Food Tourah – Vayechi

January 7, 2025 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 – 42 more to go!

The final parsha of the Book of Genesis, Vayechi (he lived), brings the story of Jacob and his family to a poignant close. As Jacob nears the end of his life, he summons Joseph and his two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, to bestow a special blessing. Part of this blessing, “May God make you like Ephraim and Manasseh” (Genesis 48:20), continues to be heard in Jewish homes as part of the weekly Shabbat blessings for our children. Jacob subsequently blesses all 12 of his own sons, offering prophetic insights into their futures, and asks them to promise to bury him in the Cave of Machpelah in Canaan.  After Joseph’s death at the age of 147, Jacob and his brothers honor their pledge and travel with an entourage to bury their father in the Cave of Machpelah. Abraham and his wife Sarah; Isaac and his wife Rebekah; and Jacob’s wife Leah are all buried there with him.

In light of Jacob’s death, Joseph’s brothers are concerned that he will now take revenge upon them for their past treachery. Instead, Joseph reassures them that everything has worked out as it was supposed to and that they should not worry.  Joseph lives to see his grandchildren and great grandchildren.  Nearing his own death, he requests that his brothers bring his bones back to Canaan when God returns the children of Israel back to their homeland. Joseph dies at the age of 110 and is buried in Egypt.

Vayechi is filled with blessings.  Why would we want our sons to be like Ephraim and Manasseh?  Simply put, they are the first prominent brothers in the Torah to get along peacefully.  In honor of this brotherhood, we suggest this Pretzel Challah inspired by the “City of Brotherly Love”, where soft pretzels have been delighting taste buds for generations!  Pomegranates, with their 613 seeds, are rich with symbolism of blessings and righteousness. They beautifully reflect Jacob’s blessings to his children and grandchildren. With that in mind, this Pomegranate Couscous Salad will make a nice addition to your Shabbat table.

Vayechi recounts some significant deaths – and how do we as Jews typically respond when a friend or family member’s loved one dies?  We bring them comfort food! This Chunky Sweet Potato Soup will warm your soul from the inside out – be sure to leave the parmesan cheese out if you are using chicken broth!  Lasagna is often a go-to food to bring to mourners.  Instead of your typical noodles, tomato sauce, and cheese, we suggest a Chocolate Lasagna, a delightful layered dessert with a cookie crust, creamy chocolate filling, and a whipped topping. Yum! It’s bound to bring comfort and even a smile (and yes, boxed pudding works just fine!).

And just like that, we’ve finished one book of the Torah – Chazak, Chazak, Venitchazek!

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.