| Bereishit / Genesis 25:22 | And Isaac asked G-d for help for his wife, because she had not been able to get pregnant. And G-d helped Isaac, and Rebecca became pregnant [with male twins]. | וַיֶּעְתַּר יִצְחָק לַהֹ’ לְנֹכַח אִשְׁתּוֹ כִּי עֲקָרָה הִוא וַיֵּעָתֶר לוֹ הֹ’ וַתַּהַר רִבְקָה אִשְׁתּוֹ׃ |
| 25:23 | The fetuses fought in her, and she said to G-d: “why me?” (alt: Why do I exist?”) | וַיִּתְרֹצְצוּ הַבָּנִים בְּקִרְבָּהּ וַתֹּאמֶר אִם־כֵּן לָמָּה זֶּה אָנֹכִי וַתֵּלֶךְ לִדְרֹשׁ אֶת־הֹ’׃ |
Ingredients as Shown:
- 1 small apple
- 2 small grapes
- 6 black sesame seeds
Tools:
- Sharp knife
- Small biscuit cutter (I used 1 3/8″)
- Vegetable peeler
Instructions :
(note: you can make all sorts of simplifications along the way, and the very pregnant Rivka in the front photo was not cut)
You may also want to change the order if you want to tell the story while making the ParshaNosh.
- Cut rounds from either side of the apple core. One side should be no deeper than your biscuit cutter, if you are using one.
2. Cut the middle out of one the less deep side. I cut from the inside out, because I thought my cutter may not be sharp enough to cut neatly through the peel.
3. Make a cut separating the peel from the middle part.
4. Cut the other round into 4 parts for arms and legs. You may cut the arms shorter if you wish, even using the trimmed parts for feet (I didn’t bother).
5. Cut a tiny sliver off of any part of the apple to make a mouth, and a large part for the “hair.”
6. Put the core of the apple on the surface, followed by the hollowed out part.
7. Put center cut apple above for the “head.” (note: the center part is not in these photos; I decided on that instruction after having already taken the photos)
8. Add arms and legs (and feet, if using).
9. Add hair, mouth, and 2 sesame seed eyes.
10. Put sesame seed eyes on grapes, insert into Rebecca’s belly.
11. Close her belly, if you wish (note: when you close the belly, it is likely to move the grapes’ eyes. You may turn the smile into a frown, if you wish, by flipping the mouth.
This ParshaNosh is dedicated to my sister in law Danelle, a nurse and wonderful person. Rivka would have been much better off had Danelle been with her to help her.