46 | AUGUST 29 • 2024 J
N

T

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