Roasted Vegetable Salad - A Colorful Treat for All

“Hello?  Is anyone there?  It’s me – Joseph.  I can hardly see anything in this hot, dry pit.  My brothers just attacked me out of nowhere and threw me down here.  At first I thought it was a bit of brotherly rough housing gone too far, but now I hear them above talking about selling me to some random dudes and have a feeling this is more serious.  I gotta get out of here!  You see, I just had this dream in which I was riding on top of a float in a big parade honoring … me!  So many people were there, and most were tossing flowers and gifts in my direction.  I’m sure everyone wants to hear about it.  What did I do to deserve being thrown in a pit!?!?”

The wrath of Yosef’s brothers descends him to the depths of a solitary pit.  Seems harsh, but there are great lessons to be learned in peeling through the layers of this tale in order to understand what factors motivate all the players to act in the way they do.  In other words, we ask the common question in the midst of a dispute – who started it?  Let’s again trace back through the time continuum of Parshat Vayeshev (ala Doc Brown’s DeLorean time machine) to discover the source of the sibling rivalry. 

Stop #1: Dreams Lead to Nightmare

It often seems that the cause of this sibling rivalry lays in Yosef’s infamous dreams of self-grandeur, which he eagerly shares with members of his family.  In one dream Yosef and his brothers are binding sheaves in the field when the brother’s sheaves encircle Yosef’s and prostrate themselves to his sheaf.  In a second dream the sun, moon and eleven stars (likely symbolic of his eleven brothers) bow to Yosef.  Yosef openly shares these dreams with his brothers.  Wouldn’t you get fed up with a sibling who tells you that he dreams about you serving him one day?? 

The dreams are certainly a main source of the brother’s frustration, and appear in the text just prior to the brothers digging the infamous pit into which Yosef is tossed.  Now, I’m not a psychologist, but it seems to me that dreams might emerge from one of two places.  I suppose one explanation for dreams could be that they are some sort of divinely inspired message about what’s to come.  In the case of Yosef this would be the p’shat (simple) interpretation.  The dreams indicate that one day Yosef will ascend in status above his brothers.  A second explanation for dreams in that they are a manifestation of forces an individual is managing during real time waking hours.  In this possibility we need to return to our travel back through time along the time continuum to identify the source for Yosef’s rather large ego.

Stop #2: The Ketonet Passim

“And Yisrael loved Yosef more than all his sons, because he was a son of his old age; and he made him a ketonet passim.  And his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, so they hated him, and they could not speak with him peacefully.” (Bereshit 37:3-4)

Our time travel leads us to a rather significant moment in which Yisrael (aka Ya’akov) cultivates Yosef’s strong ego by passing down a special gift.  What exactly is the ketonet passim?  According to one well known contemporary commentator:

Jacob wanted to show the world he loved his son, 
To make it clear that Joseph was the special one
So Jacob bought his son a coat, 
a multi-colored coat to wear.

… it was red and yellow and green and brown,

And scarlet and black and ochre and peach
And ruby and olive and violet and fawn, 

-Sir Andrew Lloyd Weber

Traditional scholars offer varying opinions.  The word “ketonet” is generally thought to mean a “coat” or “tunic,” but the word “passim” is more widely interpreted.  The Living Torah provides the following summary:

The word passim can be translated as “colorful” (Radak; Septuagint), “embroidered” (Ibn Ezra; Bachya; Nachmanides on Exodus 28:2), “striped” (Ibn Janach; Radak, Sherashim), or “illustrated” (Targum Yonathan). It can also denote a long garment, coming down to the “palms” of the hands (Rashbam; Ibn Ezra; Baaley Tosafoth; Midrash Rabbah), and the feet (Lekach Tov). Alternatively, the word denotes the material out of which the coat was made, which was fine wool (Rashi) or silk (Ibn Janach). Hence, Ketonet passim, may be translated as “a full-sleeved robe,” “a coat of many colors,” “a coat reaching to his feet,” “an ornamented tunic,” “a silk robe,” or “a fine woolen cloak.”

The controversy continues as scholars debate the origins of the coat.  Most trace it back to a garment belonging to Adam, the first man.  Some point to it as another item claimed by Ya’akov when he stole the birthright from Esav. 

The great debate surrounding the ketonet’s manufacturer and design further emphasize its value, and help us understand why it led to such enormous tension when bestowed upon Yosef instead of becoming a family hand-me-down for all to wear at some point.

