The Oy of Family

There. I am posting this on Thursday. Happy? (hmpff)


The story of Korach is very dramatic. First there's rebellion. Which is sort of an every day thing with the Israelites, except this time it's organized. And it's led by some important people. Korach and his group were no small potatoes. Then there are negotiations about the best way to resolve the issue (note that Moshe never says "You cheeky little upstarts. Shut up and go back to your tent before I ask G-d to smite you", really, the man have the patience of a saint.) Then there's G-d's threat. Then there's G-d's judgement and the carrying out of the punishment. Ooooh, very dramatic. The earth opens up, swallows them, covers over them. Ouch. 

So it's perfectly understandable with all this drama going on that a little side comment does not get center stage. In Bamidbar chapter 16 verse 7 Moshe says something that is translated as "You have too much, sons of Levi" It can also be translated as "Enough! you sons of Levi". Rashi says that Moshe tries to tell them that rebelling against G-d's decisions is too great an undertaking. Ibn Ezra, on the other hand says that Moshe was reminding them that, as Levites, they have already been given plenty.

Either way, the point that caught my attention was actually the second part of the exclamation. Because, wasn't Moshe himself a "son of Levi"? Then, the people who rebelled against him and that tried to tell him he and his brother have taken too much for themselves, were his own tribe. In essence, his own family.

Well, well, well. Here we go again. Is there any family in the whole bible who lives in peace and quiet? without brother rising against brother, son against father, sister against sister and so on? What is it about families that drives us to distraction? I suppose it's the knowledge, on both sides, that we're stuck with each other. No one chooses their family. In fact, most people, if given a choice, would never choose the family they're with. But here we are. Bound to these annoying people for life. And to add insult to injury, they are not content to see us once or twice a year and be civil. Oh, no. They call and write and visit and insist on a relationship. Ugh. And if that was all, dayenu. But no. Every time you give in and allow those pests a sliver of an access to your life, they have something to say. Endless complaints, rude remarks, unnecessary advice, invasive questions, all too frank comments about your appearance, job, spouse, children etc.

There are times when one wishes for the simple and elegant solution G-d offered Moshe. Cover them.



Salmon and Pesto in Puff pastry


2 Lbs skinless, boneless salmon fillet
1 sheet of puff pastry (large enough to wrap around the whole fillet)
1 cup pesto (home made is, of course, best, but you can use store bought)
1 egg, beaten


Roll the puff pastry until it's the right size for your fish.

Spread a generous amount of pesto on the pastry.

Put the fish in the center of the pastry.Spread a generous amount of pesto on the fish itself.

Using kitchen shears or a sharp knife, cut diagonal stripes in the dough, on both sides of the fish, from the edge of the dough to about 2 inches from the fish. Make the stripes about one inch wide. Wrap the stripes over the fish, alternating sides and pressing them close enough that the gaps aren't too large (You need to end up with a fish wrapped in dough with 'slits' all over). It looks a little like apple strudel. 

Brush the dough well with egg.

Bake in a shallow pan, at 400F for 30 minutes. If the top part is golden but the bottom is not quite done, transfer to lowest rack, cover with foil and continue baking another ten minutes.

Serves 6-8




And then, when you are just about ready to talk with G-d re:opening the earth again, the annoying family members do something that pulls at your heartstrings and reminds you that families define us, uphold us and connect us to our past and our future.