Sometimes when I read the parsha something food related jumps out at me. Other times I have to dig a little deeper, think a bit more metaphorically or creatively. I went with more creatively this week. Last year for Chayei Sarah I made a side dish of roasted squash, figs, and dates based off of Rashi's commentary about the gifts Eliezer gives to Rivka's family, which he says are fruits from Canaan. This year two different parts of the story of Rivka caught my attention.
The first idea that caught my attention is the parallel language in a blessing bestowed on Rivka by
her family and the language in the blessing God gave to Avraham towards the end of last week's parsha. Both reference descendants seizing the gates of their foes.
כִּֽי־בָרֵ֣ךְ אֲבָרֶכְךָ֗ וְהַרְבָּ֨ה אַרְבֶּ֤ה אֶֽת־זַרְעֲךָ֙ כְּכוֹכְבֵ֣י הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם וְכַח֕וֹל אֲשֶׁ֖ר עַל־שְׂפַ֣ת הַיָּ֑ם וְיִרַ֣שׁ זַרְעֲךָ֔ אֵ֖ת שַׁ֥עַר אֹיְבָֽיו׃ I will bestow My blessing upon you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars of heaven and the sands on the seashore; and your descendants shall seize the gates of their foes.
וַיְבָרְכ֤וּ אֶת־רִבְקָה֙ וַיֹּ֣אמְרוּ לָ֔הּ אֲחֹתֵ֕נוּ אַ֥תְּ הֲיִ֖י לְאַלְפֵ֣י רְבָבָ֑ה וְיִירַ֣שׁ זַרְעֵ֔ךְ אֵ֖ת שַׁ֥עַר שֹׂנְאָֽיו׃ And they blessed Rebekah and said to her, O sister May you grow Into thousands of myriads May your descendants seize The gates of their foes
I had not noticed this parallel before and I always love the moments of discovering something new and what this parallel teaches us. Since it's a great thing to discuss at the Shabbat table, I would call attention to it with a side dish of roasted asparagus laid out on the serving plate to look like a gate.
The second part of Rivka's story that I want to highlight is that when Rivka first sees Isaac from afar she lowers her veil, which the commentators describe as evidence of her modesty and/or the importance of someone's inner beauty vs. outer beauty.
This moment in the Torah is often quoted as the source for the tradition still done at Jewish weddings today - the bedecken. (Also, the part of the quote said to Rivka "O Sister, May your grow into thousands of myriads" is also said at the bedecken.
In our wedding and many others I've attended, the bedecken is done during the hors d'oeuvres hour. So one fun thing to do for this Shabbat is to have a collection of your favorite hors d'oeuvres. Do I hear little hot dogs, mini latkes, mini borekas, and chicken on a stick?
Finally, at the end of the parsha we learn about Avraham's wife, Keturah, with whom he had several children who were the ancestors of many nations in the region. Keturah's name references incense or spices so in her honor dessert this week would be spice cake. Check out this vegan/pareve option:
Or this one:
Both of these feel really appropriate for autumn in the Northeast too, which is fitting since it's smack-dab in fall feeling weather right now.
Shabbat Shalom and B'tayavon!
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