I love social media - how else would I find these interesting little articles that aren't found in the mainstream media!?
Today I found an article on making a DIY Sustainable Hanukkiah for your Hanukkah celebration - check it out here:
The article also linked to this site on Hazon, a Jewish environmental organization. There you can find a list of healthy, sustainable ways to celebrate Hanukkah. There are ideas on making your own green Hanukkah decorations to a list of resources for an eco-conscious, sustainable holiday.
We often forget how to transmit the idea of something for our younger audience. Check out this piece, written two early childhood educators, how to bring part of the Hanukkah story to life.
"Jacob sent (vayishlach) messengers ahead to his brother Esau in the land of Seir..."
Our story continues 20 years after last week's parsha, Vayetze, where Jacob left Canaan for Haran,
meeting Rachel and entering into a problematic betrothal agreement with
her father, Laban, that ended with his marriage to both Rachel and her
older sister, Leah. In ParshatVayishlach,
Jacob decides to return to Canaan with his large family, and begins to
nervously prepare for his reunion with his estranged brother Esau, whose
land they must pass through during their travels. His messengers return
with the report that Esau is bringing 400 men to his meeting with
Jacob. Obviously threatened by this news, Jacob divides up his family
and flocks into two camps, hoping that one will survive if the other
faces what Jacob considers to be an inevitable attack. After sending
Esau a lavish gift of animals, Jacob begins the process of moving along
his entourage. Once he safely sees the last across a river, Jacob was
left alone. That evening, he wrestles with a mysterious "man" who
injures Jacob in the thigh, leaving him with a limp, and bestowing upon
him a new name, Yisrael,
meaning "one who has struggled/wrestled with God." Eventually, Jacob
and Esau meet without incident and peacefully go their separate ways.
After a brief detour through Shechem, God tells Jacob to travel on to Bethel
and to build an altar there. Once they arrive in the appointed place,
God appears to Jacob and confirms upon him this new name of Yisrael
and reaffirms with him the covenant made between God and the family of
Abraham. Rachel dies in childbirth (with Benjamin) and is buried along
the road to Ephrat. Isaac dies at the ripe old age of 180, and both Esau and Jacob do their duty by their father and bury him. The parshaconcludes with the recitation of the genealogy of Esau's descendants.
A few questions for your Shabbat table:
Jacob's new name was Yisrael, or Israel, which means to struggle with God. What does it mean to struggle with God? Have you ever struggled with God?
A person's name is very important, sometimes telling what the person is like. In the Torah, when someone's name is changed, it means that the person has changed too. How do you think Jacob changed when he became Yisrael? What does your name teach you?
Part of ParshatVayishlach
shows us the tension Jacob anticipated in his meeting with Esau. Have
you ever had a fight with anyone in your family? How did you feel? What
feelings did you have to wrestle with in order to make peace with each
other?
Jacob received his new name after he wrestled with a man (ish,
in Hebrew), but his new name says that he wrestled with God, not a man.
Why do you think this is? Was the mysterious wrestler a man, or perhaps
something else?
Many synagogues are called "Beth El," like the site in this parsha
where God tells Jacob to build an altar. Beth El literally means "a
house of God" - what do you think makes a synagogue like a house of God?
And for your viewing pleasure, this week's parsha from g-dcast.com, narrated by incomparable Dara Horn:
Hanukkah usually brings to mind images of flickering candlelight, the aroma of gently frying potatoes and onion, and the sweet taste of a jelly filled sufganiyah, or donut. It has been a while since I've attempted to make my own jelly-filled donuts for this holiday, but after seeing this post over at kveller.com, I'm highly tempted to try this Cafe Du Monde specialty. Try it out and let us know how yours came out - I think Nutella would make an excellent filling!
Parshat Vayeitzei, the seventh portion in the book of Genesis (Bereisheet), tells of Jacob leaving (va'yeitzei - and he left) Beer Sheva and headed for Haran. Along the way, he stops for the evening, and goes to sleep, using a stone for a pillow. That night he had dreamt of a ladder than stretched up to the heavens with angels ascending and descending the structure. God stands beside Jacob and tells him that the land on which he stands will one day belong to Jacob and his descendants and they will be blessed. Additionally, God promises that Jacob will return safely to his home.
