Parsha Inspired Menus - Balak

As the Israelites journey in the desert, they have a number of victories over the nations/tribes that they come across so it's not surprising that Balak, the King of Moab, is concerned. His response is to find someone who can counter the strength of the Israelites by cursing them. Similarly to Pharoah, the concern is expressed about the sheer number of the Israelites.

But the Israelites were fertile and prolific; they multiplied and increased very greatly, so that the land was filled with them.

A new king arose over Egypt who did not know Joseph.

And he said to his people, “Look, the Israelite people are much too numerous for us.

(Shemot 1: 7-9)

...There is a people that came out of Egypt; it hides the earth from view, and it is settled next to me."

(Bamidbar 22:5)

In both descriptions, there connotation around the way the Israelites cover the earth feels

negative, almost like pests. The similarity is interesting and to draw attention to it and Balak's attitude, I recommend one food covered in another, one that hides the original food from view - try this Coffee Crusted Roast. I wonder if it would have gone differently if he tried another tactic, one of partnership or agreement vs. fear. Could they have instead had a really big, numerous, powerful ally?

As I've mentioned in last year's #parshainspiredmenus, there are 3 different times that Balak asks Balaam to curse the Israelites and 3 different times that Balaam blesses them instead. The most famous of these blessings is the one with Mah Tovu in it (check out 2023's #parshainspiredmenus for a reference to this), but this year I also noticed that two of the blessings refer to "God who freed them from Egypt is for them like the horns of the wild ox." "horns of an ox" is the translation of כְּתוֹעֲפֹ֥ת רְאֵ֖ם

As Rabbeinu Bahya says that the line “is for them like the horns of an aggressive ox.” is a simile where Balaam compares G’d’s power to that of a wild ox just as elsewhere Hoseah had compared

Him to a roaring lion (Hoseah 11,10). These two animals are the most powerful ones in creation. It makes sense that the blessing puts God into a language device that gives a powerful image

In honor of these horns, make Almond Horn Cookies!

Shabbat Shalom & B'Tayavon.