Food Torah – Yitro

February 12, 2025 in Food Tourah

Because life so often happens around food, we’re spending the year exploring the weekly parshiot and finding connections to each week’s Shabbat menu.  Sarah, a seasoned Jewish educator, brings a wealth of knowledge to our discussions, while Alison, who loves creating  

dishes that bring people together, are excited to explore the weekly portions in greater depth. Each week we will give a brief overview of the parsha and then suggest ways to incorporate its themes into your Shabbat menu. This is our version of Julie and Julia – the charming movie in which a blogger challenges herself to make all 524 recipes from Julia Child’s 1961 classic Mastering the Art of French Cooking in just one year.  Lucky for us, we only have to cover 54 parshiot – 37 more to go! 

The parsha opens with Moses reuniting with his wife and two sons, brought to him by his father-in-law, Yitro – the parsha’s namesake. Moses describes the Israelites’ journey out of Egypt and through the wilderness for Yitro, who quickly recognizes Moses’ immense burden as their leader. Yitro quickly sees how big a job leading the Israelites is. He recommends that Moses delegate some responsibilities by devising a system of judges who can handle minor disputes, allowing Moses to focus on more significant matters. Moses follows this advice to create a more sustainable system of leadership. 

The story shifts to Mount Sinai, where God instructs Moses to have the Israelites prepare to meet Him.  They are given strict instructions to purify themselves and keep their distance from the mountain. Amidst thunder, lightning, and the sound of a shofar (or horn) blast, God descends and delivers the Ten Commandments, establishing the core principles of the covenant between God and the Israelites. 

At Yitro’s suggestion, Moses created a layered system of leadership.  Here are some recipes inspired by that theme: Moussaka or Zucchini Lasagna – one meat and one dairy, take your pick! As a bonus, the Zucchini Lasagna is also gluten free. Building on the idea of layers, this Ten Commandment Salad pairs perfectly with either of the main dishes. And to finish it all off, these Chocolate Dipped Almond Horns will have anyone who wandered away from the table during the main course coming back for dessert! 

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

To read past installments of Food Tourah – Click Here. 

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