In Haran, Jacob comes to his Uncle Laban's house, and falls in love with Laban's daughter, Rachel. In exchange for Rachel's hand, Jacob agrees to work for seven years. At the end of the seven years, the wedding feast Jacob prepares to marry Rachel, but finds Leah as his bride instead. Understandably upset by this outcome, Jacob confronts Laban, only to be told that it is not Laban's practice to marry off the younger daughter before the older. The agree that Jacob will be allowed to marry Rachel as well, but must work another seven years.
After his many years of servitude and the births of many children, Jacob decides it is time to leave his uncle's home and return to the land of his birth. Jacob and Laban work out an agreement over the payment of Jacob's wages, but Laban's sons are unhappy with the arrangement. With Laban suddenly expressing some doubts as well and the situation becoming increasingly tense, Jacob, Rachel, and Leah decide to leave quickly, not even stopping to say goodbye. On the way, Rachel steals her father's set of idols. When Laban discovers that these important items are missing, he persues his daughters and son-in-law. Laban catches up with the groups, and he and Jacob discuss the matter, eventually resolving a number of issues that had built up between the two of them over Jacob's twenty years with Laban's household. The two reconcile, and Jacob and his family resume their journey.
Questions for your Shabbat table:
When Jacob awoke from his dream, he sensed God's presence and was changed. Have you ever had a dream experience that had such an effect on you?
During his time in Haran, Jacob is the victim of tricks and lies. What do you do when you think someone is not being honest with you?
Have you ever lied to anyone? How does it make you feel? How do you think the other person feels if they discover the truth?
Is it ever acceptable to lie? Why or why not?
At the end of the portion, Jacob and Laban discuss their disagreements and are able to resolve some of their differences. Can you think of someone with whom you disagree with whom you could make peace?
"These are the generations of Isaac the son of Abraham..."
Toldot,
the title of this week's parsha, means "generations," and this portion
of Torah begins by recounting the family background of Isaac in
preparation for its description of his adult life. The story of Isaac
and his beloved Rebecca is very similar to that of his parents, Abraham
and Sarah. Both couples share great difficulty in getting pregnant, and Parshat Toldot
begins with Isaac praying to God on Rebecca's behalf, for she is
barren. Lo and behold, God responds to Isaac's plea and Rebecca
conceives twins. The first twinges of sibling rivalry are felt within
her womb, as it says that they struggle within her. The first twin to
emerge is red and hairy and is named Esau; the other, born holding
Esau's heel, is called Jacob. The twins are quite different from each
other with different interests and temperaments - Esau is a hunter,
Jacob is a quite individual who chooses to stay in camp. Isaac favors
Esau, but Rebecca loves Jacob.
One
day, Esau returns from a day of hunting to find Jacob preparing a
delicious fragrant stew. Esau comes in starving and demands food. As
payment, Jacob, always the wily one, manipulates Esau into selling him
his birthright in return for the hot meal, which Esau does with no
hesitation.
The parsha continues with the tale of a famine in the land, but God commands Isaac to remain in Canaan and not travel to Egypt
so that Isaac might receive the blessings God bestowed upon his father,
Abraham (i.e., a great nation and land). There are interactions with
local neighbors, some cases of mistaken identity and/or relations (Isaac
pretends Rebecca is his sister - much as Abraham did with Sarah when
they traveled to Egypt), Isaac becomes wealthy and is asked to leave the
area, and a series of wanderings ensue, with Isaac eventually settling
in Beersheva and making a peace treaty with the Philistines.
The end of the parsha
brings us the end of Isaac's life - he grows old and the time of
blessing his offspring is at hand. This is the famous story of Rebecca's
intervention that causes Jacob to steal his older brother's blessing.
She convinces Jacob to deceive his father by impersonating him - he dons
animal skins and pretends to be Esau, in turn receiving the blessing
rightfully due his older brother. Jacob, encouraged by his mother's fear
of Esau's reaction to this theft, flees to Haran to his uncle Laban's
home.
A few questions for your Shabbat table:
The
Torah tells us that Jacob and Esau were not identical twins - they
looked very different from each other. In what ways - your appearance,
your hobbies, the way you view the world - are you similar to other
members of your family? In what ways are you different?
Think
of a time that you were jealous of a family member of friend. What made
you jealous? How did you feel inside? How did you act?
For parents: Describe a time when you acted like Rebecca. For children: describe a time when you acted like Jacob.
