By Joy Scott, Am Haskalah Congregant In last week’s parsha, Vayetzei, we read the convoluted and multifarious twenty years which Jacob experienced while living with his Uncle Laban. In parsha Vayishlach, with immense trepidation, Jacob follows God’s orders to return to his birthplace in Canaan. He is terrified of the inevitable encounter with his […]
Author: AHWebMaint
A ‘ Bissel’ of Torah: VAYEITZEI (GENESIS 28:10-32:3)
By Joy Scott, Am Haskalah Congregant This week’s parsha, Vayetzei, begins with Jacob on the run from his family and home. Although he leaves with his father, Isaac’s birthright and blessing, these were obtained under false pretenses. His mother, Rebecca, heard his brother, Esau, mutter that he intended to kill Jacob for this deception. […]
A ‘Bissel’ of Torah: TOLDOT (GENESIS 25:17-28:9)
By Joy Scott, Am Haskalah Congregant This week’s parsha presents an ancestral tale, which haunts us with its theme of cunning and deception. As the narrative proceeds, we realize that each of the characters presented in Toldot is caught in a web of relationships, a web of words, true and false, from which they […]
A ‘Bissel’ of Torah: CHAYEI SARAH (GENESIS 23:1-24:67)
By Joy Scott, Am Haskalah Congregant The translation of this week’s Torah parsha, Chayei Sarah, is ‘The Life of Sarah’. Ironically, only the first two lines of the parsha pertain to the death of Sarah and no other aspect of her life is even mentioned again. Rashi wrote that the death of Sarah is […]
A ‘Bissel’ of Torah: VAYEIRA (GENESIS 18:1-22:4)
By Joy Scott, Am Haskalah Congregant Towards the end of last week’s parsha, Lech Lecha, we read of the supernatural birth of Isaac to Sarah and Abraham. At the time, Abraham was 100 years old and Sarah was in her nineties, well beyond child-bearing age. God made a covenant with Isaac, circumcising him eight […]
A ‘Bissel’ of Torah: LECH LECHA (GENESIS 12:1-17:27)
By Joy Scott, Am Haskalah Congregant This week’s Torah parsha, Lech Lecha, begins with God’s words to Abram: “Go forth from your birthplace to the land which I will show you; and I will make you into a great nation, bless you and aggrandize your name”(1). The writers of the Midrash had many obvious […]
Jane’s Kitchen: Roasted Vegetable Moussaka
From Tori Avey. Servings: 12 1 1/2 lbs. zucchini (about 3 medium) sliced thin 1 1/2 lbs russet potatoes (about 3 large) peeled and sliced thin 3 lbs small eggplants 3 cloves garlic peeled 1 onion diced 1 1/2 cups cooked black beluga lentils (see directions below) 1 roasted red bell pepper sliced thin […]
Jane’s Kitchen: Sweet Potato & Green Bean Salad with Maple Mustard Dressing
Servings: 4 4 small sweet potatoes, peeled and thinly sliced 1 tsp cinnamon 2 T olive oil 1 tsp sea salt 1 tsp thyme 8 oz haricot verts or cut green beans 1 large handful dried cranberries 1 large handful toasted walnuts, pecans or hickory nuts 5 oz baby lettuces or spring mix (about […]
Jane’s Kitchen: Persimmon Caprese Salad
Servings: 4 Salad: 1 ripe Fuyu persimmon, sliced in crescents 1 8 ounce package of sliced fresh mozzarella (BelGiosa) 1/2 cup fresh blueberries 1/2 cup torn fresh basil leaves Citrus Honey Dressing: 1/2 cup fresh orange juice 2 tablespoons lemon juice 2 tablespoons white balsamic vinegar (best) or white wine vinegar 1/4 cup […]
Jane’s Kitchen: Veggie Shepherd’s Pie with White or Sweet Potato Mash
Servings: 8 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 large onion, halved and sliced 2 cloves garlic, minced 16 ounces fresh mushrooms, sliced 3 large carrots (about 2 cups), cut into sugar-cube size pieces 2 teaspoons fresh thyme chopped (or 1/2 teaspoon dried) 1 bay leaf 2 teaspoons fresh rosemary chopped (or 1/2 teaspoon dried) 2 […]