For many years our family lived in a New Jersey suburb of Philadelphia.
Many of our friends worked in Philly, we went to Philly museums, trendy restaurants, and entertainment. Most of our neighbors rooted for Philadelphia sports teams (though we stuck to our NY teams – Go GIANTS!) We also had the opportunity to visit some of the sites of our nation’s early history. So, I, like many others, associate The Liberty Bell with Philadelphia.
On my first read of the double parsha this week, I wasn’t sure where I would find inspiration for my weekly Shabbat menu. Behar talks a lot about agriculture and letting the land rest, clearing of debts, returning of land to the original owner or family. It lays out the special requirements for these things on each 7th year and in the 50th year, the Yovel (Jubilee.) Behukotai reminds the us that if we do what God asks of us things will go well for you (and the reverse.)
Then I realized the connection between this week’s parsha and The Liberty Bell. Inscribed on The Liberty Bell is a line we will read on Shabbat morning “You shall proclaim release throughout the land for all its inhabitants.” Bamidbar/Leviticus 25:10.
According to the National Park Service, “Speaker of the Pennsylvania Assembly Isaac Norris chose this inscription for the State House bell in 1751, possibly to commemorate the 50th anniversary of William Penn's 1701 Charter of Privileges which granted religious liberties and political self-government to the people of Pennsylvania. The inscription of liberty on the State House bell (now known as the Liberty Bell) went unnoticed during the Revolutionary War. After the war, abolitionists seeking to end slavery in America were inspired by the bell's message.”
And this connection of the parsha to The Liberty Bell and the connection of The Liberty Bell to Philadelphia is why this week’s parsha-inspired menu is drawing on two classic Philly foods. If your mind immediately went to cheesesteaks, I understand, but it’s not what I’m doing because cheesesteaks and kashrut is complicated (maybe doable with fake cheese or fake meat, but still…) We’ll be having two other Philadelphia classics – pretzels, in the form of pretzel challah, and my own re-creation of Chickie and Pete’s fries!
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