Food Tourah – Tetzaveh

March 5, 2025 in Food Tourah

Parshat Tetzaveh – 20 parshiot down, only 34 more to go!

Tetzaveh opens as God instructs the Israelites to bring olive oil for “kindling lamps regularly” (Exodus 27:20), which is where the tradition of the Ner Tamid (eternal flame) originates.  Next, God commands Moses to appoint Aaron and his sons as priests.  The parsha goes into elaborate detail on how the priestly robes should be constructed and decorated, reflecting dignity and adornment. The robes are to be made of gold, blue, purple and crimson yarns, along with fine linens. Aaron is to wear a breastpiece with twelve gemstones that signify the twelve tribes of Israel. This breastpiece, also known as the breastpiece of decision, included two objects – the Urim and the Thummim – used to seek divine guidance. The parsha also discusses how to sanctify the priests and offerings that include “unleavened bread, unleavened cakes with oil mixed in, and unleavened wafers spread with oil” (Exodus 29:2).  There are a lot more details about the sacrifices – but we won’t get into those!

Olives, often associated with peace and blessing, are mentioned a couple times in Tetzaveh.  For the first mention, we recommend this Olive Tapenade. If you’re an olive lover (not all of us are!), it’s delicious on crackers, crusty bread, and even challah. We also couldn’t help smiling at the Torah’s description of the “breastpiece of decision” – it sounds like something straight out of an Indiana Jones movie! To go along with the theme of making choices, how about a Fajita Bar for your menu this week? Start with this Chicken and Beef Marinade recipe, then lay out an array of veggies, sauces, and tortillas and let your guests decide.

With so many colorful details in this parsha, we’ll make just a few more suggestions.  Roasted Purple Cauliflower left our mouths watering – and beautifully mirrors the vibrant threads in the priestly garments.  By now, you know it will be rare for us to leave out dessert. Two picks:  Gluten Free Olive Oil Cake, echoing the unleavened cakes with oil mentioned in the parsha. And leaning into the fashion talk in the parsha, our mouths are watering over this Fancy Schmancy Citrus Granita, which feels both elegant and refreshing. Both recipes sound absolutely delicious! This week, we hope your menu decisions are as inspired as the Urim and Thummim – and maybe a little sweeter, too. 😋

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.