  

Anyone with siblings can relate in some way to this saga.  We all have our moments when we wonder whether our parents favor one child over the other(s).  Often these moments emerge from a sense of jealousy when our siblings one up us on a report card, receive more desirable gifts then those given to us, or – heaven forbid – are granted a privilege we were denied (twenty years later and I’m still resented by my older sib because my parents allowed me to attend a co-ed sleepover in high school even though she was denied the privilege at the same age … and her sleepover was at the home of her camp director … and there were camp counselors present … but I digress). 

Alas, in the case of Yosef there is no subtlety.  Yisrael makes his favoritism crystal clear by wrapping his beloved Yosef in a ketonet passim, a type of nice garment.  You’d think that if Yisrael truly favored Yosef he would do everything to keep him safe.  Instead, the ketonet passim serves as a bumper sticker that reads “DADDY’S FAVORITE” or, more to the point, “KICK ME!”         

Finger Pointing Yields Lessons for All

Our journey is done, and yet we seem to find fault in all the players.

Brothers: While the dreams are certainly an understandable source of frustration, our tradition eventually makes clear the prohibition against envy and anger.  Many of the brothers are old enough to manage these frustrations in a more constructive manner.  The sources are endless, ranging from the first appearance of the 10 Commandments in Shemot:

“You shall not covet your neighbor's house.” (Shemot 20:13)

To a mishna in Pirkei Avot:

“Who is strong?  The one who conquers their urges.  Who is rich? The one who rejoices in their portion.” (Pirkei Avot 4:1)

To a wonderful allegory one of my teachers shared with me from Ibn Ezra on the tenth commandment:

 “You shall not covet” – Many people question this commandment: how can a person not desire something that is beautiful in his heart, that is, anything that looks beautiful to him?... Imagine a common villager who is normal and intelligent who sees the daughter of the king who is extremely beautiful. He will not covet her in his heart thinking that he will sleep with her, for he will know that it would be impossible. Likewise [this same villager] will not think, like some crazy person, that he wants to have wings so that he can fly up to the heavens – this would be impossible [and therefore he will not desire it].

Likewise, any intelligent person should know that a beautiful woman or money will not be given to him because of his wisdom, but he understands that he has only what God has decided to give him. As Kohelet has said: “[For sometimes a person whose fortune was made with wisdom, knowledge, and skill must hand it on to be] the portion of somebody who did not toil for it” (Ecclesiastes 2:21). And the sages said: “the length of a person’s life, the number of children, and the amount of food/money they have, is not dependent on merit but is dependent on luck (mazal)” (Bavli Moed Katan 28a). And because of this the intelligent person will not desire and covet.” (Ibn Ezra Exodus 20)

Each of us encounters personalities and material possessions that are variations on the majestic ketonent passim and dreams of dominance associated with Yosef.  At mimimum we must conjure the strength to subdue our inclination to allow feelings of jealousy to drive us forward.  Ideally, we even remind ourselves that our current lot in life is already a source of great fortune.

Yosef: Eventually we will learn that Yosef’s dreams were not so far-fetched.  Chapters later he has rebounded from the pit incident, saving Egypt and the surrounding territories from famine and quite literally facing his brothers who bow before him asking for food and forgiveness.  Still, Yosef would have been well served by a nice dose of humility.  He could have accepted the overly generous gift from his father, but shared his good fortune with his brothers.  Additionally, he could have been the world’s first bedtime journalist rather than flaunting his dreams aloud. 

Yosef eventually earns the surname “Ha’Tzadik” or “righteous” for his resistance of Potiphar’s wife, leadership in Egypt, and forgiveness of his brothers.  But Rabbi Sharon Mars points to the fine line that Yosef walks between “Tzadik” and “Tzadik Beinav” (righteous in his eyes or self-righteousness).  Another lesson from Parshat Vayeshev is to be weary of our inclination to be tzadik beinai.

Yisrael/Ya’akov: Once again our beloved biblical hero – one of our three main forefathers – has “ooopsed.”  Again, I’m still not a psychologist, but it seems likely that Yisrael’s favoritism towards Yosef stems from his own father’s favoritism of Esav.  …but when will the cycle stop?  We all hope that parents demonstrate their love towards their kids on a regular basis, but Parshat Vayeshev yields to relevant lessons.  First, while children have different needs and interests, they all have a basic need for equal love and attention.  It may very well be human to feel connected more strongly to one particular child, parents must be disciplined to ensure that kids feel an equal amount of love.  Second, while flashy gifts may find favor in your child’s eyes, they can also build a sense of resentment amongst peers.  Exercise moderation in ketonet passim-esque gift giving!   A more meaningful gift is in time spent together and not in flashy toys.  Sounds cliché, but it is too true.  When I was younger one of my grandmothers would often announce that she had a “treat” for me.  Upon hearing the declaration my mind raced with dreams of new toys, candy, or perhaps cash!  My young heart sank when the “treat” turned out to be an outing to a museum or a tiny children’s theater.  …and yet those memories have long outlasted any trinkets I got (and soon after lost or broke) as a kid.

