Shabbat Shalom!.
Shabbat Shalom!.
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Shabbat Shalom!.
Tzav (Leviticus 6-8)
April 4,2009
10th of Nissan 5769
"And these are the instructions for the peace-offerings which one may offer to Hashem. If as a 'Todah' {Thanksgiving Offering} he will offer it, then he
shall bring with the sacrifice, cakes of matzo mixed with
oil… [7:10-12]"
This week's parsha, Tzav, deals predominantly with different karbanos {sacrifices} that were brought to the mishkan. "The Korbon Todah" or "Thanksgiving Offering", was brought by one to express gratitude to Hashem from saving him from a perilous situation. This included four categories: those who traveled overseas, those who traveled through the wilderness, those who were released from prison and those who were healed from a serious illness. This korbon demonstrates the appreciation one felt to Hashem for his role in helping to overcome the specific obstacle. This “Korbon Todah”, was offered by bringing 40 loaves of bread along with the sacrificial animal. The 40 loaves included -30 unleavened (matzah) and 10 leavened. By bringing the loaves as part of his offering, the person is declaring to G-d:
"I exult in my life and strength that you so kindly restored to me, and henceforth, I pledge to sanctify them in Your service."
A portion of the bread and the meat went to the Kohanim, with the rest for the beneficiary to eat . Interestingly, unlike other offerings in which the meat could be eaten for an additional day, with the Thanksgiving offering both meat and bread could only be consumed on the day the animal was slaughtered, or on the following night.(at most a 24 hour period). Because this thanksgiving offering had much more food to be eaten and less time allotted to eat, it encouraged one to invite groups of friends and possibly even strangers to join him. Thus, the special laws of the korban Todah created a situation so that this thankful event could be publicized for all to hear about. As we can see these laws take into consideration the social nature of man and his need to discuss and share his experiences with others.
Today, without our Holy Temple, This ritual is still done in an abbreviated fashion during the time of the Torah reading service in the synagogue. It is now called "Birkat ha Gomel." Traditionally, one makes this bracha if one has survived childbirth, recovered from illness, arrived safely from a journey, or escaped unharmed from an accident. And as human nature dictates, and just as in the time of the Temple, many ask one who has recited Birkat HaGomel why it was recited. Thereby publicizing this miracle that Hashem had performed for him.
The Ramban says that the purpose of all creation is so that a Jew will thank G-d for his existence. As Jews, our mission is to see these blessings and the acts of kindness and miracles which surround us and offer our thanks to G-d for his help.We call this a Kiddush Hashem. The first word that every Jew utters in the morning is “Thank you”. This attribute of gratitude is so integral to a Jew’s existence that this weeks Midrash explains that after Moshiach comes,,the “Toda” offering will continue whereas all the other sacrificial offerings in the temple will be nullified. Similarly, the Midrash asserts that in the future, all prayer services will cease completely, except for the prayers of thanksgiving which will remain until the end of time; the human need to express goodness and gratitude being eternal and everlasting.
On the upcoming Pesach holiday, we highlight and symbolically express our gratitude for having been saved from danger and delivered from slavery to freedom during the pesach seder. Many commentaries have discussed how The Korban Pesach and the Korban Todah have many similarities, both in fact are publicizing a miracle - one to an individual and the other to our entire Jewish nation. And just as chametz(bread) and matzah are equally important for the Thanksgiving offering let all Jews merge together especially at this time of Pesach to celebrate and to sing our thanks to Hashem.
Shabbat Shalom,
Miriam
In keeping with this parsha's theme- the Thanksgiving offering and the inclusion of both bread and matza, I have given you recipes for both. A good way to use up the flour before pesach are great homemade pizzas. Be creative! These pizza recipes are easy and delicious.
Basic pizza dough
3 ½ cups flour
¼ oz. yeast
1 tbl.honey
¼ cup olive oil
1 cup water lukewarm1 1 tsp. salt
Combine water and honey. Sprinkle yeast over water miture andlet stand for 5 minutes. Mix flour and salt together an add remaining ingredients. Knead until dough becomes smooth and elastic. Set aside, covered with a damp towel, until doubles in size. 4- 6-7 inch circles.
