Noach planted a vineyard

From the Sources

וַיָּ֥חֶל נֹ֖חַ אִ֣ישׁ הָֽאֲדָמָ֑ה וַיִּטַּ֖ע כָּֽרֶם׃

Noah, the tiller of the soil, was the first to plant a vineyard.

וַיֵּ֥שְׁתְּ מִן־הַיַּ֖יִן וַיִּשְׁכָּ֑ר וַיִּתְגַּ֖ל בְּת֥וֹךְ אָהֳלֹֽה׃

He drank of the wine and became drunk, and he uncovered himself within his tent. (Bereishit Chapter 9:20-21)

When Noach came out of the ark after a year of destruction, he saw a world that had been completely obliterated and he did not recognise at all. He was sad. He planted a vineyard, and it grew on the same day, and he harvested it, made wine, drank the wine, and became intoxicated.

There is a Midrash (Aggada 9:21 – referred in The Midrash Says: The Book of Bereishis p104, footnote 146) that states that Noach had help from the Satan and that is why the vine grew so fast. The Satan fertilised the vine first with the blood of a lamb, and then a lion, and then a monkey, and finally a pig. Because of this, excessive drinking, or any drinking done for unholy purposes, affects a person like these animals. One cup of wine makes a person quiet like a lamb, two cups makes the drinker arrogant and loud, like a lion. After three cups a person becomes silly and dance like a monkey. And after four cups the drinker gets sick, vomits, and rolls around on the ground, like a pig.

How to eat it

Perhaps this is a good week to make kiddush on grape juice rather than wine. (Remember that I am NOT an halachic authority and this is just a suggestion).

Serve vine leaves (see below). I found a recipe here. You can also buy these in a tin if you are feeling lazy.

Permission granted to eat meat

From the Sources

אמר רב יהודה אמר רב אדם הראשון לא הותר לו בשר לאכילה דכתיב (בראשית א, כט) לכם יהיה לאכלה ולכל חית הארץ ולא חית הארץ לכם

Rav Yehuda says that Rav says: Meat was not permitted to Adam, the first man, for consumption, as it is written: “And God said: Behold, I have given you every herb that brings forth seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in which is the fruit of a tree that gives forth seed; for you it shall be for food, and for every animal of the earth, and for every fowl of the air, and for everything that creeps upon the earth, in which there is a living soul, every green herb for food. And it was so” (Genesis 1:29–30). It is derived God told Adam: Eating vegetation is permitted to people and animals, but eating the animals of the earth is not permitted to you. (Sanhedrin 59B)

In last’s week’s Parsha we learned that Adam was given permission to eat from all fruits, vegetables and grasses on the earth, except for the Eitz HaDa’at Tov v’Ra, the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. But people were NOT given permission to eat meat. Only after the flood was permission granted to mankind to eat meat.

כָּל־רֶ֙מֶשׂ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר הוּא־חַ֔י לָכֶ֥ם יִהְיֶ֖ה לְאָכְלָ֑ה כְּיֶ֣רֶק עֵ֔שֶׂב נָתַ֥תִּי לָכֶ֖ם אֶת־כֹּֽל׃

Every creature that lives shall be yours to eat; as with the green grasses, I give you all these. (Bereishit 9:3)

There are several reasons given for why Noach was allowed to eat meat. Firstly, before the flood, man and animals were “equal” in that both of them had been created by Hashem. However, after the parsha, the status of animals was lowered as they had been continued in creation, (or “recreated”) by Noach. For this reason, people were given permission to use animals for food. It is stated that before the Mabul, people were much healthier. The air was purer. We can see that from the fact that they lived much longer before the flood than after the flood. Before the flood they did not need meat to be strong. After the flood they did. This is another reason given for why permission was granted to eat meat after the flood.

It is also stated that the moral standard that Hashem expected of people after the flood was lowered, as Hashem had seen the depravity of people. This was another reason given to eat meat. In fact, it was the evil king Nimrod who was the first to actually eat meat, and he persuaded other people to also do the same. These ideas are discussed in an ‘Ask the Rabbi’ on Aish HaTorah’s website, here.

How to eat it

Two ways, really. Either, make a point of being vegetarian last week, for Bereishit, and then eating meat. On the other hand, acknowledge that it was Nimrod who was the first to actually eat meat, acknowledge that he was a “bad guy”, and remain vegetarian for another week.

