Shavuot
Festive Shavuot Sutlage (Rice Pudding)
Shavuot is like sealing the deal on a marriage contract. It is the celebration of G-d’s giving of the Torah to the Jews at Mount Sinai. This is the moment when the Jews became a nation, when they accepted G-d’s commandments and pledged to be “a kingdom of priests and a holy nation,” (Exodus 19:6). Like any other wedding, the most important question is, “What did they eat?” In Exodus 33:3, G-d tells Moses to go to the land which had been promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, “Unto a land flowing with milk and honey.” It is said that when G-d gave the Torah, there was no time to perform...
Read MoreShavuot Centerpiece: The Savory Cheesecake
Published in The Philadelphia Jewish Voice Traditionally, Shavuot is celebrated with sweet cheesecakes and blintzes, redolent of cinnamon, raisins, and sugar. It is what we eat as we celebrate the giving of the Torah at Sinai. The basic unsweetened cheesecake is a neutral palette. It invites creativity! Many cultures have a tradition of preparing savory cheesecakes. For this year’s celebration, surprise your guests with something a little out of the ordinary. Prepare a piquant cheesecake for a special holiday treat. The Ancient Greeks are credited with inventing the cheesecake. Archaeologists discovered cheese molds from 2000 BCE on...
Read MoreHomemade Goat Cheese For Shavuot
Published in The Philadelphia Jewish Voice Mmmm Shavuot. The sweet smell of cheese blintzes and the sound of butter crackling in the frying pan fill the house. Bright red strawberry preserves are on the table, ready to be served with the delicious filled crepes. Why do we have the tradition of eating dairy foods during Shavuot? Shavuot is a celebration of the Matan Torah, the giving of the Torah to the Israelites. King Solomon described the pleasure of Torah as “honey and milk are under your tongue” (Song of Songs 4:11). The first iteration of this celebratory meal was homemade goat cheese, sweetened with honey or fruit. We can explore those...
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