In order to get his father's blessing, Jacob had to trick Isaac. Was this the right thing to do? Why or why not?
What could this family have done differently? What advice would you give them to handle this situation better?
Think
of a choice you made on impulse. What were the consequences? Would you
have acted differently if you had considered the repercussions of your
actions?
If
Jacob already received his brother's birthright when they agreed on the
deal over a bowl of soup, why did he also need his father's blessing?
This week's parsha, Chayei
Sarah, or "The Life of Sarah," begins with Sarah's death at the age of
127. By this point, Sarah and Abraham were living in Canaan, and at the
time of her death, they had reached KiryatArba, a city now located in the West Bank's Judean Hills near Hebron. It was here that Abraham bargains with Ephron, a Hittite, for a burial place and purchases the Cave of Machpelah (sometimes called the Cave of the Patriarchs) and its surrounding field.
Following Sarah's death, the parsha focuses on the next generation with Abraham's decision that Isaac must wed. He sends his servant Eliezer back to, Aram-Naharaim, Abraham's homeland, in order to find a suitable prospect. Upon arriving in the city of Nahor,
the servant prays to God to direct him to the woman chosen for Isaac.
He approaches a well, the communal gathering area for the city, and
decides for himself what he is looking for: if a young woman approaches
him and offers some help, she would surely be the one God intends.
Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel, comes to the well, and through her kindness to the stranger and her haste to ensure his comfort, it is clear to Eliezer that she is the right wife for Isaac.
Eliezer and Rebekah return to Canaan, where she and Isaac fall in love. The parsha closes with Abraham's death at the age of 137, and Isaac and his brother Ishmael bury him in the Cave of Machpelah beside Sarah.
A few questions for your Shabbat table:
When Eliezer arrives in the city of Nahor,
he is alone and knows no one. What does it feel like to be a stranger?
What kinds of things can you do to make someone who is new to your
school, class, or community feel welcome?
Eliezer decided that the right wife for Isaac would have to pass a kind of test. Why did Rebekah pass Eliezer's test? How can we be more like Rebekah?
When Sarah dies in the beginning of the parsha, it says that Abraham mourned her passing, but the portion says nothing of Isaac's grief until the very end of the parsha.
When Rebekah arrives in Canaan, she and Isaac fall in love. It is at
this point that he is finally able to mourn the loss of his mother. Why
might it have taken the discovery of Rebekah for Isaac to be comforted?
In Chayei Sarah,
Isaac's wife is determined for him by his father. As a family, discuss
whether there are things children should be able to do without their
parents' consent. How does the age of a child affect the answers to this
question? At what age should children be able to act completely
independently of their parents?
In this week's g-dcast cartoon, take a closer look at the interaction between Eliezer and Rebekah.
Last
week's Torah portion, Noach, introduced Terach, the father of Abram,
Abram, and his brothers, Nahor, and Haran. Terach and his family,
including Abram's wife Sarai (whom we are told is barren) and Haran's
son Lot, leave their home in Ur of the Chaldeans for the land of Canaan.
However, they never complete the journey, settling in a place called
Haran instead.
As this week's parasha begins, God says to Abram: "Lech lecha"
meaning "Go forth" from your home and father's house "to a land that I
will show you (Genesis 12:1)." God promises to bless Abram and make of
him a great nation. So Abram sets out with Sarai, Lot, their material
possessions, and "the souls that they had acquired in Haran (Genesis
12:5)." When they arrive in Canaan, God again appears to Abram to tell
him that God will assign this land (Canaan) to Abram's descendents.
Abram first
settles in Shechem, but then moves southward. A severe famine induces
him to go to Egypt. Worried that the Egyptians will kill him and take
his beautiful wife, Sarai, Abram instructs her to say she is his sister.
The ploy apparently works, with Sarai being taken into Pharaoh's palace
for the pleasure of the Pharaoh, and Abram acquiring many animals and
slaves. God, however, afflicts the palace with a plague and Pharaoh
discovers the lie and sends Abram and Sarai away.
Returning to
the land of Canaan, conflict between Abram's and Lot's herdsmen develop,
and Abram suggests that they go their separate ways. Lot chose to
settle in the well-watered plain of the Jordan, near the city of Sodom,
while Abram remained in Canaan. Again God appears to Abram, telling him
to look in all directions at the land God will give to his descendents.
