Sunday, July 29, 2012

Va’etchanan | ואתחנן | “I pleaded”

Torah: Deut. 3:23-7:11
Haftorah: Isaiah 40:1-26
Brit Chadashah: Matt. 4:1-11
Gospel:Luke 22:13-38

TEN: Parshat V’Etchanan

This week we continue with our review of some major laws as a refresher to Bnei Yisrael before they enter the Land of Israel.
1. What does Moses ask for in the beginning of the parsha?

To enter the land of Israel. (3:25)

2. How does G-d respond?

He allows Moses to see the land of Israel but not to enter. (3:27)

3. Who will take over as the leader of Bnei Yisrael after Moses?

Joshua. (3:28)

4. When G-d spoke to Bnei Israel at Har Sinai while receiving the Torah, what did they see?

They did not see G-d’s likeness only fire. (4:12)

5. How many commandments were inscribed in how many tablets?

10 commandments on 2 stone tablets (4:13)

6. How many cities of Refuge did Moshe create on the bank of the Jordan?

Three (4:41)

7. What is the fifth commandment (from the Ten Commandments)?

To be respectful of your parents (5:16)

8. Which major prayer is mentioned in the parsha?

The Shema. (6:4)

9. What is the first line of the Shema?

Hear o Israel, Hashem is our G-d, Hashem is the one and only. (6:4)

10. How many nations will G-d help kick out of Israel?

Seven nations. (7:1)

Worksheets for Torah portion

Color pages

Craft for the portion

take construction paper your kids favorite color trace out their hands and cut out.
have the child draw out their face
tape on the corner down so they can open it up.

we wrote Shema Yisrael in hebrew on the outside of the hands and on the inside of the hands you can write the rest of the prayer or my youngest wrote GOD loves me and I love him TOO!!

HOLY DAY....... Tisha B'av

why celebrate Tisha B'av?

JUDAISM 101

The Mishnah tells us that: "No days were as festive for Israel as the 15th of Av and Yom Kippur." (Tractate Ta'anit) What is Tu B'Av, the 15th of the Hebrew month of Av? In which way is it equivalent to Yom Kippur?

Our Sages explain: Yom Kippur symbolizes God's forgiving Israel for the sin of the Golden Calf in the desert, for it was on that day that He finally accepted Moses' plea for forgiveness of the nation, and on that same day Moses came down from the mountain with the new set of tablets.

Just as Yom Kippur symbolizes the atonement for the sin of the Golden Calf, Tu B'Av signifies the atonement for the sin of the Spies, where ten came bearing such negative reports which reduced the entire nation to panic. As a result of that sin, it was decreed by God that the nation would remain in the desert for 40 years, and that no person 20 or older would be allowed to enter Israel. On each Tisha B'Av of those 40 years, those who had reached the age of 60 that year died -- 15,000 each Tisha B'Av.

This plague finally ended on Tu B'Av.

Six positive events occurred on Tu B'Av:

Event #1) As noted above, the plague that had accompanied the Jews in the desert for 40 years ended. That last year, the last 15,000 people got ready to die. God, in His mercy, decided not to have that last group die, considering all the troubles they had gone through. Now, when the ninth of Av approached, all the members of the group got ready to die, but nothing happened. They then decided that they might have been wrong about the date, so they waited another day, and another...

Finally on the 15th of Av, when the full moon appeared, they realized definitely that the ninth of Av had come and gone, and that they were still alive. Then it was clear to them that God's decree was over, and that He had finally forgiven the people for the sin of the Spies.

This is what was meant by our Sages when they said: "No days were as festive for Israel as the 15th of Av and Yom Kippur," for there is no greater joy than having one's sins forgiven -- on Yom Kippur for the sin of the Golden Calf and on Tu B'Av for the sin of the spies. In the Book of Judges, Tu B'Av is referred to as a holiday (Judges 21:19).

In addition to this noteworthy event, five other events occurred on Tu B'Av:

Events #2) and 3) Following the case of the daughters of Zelophehad (see Numbers, chapter 36), daughters who inherited from their father when there were no sons were forbidden to marry someone from a different tribe, so that land would not pass from one tribe to another. Generations later, after the story of the "Concubine of Giv'ah" (see Judges, chapters 19-21), the Children of Israel swore not to allow their daughters to marry anyone from the tribe of Benjamin. This posed a threat of annihilation to the tribe of Benjamin.

Each of these prohibitions were lifted on Tu B'Av. The people realized that if they kept to their prohibition, one of the 12 tribes might totally disappear. As to the oath that had been sworn, they pointed out that it only affected the generation that had taken the oath, and not subsequent generations. The same was applied to the prohibition of heiresses marrying outside their own tribe: this rule was applied only to the generation that had conquered and divided up the land under Joshua, but not future generations. This was the first expression of the merging of all the tribes, and was a cause for rejoicing. In the Book of Judges it is referred to as "a festival to the Lord."

