Food Tourah: Devarim

July 29, 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. 44 parshiot down, 10 more to go!

Devarim (“Words”) is the first parsha in the Book of Deuteronomy – the fifth and final book of the Torah. In what can be described as his farewell address, Moses recounts key events from the Israelites’ 40 years in the desert.  He recalls the appointment of chiefs for each tribe and the episode with the spies who scouted the Promised Land and came back with stories of impenetrable walls and giants, leading the Israelites to fear for their safety. Because of their lack of faith, the generation that left Egypt – Moses included – would not be entering the Promised Land. Instead, their children, along with Joshua and Caleb (who had shown unwavering trust in G-d), would be the ones to cross into it.

Moses reminds the Israelites that as they travel through the land of their distant relatives – the descendants of Esau and others – they are not to provoke them. They are to pay for all food and water and pass through peacefully. G-d has always protected and provided for them, which He exhibits once again when Kings Sihon and Og refuse to let them pass peacefully. The parsha ends with Moses reassuring the Israelites that they are in good hands as he begins to pass the torch of leadership to Joshua.

This parsha reminds us of where we’ve come from and points toward where the Israelites were going.  In order to be ready for what comes next, it helps to start with a meal that is both grounding and nourishing. Packed with protein from both chicken and quinoa, this One Pan Chicken and Quinoa is delicious and satisfying.  The same goes for Salmon and Braised Lentils, tasty and sustaining.

Devarim is also a powerful reminder that G-d always sustained the Israelites – throughout their journey they were blessed with abundance.  Known for his flavorful recipes with an emphasis on vegetables, browse recipes on Yotam Ottolenghi’s Website – some from his vegetarian cookbook Plenty. For a more playful nod to that theme, try Good and Plenty Cupcakes.  And if licorice isn’t your thing, these World Peace Cookies offer a chocolate alternative and may satisfy even more than just your sweet tooth. G-d’s instruction to the Israelites – to pay for their food and water and to pass through neighboring lands without provocation – emphasizes a timeless message of peaceful coexistence, something we all continue to long for today.

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