As the portion
continues, an intertribal war breaks out during which Lot and his
family are taken captive. When Abram learns of this, he gathers
soldiers, pursues the captors, and frees Lot and his family.
Once again,
God appears to Abram, promising him a great reward. Abram asks God how
this can be, since he is going to die childless. But God promises him
that his offspring will be as numerous as the stars of heaven. God
directs Abram to offer sacrifices, which Abram does.
Sarai gives
Abram her handmaid Hagar to bear a child. But when Hagar becomes
pregnant, tensions develops between the two women. When Sarai complains
to Abram, he tells her to do what she wants to do. She treats Hagar
harshly, and Hagar runs away. An angel of God appears to her and tells
her to return, promising her a son, Ishmael.
God again appears to Abram -- now 99 years of age -- repeating promises of the covenant. God changes his name to Abraham,
which the Torah ascribes with the meaning "the father of a multitude of
nations. God also changes Sarai's name to Sarah. God introduces a sign
of the covenant: every male shall be circumcised at eight days old. God
also promises that Abraham and Sarah will bear a son, Isaac, who will
carry on the covenant. As the portion ends, Abraham, Ishmael, and all
the males in Abraham's household are circumcised.
Table talk
In what ways do you think it is important to break with the past, and in what ways must we maintain ties?
The last two words of verse 2 can be translated as it (your name) shall be a blessing, or as you shall be a blessing.
What is the difference? Think of one of your ancestors. How was he or
she a blessing to you? How has his or her name been a blessing to you?
Abram might have found it
difficult to leave family and friends behind, as Ramban suggests, but he
packed up and settled in Canaan. When is the draw of a new place strong
enough to outweigh ties to a place you’ve lived? Would you ever
consider moving to Israel, as Abram did?
Why do you think
God insisted that Abram leave his homeland, and his family and travel to
a new land? What are some of the qualities that Abram had that enabled
him to make his journey? In what ways do you think this journey was both
physical and spiritual?
Imagine how hard it
was for Abram to obey God and leave everything behind and go to a new
place! What kind of person do you think Abram was? Make a list of all
the words that you can think of that describe someone like Abram. How
many of those words describe you?
Many of our
grandparents or great grandparents had to leave the place of their birth
and travel a great distance in order to start a new life in America. Do
some research into your family history and find out why your ancestors
left their homeland.
Think of
something new that you would like to introduce to your family's Shabbat
observance. This might be something as simple as singing Shabbat songs
after dinner or it could be a decision not to do any work or shopping on
Shabbat. What can you learn from this week's Torah portion that might
help you start on this new journey?
Every so often, I come across a parent who asks, "Is it okay to trick or treat on Halloween?" It's an understandable question - while Halloween today holds mainly secular traditions and themes, it hasn't always been that way. So, as a Jew, is it okay to trick or treat? Is there anything wrong with dressing up and hitting the pavement?
Check out this article over at Kveller.com - much food for thought!
Throughout the first stories of the Torah, people begin to learn
about the responsibilities and boundaries of their relationship with
God. In last week's parsha, ParshatB'reishit,
we see Adam and Eve punished for disobeying God's rules and learn the
lessons involving familial responsibilities taken from the experiences
of Cain and Abel. In this week's parsha, Parshat Noach,
we skip forward ten generations. The world has gotten so bad that God
decides to start anew. Luckily, there was a man named Noah, a tzaddik,
someone whom the Torah calls "righteous," which apparently goes a long
way in a world filled with murder, meanness, and people generally not
treating each other appropriately. It was such a good thing that God
tasks Noah with building an ark and saving his family and a whole bunch
of animals - seven pairs of "clean" (kosher) animals and one pair of
"unclean" animals (b'reishit 7:2). Once the flood waters recede, it is up to Noah's family and passengers to repopulate the world.
Unfortunately,
while Noah's righteousness saved his family from the devastation of the
great flood, it did not seem to pass through the subsequent
generations. By the time we get to the story of Babel, located towards
the end of Parshat Noach,
humans have grown proud and try to build a tower that will reach the
sky. God disapproves, the tower comes crashing down, and humans are left
with a number of different languages, unable to communicate
effectively.
Some questions to ponder (perhaps at your Shabbat dinner table):
How
does the Torah describe Noah? What types of character traits do you
think Noah had? How was he different from the other people around him?