Over the generations, this day was described in Tractate Ta'anit as a day devoted to betrothals, so that new Jewish families would emerge.

Event #4) After Jeroboam split off the kingdom of Israel with its ten tribes from the kingdom of Judea, he posted guards along all the roads leading to Jerusalem, to prevent his people from going up to the Holy City for the pilgrimage festivals, for he feared that such pilgrimages might undermine his authority. As a "substitute," he set up places of worship which were purely idolatrous, in Dan and Beth-el. Thus the division between the two kingdoms became a fait accompli and lasted for generations.

The last king of the kingdom of Israel, Hosea ben Elah, wished to heal the breach, and removed all the guards from the roads leading to Jerusalem, thus allowing his people to make the pilgrimage again. This act took place on Tu B'Av.

Event #5) At the beginning of the Second Temple period, the Land of Israel lay almost totally waste, and the wood needed to burn the sacrifices and for the eternal flame that had to burn on the altar was almost impossible to obtain. Each year a number of brave people volunteered to bring the wood needed from afar -- a trip which was dangerous in the extreme.

Now, not just every wood could be brought. Wood which was wormy was not permitted. And dampness and cold are ideal conditions for the breeding of worms in wood. As a result, all the wood that would be needed until the following summer had to be collected before the cold set in. The last day that wood was brought in for storage over the winter months was Tu B'Av, and it was a festive occasion each year when the quota needed was filled by that day.

Event #6) Long after the event, the Romans finally permitted the bodies of those who had been killed in the defense of Betar (in the Bar Kochba revolt) to be buried. This was a double miracle, in that, first, the Romans finally gave permission for the burial, and, second, in spite of the long period of time that had elapsed, the bodies had not decomposed. The permission was granted on Tu B'Av.

In gratitude for this double miracle, the fourth and last blessing of the Grace After Meals was added, which thanks God as "He Who is good and does good." "He is good" -- in that the bodies had not decomposed, "and does good" -- in that permission was given for the burial.

To this day, we celebrate Tu B'Av as a minor festival. We do not say Tahanun on that day, nor are eulogies rendered. By the same token, if a couple are getting married on that day (and, as we will see below, it is the custom for the bride and groom to fast on their wedding day), neither fasts.

Beginning with Tu B'Av, we start preparing ourselves spiritually for the month of Elul, the prologue to the coming Days of Awe. The days begin to get shorter, the nights get longer. The weather, too, helps us to take spiritual stock: the hectic days of the harvest are over for the farmer, and the pace has slowed down considerably. Even on a physical level, the heat of the summer makes it hard to sit down and think things out, and now that the days and nights are cooler, it is easier to examine one's actions.

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In earlier times, it was the custom already from Tu B'Av to use as one's greeting "May your inscription and seal be for good" (ketiva vahatima tova), the same blessing that we today use on Rosh Hashana. Those who work out the gematria values of different expressions found that phrase adds up to 928 -- and so does the words for "15th of Av."

Lessons

Special TEN: Tisha B'Av

With plenty of down time available on Tisha B’Av, we offer you our Ten questions.
1. Who built the first Beit HaMikdash?

Shlomo HaMelech

2.When was the first Beit HaMikdash destroyed?

586 BCE

3. When was the second Beit HaMikdash destroyed?

70 CE

4. Besides Tisha B’Av, what other fast begins at nightfall?

Yom Kippur

5. What is the Hebrew word for “fast”?

צום (tzom)

6. What megilla is read traditionally on Tisha B’Av?

Eichah.

7. How many weeks are we in mourning before Tisha B’Av?

Three weeks.

8. Where were Jews expelled from on Tisha B’Av of 1492?

Spain, as part of the Spanish Inquisition.

9. What custom is performed at weddings to remember the destruction of the Temples?

We break a glass under the chuppah at the end of the wedding ceremony.

10. How many other fast days are there?

There are five other fast days over the year – Tzom Gedalia, Yom Kippur, Asarah B’Tevet, Ta’anit Esther and Shiva Asar B’Tammuz.

Crafts

Mosaic-ed Mizrach

Ages 6-10

For older kids, roughly cut stones make an impressive Mizrach sign.
Materials:

Mizrach Template
Mosaic Stones
White Glue or a Glue Gun

Directions:
Print up our Mizrach Template
Mosaic stones can be purchased at any art supply store. We recommend using glossy, roughly-cut stones for this project.
Glue the Mizrach sign on to cardboard to give the paper some extra strength.
Glue the stones inside the letters of Mizrach.
Color a border around your sign.
*Another variation: Color the letters of Mizrach with crayons or markers. Glue the mosaic stones all around the letters – giving a sort of Kotel-feel to the project.