Even the luz bone was destroyed

From the Sources

רַבִּי לֵוִי בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן אָמַר אֲפִלּוּ אִסְטְרוֹבִּלִּין שֶׁל רֵחַיִּים נִמְחֶה. רַבִּי יְהוּדָה בַּר סִימוֹן בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן אָמַר אֲפִלּוּ עֲפָרוֹ שֶׁל אָדָם הָרִאשׁוֹן נִמְחֶה. כַּד דָּרְשָׁה רַבִּי יְהוּדָה בְּצִפּוֹרִי בְּצִבּוּרָא וְלֹא קִבְּלוּ מִינֵיהּ. רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן יְהוֹצָדָק אָמַר אֲפִלּוּ לוּז שֶׁל שִׁדְרָה, שֶׁמִּמֶּנוּ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מֵצִיץ אֶת הָאָדָם לֶעָתִיד לָבוֹא, נִמְחָה. אַדְרִיָּאנוֹס שְׁחִיק עֲצָמוֹת שָׁאַל אֶת רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן חֲנַנְיָא אָמַר לוֹ מֵהֵיכָן הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מֵצִיץ אֶת הָאָדָם לֶעָתִיד לָבוֹא, אָמַר לוֹ מִלּוּז שֶׁל שִׁדְרָה, אָמַר לוֹ מִנַּיִן אַתָּה יוֹדֵעַ, אֲמַר לֵיהּ אַיְתִיתֵיהּ לְיָדִי וַאֲנָא מוֹדַע לָךְ, טָחֲנוֹ בָּרֵחַיִם וְלֹא נִטְחַן, שְׂרָפוֹ בָּאֵשׁ וְלֹא נִשְׂרַף, נְתָנוֹ בְּמַיִם וְלֹא נִמְחֶה, נְתָנוֹ עַל הַסַּדָּן וְהִתְחִיל מַכֶּה עָלָיו בְּפַטִּישׁ, נֶחְלַק הַסַּדָּן וְנִבְקַע הַפַּטִּישׁ וְלֹא חָסַר כְּלוּם. (Bereishit Rabba 28:3)

R. Levi said in the Name of R. Yochanan: Even the nether stone of a millstone was dissolved. R. Yehudah b. R. Simon said: Even the dust of Adam was dissolved. R. Yehudah said this, but the congregation would not accept it. R. Yochanan said in the name of R. Shimon b. Yehotzadak: even the luz of the spinal column, from which Hakadosh Baruch Hu, will cause man to blossom forth in the future, was dissolved.

Hadrian (may his bones rot) asked R. Yehoshua b. Chanania: ‘From what part will Hakadosh Baruch Hu causde man to blossom forth in the future?’ ‘From the luz of the spinal column,’ he replied. ‘How do you know that?’ he asked. ‘Bring me one and I will prove it to you,’ he replied. He threw in into the fire, yet it was not burnt; he put it in water, but it did not dissolve; he ground it between millstones, but it was not crushed; he placed it on an anvil and hit it with a hammer; the anvil broke and the hammer split, yet it remained intact. (Bereishit Rabba 28:3)

The Mabul was so destructive that every human being was pulverized into nothing. Even the luz bone did not survive. The luz bone is the bone at the base of the spine. Other opinions say that it is at the top of the spine, ie the base of the skull. My friend DD in the UK informs me that this is why people sometimes like to dab a little havdalah wine on their neck, – it is in order to strengthen the luz bone. It is the strongest bone in the human body. The midrash expains how it does not burn, and cannot be ground down. The luz bone is preserved after someone dies and in the future Hashem will use this bone to bring about Techiat HaMeitim, resurrection of the dead. The Generation of the Flood (dor HaMabul) were so wicked, however, that they will not be resurrected at techiat hameitim. There is only one meal that feeds the luz bone, it is the meal that is eaten after Shabbat goes out on Saturday Night, Malave Malka (Source: Mishna Berura 300:2)

We did a search on Sefaria.org and found this really cool source sheet about the luz bone: https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/50299

How to Eat it

This is a good week to make a big deal about Malave Malka in order to feed the luz bone. It is good really to do this every week. Set the table nicely, wash and eat bread. Eat a nice meal of something new that you did not eat at the three Shabbat Seudot.

Fruit Bearing Trees

From the sources

“וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֱלֹהִ֗ים תַּֽדְשֵׁ֤א הָאָ֙רֶץ֙ דֶּ֔שֶׁא עֵ֚שֶׂב מַזְרִ֣יעַ זֶ֔רַע עֵ֣ץ פְּרִ֞י עֹ֤שֶׂה פְּרִי֙ לְמִינ֔וֹ אֲשֶׁ֥ר זַרְעוֹ־ב֖וֹ עַל־הָאָ֑רֶץ וַֽיְהִי־כֵֽן׃” (Bereishit א:יא)

“And God said, “Let the earth sprout vegetation: seed-bearing plants, fruit trees of every kind on earth that bear fruit with the seed in it.” And it was so.” (Bereishit 1:11)

Rashi, on the words עֵ֣ץ פְּרִ֞י (fruit trees), says that originally the trees were commanded to come into existence so that any part of the tree could be eaten: the bark, the leaves and so on. The Midrash relates that the trees reasoned that if the whole tree were edible, then people would eat the whole tree and therefore the tree would be destroyed. So they grew themselves to be trees where only the fruit was edible. Originally every tree was edible, but as a punishment for the trees disobeying His command, Hashem made many trees that do not bear fruit at all.

