Emor
This week’s Torah portion is one of the few choses to be read several times a year, reading it not only in sequence, but also referring back to it on the first two days of Sukkot (outside of Israel), as well as on the second day of Passover. Why you might ask? What is the connection that has us periodically checking back in with this week’s Torah portion?
Most notably, and the connection, may be found in the list of instructions as to how and when to celebrate our festivals.
Chapter 23:2
דַּבֵּ֞ר אֶל־בְּנֵ֤י יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ וְאָמַרְתָּ֣ אֲלֵהֶ֔ם מוֹעֲדֵ֣י יְהוָ֔ה אֲשֶׁר־תִּקְרְא֥וּ אֹתָ֖ם מִקְרָאֵ֣י קֹ֑דֶשׁ אֵ֥לֶּה הֵ֖ם מוֹעֲדָֽי׃
Speak to the Israelite people and say to them: These are My fixed times, the fixed times of the LORD, which you shall proclaim as sacred occasions.
This is followed by one verse about Shabbat and then verse 4 comes to teach:
אֵ֚לֶּה מוֹעֲדֵ֣י יְהוָ֔ה מִקְרָאֵ֖י קֹ֑דֶשׁ אֲשֶׁר־תִּקְרְא֥וּ אֹתָ֖ם בְּמוֹעֲדָֽם׃
These are the set times of the LORD, the sacred occasions, which you shall celebrate each at its appointed time:
Beginning with Pesach we count off to Shavuot, Rosh HaShanah, Yom Kippur, and finally Sukkot.
I like to think of this seemingly repetitive instruction of sacred times as a strong reminder of celebrating life. We can get so bogged down in the day to day and yet celebrations take intention and work. We must prepare and set aside the time if we expect festivity. Nothing so sacred just happens on its own. We make it happen.
And yet, this past year, we have found ourselves making it happen without the gathering, the assembly, without those we love most. For some, it now feels safe to celebrate with those we love. Thank God. For others, we are still waiting separated by borders and boundaries, by computer screens. Still, Emor comes to remind us of the many joyous occasions and memories that these holidays evoke.
Our senses hold the power to transport us to those more full times, when we were in the physical presence of those we love. Put on some of those tunes while you cook, take a moment to glance through old pictures, and cook up your favourite holiday meals. For our home, this meals matza ball soup and gefilte fish, my mother’s apple cake (I will add the recipe below) for sure! I generally make ribs for Sukkot or something colourful with root veggies. An alternative is an easy lemon poppy seed chicken or other citrusy chicken to symbolize the etrog.
Another route is to top off Lag B’omer with grilled favourites — baked potatoes, hot dogs, grilled corn on the cob! And finish it off with smores brownies (make your favourite brownies and either make a base of graham cracker crust and open the oven to sprinkle with marshmallows 5 minutes before being done and frost after cooling — or crumble graham crackers and mini marshmallows into the batter before baking)!
Mrs. T’s Jewish APPLE CAKECombine: 2 tsp. cinnamon 5 Tbsp. sugar mix with: 6 apples, cored and pared **
4 Eggs 1 Cup vegetable Oil 1/4 Cup Orange Juice 3 Cups flour 2 Cups Sugar 1 Tbs. Baking Powder 1 Tsp. salt
- preheat oven to 375o
- Mix 3 apples sliced with 2 Tbs. sugar and 2 tsp. cinnamon. And set aside.
- Mix all ingredients well. Grease a tube pan. Layer cake batter and sliced apples (starting and ending with batter) in a greased 10" tube pan. Bake at 375o for 1–1¼ hours.
- If top of cake gets to brown — cover with foil mid way through baking. Cool totally on wire rack before removing from pan.
Originally published at https://rabbitendler8.wixsite.com on April 30, 2021.