Food Tourah: Shoftim

August 11, 2026 in Food Tourah

Parshat Shoftim – 48 parshiot down, only 6 more to go!

Two verses into this week’s portion we encounter the famous phrase, “Justice, justice, shall you pursue” (16:20), because Shoftim (Judges) is all about the structure of a just society.  Rules are given for judges and officers of the court.  All should act without taking bribes or showing favoritism.  Kings may be appointed, but only from within the Israelite people, and they should not try to amass wealth.  Levites will live off of the offerings of the people bringing sacrifices.  True prophets will rise, but the Israelites should vigilantly guard against following false or idolatrous prophets.

Those who commit crimes should be punished, while measures are taken to avoid prosecuting the innocent. A minimum of two witnesses are required before convicting someone of a crime.  If someone causes another’s death accidently, they should be allowed into a city of refuge so that vigilante justice will not be enacted.  If a dead body is found lying in a field and no one knows how the death was caused, the priests hold a special ceremonial ritual to absolve the innocent of any guilt in the death.

Shoftim also explains how to justly conduct a war.  Peace should be offered first, and fruit trees should not be destroyed.  Men of fighting age are exempt from battle if they have built a home but not dedicated it, planted a vineyard but not harvested its fruit, or married a woman but not “taken” her.  A man who is “afraid and soft-hearted” (20:8) is freed from battle so his cowardice will not affect the troops.  It is impossible to read the biblical rules of engagement in Deuteronomy 20 and 21 without reflecting on aspects of the current war, but here our commentary is reserved for food.

With this parsha’s focus on systems of government, leadership is a good jumping off point for our menu.  Shoftim cautions Israel’s future kings against excessive wealth and grandeur, so we’re keeping things down-to-earth with two hearty stews:  Lemony Braised Lamb Shank and Spring Vegetables and Barley and Root Vegetable Rainbow Stew. Both feature root vegetables – appropriately grounded fare for leaders who are instructed to remain so themselves.

This week’s reference to justice also led to thoughts of scales of justice, which led to thoughts of…fish scales! In honor of those scales, enjoy this Grilled Summer Salmon with Chimichurri.  As for sides, have you noticed that the parshiot in Deuteronomy involve a lot of retelling – some might even say they are “reusing” the same stories?  As a playful nod to all that retelling, try these Vegan Twice Baked Potatoes.  If you’re not serving meat, use real milk and butter, add some cheese, and you’ve got another hearty main dish!

For dessert, we love the idea of a Layered Parfait.  It’s easy to make it non-dairy with a non-dairy yogurt.  The two layers can symbolize the two witnesses needed for fair trials and the transparency of the glass symbolizes that nothing is hidden with due process and fair trial.

Or take inspiration from the Torah’s remarkable exemption from military service for someone who has just built a home, married, or planted a vineyard. Some explain this is a show of compassion: people should have the chance to reap the benefits of their hard work.  With that in mind, end your meal with this aptly named Fruits of Our Labor Apricot Galette.  Enjoy this classic summer fruit while you still can!

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.