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April 20, 2025 in Food Tourah
Parshat Shemini – 26 parshiot down, only 28 more to go!
Shemini – “eighth” – marks the final day of the ordination ceremony, when Aaron and his four sons start functioning as priests. The parsha includes chapters nine, ten, and eleven of Leviticus. The first chapter covers more detailed descriptions of the sacrifices, which Aaron and his sons are learning to offer correctly. In chapter ten, two of Aaron’s sons, Nadav and Avihu, offer sacrifices with an “alien” fire and are immediately consumed by fire themselves. Much conjecture has been written about what specific capital offense they committed. Due to the inclusion a few verses later of a prohibition against drinking wine while offering the sacrifice, some commentaries say they were drunk. Moses tells Aaron and the remaining two sons not to engage in mourning customs for their offspring and siblings. Later when Moses chastises Aaron for allowing the sons not to eat the sacrifice in the Tabernacle, Aaron reminds him that God might not want him to enjoy meat on the day his sons were killed.
Chapter eleven is all about food, specifically what animals are kosher to eat: only mammals that have cloven hooves and chew their cud, fish with fins and scales, and a firm “no” to birds of prey or reptiles. Generally, insects are considered non-kosher, but a select few are actually allowed. If you would like to investigate further, you can buy kosher locusts from the Biblical Museum of Natural History. 😬
Given the possible ill-fated role of wine in this week’s parsha, we’re taking a cautious approach and skipping the cocktails. Instead here’s one for a Non-Alcoholic Sparkling Mango Strawberry Sangria, keeping things festive without risk. What could be more fitting for these spring temperatures than sangria!
As we write this entry, we have not yet finished Passover, so all we can think about is a return to doughy, yeasty delights. We were happy to learn that Pepperidge Farm puff pastry dough is Kosher and Parve, so it can be used for either of these stuffed dough delicacies. We are separating the milk from the meat. Choose your own path! If you are Team Meat Eaters🥩, here is a recipe for “Deli Roll” – cold cuts and mustard rolled up in puff pastry. For Team Dairy Lovers 🧀, you can never go wrong with Cheesy Bourekas.
For a little shalom bayit (peace in the house) – something Moses and Aaron could certainly use after the loss of Nadav and Avihu – a delicious Tahini Banana Bread works after a meat meal or a dairy meal.
Or (bonus!) if you want the ultimate post-Passover dessert, we’re leaning toward Babka Bread Pudding😋 Happy Chametz!
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.