In several of the stories in the first part of B'reishit,
people are punished for trying to be like God - give some examples of
how it can be good to try to be like God. What are some things God can
do that you are unable to do?
How many of each animal does God
instruct Noah to bring on the ark? Why are there different numbers? Are
there animals you think should have been left off? Why?
Noah's
family was stuck on the ark together for a very long time - how do you
think they felt at the end of their boat ride? Has your family ever
taken a long trip together? What was that experience like?
The last story in this parsha has a lot to say about communication - what are some ways your family can communicate better?
Just for fun, here is a quick animated look at Parshat Noach, courtesy of G-dcast.com.
I was perusing one of my favorite Jewish websites, Kveller, and I noticed they had this article up, telling of a honey taste test. What a great idea for Rosh Hashanah! Take it one step further, and set up a buffet with a variety of apple slices along with your honey selection! What is your favorite this year? Honey Crisp Apples with anything might be mine!
This week's portion is actually a double portion - Nitzavim and Vayelech. The Torah is divided up into 54 portions, so every once in a while we are gifted with a double portion. This week is one of those.
Check out this resource for some great family Torah discussions of this week's portions.
For a quick look at some of this week's reading, check out this g-dcast video.
It is September.School has resumed, and families are once again juggling homework and extracurricular activities and finding ways to add meaningful time together to that balance.The Jewish fall holidays, beginning later this month, always led a certain freshness to the season.Amidst sports and music lessons, taking the time to celebrate Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, and Simchat Torah is the perfect way to make family time special.
There are some really great new Jewish books recently released, so as you look to find something new to augment your apples and honey, take a peek at these.
Joseph always welcomes guests to his Sabbath table, while his greedy neighbor Judah scoffs at Joseph’s generosity. Even as his fortunes decline, Joseph’s door remains open. But times change and Judah turns to his Joseph for help. A very special fish helps Joseph save the day. (Grades K-3)
“How can a vegetable be ‘rude’?” Talia wonders, when she mis-hears her grandmother asking her to gather “root” vegetables for a Rosh Hashanah stew. As Talia digs in the garden, she collects the twisted, ornery carrots and parsnips – the “rude” vegetables that she thinks her grandmother wants -- and finds a good home for the rest. (PreK-2)
Waking up early in the morning on Sukkot, Sadie and Ori decide to serve breakfast in the sukkah. But when the table is set and the food is ready, they remember that a sukkah celebration needs guests. No one is awake, so who should they invite? (PreK-1)
Beginning with the story of Creation, the Bible teaches us to use and respect the land, conserve natural resources, and save energy. The Bible stories of Noah, Abraham, Joshua and others are retold, and reinforced with activities that will help young readers understand how to nurture and protect the environment. (Grades 3-5)
In 1938, Lily Renée Wilheim is a 14-year-old Jewish girl living in Vienna. Her days are filled with art and ballet. Then the Nazis march into Austria, and Lily's life is shattered overnight. Suddenly, her own country is no longer safe for her or her family. To survive, Lily leaves her parents behind and travels alone to England.Escaping the Nazis is only the start of Lily's journey. She must escape many more times--from servitude, hardship, and danger. Will she find a way to have her own sort of revenge on the Nazis? Follow the story of a brave girl who becomes an artist of heroes and a true pioneer in comic books.
When Levi’s older brother Boaz makes an uncharacteristic decision to join the Marines, his Israeli-American family is shocked. He returns safely but hardly speaks to anyone and barely leaves his room. When Boaz claims he is going on a hiking trip, Levi follows him on a journey from Boston to Washington, DC on foot and comes to understand the depth of his brother’s pain, and his love and loyalty for his family. (Grades 8-12)
Social-clinical psychologist Mogel concentrates on the hidden blessings of raising teenagers in this engaging follow-up to The Blessing of a Skinned Knee. Intermingling wisdom and guidelines from Judaism and adolescent psychology, Mogel compares the teen years to the journey from Egypt to the Promised Land. As kids wander in the "desert" of adolescence, she advises parents to offer counsel and guidance, demonstrate empathy without entanglement, and resist the urge to intervene or rescue. In chapters peppered with true-to-life examples and humor, Mogel examines the blessings of a B minus, staying up late, hangovers, breaking the rules, and a variety of other teen topics, urging parents not just to look on the bright side, but to help kids benefit from the learning opportunities inherent in difficult situations.