Smoked Salmon Pizza
8 oz. smoked salmon diced
½ oz. dill chopped
1 red onion, sliced thinly
1 80z. container creme fraiche
1 recipe pizza dough
2 oz. parmesan cheese
Garlic oil
Divide dough into 4 balls and shape into 6 inch circles. Brush garlic oil on. Spread each circle with crème fraiche, leaving outer 1” blank. Sprinkle with salmon and dill and top with onion. Sprinkle with pepper and parmesan cheese. Bake at 550 degree for 8-10 minutes placing pizza on bottom rack.
The following recipes are kosher for Pesach
Cabbage Kugel (for Passover or anytime)
3 lbs cabbage shredded
6 eggs separated 5 Tbsp olive oil 1/4 cup chopped garlic
1/2 tsp salt 3 tbl. poppyseeds
2 Tbsp sugar 1 Tbsp lemon juice 1/4 cup matzo meal
8oz. kosher for Passover noodles
1 cup chicken broth
Grease a 9by 12 pan and sprinkle bottom with 2 tabl. of matza meal.(save additional for recipe)
Boil cabbage for 25 minutes and drain very well, but save the liquid to boil the noodles. When noodles are cooked transfer to a large bowl and toss with 1 tbl. of the oil. In frying pan warm the remaining oil over low heat and add the garlic and cook slowly for 10 minutes. Scoop the garlic out with a slotted spoon and set it aside in a small bowl.Reserve the oil in the pan which has been garlic infused.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees, and chop up the cabbage, toss the cabbage in the oil over high heat for about 10 minutes until slightly brown spots, add poppy seeds and season with alt and pepper. Remove and let cool. In large bowl add egg yolks, salt, sugar,lemon juice and broth. In another bowl beat egg whites until stiff peaks mix in remaining matza meal, stir in egg yolk mixture and fold into cabbage mixture. Bake at 350 degrees in a greased pan about 50 minutes until brown, let sit for an additional 30 minutes before cutting.
Chocolate Almond Torte with Strawberries
1 ¼ cup sugar
1 cup margarine softened
5 eggs separated
2 ¼ cup almonds, sliced blanched
8 oz. semi sweet kosher for Passover chocolate
Preheat oven to 300
Line the bottom of a springform pan with wax paper and then grease
paper
Using blender, mix sugar and margarine until fluffy. Add egg yolks.
In a food processor, process almonds and chocolate until ground.
Stir into sugar mixture.
Beat egg whites to form peaks,mix ½ into above batter. Gently
fold in remaining eggs whites and spread batter into springform pan. Bake 1 ½ hours . cool 10 minutes before releasing from pan.
Serve with fresh strawberries or you can make strawberry sauce to go on top or bottom of plate and fresh strawberries on top.
Jordana's Rainbow Cookies
These are not easy to prepare, but they are worth the trouble. They're far superior to anything you can buy in a bakery. (see taste of history for story)
:
16 oz. almond paste
6 sticks sweet butter or margarine
1 cup sugar
8 eggs separated
2 tsp. almond extract
4 cups matzo cake meal
1/4 tsp. salt
10 drops green food coloring
8 drops red food coloring
18 oz. jar apricot preserves
8 squares semi-sweet baking chocolate
Preheat oven to 350. Grease 3 13x9x2" jellyroll pans;
line with wax paper; grease or spray again. At high speed
in electric mixer, mix almond paste, sugar, butter, & almond extract until light and fluffy. Add yolks one at a time. At low speed, add cake meal and salt. Beat egg white until stiff and they hold peaks. Fold egg whites into batter. Divide batter into thirds in 3 bowls. Add green food coloring to one bowl and red to another. Blend thoroughly by hand to evenly disperse the color. Spread each batter evenly with spatula into pans. Bake for about 15 minutes until edges turn golden brown. Cakes will be about 1/4 to 1/2" thick. Remove cakes from pan immediately onto large wire racks to cool. Heat preserves and strain through a sieve. Slide green layer onto cookie sheet that has been covered with plastic wrap. Spread 1/2 of preserves on green layer. Slide yellow layer on top of green layer. Repeat preserve layer. Slide final red layer on top of yellow layer. Cover with plastic wrap and weight down with heavy wooden board and heavy books. Allow cake to sit like this for several hours. Remove the weights. Now, you are ready to melt the chocolate over a double boiler. Spread the melted chocolate on top of the cake. Allow to dry for about an hour. Trim edges off 4 sides of cake. Cut into 1" squares. Freezes well in air tight container.
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Shabbat Shalom!.
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