Parsha Inspired Menus - Vayeilech

The phrase עד מאה ועשרים (Ad Meah v'Eisrim - "until 120") is often used as a wish for someone celebrating a birthday. Though there are discussions of the many possible sources for this traditional phrase, one derivation comes from the Torah and our role model of Moshe. This week we are reading about Moshe's last days (or day, depending on the interpretation) and Moshe starts off this week's reading saying "I am now one hundred and twenty years old, I can no longer be active." Moshe will live to 120 years and so when we wish someone a long life, it is Moshe's lifespan that we use for the model. The Torah certainly tells us of people who lived longer (I am practicing an aliyah for Bereshit right now - for my son's bar mitzvah - and it's filled with

ancestors living for hundreds of year - 930, 912, 895...) So, why do we limit ourselves in the wish to 120? It could be about using Moshe's life fo service as a model. It could be an understanding that despite our desires to be in the world longer, there is a limit to our time here. It could be that hundreds of years is so far out of reach, that it's unreasonable to even consider it. Or maybe you and your guests will come up with more ideas. In any case, a traditional birthday cake for dessert seems fitting (and you can also sing Happy Birthday to the world, in honor of Rosh Hashanah.)

For the second item on the menu, I was inspired by some of the commentary on a line that, on the surface, seemed simple.

And Moses instructed them as follows: Every seventh year, the year set for remission, at the Feast of Booths,when all Israel comes to appear before your God יהוה in the place that [God] will choose, you shall read this Teaching aloud in the presence of all Israel. Gather the people—men, women, children, and the strangers in your communities—that they may hear and so learn to revere your God יהוה and to observe faithfully every word of this Teaching.

The commentary pointed out that the instructions to share the Teaching with the people specifically made sure to mention women. Whereas later religious tradition, both Jewish and otherwise, would downplay the importance of teaching women religious texts, the original instruction to spread the word among the people included women. This made me think of the history of Jewish women as scholars and rabbis, which made me think about the original story I

heard as to why some people put an orange on a seder plate. When I first learned it the background story was "a male rabbi once said that a woman belongs on the bimah like an orange belongs on the seder plate and in rebuttal people put an orange on their seder plate." I've since learned that it was created by Susannah Heschel and other feminist scholars and college students in the mid-1980s as a symbol of solidarity with gay and lesbian Jews and others who are marginalized in the Jewish community. In any case, I think making something with an orange to show that everyone was included in the original instruction to share the Teaching. Adding a nice light, bright salad (perhaps after a lot of heavy food over the holiday) sounds good to me. Check out this Orange and Avocado Salad.

Shabbat Shalom & B'Tayavon!