We currently find ourselves in the Jewish month of Elul, a month in which Jews around the world begin to ready themselves for the solemnity of the High Holy Days of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, occurring only a month away in Tishrei. Every day in synagogue, the shofar is sounded, as if this trumpeting sound could awaken ourselves to take stock of the year coming to a close and readying ourselves for the days we spend in prayer and personal reflection.
One of my favorite Elul resources is Jewels of Elul, started by Craig Taubman (for more information on this very talented musician, see his website - Craig 'n Co: Soundtracks for Life). For the past six years, he has collected short stories, anecdotes, andreflections from some famous and fascinating people, including Natan Sharansky, Rabbi Naomi Levy, Dr. Shelly Dorph, Jeremy Ben Ami, Rabbi Mark Borovitz, and even Lady Gaga! I encourage you to take a look at these Jewels of Elul, found at http://letmypeoplesing.com/jewels/ and to contemplate their question of the day. You can sign up to receive a Jewel a Day to your email or your Facebook - just follow the instructions on their web page.
This Sunday brings us a sad anniversary, one which many of us have difficulty with. This is a link to a variety of great resources for the tenth anniversary of 9/11. I hope they are a great resource for you.
Parshat Ki Tetze contains a mixture of seventy-two commandments, dealing with such diverse subjects as the treatment of captives, defiant children, lost animals, birds' nests, roof railings, divorce, rights of aliens, loans, vows, protection of works, parental guilt, charity for the poor, regulations for inheritance, and fair weights and measures - phew! The portion concludes with a warning to remember how the Amalekites attacked the weary Israelites in the desert. Interesting stuff for this week!
Upon entering the land, the Israelites are commanded to establish courts of law within their settlements. Judges are told to be fair and impartial, never accepting bribes or favoring anyone.
Again, Moses warns the people against idolatrous worship. An individual accused of establishing alien worship is declared guilty only upon the testimony of two or more witnesses. The penalty is death.
A case too difficult for a judge to decide is brought before the Levitical priests or magistrates for a ruling.
Should the people choose to establish a monarchy after they take possession of the Land, Moses provides them with a framework for how this is to be done. The king must be an Israelite. He should not have numerous wives or acquire great wealth. The teaching (Torah law) is to guide him at all times.
Moses instructs the people not to become involved in soothsaying or sorcery, for these are idolatrous practices of other nations.
Moses warns the people against false prophets and tells them how to identify a true prophet. Moses continues his discourse by describing the cities of refuge - three cities on each side of the Jordan set aside for individuals who accidentally kill someone. Moses further instructs the people to increase the number of refuge cities as their territory increases.
As the portion concludes, Moses discusses the rules by which Israel is to conduct its wars, exempt individuals from wars, and deal with unsolved murders.
For your Shabbat table Torah discussion:
In each of these final portions of the Torah, Moses repeats himself quite often. Why do you think he spends so much time reminding the Israelites of everything that has been told to them?
This parsha is called Shoftim, which means "judges." In this portion, Moses reminds the people that judges must be fair. Is it difficult to always be fair? What qualities must a judge have that would help to keep him/her fair?
There are many rules in the Torah, many of which are repeated here. How do rules help to make things fair? What makes a fair rule? What makes an unfair rule?
Moses tells the people that he has set before them a blessing and a curse - a blessing if they obey God's commandments and a curse if they choose disobedience. The choice is given to Israel. In order to possess the Land, the people must follow the laws established by God.
Moses continues his speech to the people detailing all the laws the people must observe. First, they must destroy the worship sites of foreign gods. The Israelites must then establish a permanent and central worship site. They may slaughter and consume meat in their settlements, but they are not to eat of the tithes set aside for the sacrifice.
The people are twice commanded in this portion to consume no blood of the animals they slaughter.
Moses admonishes the people to be wary of false prophets who might try to lure them into worshipping other gods. The penalty for such worship is death.
Moses reiterates the laws of kashrut to the people.
Moses instructs the people to put aside a tenth part of what they harvest and the firstlings of their herds and flocks as tithes. These are to be consumed at the central sanctuary. If the people live too far away from the sanctuary, money equal to the tithe is to be brought there in place of the actual harvest. They must then purchase food and provisions for a celebration before God.
