Parsha Inspired Menus - Mattot-Masei

This week we have the double parsha of Mattot-Masei. They get paired because they are both pretty short, but they have a lot of interesting elements in them. In Mattot we learn about the destruction of Midian, a people who have been a real scourge for the Israelites. After the destruction, there's a lot of plunder and then God commands to Moshe:

You and Eleazar the priest and the family heads of the community take an inventory of the booty that was captured, human and beast, and divide the booty equally between the combatants who engaged in the campaign and the rest of the community. (Bamidbar 31: 26-27).

I thought it was interesting that the booty is to be divided. Why don't the combatants get it all? They are the ones who put their lives on the line, right? Sforno must have had a similar question because his commentary on the verse speaks to this division. He says "וחצית את המלקוח, seeing that this war was a war of revenge for something the enemy had done against the people as a whole." So, when the combatants fought, it really was on behalf of all because this wasn't a war of strategy. It was a war of revenge - it changes the whole tenor. What to make for a commentary that focus on revenge? Well, since "revenge is a dish best served cold" serve something that is purposely served cold. I recommend this Watermelon Gazpacho - it's really best served cold and it's a great way to highlight the delicious fruit of summer.

In Masei we get a triptik (and if you're old enough to remember what those are, I want to hear about it in the comments!) detailing the path the Israelites took while wandering in the desert. It

shares that they were encamped here and then moved there, over and over. Every so often there's a bit more description about something BIG that happened in a place. So, right after mentioning "They set out from Kadesh and encamped at Mount Hor, on the edge of the land of Edom" (Bamidbar 33:37) and before moving on to "They set out from Mount Hor and encamped at Zalmonah." (33:41), the next step in the journey, the Torah gives us this passage:

Aaron the priest ascended Mount Hor at the command of יהוה and died there, in the fortieth year after the Israelites had left the land of Egypt, on the first day of the fifth month. Aaron was a hundred and twenty-three years old when he died on Mount Hor.

And the Canaanite, king of Arad, who dwelt in the Negeb, in the land of Canaan, learned of the coming of the Israelites. (33:38-40)

What does this line about the Canaanite king have to do with it? Rashi tells us "This is stated here to tell you that Aaron’s death was indeed the news he heard — that the clouds of glory that until now had protected Israel had departed, and he therefore believed that liberty was now given to wage war against Israel."

The Talmud (Ta'anit 9a) teaches, “Three great leaders led Israel: Moses, Aaron and Miriam. In their merit they received three great gifts: the Well [Miriam], the Clouds of Glory [Aaron] and the

Manna [Moses]. Just as when Miriam died, the well went away. So too, when Aaron died the Clouds of Glory went away and that made the Canaanite King think he could attack Israel. I believe the connection of Miriam and the well is much more well known than Aaron and the Clouds, so that seems like a good thing to call attention to with #parshainspiredmenus. To emphasize the clouds make Cloud Cookies, aka Meringues. These Meringue Nests with Berries also allows you to make great use of the summer fruits.

Shabbat Shalom & B'Tayavon!