reunion with Esau, whom he hasn’t seen since fleeing after stealing his brother’s birthright. Clearly Jacob needed to be well rested and at his best, so we thought a coffee-infused recipe would be perfect.  Wake Up and Smell the Coffee – Rubbed Chicken Thighs fit the bill! The first mention of Israel in the Torah calls for a simple Israeli Salad recipe.  And in recognition of Esau’s warm embrace and kiss when he greets Jacob, you can finish your meal on a sweet note with these Classic Meringue Kisses.

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.