Friday, February 26, 2016

דבר תורה כי תשא

Sefer Shmot begins with Bnei Yisrael in Mitzrayim, and speaks about the troubles that they went through.
They were enslaved in terrible ways, and lost so many of their rights as human beings. When taking them out of
these torturous conditions, Hashem made numerous miracles to show the new nation that they were not alone, and that He is strong enough to protect them. He did the 10 makot, split the Yam Suf, sweetened the water of Mara, and much more. 

After proving His existence to Bnei Yisrael, Hashem thought it would be beneficial in their becoming a nation for the Jewish people to work as a group and have a project to work toward together. Throughout the Parshiyot we've read over the past couple of weeks we learned of the group project that they embarked on - building the Mishkan. When you think about it, Hashem didn't need a place to dwell, but he wanted them to have something to work on together so that they could become a cohesive group. Each person had their role in building the Mishkan, whether it was in donating their metals, helping in the building, or serving in it. And it worked - they became a group, a unit. 

In Ki Tisa, Moshe goes up to Har Sinai for 40 days to learn the Torah with Hashem. Bnei Yisrael knew that he would be up there for 40 days, but they miscalculated. When he was a day late, according to their miscalculations, the nation, the unit, felt they needed to do something - together. So they created the Golden Calf. The Golden Calf was a beautiful structure that they formed as a group. They donated all of their gold to this cause, and worked together to build it. A completely misdirected and inappropriate cause, but they worked together as a unit to create it. 

Group work is a strong theme throughout these few Parshiyot. It is a lesson that we could take for ourselves, group work is so powerful. It could be used in such amazing ways - in our shuls, schools, and communities. The chessed opportunities, the tefillah opportunities, and the learning opportunities. But we must make sure that we use our power of group work in the incredible ways that we can, and make sure that we do not fall into the same trap that Bnei Yisrael did, and use it for a misguided cause. 

Shabbat Shalom, 

Rabbi Steven Penn 
Based on a Dvar Torah from Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks


שאלות כי תשא

1. How old did the men have to be in order to give a half a shekel? (30:14)
2. What was that silver used for? (30:16)
3. Who was chosen to supervise the building of the Mishkan? (31:2)
4. What were B’nei Yisrael afraid of? (32:1)
5. Out of what did they make the Golden Calf? (32:2)
6. What was Hashem’s reaction to seeing his people bow down to an idol? (32:10)
7. What was Moshe’s response to Hashem’s anger? (32:11-13)
8. Did B’nei Yisrael feel guilty about their sin? (33:4)
9. What happened after Moshe made new tablets? (34:6)
10. Where were the Ten Commandments to be kept inside the Mishkan?
11. After how long did Moshe return to his people? (34:28)


Friday, February 19, 2016

דבר תורה פרשת תצוה

Rabbi Akiva is famous for declaring "love your neighbor as yourself" is the fundamental principle of the Torah. In the introduction to Ein Yaakov, a collection of amoraic Midrashim, the editor writes of a
Midrash he found discussing the same topic. Ben Zoma supports the Shema as the most fundamental verse, Ben Nanas says "love your neighbor as yourself" and Ben Pazi posits that a verse from our parsha, describing the daily offerings in the mishkan, "offer one lamb in the morning and one lamb in the evening" (Exodus 29:39) is the most fundamental principle in the Torah.  After this declaration, the
Midrash continues that Rav Ploni stood and declared that the law was in accordance with Ben Pazi.
It is easy to understand the reasoning behind the other two answers. The Shema proclaims the oneness of God and the allegiance of Bnei Yisrael to Him. Shema is recited before a brit milah and on the deathbed. Besides the support of Rabbi Akiva for "love thy neighbor as yourself" there is another story in the Talmud that emphasizes the importance of the principle. The Talmud Bavli Shabbat 31a describes a potential convert who desires to be taught the entire Torah on one foot as condition for his conversion. Hillel, quoting the verse, tells him that what is hateful to you do not do to others.
It is difficult to see the fundamental principle behind Ben Pazi's answer. The Maharal suggests that the significance of the verse lies in its simplicity and its daily obligation. This does not explain why Ben Pazi selected this verse instead of others that also describe mitzvot with daily obligations.
Rav Aharon Lichtenstein expands on the Maharal's explanation. In our parsha, the construction of the
Mishkan is incomplete without the daily sacrifice. The daily offering is what gives the Mishkan meaning.
Consistency is a model that gives man meaning as well.
The Mishna in Avot 3:15 states "all is determined by the majority of one's deeds." The Rambam comments that the determining factor in one's personal growth is not the greatness of the deed but the number. The Rambam posits it is better to give $10 to charity one hundred times than to give $1,000 once. The constant dedication necessary to perform these acts will further the generosity of the person. 
We can learn from the daily offering that steady and consistent performance of the mitzvot wins the race.
Shabbat shalom,
Elisha Penn
Class of 2010