Thursday, July 26, 2012

Devarim | דברים | “Words”

Torah Portion: Deut 1 --3:22;

HafTorah: Isaiah 1:1 --27
Brit Chadashah: John 15:1 --27; John 15:1 --11;

Hebrews 3:7 -4:11; 1 Tim 3:1 --7

TEN: Parshat Devarim

As Bnei Yisrael continue towards the Land of Israel, Moses has some final words.
In this parsha we do a quick recap on the places traveled and places captured.
1.       What day does Moses begin to address the nation of Bnei Yisrael?

In the 40^th year, 11^th month, 1^st day that Bnei Israel is in the desert. (1:3)
2.       God is fulfilling a promise He made hundreds of years ago by bringing Bnei Yisrael into the land of Israel. Who did he make that promise to?

Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. (1:8)
3.       In this version of the story of spies visiting the land of Israel, what did the spies bring back and say to Bnei Yisrael?

The spies brought back fruit and said that the Land is good. (1:25)
4.       Why did Bnei Israel not want to enter the land of Israel?

They were afraid because the people currently in the land of Israel were bigger and taller with fortified cities and they are the children of giants. (1:28)
5.       Which land should Israel be careful and respectful, even paying for food and water?

The land of Seir, ruled by the descendants of Esau (2:4-8)
6.       Which brook did Bnei Israel cross towards the end of their journey?

Zered Brook. (2:14)
7.       Who else should Bnei Israel respect?

Ammon – descendants of Lot. (2:19)
8.       How many fortifies cities did Bnei Israel win at war from King Og of Bashan?

60. (3:4)
9.       What did we do with all the land won from Sihon and Bashan?

The tribes of Reuben, Gad and half of Meneshe got it as their inheritance. (3:12-13)
10.   What encouragement does Joshua Ben Nun get at the end of the Parsha?

He is told that Hashem has helped Bnei Yisrael be victorious in the past and Hashem will continue to help wage war in the future. (3:21-22)

Worksheets and Copy work for Parasha

יהוה אלהי אבותכם יסף עליכם ככם אלף פעמים ויברך אתכם כאשׁר דבר לכם׃

Deuteronomy 1:11

May the LORD God of your fathers make you a thousand times more numerous than you are, and bless you as He has promised you!

The only worksheets I found were these

Here is the riddle for Devarim

other cool things I found for Devarim

Color Pages of the Torah Portion:

Aish
torah tots

Crafts for this Portion

Glitter Stars

Parshat Devarim

Introduction:
In this week’s parsha, Parshat Devarim, Moshe starts his final speech to the Children of Israel. He reminds the people that God “multiplied you, and behold, you are today as the stars of the heavens in abundance.” This is a fulfillment of the promise God had made to Abraham back in Parshat Lech Lecha that his descendents would be as numerous as the stars of the heaven. Most kids love stars and glitter so this is a chance to do any variation of a star craft.

Materials:

Black oak tag
Silver and gold glitter or glitter paint
White glue

Instructions:
1 – Draw the outline of star shapes
2 – Use a paint brush to fill in the shapes with watered down glue
3 – Sprinkle glitter on the glue and shake off the excess.

Variations:

1)      Cut star shapes out of paper and attach them to a string to make a string of stars
2)      Use tinfoil to make stars
3)      Make a mobile of stars by hanging stars from a hanger or paper plate.

Emily Shapiro Katz has been a community Jewish educator for over ten years in Jerusalem, Atlanta, and San Francisco. This summer, she will move to Beer Sheva with her husband, Andy, and daughters Maya, age 5 and Avital, age 2. Her contributions to this website reflect her interest in teaching Tanach, doing craft projects, and entertaining her kids. Emily blogs about her Parsha Projects at http://parshaprojects.blogspot.com/

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Matot/Massei

Matot | מטות | “Tribes”

Numbers 30:2–32:42

HafTorah: Jer. 2:4-8
Brit Chadashah: Matt. 5:33-37

Gospel: Matthew 23:1-39

Massei | מסעי | “Journeys”

Numbers 33:1–36:13
Haftorah: Isaiah 66:1-24;
Brit Chadashah: James 4:1-12

Gospel: Matthew 24:1-25:46

http://www.reformjudaism.org/learning
http://www.chabad.org/kids/article_cdo/aid/610776/scope/572528/jewish/Massei.htm

The focus of the portion is:

Israel is told to kill all the men in Median for the part the played in peor plaugue
Balaam is also killed in this battle
If you Make a VOW to YHVH you must keep it
Rueben and Gad make a promise to finish the battle for the land of Yisrael but they want the land on the other side of the Jordan

Journeys

These are the journeys of the Israelites, who had left Egypt in organized groups under the leadership of Moses and Aaron.
Moses recorded their stops along the way at HaShem’s command. These were their stops along the way:

