Food Torah – Beshalach

February 5, 2025 in Food Tourah

Parshat Beshalach – 16 parshiot down, only 38 more to go!

Beshalach recounts the dramatic splitting of the Red Sea as finally the Israelites are able to escape from Egypt following the tenth plague. The journey begins with God leading the Israelites on a roundabout route to avoid their witnessing ongoing wars in neighboring lands lest they become anxious and insist on returning to Egypt. Fulfilling the promise to bury Joseph in Canaan, the Israelites bring his bones with them as a reminder of their destiny in the Promised Land. Meanwhile, after the Israelites leave, God stiffens Pharaoh’s heart, and he begins to pursue them. Fearing for their safety, the Israelites accuse Moses of taking them out of Israel just to die in the wilderness, but he assures them that God is with them.  God instructs Moses to lift up his rod parting the sea for the Israelites to cross on dry land. As the Israelites pass through the sea and the waters close behind them, Pharaoh’s entire army disappears into the sea. The Israelites celebrate this miraculous deliverance with the triumphant Song of the Sea. And Miriam leads the women in a celebratory dance with timbrels.

Once free from Egypt’s yoke, the Israelites’ appreciation for God’s deliverance of them is short-lived, as they frequently complain about their plight in the desert.  In one such circumstance, the Israelites complain that they have only bitter water at Marah, prompting G-d to direct Moses to throw a piece of wood into the water, in order to make the water sweet. Following this brief respite, the Israelites’ trust falters again as they complain of hunger, accusing Moses of bringing them out of Egypt for death by starvation. G-d again responds, this time bringing the miraculous manna from heaven, providing daily bread and a double portion on Shabbat.

The wondrous splitting of the Red Sea was one of God’s many marvels, so we couldn’t resist starting with Miracle Minestrone to celebrate this remarkable moment.  With the frigid temperatures and snow that came down this week, a hot soup will surely hit the spot! But as we know the Israelites didn’t approach this crossing without fear – we imagine there was some trembling involved.  To capture that nervous anticipation, try Shake ‘n Bake Mustard Dipped Salmon – because sometimes, a little bit of shaking yields a delicious outcome.

Later in the parsha Moses turns bitter water sweet, inspiring us to share a roundup of 8 Infused Water recipes along with a bonus recipe for Simple Syrup – it will add sweetness to drinks, desserts, and beyond.  After all, who doesn’t love a sweet Shabbat?

And now for dessert – two ways!  With each miracle that God performs, the Israelites are momentarily awed before they begin to complain again, which brings us to  Cry Baby Cookies, a playful nod to their quick kvetching.  But we imagine God might have preferred a more sustained sense of wonder.  For that we’re offering  Chewy Chocolate Wonders – rich, indulgent, and meant to be savored slowly. Because some miracles deserve to last a little longer. ✨✨

B’tayavon and Shabbat Shalom,
Alison (Baraf) & Sarah (Roark)

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For a more in-depth look at this week’s parsha, visit Sefaria.com.