Zucchini Red Lentil Soup - Fulfill Your Destiny

Rivers belong where they can ramble

Eagles belong where they can fly
I've got to be where my spirit can run free
Got to find my corner of the sky

-Pippin

In the musical tale of Pippin we encounter a character desperate to discover his purpose.  At the start of his story Pippin feels like a square peg in a round hole, pushed to walk in the footsteps of his royal father as a soldier-in-training.  It’s not working, and Pippin feels discomfort in his own skin.  He turns to the audience and vows to discover his true destiny. 

Parshat Toldot broaches this same question of destiny as twin brothers are pulled in opposing directions, trying to negotiate their birth order amongst the competing interests of their parents, personality traits … and a pot of red lentil stew.  To summarize – Rivka births twin sons, Esav and then Ya’akov.  As the older brother, Esav holds the birthright to succeed their father Yitzchak.  However, after a tiring hunt one day Esav exchanges his birthright with Ya’akov for a pot of red lentil stew.  Secretly aided by his mother, Ya’akov seals the deal by tricking his father into blessing him accordingly.

This first question this twisted tale raises is the following: If the almighty God is directing this show, and wanted Ya’akov to receive the birthright, then why not shuffle the kids around in Rivka’s womb so that Ya’akov is born first?  Why the drama of deception?  The sequence of events teaches us to understand an individual’s personality – qualities, strengths, interests, limits - in order to help them reach their potential. 

Who is Esav?  A child who emerged from the womb red and covered with hair, Esav was said to be an adventurous man of action.  From an early age he is distinguished as a hunter and man of the field.  On the day in question he returns from a hunt, ravenous, and is focused exclusively on his appetite.  Commentators are rather harsh on Esav, suggesting that he grew excited in the womb when Rivka passed by tents of idol worship, that his red coloring when born was an early sign of bloodshed, and that his skills as a hunter were merely traits of someone who likes to deceive.  This isn’t entirely fair, as the text also reveals Esav’s tender side.  He uses his skills as a hunter to thoughtfully bring meat to his family.  A more modern interpretation suggests that Esav is the first diagnosed case of ADHD.  He enjoys being active, and can exhibit a lack of impulse control.  Rabbi Michael Rothbaum points to one passage containing a string of successive verbs describing Esav  - he “ate and drank and arose and left” (Bereshit 25:34) after partaking in this infamous pot of red lentils.  One action after the other.  

Who is Ya’akov?  The text simply describes him as “an innocent man, dwelling in tents” (Bereshit 25:27).  Commentators suggest that he grew excited in the womb when Rivka passed by tents of learning, that he was more calm and rational.  Yet, clearly he was also a cunning man.  While Esav may be our first case of ADHD, Ya’akov hatched the first strategic plan when he quickly negotiated some grub for a birthright.

When I read about this exchange, my first inclination is to feel bad for Esav ha’Edom (the red).  Poor guy returns from a hunt and asks his closest living relative for some lunch.  What happened to the spirit of brotherhood and sharing?  Couldn’t Ya’akov have given him a bowl of tasty lentil stew without the expectation of anything in return (Pirkei Avot 5:13)?  Instead, Ya’akov cheated Esav and deprived him of his destiny (ironic, as our commentators say that hunters are known for their acts of deception!).  The tension is only enhanced as the parents each pressure a different son to take the lead.  I envision the family of four in a boxing ring.  Rivka stands behind Ya’akov, who is focused on overcoming Esav.  Yitzchak tries to get Esav to focus on overtaking Ya’akov, but the distracted Esav simply wants to flee the ring and head back into the field for his next hunt.  Had this incident unfolded differently our entire story may have taken a different course under the leadership of Esav (see Back to the Future II where Doc Brown illustrates the time continuum to Marty McFly on the chalkboard). 

 

“Despise no man and deem nothing impossible; for there is no man who does not have his day and there is no thing that does not have its place.” (Pirkei Avot 4:3)

Alas, as a true Jewish educator God had a lesson in mind when he scripted Toldot.  Adults seem to be naturally inclined to push kids to reach heights or to fit a mold they set.  Must Esav be relegated to a birthright simply because he emerged from the womb first and because this is what his father wants?  To the contrary - Ya’akov uses the red lentils to help his “red” brother settle into his skin.  Fed and refueled by the stew, Esav returns to the field where he feels at home and can be in his “right place.”  The proof is a couple of parshiyot later in Vayishlach when the brothers are reunited.  Yitzchak is worried that Esav still harbors ill feelings over the red lentil debacle, and is pleasantly surprised when Esav greets him with warmth.  Score one for the red lentils!  …and speaking of which…

A Great Soup!

A must-cook recipe for Shabbat Toldot is Zucchini Red Lentil Soup.  The recipe is adapted from Susie Fishbein’s Kosher by Design Lightens Up! and is delicious.  Zucchini and onions are sautéed with a sweet and savory mix of chopped garlic and ground sage and thyme.  The flavor combination is wonderful.  Fresh dill, stock, salt and pepper add more depth to the flavor.  The result is a surprisingly sweet blend.  After boiling and a visit from an immersion blender, the red lentils are added to make the soup rich and hearty.  The recipe is so easy and healthful, and the results phenomenal.

To make the significance of this recipe on Shabbat Toldot even more pronounced, I served it to twin siblings who were guests at my recent Shabbat table.  Fortunately the two sibs get along quite well, and I am happy to report that the son gave the soup two strong thumbs up!!!

ZUCCHINI RED LENTIL SOUP

 

Yields: 6 servings

Ingredients

1 tbl. olive oil
1 large sweet onion, cut into 1/4-inch pieces
4 cloves fresh garlic, coarsely chopped
½ tsp. dried sage
¼ tsp. dried thyme
3 medium zucchini, with skin, cut into 1/4-inch pieces
¼ cup fresh dill, stems trimmed, loosely packed
6 cups low-sodium chicken or vegetable stock
1 cup dried red lentils

Instructions

1. Heat the olive oil in a large soup pot over medium-low heat.  Add the onion, garlic, sage and thyme.  Cook until the onion is translucent; do not allow it to brown.
2. Add the zucchini and dill.  Saute for 4-5 minutes, until zucchini is a little shiny.
3. Add the stock.  Simmer for 15-20 minutes, or until the zucchini is soft. 
4. Using an immersion blender, puree the soup until it is creamy.  Add the lentils.  Simmer, stirring occasionally, for 8 minutes. 

SHE'ELAH: Do you think Ya'akov's means justified the end?  Is deception ever an appropriate tactic in the pursuit of something in which you believe?