RECIPE INSPIRED BY TEHILLIM 126 – REJOICING IN RESTORATION

Tehillim 126

שִׁ֗יר הַֽמַּ֫עֲל֥וֹת בְּשׁ֣וּב ד’ אֶת־שִׁיבַ֣ת צִיּ֑וֹן הָ֝יִ֗ינוּ כְּחֹלְמִֽים׃

A song of ascents.

When the L-RD restores the fortunes of Zion
—we see it as in a dream^-a—

אָ֤ז יִמָּלֵ֪א שְׂח֡וֹק פִּינוּ֮ וּלְשׁוֹנֵ֢נוּ רִ֫נָּ֥ה אָ֭ז יֹאמְר֣וּ בַגּוֹיִ֑ם הִגְדִּ֥יל ד’ לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת עִם־אֵֽלֶּה׃

our mouths shall be filled with laughter,
our tongues, with songs of joy.
Then shall they say among the nations,
“The L-RD has done great things for them!”

הִגְדִּ֣יל יְ֭הֹוָה לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת עִמָּ֗נוּ הָיִ֥ינוּ שְׂמֵחִֽים׃

The L-RD will do great things for us
and we shall rejoice.

שׁוּבָ֣ה יְ֭הֹוָה אֶת־[שְׁבִיתֵ֑נוּ] (שבותנו) כַּאֲפִיקִ֥ים בַּנֶּֽגֶב׃

Restore our fortunes, O L-RD,
like watercourses in the Negeb.

הַזֹּרְעִ֥ים בְּדִמְעָ֗ה בְּרִנָּ֥ה יִקְצֹֽרוּ׃

They who sow in tears
shall reap with songs of joy.

הָ֘ל֤וֹךְ יֵלֵ֨ךְ ׀ וּבָכֹה֮ נֹשֵׂ֢א מֶשֶׁךְ־הַ֫זָּ֥רַע בֹּא־יָבֹ֥א בְרִנָּ֑ה נֹ֝שֵׂ֗א אֲלֻמֹּתָֽיו׃ {פ}

Though he goes along weeping,
carrying the seed-bag,
he shall come back with songs of joy,
carrying his sheaves.

Inspiration

To rejoice in restoration is what I have found inspirational in this Tehillim. Zion can be a reference to Jerusalem or the land of Israel. Artscroll commentary states that the exile of Israel will be like a bad dream and the weeping of tears will turn to bountiful goodness. This Tehillim reflects that among all the nations it will be proclaimed “Then shall they say among the nations, The L-RD has done great things for them”. This is a reminder that the fortunes of Israel restored is a blessing for the entire world and something that all will rejoice in, restating the consistent need for hope in Hashem for the good that is yet to come. Joy is sweet as is rejoicing in the restoration of Israel to impart this in food I think of rugelach; a sweet pastry fitting for songs of joy.

Recipe

Chocolate-Walnut Rugelach

(Makes 2 dozen)

Ingredients

2 sticks (1 cup) unsalted butter, softened

8 ounces cream cheese, softened

2 cups all-purpose flour

Filling

½ cup chopped walnuts

Substitute: fruit jams, raisins, or cinnamon

¼ cup sugar

¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder

Topping:

2 tablespoons sugar

2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

½ stick (1/4 cup) melted butter

Instructions

Heat over to 350 ° F degrees (176 ° C)
Using a mixer, combine butter and cream cheese mix on medium speed until smooth
Add flour gradually until formed into a course crumb form
Flour a surface and gather dough into a ball on that surface
Divide dough into 3 equal pieces, cover in clear plastic wrap, and let chill for 1 hour
Let chilled dough stand until it is workable at room temperature
Mix chopped walnuts, sugar, and unsweetened cocoa powder

*Substitute: Prepare fruit jams, raisins, or cinnamon filling of your choice

Using a floured surface roll out one dough section with a rolling pin into an 8-inch circle that is 1/8 inch thick
Add 1/3 of the filling over the circle then cut the circle into 8 wedges
Take each wedge and roll up starting at opposite side points
Place each rugelach on an ungreased baking sheet 2 inches apart
For topping mix together sugar and cocoa powder and sprinkle over each rugelach
Bake for 15 minutes then brush with melted butter and bake another 5 to 10 minutes or until lightly brown
Cool on a wire baking rack

pdf

By: Kimberly

Reference:

https://www.sefaria.org/Psalms.126.5?lang=bi&with=Rashi&lang2=en

International Masters Publishers Incorporated. (1993). Great American Home Baking (1st ed.)