Parashat Va’era - Chains of Bondage and Magic Crocodiles

 This week’s parasha continues the story of Moshe and Aaron working to free the Israelites from slavery.

Midrash tells that the Israelites were not enslaved all at once. Rather, they were lured with kindness, asked to help out with certain tasks, and ever so slowly led into servitude. Three of this week’s challot represent this idea. Two are filled with sweetness (chocolate). The cupcake challah is tied into knots, while the other is made of chocolate-filled, twisted strands that then intertwine in a braid. 

          

The third challah is made of three interlocked chains. One large chain makes up the base, with two others draped across, representing the many generations, one upon another, wrapped in chains of bondage.

The final challah is a crocodile. Pirkei Avot, chapter 5 contains a list of ten things made during the final moments of creation. (It’s one of my my favourite texts). Among these things is “וְהַמַּטֶּה,” “the staff.” Perhaps this is Moshe’s staff, perhaps it is Aaron’s. Maybe they share the staff, using it when appropriate. Either way, “the staff” that transforms into a snake last week and a reptile of sorts this week is a magical object, created directly by God. And so, this week’s final challah transformed into a crocodile. 

                          

Here is the whole mishnah - (My favourite part is the creation of tongs, for tongs require tongs to make.)

עֲשָׂרָה דְבָרִים נִבְרְאוּ בְּעֶרֶב שַׁבָּת בֵּין הַשְּׁמָשׁוֹת, וְאֵלּוּ הֵן, פִּי הָאָרֶץ, וּפִי הַבְּאֵר, וּפִי הָאָתוֹן, וְהַקֶּשֶׁת, וְהַמָּן, וְהַמַּטֶּה, וְהַשָּׁמִיר, וְהַכְּתָב, וְהַמִּכְתָּב, וְהַלּוּחוֹת. וְיֵשׁ אוֹמְרִים, אַף הַמַּזִּיקִין, וּקְבוּרָתוֹ שֶׁל משֶׁה, וְאֵילוֹ שֶׁל אַבְרָהָם אָבִינוּ. וְיֵשׁ אוֹמְרִים, אַף צְבָת בִּצְבָת עֲשׂוּיָה: Ten things were created on the eve of the Sabbath at twilight, and these are they: [1] the mouth of the earth, [2] the mouth of the well, [3] the mouth of the donkey, [4] the rainbow, [5] the manna, [6] the staff, [7] the shamir, [8] the letters, [9] the writing, [10] and the tablets. And some say: also the demons, the grave of Moses, and the ram of Abraham, our father. And some say: and also tongs, made with tongs.

Celebrating the arrival of 2022 with chocolate challah and Bartenura asti. I hope it will be an improvement over 2020 and 2021. 

Shabbat shalom. (In Sean’s words,) Stay safe; stay sane.

Parashat Shemot - Bricks Without Straw & a Third Shot

 And Joseph and his generation died. And a new king arose….

Power corrupts. Even if we give the new Pharaoh the benefit of the doubt at the start, seeing the growing numbers of Israelites leads him to enslave a nation in Egypt’s midst. I can’t help but see parallels in the world. Governmental systems that can work, and work well, are instead stumbling due to parties determined to remain or get back into power. It’s painful to watch.

In this week’s parasha, Pharaoh, seeing the possibility of an uprising among the currently peaceful Israelites. When his actions don’t have the desired result, he pushes harder, even taking away the basic nessities for the jobs to which they are set. In remembrance of the extra work, this week’s first challah is a bundle of straw gathered to make brick and build store cities. It is a reminder that we can push and accomplish what we need to do even when the obstacles keep rising before us. 

It’s also for the covid boosters and the continuing measures to keep the pandemic in check. There will likely be many more spikes and falls before we move from pandemic to endemic. But we will overcome. We must have faith. And so the second challah is the burning bush. Aflame, surprising Moshe, the bush draws him to it, and from it emanates God’s voice calling Moshe to service. It may feel like the world is on fire. We must have faith that it will not be consumed.

And, there’s always the cupcake challah. It isn’t a Gorman Shabbat without a cupcake challah. This week I felt like swirls because sometimes the world seems chaotic, but when you look at it from afar, you can see beauty. I am the eternal optimist. I admit, living through a global pandemic feels overwhelming, especially in the context of politicization of the virus and the vaccine and the ever widening political spectrum. I am tired, sometime numb. But I have faith. I believe things will improve. I believe times in the past have been worse. We will not be consumed, for we are infused with the Divine spirit.

