Parsha Questions Nitzavim

Students can answer the questions on a separate piece of paper and bring it to the office. Nekudot will be awarded! 

Grades 1-2

1. On the last day of his life Moshe gathered the Jewish people. Who was invited ? (29:9-10)
 2. The Torah states that “It is not in the heavens.. nor is it across the sea…” What is the “it” in the pasuk? (30:12)
3. Moshe is speaking to Bnei Yisrael on the last day of his life. How old is Moshe? (31:2)
 4. What is the name of the leader that Moshe places in charge? (31:23)

 Grades 3-5
 1. Why are the children included in the last speech of Moshe?
 2. The Torah states that “It is not in the heavens… nor is it across the sea…” What lesson is this trying to teach? (30:12)
 3. Does Moshe cross the Yarden and bring Bnei Yisrael into Eretz Yisrael? (31:2)
 4. Moshe commands Bnei Yisrael to gather at the end of 7 years, during the Shmitta year and read a special Parsha. During what Holiday do we read this Parsha? (31:10)
 5. What is the name of the leader that Moshe places in charge? (31:23)
 6. What did Moshe promise that the leader would be able to accomplish? (31:23) 

Dvar torah Nitzavim

Beginning the week prior to Rosh Hashana, through the Aseret Yimei Teshuva and Yom Kippur, we spend our days looking inward at our thoughts and actions over the course of the past year. Though Hashem has given us the gift of Teshuva and the ability to completely erase any misdeeds, we all know how hard it is to face our Yetzer Harah and conquer any temptations that it may place before us. In Parshat Nitzavim however, Hashem simplifies our internal battle, almost removing any hardships in overcoming our evil inclination. In Devarim 30:19, Hashem says,  ”I have set life and death before you, blessing and curse. Choose life so that you may live.” Each year, thousands of people attend conventions, lectures and travel the world in search of happiness and the meaning of life. In one statement, Hashem saves us each time and energy, supplying us with the key that so many search for. Only by choosing the right path and following in Hashem’s ways will we ever achieve a meaningful and enduring happy life.

 At the beginning of this topic, Hashem says, -  ”See that I have placed before you today life and goodness” (Devarim 30:15). R’ Moshe Feinstein highlights the word היום today, to make a beautiful point. It is often so easy to get wrapped up in your own actions and despite any desire to better ourselves, we feel hopeless and quit before you even make an attempt. Never should we think that our paths are set or fixed, but rather, each day a new life is given to be fulfilled and established. Regardless of one’s past decisions or actions, we have a chance each day to “choose life” and follow the true path of ultimate happiness.

Parshat Nitzvaim coincides each year both with Rosh Hashana as well as the start of a new school year. Starting a new beginning implies closing the doors on what once was and starting fresh; in school, our friends and families, our connection with Hashem and our relationship even within ourselves. May we each have the strength to embrace the opportunity of a new “yom” and new beginnings to have a year of much happiness and success in all areas of life.

K’tiva V’Chatima Tova! Have a beautiful Shabbat, Kayla Bluman

Dvar Torah - Parshat Ki Tavo

This week’s Parsha, Parshat Ki Tavo ,begins by introducing the Mitzvah of Bikkurim .This מצוה entails taking our first fruit and bringing it to the בית המקדש. Interestingly, there is no mandated amount of fruit that must be brought. A farmer is permitted to bring even one fruit (albeit he is certainly encouraged to bring even more), as long as it is from his first crop. While submitting only one fruit from one’s crop may not seem like a big deal, it is crucial to put ourselves in the mindset of this farmer. The farmer has sweated and toiled over his crop for months. He has waited to finally be able to see the fruits of his labor. When finally, the first fruit sprouts, his excitement is palpable; that single fruit is his pride and joy. It is that single fruit which must be brought to the בית המקדש .

This year, we will be focusing on at 50. The theme of this year will be focusing on the ירושלים reunification of and its centrality in our lives. This month in particular, we are focusing on good deeds, and the little things that we can do to make those around us smile. To start the year, we had a school wide learning program. One of the ideas that we learned, is that the Beit Hamikdash was destroyed for Sinat Chinam. In order to rebuild the Beit Hamikdash, we must focus on loving those around us and treating them properly. I think this idea very much connects to the which must be brought ביכורים to  ירושלים .There is a משנה that we learn every day after ברכות התורה   that lists the that have no minimum requirement. מצוות Amongst those are  the מצוות of  ביכורים and גמילות חסדים

Perhaps one can argue, that both of these מצוות represent a qualitative action, which although at times may be small, require effort and yield an impact that can be far reaching. Let us begin this year focusing on how we treat one another, and realizing that every small act of kindness, if done sincerely and properly, can have far reaching effects.

