Food Tourah: Ki Tavo

August 25, 2025 in Food Tourah

Parshat Ki Tavo – 50 parshiot down, only 4 more to go!

Ki Tavo (“When you Come”) opens with a description of the ceremony of offering a basket filled with the first fruits of the soil (bikurim) as the Israelites enter the land promised to them. In presenting these gifts, they are to recount their story – how their ancestors went down to Egypt to escape famine, became enslaved, and were then redeemed by God, now returning to the land of milk and honey.  And they are reminded to set aside portions for the Levites, the stranger, the orphan, and the widow, ensuring all are sustained.

Moses and the elders call on the Israelites to remember G-d’s commandments as they cross the Jordan. The parsha describes the many blessings that will follow when the people obey G-d’s commandments – from the blessing of fertility to the blessing of one’s crops, to the offspring of one’s cattle. The sky’s the limit! But it also gives detailed descriptions of the curses that will befall those who do not obey.  Ki Tavo closes with Moses urging the Israelites to remember all the miracles that they witnessed as a source of inspiration to faithfully observe their commitment to the covenant with God.

Ki Tavo does not shy away from elaborately describing the curses that will follow if the Israelites abandon God’s word.  One verse warns, “Your ox shall be slaughtered before your eyes, but you shall not eat of it; your ass shall be seized in front of you, and it shall not be returned to you; your flock shall be delivered to your enemies, with none to help you.” (Deut. 28:31) This level of deprivation called to mind the Howard Jones song “No One Is to Blame”.  But unlike the lament that, “You can look at the menu, but you just can’t eat,” we invite you to enjoy a bountiful meal reflective of the blessings promised when people adhere to God’s laws.  Ki Tavo gives us a choice between deprivation and abundance – we’re choosing abundance for the dinner table.

Since the parsha begins with the offering of the first fruits, so too will we start this week’s menu with fruit dishes.  Open your meal with Peach and Strawberry Bruschetta and savor some final bites of these seasonal fruits.  Or, with a tie-in to the “land of milk and honey”, try Honey Tuna Tartare for a perfect beginning to an elegant meal.

For the main course, we suggest Roast Chicken with Honey-Thyme Stone Fruits – a sweet and savory dish that blends fruit and honey in a way that feels both festive and rooted in the text!  Non-meat eaters might prefer Pan Seared Fish with Fruit Salsa, a light recipe bursting with summer flavors.  On the side, serve Lubia Rubia – Plenty in Green Beans. As the recipe’s author explains, in Tunisian lubia and in Aramaic rubia both refer to green beans, while in Hebrew, the root of the word rubia means “plenty”.  With its plentiful beans and fresh ingredients, this dish reflects the abundance promised in Ki Tavo. A traditional Tunisian food for Rosh Hashannah, try Lubia Rubia this week as a trial run for the holiday just around the corner!

Finally, end on a sweet note.  How perfect is a Fruit Basket Cake? We don’t think the connection requires any explanation – though you may deem it one of our more labor-intensive suggestions.  For a more straightforward dessert, Miracle Chocolate Chip Cookies are a playful nod to the miracles God performed for the Israelites, and a reminder of the sweetness and blessings that flow from keeping the covenant. We especially loved that “music that makes you want to dance” is listed as an ingredient, because what better way to celebrate a miracle than with joy?

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.org