The Israelites left Ra’meses on the 15th of the first month. On the day after the Passover [sacrifice] the Israelites left triumphantly before the eyes of the Egyptians. Egypt was still burying all their first-born, who had been killed by HaShem, and HaShem had destroyed their idols.
The Israelites left Ra’meses and camped in Sukkoth.
They left Sukkoth, and camped in Etham at the edge of the desert.
They left Etham, and returned to Freedom Valley facing Lord-of-the-North, camping near Tower.
They left Freedom Valley and crossed the Red Sea toward the desert. They then traveled for three days in the Etham Desert and camped in Marah.
They left Marah and came to Elim. In Elim there were twelve water springs and seventy palms, and they camped there.
They left Elim and camped near the Red Sea.
They left the Red Sea and camped in the Sin Desert.
They left the Sin Desert and camped in Dofkah.
They left Dofkah and camped in Alush.
They left Alush and camped in Rephidim, where there was no water for the people to drink.
They left Rephidim and camped in the Sinai Desert.
They left the Sinai Desert and camped in Graves-of-Craving.
They left Graves-of-Craving and camped in Chatzeroth.
They left Chatzeroth and camped in Rithmah.
They left Rithmah and camped in Rimmon Peretz.
They left Rimmon Peretz and camped in Livnah.
They left Livnah and camped in Rissah.
They left Rissah and camped in Kehelathah.
They left Kehelathah and camped at Mount Shefer.
They left Mount Shefer and camped in Charadah.
They left Charadah and camped in Mak’heloth.
They left Mak’heloth and camped in Tachath.
They left Tachath and camped in Terach.
They left Terach and camped in Mithkah.
They left Mithkah and camped in Chashmonah.
They left Chashmonah and camped in Moseroth.
They left Moseroth and camped in Beney Yaakan.
They left Beney Yaakan and camped in Chor HaGidgad.
They left Chor HaGidgad and camped in Yatvathah.
They left Yatvathah and camped in Avronah.
They left Avronah and camped in Etzyon Gever.
They left Etzyon Gever and camped in Kadesh in the Tzin Desert.
They left Kadesh and camped at Hor Mountain at the edge of the land of Edom.

Aaron the priest climbed Hor Mountain at HaShem’s command, and he died there on the first day of the fifth month, in the 40th year of the Israelites’ exodus from Egypt.
When he died on Hor Mountain, Aaron was 123 years old.

Final Journeys

The Canaanite king of Arad, who lived in the Negev in the land of Canaan, heard that the Israelites had arrived.
They left Hor Mountain and camped in Tzalmonah.
They left Tzalmonah and camped in Punon.
They left Punon and camped in Ovoth.
They left Ovoth and camped in the Desolate Passes on Moab’s borders.
They left the passes and camped in Divon Gad.
They left Divon Gad and camped in Almon Divlathaymah.
They left Almon Divlathaymah and camped in the Avarim mountains in front of Nebo.
They left the Avarim mountains and camped in the West Plains of Moab on the Jericho Jordan.
There they camped along the Jordan from Beth HaYeshimoth to Avel Shittim on the West Plains of Moab.

Occupying the Land

HaShem spoke to Moses in the West Plains of Moab on the Jericho Jordan, telling him to speak to the Israelites and say to them: “When you cross the Jordan into the land of Canaan, you must drive out the land’s inhabitants ahead of you. You must destroy all their carved stones and demolish all their cast metal idols and high altars. Clear out the land and live in it, since it is to you that I am giving the land to occupy. It is by a lottery system that you shall distribute the land to your families. To a large family give a large portion; to a smaller one, give a smaller portion. Distribute the land to the paternal tribes, and each one shall have what the lottery system dictates. If you do not drive out the land’s inhabitants before you, those who remain shall be barbs in your eyes and thorns in your sides, causing you troubles in the land that you settle. I will then do to you what I originally planned to do to them.”

The Land’s Boundaries

HaShem spoke to Moses, telling him to give the Israelites instructions and say to them:

“When you come to the land of Canaan, this is the land within the borders of the land of Canaan that shall be your hereditary territory. Your southern sector shall begin in the Tzin Desert alongside Edom. The southern border to the east shall be the edge of the Dead Sea. The border shall then turn to pass to the south of the Akrabim Steps. It shall then pass toward Tzin with its southernmost point at Kadesh Barnea, and then extend to Chatzar Adar and reach as far as Atzmon. From Atzmon the border shall turn north and follow the Egyptian Wadi which shall be its far boundary to the west. The western boundary shall be the Mediterranean Sea and its shores. This shall be your western border. This shall be your northern boundary. From the Mediterranean Sea, draw a line to Hor Mountain. From Hor Mountain draw a line along the Chamath Highway, so that the extreme edge of the boundary is toward Tzedad. The border shall then extend through Zifron, with its extreme end at Chatzar Eynan. This shall be your northern border. For your eastern boundary, you shall draw a line from Chatzar Eynan to Shefam. The boundary shall then run southward from Shefam to Rivlah to the east of Eyin. Continuing to the south, the boundary shall run along the eastern shore of the Kinnereth Sea. The boundary shall then continue south along the Jordan, continuing until the Dead Sea. All these shall be your boundaries on all sides.”

Moses gave the Israelites the following instructions: “This is the land that HaShem commanded you to give to nine tribes and a half tribe, and which you must distribute as hereditary property through a lottery system.

However, the tribe of the Reubenite descendants, the Gaddite descendants, and half the tribe of Manasseh have already taken their hereditary property.

These two and a half tribes have already taken their hereditary property across the Jordan from Jericho, to the east. ”

New Leadership

HaShem spoke to Moses, saying: “These are the names of the men who shall parcel out the land. First, there shall be Eleazar the priest and Joshua son of Nun.

You shall also appoint one leader from each tribe to help parcel out the land.

These are the names of the men:
For the tribe of Judah, Caleb son of Yefuneh.
For the tribe of Simeon’s descendants, Shemuel son of Amihud.
For the tribe of Benjamin, Elidad son of Kislon.
For the tribe of Dan’s descendants, the leader is Bukki son of Yagli.
Among Joseph’s sons, for the tribe of Manasseh’s descendants, the leader is Chaniel son of Ephod.
For the tribe of Ephraim’s descendants, the leader is Kemuel son of Shiftan.
For the tribe of Zebulun’s descendants, the leader is Elitzafan son of Parnakh.
For the tribe of Issachar’s descendants, the leader is Paltiel son of Azzan.
For the tribe of Asher’s descendants, the leader is Achihud son of Shelomi.
For the tribe of Naphtali’s descendants, the leader is Pedah-el son of Amihud. ”
These are the people that HaShem commanded to distribute to the Israelites their hereditary property in the land of Canaan.

Levitical Cities

HaShem spoke to Moses in the West Plains of Moab on the Jericho Jordan, saying: “Give orders to the Israelites, and have them give the Levites residential cities from their hereditary holdings. Also provide the Levites suburbs around their cities.

The cities shall be their residence, while the suburbs shall be for their animals, property, and other amenities.
The suburbs that you shall give the Levites shall extend outward 1000 cubits from the city wall. You shall measure off outside the city, 2000 cubits on the eastern side, 2000 cubits on the southern side, 2000 cubits on the western side, and 2000 cubits on the northern side. This shall constitute the city’s suburbs, with the city in the exact center.

Along with the cities that you shall give to the Levites shall be the six refuge cities, which you shall provide as [places] to which a murderer can flee. Besides these [six] you shall provide an additional 42 cities. Therefore, the total number of cities that you shall give the Levites shall be 48 cities along with their suburbs. These cities shall be given from the holdings of the Israelites, more from a larger holding, and fewer from a smaller one. Each tribe shall therefore give the Levites cities in proportion to the hereditary property that it has been given.

Refuge Cities

HaShem spoke to Moses, telling him to speak to the Israelites and say to them: “Now that you are crossing the Jordan into the land of Canaan, you must designate towns which shall serve you as refuge cities to which a murderer, who killed a person accidentally, can flee. These cities shall serve you as a refuge from the avenger, so that a murderer not die until he can stand trial before the courts.

The towns that you provide for yourselves shall be six cities in all. As refuge cities, you shall provide three towns on [this] side of the Jordan, and three in the land of Canaan. These cities shall be a place of refuge for both proselytes and residents among the Israelites, so that anyone who accidentally kills a person shall be able to escape there. Of course, if one strikes his victim purposely with an iron weapon, killing him, then he is a murderer, and he must be put to death for murder.

Similarly, if he strikes with a hand-held stone that can be a deadly weapon, and the victim dies, he is a murderer and must be put to death for murder. Likewise, if he strikes with a deadly wooden hand weapon, and the victim dies, he is a murderer and must be put to death for murder. In such cases, after the trial, the blood avenger shall kill the murderer, and he can kill him wherever he finds him. The same law applies if the killer pushes down his victim or throws something down on him with hatred, causing the victim to die. This is also true if he maliciously strikes him with his hand, causing the victim to die. The person dealing the blow is a murderer and he must be put to death. Once he has been tried, the blood avenger shall kill him wherever he finds him. This is not true, however, if the killer pushes down his victim accidentally and without malice, or throws any object at him without planning to kill him.

Even if it is a stone that can kill, if he did not see the victim, and it killed him by falling on him, he is not a murderer, since he was not an enemy and did not bear his victim any malice. In such cases, the court shall follow these laws and judge between the killer and the blood avenger. The court shall protect the accidental murderer from the blood avenger, and return him to the refuge city to which he fled. The killer must live there until the death of the high priest anointed with the sacred oil.
If the killer goes outside the boundaries of the refuge city to which he fled, and the blood avenger finds him outside the borders of his refuge city, then if the blood avenger puts the killer to death, it is not an act of murder. The killer is thus obligated to live in his refuge city until the high priest dies. After the high priest dies, the killer may return to his hereditary land.

These shall be the rules of law for you for all generations, no matter where you may live.
If anyone kills a human being, the murderer shall be put to death on the basis of eyewitness testimony. However, a single eyewitness may not testify against a person where the death penalty is involved. Do not take ransom for the life of a murderer who is under the death penalty, since he must be put to death. Similarly, if one has fled to his refuge city, do not take ransom to allow him to return and live in the land before the high priest dies.

Do not pollute the land in which you live; it is blood that pollutes the land. When blood is shed in the land, it cannot be atoned for except through the blood of the person who shed it. You must not defile the land upon which you live and in which I dwell, since I, HaShem, dwell among the Israelites. ”

Intermarriage Between Tribes

The paternal leaders of the family of Gilead, son of Makhir, son of Manasseh, came forth and spoke before Moses and the leaders who were the paternal heads of the Israelites.

They said, “HaShem has commanded you to give the land to the Israelites as hereditary property through a lottery system. You have also been commanded by HaShem to give the hereditary property of Tzelafchad our brother to his daughters. But if they marry a member of another Israelite tribe, then the hereditary property coming to us from our fathers will be diminished, since it will be added to the tribe into which they marry. Our hereditary property from the lottery system will thus be diminished. Even if the Israelites have the jubilee, their hereditary property will be added to the property of the tribe into which they marry, and it will be subtracted from the property of our fathers’ tribe.”

Moses gave the Israelites instructions at HaShem’s command, saying, “The tribe of Joseph’s descendants have a just claim.
This is the word that HaShem has commanded regarding Tzelafchad’s daughters: You may marry anyone you wish as long as you marry within your father’s tribe. The hereditary property of the Israelites will thus not be transferred from one tribe to another, and each person among the Israelites will remain attached to the hereditary property of his father’s tribe. Thus, every girl who inherits property among the Israelite tribes shall marry a member of her father’s tribe. Each Israelite will then inherit his fathers’ hereditary property, and the hereditary property will not be transferred from one tribe to another. Each of the Israelite tribes will then remain attached to its hereditary property.”

Tzelafchad’s daughters did exactly as HaShem had commanded Moses. Machlah, Tirtzah, Chaglah, Milcah and No’ah, the daughters of Tzelafchad, married their cousins. They thus married into the families of Manasseh son of Joseph, and their hereditary property remained with their father’s family. These are the commandments and laws that HaShem instructed the Israelites through Moses in the West Plains of Moab on the Jericho Jordan.

a good Kid review of the portion is here

TEN: Parshat Matot- Masei

With two parshot this week, we’re covering a lot of ground. This week we start getting ready to go into the land of Israel and get a picture of how to set up life once there.
1.       Who did Bnei Israel wage war against and WIN in this week portion?
Midian (31:3).
2.       Do only the people who fought the war get to keep the items they won?
No, they share the reward with the whole nation, as well as putting aside a portion for the Priests and Levites (31:25-30)
3.       What did the tribes of Reuben and Gad ask for?
They asked to stay and inherit land on the other side of the Jordan River since the land was much better for raising livestock (32:4-5)
4.       Why was Moses opposed to their request?
Moses thought it was unfair that the tribes of Reuben and Gad would stay behind and not help their brethren fight for the land of Israel. (32:6)
5. What compromise was reached?
The tribes of Reuben and Gad would cross the Jordan and fight for the land and only after it was conquered would they return to their families (32:25-27).
6.       What does Bnei Israel have to do once they win the land of Israel?
They must destroy all former forms of worship and they must expel all the old inhabitants. (33:52)
7.       Who are the two new leaders of Bnei Israel who will take ownership of the land?
Elazar the Preist and Joshua Ben Nun (34:17)
8.       Where are the cities for Levites?
They exist within all the other tribes’ portions (35:2)
9.       What happens if a person unintentionally kills another man?
He must run to one of the 6 designated cities of refuge (35:11-13)
10.   If two people from different tribes get married, whose tribe inheritance are they included in, their mother or father?
Their father’s (36:7).

Worksheets and Copy work for Parasha

Color Pages of the Torah Portion:

Crafts for this Portion

make a map of israel and mark the journey of the people !!!

Parshat Matot - Masei

Invite the herd to your Shabbat table with this week's Parsha craft project!

Introduction:

In this week’s parsha, Parshat Matot, we learn that the tribes of Reuven and Gad owned large flocks of sheep. They requested permission from Moshe to settle on the east bank of the Jordan River so that they would have more land for grazing. Initially, Moshe is angered by this request but they assure him that they would first help settle the Land of Israel before they returned east.