A Passim Treat for All

The dish inspired by this week’s parsha is a colorful Roasted Vegetable Salad for … everyone to enjoy equally!  This is one of my favorite salads to prepare.  The possible combinations are endless.  Vegetable selection can be based on color, seasonal food, spice combinations, or a number of other themes.  While more time must be allotted towards preparation than a simple raw vegetable salad, the results are scrumptious and the “WOW” factor amongst guests pretty darn high.

I recommend choosing vegetables that span the color palette, and which balance each other in terms of taste and texture.  Additionally, I highly recommend featuring a fruit in the mix – very unexpected and delicious.  Not only does the process of roasting the vegetables bring forth bold flavors, but it also brings out the juice in each item.  As a result, salad dressing is hardly needed (full disclosure: I don’t care for most salad dressings and rarely dress salad to start).

For this variation I selected red and yellow peppers, orange butternut squash, green asparagus, red beets … and Bartlett pears.  The salad was then studded by ruby red pomegranate seeds.  Typically I lean towards a garlic/rosemary flavor profile and roast my vegetables draped in these spices.  This time I wanted to try something new, and also felt that the butternut squash and pears screamed for a less savory match.  Instead, I went with generous heapings of cinnamon, cardamom, and coriander (in addition to salt and pepper).  This gave the vegetables and pears a sweet, almost African twist.  Yum!  The firmer the vegetable, the longer it must roast.  Beets were in the oven for an hour (simply wrapped in tin foil), squash and peppers for 45 minutes, asparagus for 20 minutes and pears for 10 minutes.

In honor of the ketonet passim, the salad was colorful (Radak; Septuagint) and the vegetables arranged in striped lines (Ibn Janach; Radak, Sherashim).

ROASTED VEGETABLE SALAD

Yields: 8-10 servings

Ingredients:

12 oz. butternut squash, seeded and cubed

1 large red onion, sliced into ½-inch thick rings

2 red peppers, seeded and quartered

2 yellow peppers, seeded and quartered

½ cup diced pineapple or nectarine

8 stalks asparagus

1 Tbsp. honey

Chopped garlic

Chopped rosemary

Course sea salt

Freshly ground black pepper

Ground cardamom

Ground coriander

Olive oil spray

½ cup dried blueberries (or cranberries)

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 425° F.  Line two baking sheets with aluminum foil.  
2. Roast vegetables as follows, sprinkling with salt/pepper and spraying with olive oil.

• Red onion and peppers - also sprinkle with garlic and rosemary; roast 30 minutes. 
• Pineapple or nectarines - sprinkle with salt, drizzle with honey and roast 15 minutes. 
• Asparagus - also sprinkle with garlic and rosemary; roast ten minutes.

3. Once cooled, dice onion, peppers, fruit and asparagus into large, bite-sized pieces. Arrange items on top of lettuce mix in rows (consider red pepper, butternut squash, fruit, asparagus, red onion, yellow pepper) and sprinkle with dried berries.

*Consider adding sliced chicken breast or cooked salmon to this recipe to make it an entree salad.

Quinoa Pepper Salad - The Importance of Preparation

Think of a time when you needed to face a close friend or relative who was upset with you … and for good reason.  Perhaps you said something unkind to or about them unintentionally, neglected to recognize their accomplishments or offer support to them in a time of need, or offended them in a more intentional manner.  Now, imagine that this person was much stronger than you – physically, emotionally or both.  How do you prepare for this encounter? 

• Prepare your defense to the inevitable argument
• Pray to God that you’ll come out of the approaching encounter in one piece
• Lay on the gifts or words of flattery in hopes of winning back their favor
• All of the above

This very predicament presents itself to Ya’akov in Vayishlach, the third and final chapter of the legend of the stolen birthright.  Years after he fled from the brother he tricked into exchanging a birthright for a bowl of red lentil stew, Ya’akov learns that his estranged, stronger, brother is approaching with an army of soldiers in tow.   According to the text Ya’akov takes three clear steps:

1. Prepares his family and estate for a defensive battle by splitting everyone in two directions
2. Prays to God for safety
3. Sends gifts ahead to his brother

Such a careful hatched and executed plan!  Why all three steps?  Why not just pray to God, as so many do when they have a desperate need?  Or, perhaps he should focus on a battle plan over pause for prayer and gift wrapping?  Ya’akov’s diligence teaches us the importance of careful preparation and thoughtful planning – especially when problem solving.  Indeed, Ya’akov had a whole “To Do List” of steps to take to successfully restore his relationship with Esav which included a heartfelt apology and call to prayer, along with a back-up plan for battle in case Esav was still not ready to forgive and forget.  Fortunately for Ya’akov the tri-layered reaction plan succeeds, and Esav forgives his brother with open arms!

