There was a time when little changed. People grew up in the same communities as their parents, knew the same people their whole lives, did the same work, ate the same food, and heard the same languages as their parents and grandparents. Today with all the technology (computers, tablets and cellular telephones) people are constantly meeting new people, hearing new philosophies and different ideas, and challenging religious and societal values. Young people today refuse to look at yesterday.

Jewish beliefs, customs and traditions have been changed by the rapid pace of today’s society. New ideas and new philosophies have clashed with ancient Jewish beliefs and customs. The foods of our past are prepackaged, our traditions are a vague memory, the teachings and beliefs have been left as archaic and outdated, and the stories are forgotten.

Why are so many people touched by a traditional Jewish meal? The food has a special taste that can only be found in the Jewish kitchen prepared with tenderness. Around the table people sit and speak of prayer, Torah and customs, and at times the old melodies stir the yearnings for something long forgotten. The stories touch the heart and soul of everyone around the table.

If being Jewish is merely a religion, a combination of prayers, rituals and customs, it will wither. If is a way of life, then it can flourish and lead to growth. Jewish people have a long history of different traditions, food, rituals, prayers and stories from all over the world, but one idea endures: Judaism is a dialogue, not a human monologue addressed to an indifferent universe.

We are all bound by the mitzvahs of relationships to the Holy One, blessed be He, to other human beings, and especially to all that G-d has created. As people gather and share a meal all these relationships come together and a holy atmosphere is created. In each generation, the ancient and blessed conversation—the dialogue that is Judaism—continues.

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It is told of a Jewish woman who carefully prepared food for each meal for Shabbos and Yom Tov with such holiness that if you ate the food she cooked, you left the table healed.

“In our earlier days, people would carefully plan for the special meals in such a way that they would have enough food for themselves and for some guests on Shabbos and Yom Tov. One week, a holy woman was cooking on Friday for Shabbos (the Sabbath) when a drunkard knocked on the door and was invited in. He was smelling of alcohol, but he said to the woman, ‘I’m starving. Do you have anything to eat? Who knew how long he had been without food? Besides, when someone says he’s starving, how can you not feed him? So she gave him from the food she’d prepared for all the Shabbos meals. After finishing what she gave him, he asked, ‘Is there more?’ Each time, he ate whatever was put before him and asked for more, until she said, ‘There’s not a crumb left.’ She gave him every¬thing she had prepared for all the Shabbos meals. She gave him everything gently and respectfully, because she was doing a great mitzvah (a good deed). She didn’t judge him by how he looked or for his crude be-havior, for who knows what troubles he had had?

“Then this drunkard did something unusual. He asked, ‘Can I speak with your husband?’ The woman went and spoke to her husband and told him about the drunkard’s request. The husband agreed to see him. When he came in, he no longer smelled, and he didn’t appear drunk. In fact, his face was glowing, and the husband realized at once that this was Eliyahu haNovi (Elijah the Prophet).

He explained, “I only came here to bless your wife. Her kindness has made a great impression in heaven. But we wanted to give her a final test to see if she was worthy of the great blessing we have in store for her. She passed the test.”

What was the great blessing one may ask? It was the blessing of healing. That is why the food the holy woman prepared and served healed whoever ate it.”

Food that is prepared and served with love can heal the sick and revive the weary. The holy woman’s food, offered with such self-sacrifice, contained a heavenly blessing. This quality is not unique to this tzaddekes (holy woman).

There are other stories in which the healing powers of a holy woman come through the food she serves. And many women who prepare and serve food to their family put in their healing love as a main ingredient.

The holiness of Jewish women is hidden within their daily actions in cooking, giving tzedakah (acts of charity) and many ither mitzvahs. King David reminded us when he wrote, “kol k’voda bas melech p’nima, “(all the glory of a princess is within. (Psalm 45:14).”

Shabbosdike Stuffed Chicken Quarters

2-3 lbs Chicken quarters		1 stalk celery chopped
1 egg		1/8 tsp pepper
1 Cup Water or broth		1 Cup Farfel
1 sm to med onion finely chopped		2 Tbs oil or shmaltz
½ tsp salt		1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp Thyme		2 tsp Parsley
1 tsp Rosemary		½ tsp Paprika
½ tsp Sage		Spices for Chicken

• Preheat oven 350 degrees

• Sauté onion and celery in oil or

• Add spices and cook a few minutes longer

• Stir in farfel

• Beat egg with water or broth

• Add to farfel

• Let stuffing rest for 5 to 15 minutes

• Loosen skin on the chicken

• Spoon the stuffing under the skin and return the skin to its original position

• Put in pan – skin side up

• Brush with oil and season to taste

• Bake covered 30 minutes

• Remove cover and bake until skin is golden brown (30 to 45 minutes)

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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Tell it to your children, and let your children tell it to their children, and their children to the next generation. (Joel 1:3)

Rachmiel Tobesman is a motivational speaker and Maggid (spiritual Storyteller). He is available for speaking engagements or storytelling, Click here to contact us

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This story recipe and others can be found in the Once Upon a Recipe cookbook, We are pleased to announce that 18 (Chai – the magic number of Life) of the story recipes have been collected into the Once Upon a Recipe cookbook. If you are interested in obtaining a copy of this unique cookbook, contact us projectshalom1@aol.com