A portion of the tithes brought by the Israelites is to be used to support the Levites, the orphaned, and the widowed. Israel is to observe a Sabbatical year every seventh year. Laws concerning Hebrew slaves are repeated.
The portion closes with Moses detailing the observance of the three pilgrimage festivals: Feast of Unleavened Bread - Passover; Feast of Weeks - Shavuot; and the Feast of Booths - Sukkot.
Synopsis courtesy of Teaching Torah, by Sorel Goldberg Loeb and Barbara Binder Kadden
For your Shabbat table:
In Parshat Re'eh, Moses teaches the Israelites that they should be different from those around them and not copy their ways - they are not to worship other gods and they are to eat differently than their neighbors, observing the laws of kashrut. What are some ways a Jewish home is different from other homes? What makes your home a Jewish home?
Some commentators have written that the purpose of maintaining kashrut is hygiene; others say it is to achieve holiness. What do you think?
Rules are detailed telling the Israelites to support people in need - the Torah says widows and orphans, but we can take that to mean anyone who is in need of help and support. What are some ways you and your family help others in need?
What would you be willing to give up in order to provide food, clothing, and shelter for others?
This week's g-dcast - a music video on Re'eh from Israel!
By following all the rules established by God, Israel will experience great blessings - health, abundant produce, and fertility. All the enemies of Israel will be vanquished with God's help, and Israel is to destroy all signs of their enemies' idolatrous worship.
A second admonition to obey God's laws is followed by a brief description of Israel's wanderings in the desert. Despite the 40 years of hardship, their clothing did not wear out, neither did their feet swell. Manna was provided for food. God disciplined the Israelites, as a father would discipline his son, in order to teach them to keep God's commandments. Now that Israel is to enter a bountiful Land, the people are cautioned to maintain their faith in God. Moses reminds them to give thanks continually to God for the abundance provided. The people should never assume it is by their own hand that they enjoy the fruits of the Land - all that they have is from God.
By not following God's commandments, Israel would doom itself.
Moses recounts to the Israelites all their acts of defiance: the making of the Golden Calf, complaining about the food and the water, and the incident of the spies. He reminds the people how he interceded with God on their behalf. Because of these pleadings, Israel is still able to enter Canaan.
Moses tells the people that all God wants is that Israel remain faithful to God's laws, worship God, and behave appropriately toward orphans, widows, and strangers. Such acts will result in blessings and prosperity.
This synopsis can be found in Teaching Torah by Sorel Goldberg Loeb and Barbara Binder Kadden.
For your Shabbat table:
In Parshat Ekev, Moses reminds the Israelites to thank God for everything they receive in the new land of Canaan. What are some ways that you thank God for what you have? How frequently do you remember to thank God?
At the end of the parsha, Moses tells the people that it is important to remember God's laws and to live by them. What are some ways you remember to live by the Torah and God's laws?
Jews are instructed to behave appropriately towards orphans, widows, and strangers. What do you think this mean? What is special about widows, orphans, and the stranger, and what can that tell us about how we should behave towards others?
Synopsis Va'etchanan opens with Moses reminding the people how he had pleaded with God to be allowed to see the Promised Land. God relented and allowed Moses to view the Land of Canaan, but in so doing, God reminded Moses to prepare Joshua to be the new leader of the people in their new Land.
Moses continues in his speech to the people, exhorting them to observe the laws and rules given them so that they may enter and occupy the Promised Land. The people are specifically cautioned to follow the entire law. They must not add or delete from that which God has commanded them.
Moses details the very special relationship that God has with the people Israel and emphasizes that this unique connection should in no way be jeopardized. Moses intersperses his warnings to the people with descriptions of various statutes and commandments. These include:
The cities of refuge - cities which are set aside to protect individuals who accidentally kill someone.
A repetition of the Ten Commandments
The first paragraph of the Shema
The prohibition against intermarriage between the Israelites and the nations slated to be dislodged from the Promised Land.
Synopsis courtesy of Teaching Torah, by Sorel Goldberg Loeb and Barbara Binder Kadden
Questions for your Shabbat Table:
Moses reminds the people Israel of their special relationship with God. How is your relationship with God special?
How do you show your love for God? How does your family show their love for God?
One of the reminders Moses includes at the end is the first paragraph of the Shema, which many Jews recite before going to bed at night. Why do Jews say the Shema before going to sleep?