How to eat it

In memory of the fact that THE WHOLE OF EVERY TREE was supposed to be edible, I thought it would be nice to use some “non-fruit” parts of trees for food. For example:

-cinnamon sticks: use in warm apple juice to make a delicious warming beverage, or be sure to sprinkle some cinnamon into the apple pie (see below)

-maple syrup: serve over ice cream or pancakes

-bay leaves: add to soup

-tea: while you are sipping your tea this Shabbat, remember it is made from leaves of a tree

The Blessing Given to the Fish and the Birds

From the sources

“וַיְבָ֧רֶךְ אֹתָ֛ם אֱלֹהִ֖ים לֵאמֹ֑ר פְּר֣וּ וּרְב֗וּ וּמִלְא֤וּ אֶת־הַמַּ֙יִם֙ בַּיַּמִּ֔ים וְהָע֖וֹף יִ֥רֶב בָּאָֽרֶץ׃” (ּBereishit א:כב)

“God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful and multiply, fill the waters in the seas, and let the birds increase on the earth.”” (ּBereishit 1:22)

The birds and fish were given a special blessing that they be fruitful and multiply. This is also a blessing to people as the birds and fish fulfil human needs and desires (when they are eaten). So when man kills birds and fish for food, they are blessed to multiply so they will not die out through human consumption. Because of the sin of the snake, animals were not given the same blessing.

How to Eat it

This is a good week to serve fish and chicken rather than red meat. Here are some suggestions:

-a whole fish baked in the oven

-chicken stuffed with onion and etrog (left from Sukkot) and roasted in the oven.

-chicken soup (add bay leaves as an example of a “non-fruit” edible portion from a tree)

Alternatively, you could have a vegetarian Shabbat – see below concerning the fact that Adam HaRishon was not allowed to eat meat.

Adam HaRishon was allowed to eat all vegetables, but no meat

From the sources

(א:כט Bereishit) ” וַיְבָ֣רֶךְ אֹתָם֮ אֱלֹהִים֒ וַיֹּ֨אמֶר לָהֶ֜ם אֱלֹהִ֗ים פְּר֥וּ וּרְב֛וּ וּמִלְא֥וּ אֶת־הָאָ֖רֶץ וְכִבְשֻׁ֑הָ וּרְד֞וּ בִּדְגַ֤ת הַיָּם֙ וּבְע֣וֹף הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם וּבְכָל־חַיָּ֖ה הָֽרֹמֶ֥שֶׂת עַל־הָאָֽרֶץ׃ וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֱלֹהִ֗ים הִנֵּה֩ נָתַ֨תִּי לָכֶ֜ם אֶת־כָּל־עֵ֣שֶׂב ׀ זֹרֵ֣עַ זֶ֗רַע אֲשֶׁר֙ עַל־פְּנֵ֣י כָל־הָאָ֔רֶץ וְאֶת־כָּל־הָעֵ֛ץ אֲשֶׁר־בּ֥וֹ פְרִי־עֵ֖ץ זֹרֵ֣עַ זָ֑רַע לָכֶ֥ם יִֽהְיֶ֖ה לְאָכְלָֽה׃”

“God blessed them and God said to them, “Be fertile and increase, fill the earth and master it; and rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, and all the living things that creep on earth.” God said, “See, I give you every seed-bearing plant that is upon all the earth, and every tree that has seed-bearing fruit; they shall be yours for food.”” (Bereishit 1:28-29)

Adam HaRishon is told that he can eat any vegetables, grasses or fruits, but not meat. Sanhedrin 59b states that birds and fish were included in this prohibition. For more information see http://www.yeshiva.co/ask/?id=97, which discusses the Talmud’s view on what Adam HaRishon was allowed to eat at this time.

How to eat it

This could be a week to make a vegetarian Shabbat. You could make a big salad containing fruit, vegetables, “grass” (alfalfa sprouts or wheatgrass) and seeds to represent all of the foods that WERE permitted to Adam HaRishon.

The Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil

From the sources

וַיְצַו֙ יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהִ֔ים עַל־הָֽאָדָ֖ם לֵאמֹ֑ר מִכֹּ֥ל עֵֽץ־הַגָּ֖ן אָכֹ֥ל תֹּאכֵֽל׃ וּמֵעֵ֗ץ הַדַּ֙עַת֙ ט֣וֹב וָרָ֔ע לֹ֥א תֹאכַ֖ל מִמֶּ֑נּוּ כִּ֗י בְּי֛וֹם אֲכָלְךָ֥ מִמֶּ֖נּוּ מ֥וֹת תָּמֽוּת׃ (ב:טז–ב:יז Bereishit)

And the HaShem commanded the man [Adam HaRishon], saying, “Of every tree of the garden you are free to eat; but as for the tree of knowledge of good and bad, you must not eat of it; for as soon as you eat of it, you shall die.”

Adam HaRishon was allowed to eat from all of the trees in the garden, except for the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. What sort of tree was the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil? The Torah leaves the identity of the tree unclear so that people would not come to say that this tree had caused the destruction of the whole world. However, our sages do offer explanations at to what the tree actually was:

-Rabbi Meir says that it was grapes (and therefore possibly refers to wine)
-Rabbi Nechemyah says it was a fig
-Rabbi Yehuda says it was wheat, and Rashi adds that before Adam ate from the tree, wheat grew on trees
-Bereishit Rabba together with Onkelos translates it as an “Etrog”
-Traditionally, it has often been referred to as an “apple”, although this probably mainly because the word “apple” simply meant any “fruit.”

How to Eat it

You could eat any of the above mentioned fruits separately, or try to combine them. For example, use wheat to make a pie crust and make an apple, or apple and fig, pie. Garnish with grapes and candied etrog peel.

I googled and found this delicious-looking Apple and Fig Tart:

The Snake

From the sources

וְהַנָּחָשׁ֙ הָיָ֣ה עָר֔וּם מִכֹּל֙ חַיַּ֣ת הַשָּׂדֶ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר עָשָׂ֖ה יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהִ֑ים וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ אֶל־הָ֣אִשָּׁ֔ה אַ֚ף כִּֽי־אָמַ֣ר אֱלֹהִ֔ים לֹ֣א תֹֽאכְל֔וּ מִכֹּ֖ל עֵ֥ץ הַגָּֽן׃

Now the serpent was the shrewdest of all the wild beasts that the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say: You shall not eat of any tree of the garden?”

וַתֹּ֥אמֶר הָֽאִשָּׁ֖ה אֶל־הַנָּחָ֑שׁ מִפְּרִ֥י עֵֽץ־הַגָּ֖ן נֹאכֵֽל׃

The woman replied to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the other trees of the garden.

וּמִפְּרִ֣י הָעֵץ֮ אֲשֶׁ֣ר בְּתוֹךְ־הַגָּן֒ אָמַ֣ר אֱלֹהִ֗ים לֹ֤א תֹֽאכְלוּ֙ מִמֶּ֔נּוּ וְלֹ֥א תִגְּע֖וּ בּ֑וֹ פֶּן־תְּמֻתֽוּן׃

It is only about fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden that God said: ‘You shall not eat of it or touch it, lest you die.’”

וַיֹּ֥אמֶר הַנָּחָ֖שׁ אֶל־הָֽאִשָּׁ֑ה לֹֽא־מ֖וֹת תְּמֻתֽוּן׃

And the serpent said to the woman, “You are not going to die,

כִּ֚י יֹדֵ֣עַ אֱלֹהִ֔ים כִּ֗י בְּיוֹם֙ אֲכָלְכֶ֣ם מִמֶּ֔נּוּ וְנִפְקְח֖וּ עֵֽינֵיכֶ֑ם וִהְיִיתֶם֙ כֵּֽאלֹהִ֔ים יֹדְעֵ֖י ט֥וֹב וָרָֽע׃

but God knows that as soon as you eat of it your eyes will be opened and you will be like divine beings who know good and bad.”

וַתֵּ֣רֶא הָֽאִשָּׁ֡ה כִּ֣י טוֹב֩ הָעֵ֨ץ לְמַאֲכָ֜ל וְכִ֧י תַֽאֲוָה־ה֣וּא לָעֵינַ֗יִם וְנֶחְמָ֤ד הָעֵץ֙ לְהַשְׂכִּ֔יל וַתִּקַּ֥ח מִפִּרְי֖וֹ וַתֹּאכַ֑ל וַתִּתֵּ֧ן גַּם־לְאִישָׁ֛הּ עִמָּ֖הּ וַיֹּאכַֽל׃

When the woman saw that the tree was good for eating and a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable as a source of wisdom, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave some to her husband, and he ate. (Bereishit 3:1-6)

In chapter 3, we learn that the snake enticed Chava to eat from the Eitz HaDaat, the tree of knowledge of good and evil. She in turn gave it to Adam HaRishon, who ate as well.

How to eat it

My kids are always looking for ways to include lollies (candy/sweets) in the parsha food. So this is an easy week for them: Jelly Snakes for dessert, anyone?