Food Tourah: Naso

June 4, 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. 35 parshiot down, 19 more to go!

Naso (“Take a Census”) is the longest parsha in the Torah. It begins with a count of the Levite clans and details their various responsibilities related to the Tabernacle.  The parsha also discusses several unique topics: the laws pertaining to a woman accused of being unfaithful to her husband, the Nazirites (those who have taken a vow to serve G-d), and the Birkat Kohanim or priestly blessing, a powerful expression of G-d’s protection and care for the Israelites. Naso also includes instructions for having ritually impure people remain outside of the camp so that they not infect anyone within the camp.  Later the parsha describes the dedication of the Tabernacle and details how Aaron is to anoint and consecrate it. Naso ends with the striking image of Moses walking into the Tabernacle and hearing G-d’s voice from between the cherubim above the Ark.

This parsha once again challenges our creative skills.  Rather than focusing on infidelity, we prefer to think about the flip side – and suggest you make this Italian Wedding Soup.  Don’t let the long ingredient list overwhelm you – it comes together quicker than you might expect!  And if you are feeling too warm for a hot soup, try this Cantaloupe Soup, which “marries” sweet and savory flavors in a refreshing take on gazpacho. Since we’re leaning into opposites, rather than suggesting a recipe with multiple steps or ingredients, we invite you to choose from this One Pan Salmon Dinner or, for those craving meat after Shavuot, an Easy Sheet Pan Steak Dinner. For dessert we’re going to attempt this colorful Vegan Angel Cake – a nod to the cherubim above the Ark. It may use up all the time we saved on our Sheet Pan Dinners!

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.