Parshat Eikev

Al Ha'aretz v'al Hamazon

In this week's parsha (Eikev, in case the title of my blog didn't show up on your computer), is the famous phrase: "V'achalta, V'Savata, U'v'rachta" (D'varim 8:10). It's famous because, among other things, it is quoted in one of the paragraphs in Birkat Hamazon:

כַּכָּתוּב, וְאָכַלְתָּ וְשָׂבָֽעְתָּ, וּבֵרַכְתָּ אֶת יְיָ אֱלֹהֶֽיךָ עַל הָאָֽרֶץ הַטֹּבָה אֲשֶׁר נָֽתַן לָךְ. בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ, עַל הָאָֽרֶץ וְעַל הַמָּזוֹן.

I wanted to use the version from birkat hamazon instead of from the Torah for a few reasons:

1) so people could relate to it better

2) b/c it doesn't have annoying Torah notations/trop that messes up the font when I copy and paste it from DavkaWriter

3) to further my point about the bracha!

The bracha is about the land (aretz) and the food (mazon). I like how the rabbis put together the idea of where the food comes from in the bracha. When people understand a little bit more about where food comes from and how it got to their bodies, I think that more appreciation stems from them. This is not just useful when it comes to thinking about food, but also about other aspects of the world. It is important to try to be open to constantly learning about historical context and practicality about where our materials come from so that our appreciation and gratefulness continues to grow and develop.

I would like to urge you all to consider where you get your beer, wine, and other liquors and make the decision wisely. Is it important to you to support local beers and Israeli wines? Or is it more important to you to buy wine and beer according to season? Or perhaps organic and fairtrade products are of atmost importance? whatever it is, please continue to make it a DECISION and not just "what happens".

On that note, I am including a link to an interactive picture sequence of how bread is made:

http://www.warburtons.co.uk/our-world/seed-to-crumb/

On another note: I am leaving this coming Tuesday on a trip to Europe! I am very excited for the upcoming travels, but I regret to inform you that I will probably not have time to update my blog when I'm there. So, in honour of the upcoming travels, here is a recipe for a French martini, which I hope to have when I am in Paris:

1 1/2 oz vodka
1/4 oz Chambord® raspberry liqueur
1/4 ozfresh pineapple juice
1 twist lemon peel

Pour each of the above into a tall bar glass. Shake with ice, pour into a cocktail or martini glass, and serve.

Nachamu

This Shabbat, we are all seeking comfort after Tisha B'Av. Many of us will seek for that comfort through song. I've always liked the Jewish accapella version of the song "Nachamu ami" from this week's haftarah and I will definitely be playing it for those who I teach at Ramah Nyack. Also, today is Zimriya at Ramah, so many many more will be seeking comfort from being with others in their community and singing together.

Shabbat, in general, is a comforting time. Many have told me before that they feel that it gives them comfort to know that Shabbat is coming up at the end of the week.

I am NOT recommending to seek comfort through these drinks! However, I do think that in celebration of Shabbat and of what we do currently have in our Jewish communities around the world that we should celebrate and seek comfort from each other.

p.s. I want to give a quick shout-out to two Rachels in my life who are graduating today from the YU Social Work Program!

Here is the recipe:

British Comfort recipe

Southern Comfort, gin, lemon juice and orange juice into a cocktail shaker half-filled with ice cubes.

Shake well, strain into a cocktail glass, and serve.

Matot-Masei

This Shabbat could be both sweet and sour. It is the last Shabbat before Rosh Hodesh Av, one of the bitter months of the year. However, it is sweet, because it is the last Shabbat before moving on to a new book of the Torah: Devarim. So, I propose a drink that is both sweet and a bit sour: margarita!

(also, a margarita is very fitting since I suggested a drink in honour of Canada Day and American Independence Day last week, so now I've covered all of North America!)

Rina Strawberry Margarita:

-2 shots of tequila

-1/2 shot (or more, it's about your taste) of lime juice

-1/2 teaspoon of salt

-4-5 ice cubes OR 4-5 frozen strawberries (preferred)

-blend in blender

-add a lime wedge!

OR

-buy the frozen margarita mix and add as much tequila as the can tells you

-feel free to add your own frozen fruit