46 | AUGUST 29 • 2024 J
N
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his piece provides some
recipes for comfort foods as
we are in the period of seven
weeks of consolation between Tisha
b’Av and Rosh Hashanah. Tisha b’Av
commemorates the
destruction of the
Holy Temples and
began this year the
evening of Aug. 12.
During the three
weeks leading up to
it, special Haftarah
portions are read in
which the Prophets
rebuke the Jewish people for their
betrayal of their covenant with
God. In the seven weeks following
Tisha b’Av through Rosh Hashanah,
the Haftarah readings consist of
“Seven of Consolation,” including
prophecies describing God’s
consolation of God’s people and the
rehabilitation of their relationship.
This period of communal
consolation as we approach Rosh
Hashanah really resonates with
me this year. When I think back
to the end of last year’s High Holy
Days, I remember sharing on Oct.
6 about feeling both happy and
exhausted from engaging in so
much communal activity during
that season and also having a sense
of optimism and hope for the year
ahead.
I didn’t expect that beginning
just the next day, so much would
change in the world and in our
community, including the horrors
of the events of Oct. 7 in Israel
and, here in southeast Michigan,
our own tragedy, the murder
of Samantha Woll, whom I feel
privileged to have called a friend.
And while I had hoped that any
day we would see the hostages
returned, the war over, and some
answers and some justice for what
had happened to Sam, it feels
impossible to look ahead to another
High Holiday season but feel no
resolution coming.
Likewise, personally, I look back
on the year, and I feel many joys
and achievements I am proud of,
but I also feel heartbroken by some
deep hurts and disappointments.
I don’t have any answers for why
such things happen or when there
will be resolution, but I hope we
can take this time, as individuals
and as a community, to find some
consolation. To know that even
when the worst has happened, we
have to keep moving on. We have
to find comfort by turning inward
toward ourselves and outward
toward our communities.
I share some of my favorite
recipes for when I need some
comfort. They can’t fix anything
broken in the world, but maybe
they can help us to feel a little
better, to connect with others and
to look forward to happier times.
I share a recipe for macaroni and
cheese that is rich and warming
and is designed to feed a crowd. I
also share a recipe for my ultimate
comfort food, chocolate cake,
prepared with a chocolate cream
cheese frosting. For a well-rounded
meal, I include a recipe for a peach,
feta and pickled onion salad.
I hope that coming together,
sharing our joys and grief, can
enable us to find comfort during
this time and become ready to
embrace the new year ahead.
PEACH, FETA AND
PICKLED ONION SALAD
Adapted from PCC Markets
Serves 4. Dairy
Ingredients
½ medium red onion, thinly sliced
1 clove garlic, peeled
1 tsp. kosher salt
¾ cup Champagne vinegar
1 Tbsp. brown sugar, or to taste
2 ripe peaches, pitted and sliced
4 ounces feta cheese, crumbled
¼ cup olive oil
Salt and pepper, to taste
5 ounces baby arugula or watercress
(or a combination)
Directions
Place onions and garlic in a
bowl. Combine salt, vinegar and
sugar in a small saucepan. Bring
to a boil, stirring to dissolve
sugar. Pour over onions and
garlic and let stand for 30
minutes. Drain, reserving the
liquid.
In a large bowl, combine
pickled onions, peaches, feta,
olive oil and 3 tablespoons
FOOD
DINING IN
Comfort dishes for the weeks of
consolation prior to Rosh Hashanah.
Food for
Thought
Joelle
Abramowitz