In Parsha Ki Tetze, there are over 70 mitzvot listed! One of the most interesting of the mitzvoth is referred to in Hebrew as “Shiluah Haken,” meaning “sending away the mother bird.” The text is as follows:

“If, along the road, you chance upon a bird’s nest, in any tree or on the ground, with fledglings or eggs and the mother sitting over the fledglings or on the eggs, do not take the mother together with her young, in order that you may fare well and have a long life. (Deut. 22:6,7)”

Although there is much discussion in Rabbinic literature about the fundamental reason for this mitzvah, children will probably best appreciate the idea that this is an example of preventing cruelty to animals (tza’ar ba’alei chayim). Talk to your kids about different ways that we can treat animals with kindness and respect. Then, make these fun, easy, and delicious bird’s nest cookies to serve at your Shabbat table this week!

Ingredients:

1) 12 oz. Chow mein noodles (OR thin pretzel sticks OR bran cereal sticks)
2) ½ cup Peanut Butter
3) 12 oz. Butterscotch or Chocolate chips
4) White egg-shaped candies (jelly beans, mentos, or tic tacs)

Instructions:

1) Melt chocolate chips in the microwave
2) Mix the chips and the peanut butter together in a large bowl.
3) Add noodles or sticks to the mixture.
4) Place spoonfuls of the mixture into muffin tins.
5) Make an indentation in the center of each with your finger.
6) Put the cookies in the freezer for one hour.
7) Remove cookies from tin.
8) Place white candies in the center of each cookie and serve!