Parsha Inspired Menus - Bamidbar

This week we start a new book of the Torah - in Hebrew it's Bamidbar, in the desert, which is an apt description. Though in English the name is Numbers, which sure feels right for the first part of this parsha....so many numbers about the census. Also, the taking of the census both begins and ends this book of the Torah, so it's a fitting name for the whole section. I thought about a recipe with a lot of numbers, but that didn't seem so fun to cook. So, how about the Hebrew name - Bamidbar? The book of Bamidbar covers 40 years of the people Israel in the desert, with the

transition from slavery to nationhood, organizing the people for travel, and chronicling the complaints, sins, and punishments of the people as they go through this transition. It's a big time, a time of learning and growth and the reconfiguration that's needed to be ready to enter Israel. Transition times often are a bit messy, so that feels really relatable to me. While it's unlikely that we'd enjoy eating something that tastes like the desert (dry and crumbly/sandy), what about something that looks like the desert? Try a Sand-Topped Cake instead (recipe below)!

Also, our youngest son commented on how there are several mentions of the poles the Levites were in charge of.

וְנָתְנ֣וּ עָלָ֗יו כְּסוּי֙ ע֣וֹר תַּ֔חַשׁ וּפָרְשׂ֧וּ בֶֽגֶד־כְּלִ֛יל תְּכֵ֖לֶת מִלְמָ֑עְלָה וְשָׂמ֖וּ בַּדָּֽיו׃

They shall lay a covering of dolphin skin over it and spread a cloth of pure blue on top; and they shall put its poles in place.

וּפָרְשׂ֣וּ עֲלֵיהֶ֗ם בֶּ֚גֶד תּוֹלַ֣עַת שָׁנִ֔י וְכִסּ֣וּ אֹת֔וֹ בְּמִכְסֵ֖ה ע֣וֹר תָּ֑חַשׁ וְשָׂמ֖וּ אֶת־בַּדָּֽיו׃

They shall spread over these a crimson cloth that they shall cover with a covering of dolphin skin; and they shall put the poles in place.

וְעַ֣ל ׀ מִזְבַּ֣ח הַזָּהָ֗ב יִפְרְשׂוּ֙ בֶּ֣גֶד תְּכֵ֔לֶת וְכִסּ֣וּ אֹת֔וֹ בְּמִכְסֵ֖ה ע֣וֹר תָּ֑חַשׁ וְשָׂמ֖וּ אֶת־בַּדָּֽיו׃

Next they shall spread a blue cloth over the altar of gold and cover it with a covering of dolphin skin; and they shall put its poles in place.

וְנָתְנ֣וּ עָ֠לָ֠יו אֶֽת־כׇּל־כֵּלָ֞יו אֲשֶׁ֣ר יְֽשָׁרְת֧וּ עָלָ֣יו בָּהֶ֗ם אֶת־הַמַּחְתֹּ֤ת אֶת־הַמִּזְלָגֹת֙ וְאֶת־הַיָּעִ֣ים וְאֶת־הַמִּזְרָקֹ֔ת כֹּ֖ל כְּלֵ֣י הַמִּזְבֵּ֑חַ וּפָרְשׂ֣וּ עָלָ֗יו כְּס֛וּי ע֥וֹר תַּ֖חַשׁ וְשָׂמ֥וּ בַדָּֽיו׃

Upon it they shall place all the vessels that are used in its service: the fire pans, the flesh hooks, the scrapers, and the basins—all the vessels of the altar—and over it they shall spread a covering of dolphin skin; and they shall put its poles in place.

The poles are important because they give structure to these elements of the tabernacle, while

the tablernacle is portable through the time in the desert. Reading into it, I think it's a good reminder that God can be wherever we are. God's presence can be portable to wherever we are (physically or emotionally.) So, for poles, I recommend making kabobs. One option is a veggie kabob side dish. You can make it simple with olive oil, salt, and pepper or use a recipe.

Shabbat Shalom & B'Tayavon!

Vanilla “Sand-Topped” Cake (Dairy-Free Version)

Ingredients

• 1 box vanilla cake mix (plus ingredients listed on box)

• 6–8 Kedem tea biscuits, crumbled

• 1/3 cup brown sugar

• 2 tbsp melted margarine or plant-based butter

• Pinch of salt

• 1/2 tsp cinnamon

Step 1: Prepare the cake

Make the batter according to the box directions.

Pour into a greased 9x13 pan.

Step 2: Start baking

Bake as directed, but plan to pause at about 2/3 of the baking time.

• The top should be mostly set, not liquidy

Step 3: Make the “sand”

Mix together:

• Crumbled Kedem tea biscuits

• Brown sugar

• Melted margarine/plant butter

• Pinch of salt + cinnamon

You’re aiming for a loose, slightly clumpy crumble—like damp sand, not a paste.

Step 4: Add the topping

When the cake is partially baked:

• Remove from oven

• Sprinkle topping evenly across the surface

Don’t press it down—light scattering keeps the texture right.

Step 5: Finish baking

Return to oven and bake until done.

The topping will:

• Set and lightly crisp

• Hold its crumbly texture

• Take on that “sand” look