God’s Wake-Up Call: Tilapia (fish) Twist

September 10, 2006

It comes in the midst of a season of reflection and repentance. The shofar (ram’s horn) is blown to wake up the nation and turn them back to God. As Israel experienced war on its northern border this summer, it was interesting that every weekly Torah (Gen.–Deut.) and Haftorah (selection from the prophets) portion spoke of God calling His people back to Himself, such as, “Ho! Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters…Incline your ear, and come to Me. Hear, and your soul shall live…” (Isa. 55:1, 3a). Did Israel hear God speaking through the pounding of rocket fire? Was God, even then, beginning to blow His shofar?

Besides the blowing of the “trumpet,” there is little said about the holiday in the Bible, so most of today’s practices are traditional. One tradition is serving fish––whole, with their heads, eyes and all! For the Jewish people, it symbolizes the “head” of the year. Many tourists who visit the Sea of Galilee eat the famous St. Peter’s fish, also served whole, which is believed to be the fish in which Peter found the coin (Matt. 17:24–27), as well as the fish Yeshua (Jesus) used to feed the 5,000.  It is actually tilapia.

Tilapia, a Kosher fish, eats algae and plants and is not carnivorous. Tiny combs in their gills constantly filter and remove micro algae from the water. They do not build up pollutants and other toxins in their bodies like carnivorous predator fish and are, therefore, a healthier food.

If you want to help educate your friends and family about the feasts of the Lord, why not start with Rosh Hashanah? Serve Tilapia Twist and enjoy the “twist” of the Middle Eastern spices. Blow a shofar and pray that Israel will hear God’s shofar blowing.

“Blow the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in My holy mountain!” (Joel 2:1)

Tilapia Twist

1 lb. tilapia fillets (4 to 6)
4 tbsp. lemon juice
2 tbsp. apple cider vinegar
1 tsp. turmeric
1 tsp. red pepper powder
1 tsp. cumin powder
1 tsp. coriander powder
1 tbsp. tamarind paste
4 tbsp. tomato ketchup
2 tbsp. yogurt
1 tbsp. soy sauce
1 tsp. black pepper
1 tbsp. minced ginger
1 tbsp. minced garlic
Salt to taste

Spray or brush lemon and vinegar on the fillets. Rub them with turmeric. Set aside for half an hour. Make a paste of the rest of the ingredients, adding additional lemon and vinegar to taste. Apply paste to the fillets, setting aside some. Saute the fillets on both sides in very little oil.

Apply rest of the paste on the fillets. Cover and cook on low heat for 5 to 10 minutes.

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Photo Credit: By Charleeda Sprinkle