A Tasty Preparation for Quinoa

Quinoa is a protein-packed grain in desperate need of careful preparation in order to be successfully transformed into a delicious dish.  An underappreciated food, quinoa is incredibly healthful.  In addition to a high protein benefits, quinoa is an excellent source of dietary fiber, magnesium and iron.  It also happens to be gluten-free, a great perk in today’s celiac-studded population.  At the same time, quinoa has a rather mild, dare-I-say bland, taste.  To be effectively cooked and well received, quinoa cries out for careful attention.

This recipe uses a Latin-fusion approach to transform this trendy grain into a delicious dish.  Similar to Ya’akov’s preparation, I believe this recipe rests on three key steps:

1. Roasting the peppers brings out a delicious sweet and smoky flavor
2. Incorporating the zest of the limes underscores the tangy citrus zing (the essential oils of citrus fruit is in the zest instead of the pulp)
3. Careful attention to seasoning the dish with salt ensures that all the flavors pop, especially amongst the otherwise bland quinoa

QUINOA & ROASTED PEPPER SALAD

Yields: 8 servings

Ingredients

1 1/4 cups quinoa

3 assorted peppers (red, orange, yellow), quartered

3 cloves garlic, minced

Olive oil spray

Pinch salt & freshly ground pepper

4 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil

Zest of two limes

2 teaspoon fresh lime juice

2 teaspoon soy sauce

1 teaspoon ground cumin

¼ tsp. salt

1/3 cup chopped fresh basil or cilantro

3 scallions, chopped

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 425° F.  Place the quartered peppers on a baking sheet sprayed with olive oil.  Season with salt and pepper, sprinkle with minced garlic, and spray with olive oil.  Roast for 25 minutes (until the bottom side starts to blacken). Slice into thin strips once cooled.
2. In the meantime, prepare quinoa according to instructions on the box.  Be sure to wash the quinoa a few times in cold water before boiling.
3. Whisk together oil, lime zest, lime juice, soy sauce, 1/4 tsp. salt, and cumin in a small bowl.  
4. Stir dressing into the quinoa, and add bell peppers, basil/cilantro, scallions, and salt and pepper to taste.

Marty's Challah - The Stolen Birthright!

My father’s challah recipe may very well be his greatest legacy to pass down to his children.  Don’t get me wrong – the man certainly has many great accomplishments and worldly possessions.  He is distinguished by several leadership roles in service to our community, and many can learn from this example.  He owns a nice sized stamp collection (no laughing please) that at minimum is worth the value of the stamps themselves.  He is also the world’s greatest shofar blower (his average Tikiyah G’dolah blast runs about 30 seconds straight and ends with an awesome flare), and his beloved shofar sits on a mantle above the TV (an obvious spot for anything important).  Yet, there is no question that his most valued contribution to the world is the weekly loaf of flavorful, braided egg bread he bakes to mark the Sabbath.  According to tradition, the first child gets dibs on birthrights as precious as this challah recipe, and so it would stand to reason that my older sibling should take command.  YIKES!

 

PARSHAT VAYEITZEI: Stolen Birthright Ends Father-Son Relationship

The hierarchy of inheritance is made painfully clear through the story of Yitzchak and his twin sons.  Esav, the older of the two, is destined to receive the birthright blessing, but in two swift moves Ya’akov tricks his older brother and father and grabs hold of the family legacy.  While he may now be blessed, he also faces the consequence of a severely damaged relationship with the men of his family. Frightened for his life, Parshat Vayeitzei opens as follows:

 

“And Ya’akov left Beer Sheva, and he went to Haran.”

The book of Bereshit is filled with biblical figures who set out on journeys, but the phrasing for the start of Ya’akov’s departure is particularly notable.  When Avraham leaves his home the Torah only uses the root word “hey-lamed-chaf” or “go/went.”  Here, however, it is made clear that first Ya’akov “leaves” Beer Sheva – root “yud-tzadi-aleph” – and then, once away from home, he goes (hey-lamed-chaf) to Haran.  Why the distinction?