Shabbat shalom. For all who celebrate Christmas, and even for those of us who do not, I hope this is a merry Christmas, filled with joy and grace and hope for the future. We will be enjoying our Chinese food Shabbat lunch.

Vayechi - Shared Blessings and Jacob’s Death

 Each week I think I find more difficult or inappropriate shapes. Had there been time, I would have created a shield with all the symbols of the tribes as represented in Jacob’s so-called blessing of his children. Luckily, I chose not to do that, especially since the dough was particularly soft this week. Instead, I focused on Jacob’s blessing of Efraim and Mennaseh. Jacob crosses his hand, placing the right on the younger child’s head. Unlike the generations before, this doesn’t cause a problem Efraim and Mennaseh. We still bless our children in their names. 

A twist with hands at the ends. (Jesse suggested fingernails, which we made from almonds.)

Continuing with Jacob, I made a sarcophagus. Jews don’t embalm, except in the case of extreme circumstances, Jacob is embalmed in the Egyptian style. It would have been disrespectful in the eyes of Pharaoh to do anything less.  As the second to Pharaoh, Joseph needed to act accordingly. Soft dough leads to less than stiff edges. Either way it’ll be yummy.

 

It’s not Shabbat without a cupcake challah. And there were baked donuts (in cupcake shapes).

Shabbat shalom. Stay well.

Vayigash - Bread

 I missed blogging this week, ironic since I baked and took pictures on Thursday. On this early Shabbatot, Fridays simply disappear. 

This week I placed a lyre atop our cupcake challah. Midrash teaches that Serach, Asher’s daughter, was a singer and musician. When the time came for Joseph’s brothers too tell their father that Joseph was alive, Serach broke the news to him in song to lessen the shock. Serach is listed among those who go down to Egypt and among those who leave 400 years later. Her care of her grandfather merited her long (or eternal) life. Another midrash teaches that it was Serach who tells Moshe where the Joseph is buried so his bones can be taken back to Israel. 

Our challah was a lyre with Serach’s name above.

 

I also baked a little bread. Breishit 47: 1 says, 

וַיְכַלְכֵּל יוֹסֵף אֶת-אָבִיו וְאֶת-אֶחָיו, וְאֵת כָּל-בֵּית אָבִיו--לֶחֶם, לְפִי הַטָּף.

And Joseph nourished his father and his brothers and all of his father’s house — according to the needs of their children.

 

This little challah is shaped like a loaf of bread to sustain us all. And, because humans are not sustained by bread alone, I made a chocolate challah just for fun.

Until next week. 

Shavua tov.

Shabbat Hanukah - Miracles Happening

Hanukah isn’t a big deal in our house. Even when the kids were little, it took its rightful place in the calendar year as the least important holiday, although still a lot of fun. One year, before Keren was born, with a pile of presents from us, grandparents, uncles, and extended family, Jesse kept asking if he could “open just one more present?” After reminding him that if he opened everything now there’d be nothing left for the rest of the holiday, a flurry of wrapping paper filled our living room. We never looked back. Gifts were opened the first night and the rest of the 8 days could be focused simply on enjoying the candles and spending time together. We sing. We talk about the Maccabees and the Hasmonean corruption. We eat way too much fried food, sufganiyot, and chocolate. 

This year, our latke fest was pre-Hanukah so Keren could participate before returning to university. There has been schnitzel, stir-fry, fried fish, and fritters of different vegetables. This Shabbat I am away at a retreat, but I still baked challah for the family. The ring started as a star, but you never really know how the rise is going to go. Corners are hard in bread without a mold. Gavi said the dreydel looked like a pomegranate and the hanukiyah like a beach. It’s become a tradition that he misinterprets the shapes.

Hanukah is the holiday the Sages tried to suppress, but who doesn’t like an underdog comeback victory story. So they made it about a miracle. Did it happen? Doesn’t matter. Miracles are all around us. Perhaps a message for Hanukah is to open our eyes and look for them. My miracle this Hanukah can be found in the smiling faces of kids getting their covid vaccine and the relieved, grateful look in their parents’ eyes.  Hanukah is the holiday the Sages tried to suppress, but who doesn’t like an underdog comeback victory story. So they made it about a miracle. Did it happen? Doesn’t matter. Miracles are all around us. Perhaps a message for Hanukah is to open our eyes and look for them. My miracle this Hanukah can be found in the smiling faces of kids getting their covid vaccine and the relieved, grateful look in their parents’ eyes.  

Shabbat shalom. Hag Urim sameach. May we all emerge soon into the light.