I knew there was a pasuk I wanted to highlight this week, but couldn't initially think of a food tie-in so I asked our two oldest boys for help. They gave me RIDICULOUS suggestions and we were all laughing so hard. So, while it wasn't so helpful it sure was fun. Luckily, my husband came in, gave me a new way to think of the verse and then we figured out a delcious food to go with it, so definitely credit to Jeff on this one. So, what's the verse?
Upon hearing Joseph is still alive, Jacob begins the journey to Egypt and when he gets to Beer-Sheva God comes to him in a night vision
And He said, “I am God, the God of your father. Fear not to go down to Egypt, for I will make you there into a great nation.
I Myself will go down with you to Egypt, and I Myself will also bring you back; and Joseph’s hand shall close your eyes.”
It was the promise of going down to Eygpt and coming back that caught my attention. Jacob himself does not go back to Canaan. Some commentators point out that he does return to Canaan after death, as he gets Joseph to promise to bring him back. However, looking at this as just Jacob is a narrow reading. In the line immediately preceding the promise of "down and back" God mentions that He will turn Jacob/Israel into a great nation, so it could be the nation that is
promised to go down and come back. What my husband pointed out is the very important concept that the Shechinah goes into exile along with the Jewish people, so God is always with us. So, all of that is to say we wanted for #parshainspiredmenus that would represent something that reminds us of this promise of "down and back" and came up with the idea of Chocolate Covered Strawberries! Strawberries go down into the chocolate and come back up, slightly changed, but also still in essence the same. I love that Chocolate Covered Strawberries are delcious, look fancy and are also pretty easy to make. Here's some guidance on how to do it.
For the second dish of the menu, let's look a little earlier in the Parsha. Pharoah has learned that Joseph's brothers are in Egypt and Joseph wants to bring the rest of his family to come live in Eygpt. Pharoah tells Joseph:
וְאַתָּ֥ה צֻוֵּ֖יתָה זֹ֣את עֲשׂ֑וּ קְחוּ־לָכֶם֩ מֵאֶ֨רֶץ מִצְרַ֜יִם עֲגָל֗וֹת לְטַפְּכֶם֙ וְלִנְשֵׁיכֶ֔ם וּנְשָׂאתֶ֥ם אֶת־אֲבִיכֶ֖ם וּבָאתֶֽם׃
And you, you have been commanded: Do this— take you wagons from the land of Egypt for your little ones and your wives, and carry your father down and come!
Two interesting things here:
1 - a chariot/wagon was a special item and giving it to Joseph to use to get his father is
noteworthy. A few commentators have ideas about this pasuk. Rabbeinu Bahya says: Pharaoh was well aware of Joseph’s modesty and loyalty and the fact that he would not send anything to his father and his brothers unless he had been given express instructions. This is why Pharaoh had to order him to do all this. Rashbam says: This was an exceptional concession as it was forbidden to export a carriage without the express permission of Pharaoh. This shows Pharoah's respect for Joseph and, by extension, Joseph's father.
2 - and yet it's interesting to note that Pharoah commanded Joseph to send the wagon - this reminds us that despite all Joseph has done, Pharoah is still in control (and this will be come very crucial to the future of the Jewish people soon enough)
In honor of the wagons/chariots sent to get Jacob, we're having Wagon Wheel Pasta. I'm going to try it with this vegan alfredo-style sauce, maybe mixing in some broccoli and edammae too.
Shabbat Shalom & B'Tayavon!
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