Food Tourah: Vaetchanan

August 5, 2025 in Food Tourah

Parshat Vaetchanan – 45 parshiot down, only 9 more to go!

Vaetchanan (“I Pleaded”) opens as Moses recounts his plea to God to let him enter the Promised Land. He tells the Israelites that God refused because of them, “But God was wrathful with me on your account and would not listen to me.” (Deut. 3:26) Moses urges the Israelites to follow God’s laws and commandments, reminding them of the fate of those who do not, and again attributes his exclusion from entering the land to their “account”. He also warns the people not to pursue idolatry.

Moses calls on the Israelites to remember all that they have seen – God’s displays of power and acts of wonder – and to pass these memories on to their children so that they, too, will have faith in God and will follow God’s laws. He reassures the people that G-d is compassionate and “will not fail you nor let you perish” (Deut. 4:31) Moses then repeats the Ten Commandments, including the commandment to observe Shabbat, before proclaiming the opening section of the Shema, Judaism’s enduring declaration of faith.

As Moses recounts the events that kept him from entering the Promised Land, he twice reminds the Israelites that God was angry with him on their account. But readers may remember an earlier episode in the Torah too – the incident at the rock. All that finger pointing inspired us to kick off this week’s menu with finger foods.  We were drawn to these Crispy Coated Zucchini Sticks, but the possibilities are endless!

With the parsha’s emphasis on memory and passing things from one generation to the next, consider beginning your Shabbat with a Sweet Memories Cocktail.  Bonus – the recipe includes a non-alcoholic version, too! In our summary, we singled out the commandment to observe Shabbat, because there are so many ways to go with it.  We especially enjoyed reading through this Article about Shabbat dinner ideas from Jewish families around the world.  Shabbat Overnight Stew (a.k.a. cholent!) is a year-round favorite, and we couldn’t resist sharing these Shabbos Potatoes – stovetop-cooked and billed as the ultimate Shabbos comfort food.  They sound delicious! 😋

Lest you think someone else had taken over this blog if we didn’t include dessert, these 10-Cup Cookies are a playful nod to both the Ten Commandments and to memory.  Why memory?  The author jokes that one can easily memorize this recipe because it includes ten ingredients all measured at 1 cup – though we noticed a few extra ingredients that don’t quite fit that description!

Finally for an extra-sweet end to your evening, check out this Vegan Pink Moon Milk. Many families have a tradition of reciting the Shema with their children at bedtime.  Whether you’re tucking your little ones in – or simply looking for a cozy way to wind down – this bedtime drink is guaranteed to soothe. 💤💤💤

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