Food Tourah: Korach

June 24, 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. 38 parshiot down, 16 more to go!

In Korach, a Levite leads a rebellion against Moses with 250 of the Israelites. They claim that all the Israelites are holy, and that Moses and Aaron should not be lifted above all the others. While Moses devises a test, in which the rebels and Aaron each will bring incense pans to offer the incense sacrifice, the outcome will reveal God’s position. What happens is that the earth swallows up all who rebelled. The incense pans of Korach’s followers are incorporated into the altar as a reminder. The remaining Israelites speak out against Moses and Aaron for bringing about the deaths, and for a second time in the portion God tells Moses and Aaron to separate themselves from the community so that He can annihilate them in an instant. A plague begins but is halted when Aaron offers a sacrifice. Then a new proof that God has chosen Moses and Aaron is suggested – each tribe is to give a staff with their name carved on it. One staff is Aaron’s, as the head of the Tribe of Levi. All twelve staffs are put overnight in the Tabernacle. In the morning, Aaron’s staff is like a blooming almond tree. Chapter 18 is a reminder that the Levites will not be given a portion of land. They will live from the tithing of the rest of the Israelites, and they will eat from the meat, oil, grain, and wine that is brought as offerings for the sacrifices.

If you are looking for a savory way to honor Aaron’s almond tree staff you have a main course of Almond Crusted Halibut, though I am craving this easy one bowl sweet dessert recipe for Almond Cake.  All the talk of the incense sacrifices makes me think that this meal needs to be very fragrant.  I don’t find a lot of space for myrrh and frankincense in recipes, but this Saffron Cauliflower and Chickpeas uses both saffron and rosemary which should certainly make the “pleasing odor” required.

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.