Shabbat Shalom, Mr. Josh Rossman 

Parshat Ki Tavo

Grades 1-3

1. Bikurim is the mitzvah to bring which fruits to the kohen and how were they brought? 23:2, 3
2. In this parsha , four psukim are read during which chag? When during that chag? 26:5-7
3. What response by Bnai Yisrael is stated twelve times in the parsha? 27:15-26
4. What four word phrase is used in this parsha three times to describe Eretz C’naan? 26:9, 15 and 27:3
5. Which of the ten makkot are mentioned in this parsha? 28:21, 27, 38

Grades 4 and 5

1. Bikurim is the mitzvah to bring which fruits to the Bet Hamikdash? Rashi 26:2 “Mereishit”
2. Describe how the bikurim were brought to the Bet Hamikdash? Rashi 26:4 “Velakach hacohen”
3. There is a mitzvah to write the entire Torah on large stones at the entrance to Eretz Yisrael. In how many languages is it written? Rashi 27:8 “Baer heytev”

שאלות פרשת נשא

שאלות פרשת נשא

Questions K - 2

1.   Shevet Levi is divided into three families. What are the names of the families? (4:22, 4:29, 4:34) BONUS - From which family was Aharon?

2.   What is a Nazir not allowed to drink? (6:3)

3.   Who does G-d command to bless Bnei Yisrael? (6:22,23)

4.   The head of each shevet gave gifts to the mishkan. How many covered wagons and oxen did they give? (7:3)

5.   For what purpose did the Levi’im use these wagons (7:5-8)?

Bonus

Outside of Israel, when do the Kohanim bless the Jewish people

Questions 3 - 5

1. When a person is diagnosed with Tzara’at, what is the first thing he must do? (5:2,3)

2. List the 2 things a Nazir must not do: (6:3-6)         

3. Write the Birkat Kohanim. (6:25-26)

4. What is the difference between Yivarechecha and V’yishmarecha? (Rashi 6:24)

Bonus: Name 3 times a year that the Kohanim bless the rest of Bnei Yisrael?

5. At the end of the parsha Moshe entered the Ohel Moed) to speak with G-d. From where was the voice of G-d speaking?

דבר תורה פרשת בהר

דבר תורה פרשת בהר

I will ordain my blessing for you in the sixth year and it will yield a crop sufficient for the three year period. (Lev. 25:21)

The Midrash states that one who does not till his fields during the Shemittah (seventh) year is a mighty warrior. God bestows blessings of bounty upon such an individual: in the sixth year his field produces enough food to last for three years - the sixth, seventh and eighth years. Why is the farmer considered a mighty warrior if he has plenty of food for himself and his family?

Daniel walked into a suit store and tried on a few different suits, but the prices exceeded his $300 budget. Also, he could see nothing he particularly liked, so he headed for the door. On his way out a salesman said, "Hey, wait a minute! We'll find you something just perfect." He brought over a suit that Daniel had already tried on, but Daniel agreed to try it on again. The salesman looked at him and said, "Wow, this suit looks really good on you. It fits like a glove. You look really slick!"

Daniel took a look in the mirror and started to think, "Two minutes ago I didn't like it, but now it's starting to look really nice." He asked the salesman the price.

The salesman told him, "It's $400." After a pause, he added, "Listen, this suit is made from the finest materials; you won't find this anywhere else..."

Five minutes later Daniel walked out of the store with a big smile thinking he had bought the nicest suit in town… Even though everyone knows that salesmen are just trying to make a sale, we are still easily convinced by them.

In the sixth year, when a person's field produces three times the normal amount, the evil inclination comes knocking on his door and says, "You have an incredible field. In one year it produced three times the normal amount. Next year you'll work the field and then it will produce 3 times the amount as well! Before you know it you'll be rich! To stop working your field now for a full year would be extremely foolish." Deep down the person knows that his field produced so much because of the Torah's promise, but the evil inclination sounds so convincing. Someone that can overcome such a challenge is a mighty warrior! (1)

Human beings are very easily influenced and affected by surroundings and peer pressure. We change our minds from one minute to the next. A strong person is one who sticks to his convictions; he does what he knows deep down to be the truth, and doesn't buy into the media's views or beliefs. He doesn't get swayed by others!

שאלות פרשת בהר

שאלות פרשת בהר

1. If one possesses shemita food after it is no longer available in the field, what must he do with it? (25:7)

2. Which two "returns" are announced by the shofar during yovel? (25:10)

3. What is the punishment for neglecting the laws of shemita? (25:18)

4. After selling an ancestral field, when can one redeem it? (25:24)

5. To what is one who leaves Eretz Yisrael compared? (25:38)