This is a great opportunity to recycle some basic items that you already have in the house – qtips, cotton balls, and toilet paper rolls – to make adorable wooly sheep! Each child can make a whole bunch of them so that you have a large flock of sheep like the 2 ½ tribes!

Materials needed:

Cotton balls
Toilet paper roll
Glue
Black felt
Googly eyes
Plastic shot glass
Q-tips

Instructions:

1. Glue cotton balls all over toilet paper roll.

2. Glue black felt to cover the plastic shot glass.

3. Glue the eyes onto the glass and glue the glass onto the cotton balls.

4. Fold q-tips in half and glue to the bottom of the toilet paper roll.

Sunday, July 8, 2012

Pinchas | פנחס | “Phinehas”

Phinehas is a name and the name means The Bronze-Colored One , Bronze is always a color of judgement

A Hebrew audience may have seen in this name a compound of the words peh

(peh) meaning mouth; and the root nhsh

(nhsh -1350):

The assumed root nhsh

(nhsh) yields derivation nhsh

(nahash), meaning serpent, snake (as in Eden).

The verb

(nahash) means learn by experience or by omen. Derivation nhsh

(nahash) means divination.

The assumed root nhsh

(nhsh) yields

(nehoshet), copper; nahush

(nahush), bronze; and nehusha

(nehusha), copper, bronze.

The assumed root nhsh

(nhsh) yields derivation

(nehoshet), lust, harlotry.

Torah: Numbers 25:10-30:1

Haftorah: I Kings 18:46-19:21

Brit Chadashah: Matthew 26:1-30

Gospel:

Mark 11:27-12:37

Therefore say, 'Behold, I give to him My covenant of peace; and it shall be to him and his descendants after him a covenant of an everlasting priesthood, because he was zealous for his God, and made atonement for the children of Israel.' "
(Num 25:12-13)

Num 25:12-13

לכן אמר הנני נתן לו את־בריתי שׁלום׃
והיתה לו ולזרעו אחריו ברית כהנת עולם תחת אשׁר קנא לאלהיו ויכפר על־בני ישׂראל׃

The main Focus of the Torah portion is:

because of Phinehas the priesthood would always be blessed.
Israel went to war with Moab because of Peor and they took there land
Israel was counted so they could divide up the land for the people.
the daughters of Zelophehad went to Moses and asked for an inheritance since they had no brothers and their father was dead.
God reminds Moses that he doesn't get to go in the land and appoints Joshua to take over when Moses dies.
goes over the offerings for the feasts.

A good portion for Adults or older kids to read is found here or here

a good kids one is found here

TEN: Parshat Pinchas

Parshat Pinchas teaches us the significance of being significant – through our census and through our inheritance rights.
1. Who are the Israelites ordered to fight?
Midianites (25:17).
2. How old must the Israelite be to be counted in the new census?
20 (26:2).
3. How many men were counted in the new census that were 20 years old or older?
601,730 (26:51).
4. Why was this census so important?
The census determined the inheritance of the land. The larger tribes got more land (26:52-56).
5. Why was the tribe of Levites counted differently?
Because they did not get a portion of the land (26:62)
6. What did the 5 daughters of Tzelafchad want?
Their father’s inheritance. Generally only sons inherited land, but their father had no sons (27:4).
7. What happened because of the daughters request?
The laws of inheritance were changed to include daughters as well (27:6-8).
8. Since Moses sinned he was not allowed to enter Israel. What did Hashem allow Moses to do?
Go up to Mount Abarim and see Israel (27:12)
9. Who was appointed Moses’ successor?
Joshua Ben Nun (27:18)
10. How many different offerings do we learn about at the end of this week’s portion?
There are nine: Daily, Shabbat, New Moon, Passover, Shavuot, Rosh Hashana, Yom Kippur, Succot, Shmeni Atzeres (28)

Worksheets and Copy work for Parasha

Color Pages of the Torah Portion:

Aish
Torah tots

Crafts for this Portion

Parshat Pinchas

Introduction:

In Parshat Pinchas, we meet the five daughters of Tzelafchad: Machlah, No'ah, Chaglah, Milkah and Tirtzah. When Tzelafchad dies, these daughters petition Moshe to grant them their father’s inheritance since he had no sons. Their request is ultimately rewarded and they become models of initiative and wisdom. My daughters are pretty much obsessed with any kind of dress up dolls so this was a good opportunity to make five Daughters of Tzelfchad paper dolls.

Materials Needed:

1) Paper

2) Scissors

3) Glue

4) Crayons or markers

5) Optional: Fabric scraps for clothing, yarn for hair, googly eyes, etc.

Instructions:

1. Fold a piece of paper like a fan or accordion.

2. Draw the design of a figure on the top panel. Make sure the design touches both sides of the paper.

3. Cut out the doll pattern.

4. Decorate each doll with markers, or glue on ribbon, yarn, and fabric for hair and clothes.

5. On the back of each doll, write one of the names of the daughters so that you can practice learning their names.

Emily Shapiro Katz has been a community Jewish educator for over ten years in Jerusalem, Atlanta, and San Francisco. This summer, she will move to Beer Sheva with her husband, Andy, and daughters Maya, age 5 and Avital, age 2. Her contributions to this website reflect her interest in teaching Tanach, doing craft projects, and entertaining her kids. Emily blogs about her Parsha Projects athttp://parshaprojects.blogspot.com/

Monday, July 2, 2012

Balak | בלק | “Balak”

"the name Balak means to lay waste or Destroy"

Torah Portion:  Numbers 22:2- 25:9

HafTorah: Micah 5:6- 6:8

Brit Chadashah: 2 Peter 2:1-22; Jude 11; Revelation 2:14-15

מה־טבו אהליך יעקב משׁכנתיך ישׂראל׃

Ma tovu ohalecha Ya-akov. Mish-k'notecha Yisrael.

How good are thy tents, O Jacob.

Thy tabernacles, O Yisrael.

The main Focus of the Torah portion is:

Balak The king of Moab was afraid of Israel so he called for Balaam to come and CURSE ISRAEL.
Balaam said he wouldn't come for GOD would not let him, Balak called again for Balaam and This time he went.
GOD sent the Angel of the LORD to stop Balaam's Donkey.
Balaam beat the Donkey for not going. GOD Caused the donkey to speak and rebuke Balaam. then the Angel appeared before Balaam. He told Balaam to only say what GOD told him to say.
GOD used Balaam to BLESS Israel.
But Balaam Tells Balak how to get Israel and Balak listens.
Unfortunately, the children of Israel then begin to sin by serving idols and being with non-Jewish woman. A man named Zimri takes a Midianite woman to his tent, and a fierce plague starts spreading, killing many of them. Pinchas, the grandson of Aaron, knows what he must do. He takes his spear and kills Zimri and the woman, and the plague stops.

A good overview of the portion can be found here an easier one for kids to understand can be found Here

TEN: Balak

In this week's Torah reading, we are introduced to a King and a Prophet. The King, Balak, is desperate to curse the Israelites and sends the prophet, Balaam, to do just that. Balaam is repeatedly warned along the way not to curse the Israelites, but he chooses to go anyway. However, as hard as he tries to curse them, Balaam only manages to heap blessing on the Israelites.
1. Who is the King of Moab in this week's Torah reading?
Balak son of Zippor. (22:4)
2. When asked to curse the Jews, how does Balaam respond?
Let me spent the night and perhaps God will instruct me what to do. (22:8)
3. In the morning what does Balaam say?
Balaam says he is heading back home because God does not allow him to go to curse the Israelites. (22:13)
4. What did God say to let Balam go?
If Balak's men come again, you may go but you must follow the words I tell you. (22:20)
5. Why does the donkey refuse to walk on the path?
An angel keeps appearing with a sword drawn. (22:22-27)
6. What does Balaam’s donkey say when God allow him to speak?
He asks Balaam, "Why have you hit me three times?" (22:28)
7. What does the angel tell Balaam to do?
Go but only speak the words I tell you to. (22:35)
8. How many times does Balaam bless the Jews?
Three. (23:1-29, 24:1-9)
9. Before Balaam leaves what does he do?
He gives Balak a prophecy of what is to happen. (24:15-24)
10. What is the name of the god that the Israelites start to pray to?
Baal-peor. (25:3)

Worksheets and Copy work for Parasha

Color Pages of the Torah Portion:

Crafts for this Portion

Donkey Paper Bag Puppet: Balak

In this week’s parsha, Parshat Balak, we meet the second (and final) talking animal in the Torah (the first being the snake in Eden). The Moabite prophet Balaam is sent to curse the Israelites and his donkey sees an angel in their path. When the donkey stops, Balaam strikes him. God opens the mouth of the donkey and he complains to Balaam about his maltreatment. Finally, Balaam’s eyes are opened to see the angel.
Kids love talking animals. And, kids love puppets. So, the perfect craft for this week’s parsha is a fun donkey puppet!
Materials:

Paper lunch bag
Brown felt, foam, or construction paper
Brown yarn
Large googly eyes

Instructions:
1.    Cut out ears, face, arms, tail, and nostrils out of brown felt.
2.    Glue shapes onto paper bag.
3.    Glue on googly eyes.
4.    Cut pieces of yarn and glue them onto head and tail.
5.    Stick your hand in the bag and make your donkey talk!

Make your own donkey Paper bag puppet. Find instructions here with a printable.