Before the rise

After the rise

Sadly, Ya’akov’s journey marks a final departure not just from his homeland, but from his home and family.  Fearful of the wrath of his brother and ex-communicated from his father, Ya’akov will not return.  Instead, his journey is a transition to a full new life where he will start his own family and form a relationship with a new father-like figure in his uncle Lavan.  Rabbi Josh Feigelson notes that this reality is made abundantly clear throughout Parshat Vayeitzei.  When Ya’akov first meets Lavan the text refers to Lavan three times as Ya’akov’s “mother’s brother.”  Lavan is a close, older relative – but a) not his father b) not a blood relative of his father.  Later on during an exchange between uncle and nephew, Ya’akov refers to “The God of my father Avraham, and the fear of Yitzchak” (Bereshit 31:42).  In this statement Ya’akov recognizes his familial relationship with Avraham, but only his abrupt and ending with Yitzchak.  One must ask, was the birthright worth the cost of his relationship with his father?

The World’s Best Challah

Well, history may just repeat itself as I lay claim to my father’s challah recipe before my sister.  The challah is perfect – the braids are strongly pronounced, the color golden, the consistency balanced so that it is not too dry, the taste deliciously homemade (what’s the point of homemade challah that tastes store bought?).  My father blends white and whole wheat flour for a nod to healthful eating, and the flavors vary weekly.  He produces the typical gamut – sesame seed, golden raisin, poppy seed and the occasional chocolate chip.  Yet, he has also developed a range of specialty flavors – rosemary, blueberry, cinnamon cranberry and some even more exotic according to the season.

I first attempted to tackle his recipe this past year, and am finally getting the swing of it.  While my loaves are not quite as golden, well braided or tasty – they are good enough.  More importantly, when I bake my father’s challot I feel a connection to him.  The timing could not be more apropos.  Similar to our biblical figures in Bereshit, I am about to embark on a journey as I relocate from my hometown to a new city/state and job.  The months ahead will be marked by intense transition.  It is an exciting time, but also hard for this creature of habit.  Part of me is put at ease knowing that my Shabbatot will have a familiar taste when I bake my father’s challot.

What is my fate as I pounce on the family challah recipe ahead of my turn? This is big – I risk my entire relationship with my father and the wrath of my sister.  I’m not too concerned.  For all his big talk and pointed jokes, I know that my father’s love is unwavering.  As for my sister - baking is not her favorite pastime (understatement of the year for those in the know), and I feel pretty confident she’d rather me take command of the recipe while she continues on as a taste tester.  As a compromise, however, I’ve arranged for a series of 14 private lessons between my sister and our mother so that she can lay claim to my mom’s legacy – needle pointing! 

MARTY’S CHALLAH

Yields: 1 large challah or 2 medium challot

Ingredients

3 ½ cups bread flour
1 cup whole wheat flour

¾ oz. yeast (3 packets)

2 tsp. salt

¼ to 1/3 cup + 1 tsp. sugar

4 eggs (reserve 1 for end)

½ cup applesauce

½ cup oil

½ Tbsp. vanilla extract

¾ cup warm water

½ cup filling - raisins, dried cranberries, blueberries or anything else (or ¼ cup chopped, fresh rosemary)

Cornmeal and cinnamon for dusting

Instructions

1. Breadmaker: Dump all ingredients into the bread maker (except the filling, 1 tsp. sugar, 1 egg, cornmeal and cinnamon).  When dough cycle ends lightly grease a large bowl and place dough in it, turning dough to get it lightly coated. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and place in refrigerator overnight or a minimum of 4 hours. 
2. By hand: Mix all of the dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Beat 3 eggs in a small bowl and mix in applesauce, oil, water and vanilla extract. Fold in the liquid to the dry ingredients and knead dough until smooth and slightly tacky to the fingers. Add small amounts of flour or drops of water if needed.  Lightly grease a large bowl and place dough in it, turning dough to get it lightly coated. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and place in refrigerator overnight or a minimum of 4 hours. 
3. When ready for baking, remove dough from the bowl.  Divide into 3 or 4 equal pieces (if you want two challot then divide in half first and then work with one portion at a time accordingly).  Roll each piece into ropes of equal length.  As you roll, massage the filling ingredients into each rope.  Braid. 
4. Sprinkle corn meal on a baking sheet and top with cinnamon. Place the formed challah in the center and let it rise in a warm place (window sill, car dash board, etc.) for at least an hour or until is rises nicely. 
5. Beat 1 egg yoke with a teaspoon of sugar and 1 or 2 tablespoons of water. Brush on top of braided dough. You can also add sesame seeds if you wish. 
6. Bake at 315° in a preheated oven for 55 minutes or until done.