Parshat Re'eh is one of the parshiot most densely packed with halacha. As Moshe prepares the Israelites for their entry into Eretz Yisrael, he reviews A LOT of the laws that have been mentioned in earlier parts of the Torah. Among all of these rules, regulations, and explanations, I found a bunch of ideas that inspired menu items (enough that I even put one in reserve for next year!) Here are the three I want to share this year.
For all years in the desert, the people have been familiar with making sacrifices wherever they
were. Once they are in the land of Israel, this is set to change and the prescribed sacrifices are only supposed to be done in the place that God chooses. Right now the central location for worship is near to them, wherever they are. It is interesting to consider what it will feel like when it's far away. This could be a significant change of habit and culture. This summer we did a lot of "previewing" to help campers anticipate when something new is going to happen. So, I viewed some of the explanation in that light. Perhaps it will make the change easier for the Israelites. Plus there are two leniences that help:
1) Take care not to sacrifice your burnt offerings in any place you like,but only in the place that יהוה will choose in one of your tribal territories. There you shall sacrifice your burnt offerings and there you shall observe all that I enjoin upon you. But whenever you desire, you may slaughter and eat meat in any of your settlements...(Dvarim 12:13-15)
So, people could choose to have meat whenever they wanted it and didn't have to wait to make a
sacrifice to eat meat.
Menu item for this: brisket - my family likes eating meat, and has a particular fondness for brisket so we will enjoy the opportunity to eat what we desire, even without the Temple. (Also, a crock pot brisket recipe is great for summer because it doesn't create as much ambient heat in the kitchen.)
2) You shall consume the tithes of your new grain and wine and oil, and the firstlings of your herds and flocks, in the presence of your God יהוה, in the place where [God] will choose to establish the divine name, so that you may learn to revere your God יהוה forever. Should the distance be too great for you, should you be unable to transport them, because the place where your God יהוה has chosen to establish the divine name is far from you and because your God יהוה has blessed you, you may convert them into money. Wrap up the money and take it with you to the place that your God יהוה has chosen, and spend the money on anything you want—cattle, sheep, wine, or other intoxicant, or anything you may desire (Dvarim 14:23-26)
Here, where distance to travel with the produce is an issue, the Israelites are given the practical option to convert the items into money and then buy what's needed/wanted when you get to the place God has chosen.
Menu item for this:
Any kind of easy dessert, including using a boxed cake. I have a recipe that I got from a friend that relies on all boxed items, but it's delicious and people always enjoy it. Why make it harder than you need to? (recipe below)
For the last #parshainspiredmenus item, I am always interested in the rule regarding the offer to free a slave who then chooses to stay, saying "I do not want to leave you”—for he loves you and your household and is happy with you." There are so many levels of interesting interpersonal and
economic dynamics here and I hope for a lively discussion at the Shabbat table. To bring this up at the table, I recommend focusing on the awl ("you shall take an awl and put it through his ear into the door, and he shall become your slave in perpetuity.") For this, I suggest anything on a skewer. I am planning on placing veggies on skewers and putting them on the grill (love all the grilling for summer.)
LEIDERMAN CHOCOLATE CHIP CAKE
1 box Duncan Hines Butter Recipe Golden Cake Mix
1 cup Water
3 Eggs
1 pkg Instant Chocolate Pudding
½ cups Oil
12oz bag Chocolate Chips (2 cups, 1 cup whole & 1 cup grated)
Mix all but chips on medium speed 5 minutes then fold in chips and grated chips on low speed. Spray bundt pan with PAM and bake at 350 for 60 minutes. Cool and then flip.
Dust with powdered sugar.
Shabbat Shalom & B'Tayavon!
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