שאלות פרשת תצוה

Grades 1 and 2
1. What are the names of Aharon’s four sons? (28:1)
2. Name the eight garments worn by the Kohen Gadol. ( 28:4,26,42)
3.  How many precious stones were put in the Breastplate, Choshen? (28:21)

Grades 3 - 5
1. What does tamid mean in reference to the menorah? (Rashi 27:20)
2. Name the eight garments worn by the Kohen Gadol. (28:4,26,42)
3. During the inauguration of the kohanim, a bullock was brought as a sin offering. For what sin did this offering atone? (Rashi 29:1)


Friday, February 12, 2016

דבר תורה פרשת תרומה


Parshat Terumah

In the second pasuk of Parshat Teruma, Hashem tells Moshe to collect tzedakah in order to build the Mishkan. Hashem does not say collect tzedakah, rather Hashem says “take for me a portion.” Rashi asked what does Hashem mean when he says ‘’take for me’’? Rashi explains that when we give tzedakah we have to give it because Hashem wants us to. It is interesting how Hashem tells us to give tzedaka, Hashem says ‘’ take for me a portion’’ - shouldn't Hashem have said “give a portion”? Hashem is teaching us that whenever we give tzedakah we are really taking not just giving because when we give we are helping ourselves not just somebody else. Giving helps us grow into people who give, and that is something that we take when we give.

Shabbat shalom,
Ahava Silfen

שאלות פרשת תרומה



שאלות פרשת תרומה


Image result for ‫תרומה‬‎Questions K - 2
1. Hashem tells Bnai Yisrael to make  a Sanctuary for him out of three types of metals; gold, silver, and copper.
What is the Hebrew word for gold? (25:3) What is the Hebrew word for silver? (25:3) 
2. What are “besamim?” (25: 6) When do we use Besamim every week? 
3. What two materials were used to build the Aron? (25:10-11) 
4. What design was on the cover of the Aron? (25:18) 
5. How many branches were there on the Menorah in the Mishkan? (25:37) How is this different from the Menorah that we use on Chanukah? 

Questions 3 - 5
1. Name 2 items that were donated for the building of the Mishkan. (25:3-7) 
2. What was the purpose of the Mishkan? (25:8) 
3. The Aron was constructed in three layers so that one layer of material was sandwiched between two layers of the other material.  In the Mishkan, the materials were gold and wood.What material was used in between? and what material was used on the outside? (25:11)
 4. What was placed on the Shulchan? (25:30) 
 5. What item in the Mishkan was made only of gold? (25:31) 
Challenge:

From where did B’nai Yisrael get the wood for the Mishkan? (They were in the desert) See Rashi (25:5) 

Friday, February 5, 2016

דבר תורה פרשת משפטים



דבר תורה פרשת משפטים

In parshat Mishpatim, the Jewish people accept the Torah that Hashem had offered to them and they say “Naaseh V'Nishma” - “We shall do and we shall hear.” Moshe went up to Har Sinai, where Hashem gave him the Aseret Hadibrot. Bnei Yisrael, were given these mitzvot, “tools” to use as a guide for life. Naaseh V'Nishma - ‘We shall do and we shall hear!’, If we have these tools with which to act, then we will be able to hear, to understand, to attain anything, even in difficult circumstances that are beyond our normal capabilities. At the end of the parsha we know that Hashem gave Moshe the Aseret Hadibrot on Har Sinai, and that is where we get all the mitzvot from.

Shabbat Shalom
From, Zoe Gottesman and Hannah Sohnen

שאלות פרשת משפטים

שאלות פרשת משפטים

1. In which year of slavery is an Eved Ivri set free? (21:2)

2. Why do we have an added obligation to accept converts? (23:9)

3. Is Shabbat only for people to rest? Who else has to rest on Shabbat? (23:12)

4. What are the three main holidays that we have to celebrate during the year? (23: 14 - 17)

5. How did Bnai Yisrael respond to the new laws that Moshe presented to them? (24: 3, 7)

6. How long was Moshe on Har Sinai? (24:18)