Why do you think Moses repeated those statutes? What is important about each of those rules that he wanted the Israelites to remember?
Tonight begins one of the most solemn holidays of the Jewish calendar - Tisha B'Av. It seems that the holidays that fall during the school year tend to get the most attention, so many people do not know much of this holiday or what it commemorates. Jewish Treats, one of my favorite websites, posted this article about Tisha B'Av - check it out!
Pinchas is the son of the priest Eleazar. Because of his zeal in slaying the Israelite man and the Midianite woman (see Numbers Balak), Pinchas receives a special reward. The high priesthood becomes the possession of his descendants for all time.
At the border of Moab near Jericho, Moses and Eleazar take a census of all male Israelites over 20 years of age, considered able to bear arms. The total is 601, 730. Also counted are 23,000 Levite males from the age of one month. They are counted separately; since they are not eligible for military service; nor are they to receive land. Of those counted, only Joshua, Caleb, and Moses had been counted in the first census in the wilderness of Sinai. All adults who had been a part of the first census after the Exodus died in the desert as decreed by God.
God tells Moses that the land is to be divided among the tribes according to the census. Each section of land, however, is to be assigned by lot.
Five daughters of Zelophehad protest the injustice that land was not given to their family solely because their father had no sons. God advises Moses that the plea of the daughters is just. Moses proclaims a general rule that property is to be inherited in the following order: sons are to inherit first, but if there are no sons, property is to be assigned to daughters. In cases where there are no children, the property of a man is to pass to his brothers, and if there are no brothers, the nearest relative shall inherit.
God tells Moses to ascend the moutnains of Avarim to see the land given to the Israelites. Moses is to prepare to die there. Because of his act of disobedience at the waters of Meribat-Kadaysh, he is not to enter the Promised Land. Moses asks God to appoint a new leader of the community. He is told to ordain Joshua the son of Nun in the sight of Eleazar and the whole Israelite community.
The portion concludes with a detailing of the daily, Sabbath, monthly, and festival sacrifices to be brought before God.Synopsis courtesy of Teaching Torah, by Sorel Goldberg Loeb and Barbara Binder Kadden
For your Shabbat table:
During this week's portion, we learn that the next leader of the Israelites will be Joshua. Who are the leaders of Israel's family who come before Joshua?
What qualities does a good leader possess?
If you were responsible for picking a leader, what type of person would you look for?
Moses was the leader of the Israelites for a very long time. How do you think he felt when he had to start preparing Joshua to take over this important role?
Put yourself in Joshua's place - how would you have felt taking over for Moses? Would it be difficult to take over at the same time as you lost your leader and mentor?
Enjoy a different look at this week's portion via g-dcast:
In this portion, God tells Moses to instruct the entire Israelite community in the laws of holiness. The Israelites are to be holy because God is holy. Therefore, they are to observe the commandments and the laws of the sacrifices. They are to provide for the poor and the stranger, leaving the edges of the fields unharvested and the fallen fruits of their vineyards ungleaned, so that the needy can come and gather food.
The Israelites are told not to insult the deaf or place a stumbling block before the blind and to show respect for the elderly. They are to be fair in judgment and in commerce and they are not to bear a grudge. Moses tells them further to love their neighbors as themselves and to love the strangers in their midst, for the Israelites were strangers themselves in the land of Egypt.
The Israelites are not to mix different species of cattle or seed and tehy are not to wear clothes made from a mixture of two kinds of material.
Moses also reviews the prohibited sexual relations and the punishments for these.
All these laws the Israelites are to observe so that they may be holy to God, Who has set them apart from other peoples, freed them from slavery in Egypt, and chosen them as God's people.
Synopses courtesy of Teaching Torah, by Sorel Goldberg Loeb and Barbara Binder Kadden
For your Shabbat table:
God told the Israelites that they would be holy. What do you think it means to be holy? How are you holy?
How can you act in a holy way?
What are some holy things that your family can do together that you could not do by yourself? How can doing these things together bring you closer to God?
In Parshat Kedoshim, we are told to respect the elderly. What does it mean to respect someone? How is it different from "honor"? Why do you think the Torah uses both these words? What word would you use to describe the ideal relationship between a child and a parent? Why do you think the Torah does not use the word "love"?
And now.. the parsha in cartoon form - courtesy of g-dcast.com:
