Shabbat Shalom!.
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Shabbat Shalom!.

Acharei Mos
   ( Leviticus-Shabbat Hagadol)

In this weeks parsha,the Torah discusses the procedural
aspects of the duties of the Kohanim(high priests),focusing                                                                  
specifically on the service to be performed on Yom Kippur. Also included are the laws of forbidding the eating of blood and the need of covering up the blood of slaughtered animals. Also mentioned are the prohibitions regarding immorality, beastiality, incest, homosexual relations, and giving over ones children for idol-worship. The parsha ends with  warning that failure to keep these laws will result in the “land's spitting out”of the people.

Hashem has given the task of protecting the Jewish people from possible temptation and transgression to our rabbis and sages, their purpose being to protect the laws of the Torah.
                         "Make a fence for the Torah."    (Avot 1:1) 
 
Just as a fence protects ones land from damage, we are told not to be tempted in any way inorder that the commandments are protected. At the end of this week's Torah portion, G-d tells the rabbinic courts to "guard my guardings." This means that efforts should be made to prevent people from breaking God's laws and we are commanded not to follow in the ways of the Egyptians or Canaanite.
                    ” The life style of the land of Egypt, where you lived, you shall not emulate, and the lifestyle of the land of Canaan, where am I bringing you, you shall not follow. “ (Levit. 18:3)

Rashi interprets this statement to mean that we must separate ourselves from immorality. Those fences include general rabbinic decrees designed to distance one from transgressing Torah law. The Torah is not merely warning us against leading immorally depraved lives, but relating that if we do not implement safety measures to prevent us from such depravity, we will sink to the lowest level, that of the Canaanite's and Egyptians.

This Shabbat before Passover is called Shabbat HaGadol, the Great Shabbat. It is customary to read a portion of the Hagaddah prior to the Passover seder, and in this way our children can hear about the Exodus prior to actually seeing the demonstration of the symbols and the rituals which are significant at the seder table. We learn the  lesson of how freedom is achieved, and then we actually see this display at our Passover table, all keeping with the premise that the best way of learning is by doing. 
As our ancestors were told not to emulate the Egyptians or the Canaanite (both whom were extremely immoral)we need to look to the torah, inorder that we become “the light unto the nations” which is what is expected of Kal Yisroel. Rashi states that As God's representatives, we must ultimately command the respect and favor of the nations of the world, in order to fill the world with His(Hashems) glory. The Rabbis say ,'the study of Torah is equal to all the commandments' . Our challenge is to learn and educate ourselves regularly in torah, so that we in turn can relate the story to our children, “And thou shalt tell thy son….” (Exodus. 13:8)

Shabbat Shalom,
Miriam





Because we are celebrating Passover, I will continue to provide Pesach recipes
for all to enjoy.

This Broccoli Souffle, is one of those easy, versatile, sure-fire success recipes This souffle can be pareve or dairy depending on whether it is made with milk, soy milk or coffee rich. And it can even be made kosher for Passover by using matzo meal instead of flour.

20 oz. frozen broccoli cuts, thawed and drained
4 eggs
3/4 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup Passover non-dairy)
1 Tbsp. onion soup mix
1/4cup matza meal 
1 tbl garlic powder
2 teasp. salt


1.Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Spray a 7 x 11 1/2 inch baking pan with non-stick spray.
3. Lay thawed and drained broccoli in the baking pan. Set aside.
4. In a bowl, beat eggs, soup mix, mayonnaise and milk together.
5. Add flour and beat well.
6. Pour egg mixture over the broccoli.
7. Bake the souffle at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 40-50 minutes, until top is golden.


Passover Vegetable Roll

1 cup minced onion
1/2 cup grated carrots
1/2 cup grated celery
2cloves garlic
3 cups egg matza- crushed
2 eggs  beaten
1 cup margarine
1 teasp. salt
1/2 teasp. pepper
1/2 teasp. poultry seasoning or sage

place all ingredients in cuisinart pulse until thick mixture. Shape into log formation. Wrap loosely in foil-since matza expands. Bake 350 degrees for 45 min. -one hour,

Cheesecake especially for Passover with strawberry sauce


2 cups almond macaroon cookie crumbs
3 Tbls. margarine melted
4- 8 oz. packages of cream cheese, softened
1 1/2 cup sugar
1 tbsp. vanilla
1 tbsp. almond extract
4 eggs
2 cups strawberries
1 tsp. orange juice

mix cookie crumbs and margarine and press into springform pan (lightly greased)
Bake 12 minutes
Beat cream cheese, and 1 cup of the sugar until well blended, add eggs and extracts.
bake 55 minutes until center is almost set. cool before remiving rim of pan and regrigerate overnight.
Blend strawberries and add 1/2 cup remaining sugar. Add o.j. and serve spooned over cheesecake slices.