פרשת וישלח

In this eddition:

   D'var Torah
   Q and A on the Parsha
   Q and A from out classroom
   Quiz Questions
   Torah Math
   What to bake for dessert the week AND WHY!

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Dear 5^th Grade Families,

         

          My family and I will be traveling to Israel next week to celebrate our daughter Dina’s bat mitzvah. I look forward to sharing some Torah thoughts from Israel next week! I will have intermittent email during our trip, and I look forward to returning to school on Tuesday, December 13^th EY”H.

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Visit RPMISHNAH.BLOGSPOT.COM

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Dvar Torah

Is it too late?!

וַיָּקָם בַּלַּיְלָה הוּא וַיִּקַּח אֶת־שְׁתֵּי נָשָׁיו וְאֶת־שְׁתֵּי שִׁפְחֹתָיו וְאֶת־אַחַד עָשָׂר יְלָדָיו וַיַּעֲבֹר אֵת מַעֲבַר יַבֹּק

(בראשית לב:כג)

  

The Torah tells us, when Yaakov came to meet Esav, "And he (Yaakov) got up... and his 11 children..." Rashi asks on this Pasuk (32:23); Yaakov went to meet Esav with only 11 of his children, where was his 12th child Deena?  Rashi’s answer is that Yaakov was scared that if Esav saw Deena he would take her as a wife.  Therefore, Yaakov hid Deena in a box so that Esav could not see her.  Rashi continues to tell us that the reason for the kidnapping of Deena by Sh'chem (later in the Parsha, Perek 34) was a punishment for hiding Deena.  A punishment, why? Rashi states had Deena not been hidden and Esav married Deena, she might have been able to turn him from being an evil person to a good person.

The question therefore is, can a person like Esav, who kills and steals, become a good person?!

Tosfot (an early commentary from the time of the Crusades) tells us (Kitubot 63a), the nature of a person is to be good.  Sometimes we just need some help to get there.  Deena might have been the little bit of help that Esav needed. Rashi is teaching us a very valuable lesson. No matter how bad a person is, or how much they might have done wrong, they can still change. It is never too late to do Teshuva and become a good person.

Shabbat Shalom!

Parsha Questions

1) Whom did יעקב send ahead of himself to his brother? Where did they come from?

(see רש"י  בראשית לב:ד and  בראשית ל:א-ג)

2) In his message to עשו, יעקב said אם לבן גרתי. Why was he telling his brother where he had been?

(see רש"י  בראשית לב:ה)

3) Why did יעקב tell עשו that he had sheep and cattle (see רש"י  בראשית לב:ו)

4) What report did the messengers bring back to יעקב? (see בראשית לב:ז)

5) Why was יעקב both “afraid” and “distressed”? (see רש"י  בראשית לב:ח)

6) How did יעקב prepare his camp and family against the potential attack of עשו?

(see בראשית לב:ח-יז)

7) Why did יעקב think he was very “small”? (see רש"י  בראשית לב:יא)

8) Why does it say he took eleven children when he also had דינה? (see רש"י  בראשית לב:כג)

9) Did יעקב do the correct thing with דינה? Please explain. (see רש"י  בראשית לב:כג)

10) Why did יעקב go back across the river alone? (see רש"י  בראשית לב:כה)

11) Whom did he meet there? (see רש"י  בראשית לב:כה)

12) What does the פסוק mean by “the sun came up for him”? (see רש"י  בראשית לב:לב)

13) How do later generations remember this incident? (see בראשית לב:לג)

14) Why did עשו both hug and kiss יעקב? (see רש"י  בראשית לג:ד)

15) Why did יוסף go before his mother to meet עשו? How was he rewarded for this act? 

(see רש"י  בראשית לג:ז)

16) Why did יעקב camp outside the city of שכם and not enter it? (see מוסף רש"י  בראשית לג:יח)

17) How did שכם convince his entire city to agree to make a ברית מילה on themselves?

(see רש"י  בראשית לד:כ-כג)

18) What did יעקב do with all the treasures that were captured from שכם?

(see רש"י  בראשית לה:ב-ד)

19) Why does the פסוק tell us that ,דבורה the nurse of ,רבקה died? (see רש"י  בראשית לה:ח)

20) What did רחל name her youngest son? Why? (see   בראשית לה:טז-יחand רש"י יח)

21) What did יעקב call this child? Why? (see רש"י בראשית לה: יח)

22) Where did יעקב finally arrive? (see בראשית לה:כז)

23) How old was יצחק when he was נפטר? (see בראשית לה:כח)

24) Who buried יצחק? (see בראשית לה:כט)

25) Why do you think the תורה tells us all about  עשו‘s family? (Thinking question)

Classroom Check-in!

Questions about what we are learning in class

1) What are the 2 opinions about the height of a Sukkah?

2) How much shade is needed to make a Sukkah usable?

3) How many walls should a Sukkah have?

4) What are the 6 books of Mishnah?

Torah Math

In this week’s Parasha, we find the story of Yaakov returning home and meeting with his brother Esav.  As Yaakov gets closer to his brother he sends gifts ahead of him with a messageעִם לָבָן גַּרְתִּי וָאֵחַר עַד עָתָּה  -with Lavan I have lived and I have delayed until now.  What was the point of this message, what was he telling his brother?

We know that the blessing that Esav got was that when Yaakov is not strong in Torah and Mitzvot, then Esav will have power over him.  The word גַּרְתִּי is the numeric value of  613, the amount of Mitzvot.  Yaakov was telling his brother not to try to attack since he and his family had followed in the ways of the Torah while living with the wicked Lavan and had not learned from his evil ways.

 TORAH TRIVIA!

Super Stumper Question:

This a question to ask others and discuss the answers.

Answer to last week’s Question:

Q: On every Rosh Chodesh we say 1/2 Hallel. What exception(s) are there to this rule????

A: On every Rosh Chodesh we say 1/2 Hallel except Teves (Chanukah) and Tishrai (Rosh Hashana)

Question of the week:

Q: What is the only part of Davening is skipped when Davening with a Minyan???

A: Coming soon!

Kollel Quiz 

#1 Who Am I?

1.Teastless.

2. Boneless.

3. Eatless.

4. Not Gad.

#2 Who Am I?

1. I am Taf.

2. Rav Preida’s reputation.

3. Exile to Egypt.

4. I frightened this week.

Submit this answer by clicking here

 FOOD Section!

Can you guess what this recipe connects to this week’s Parsha?

Crème-Filled Cupcakes

Make-Ahead Tip:
The Chocolate Cupcakes can be filled with Crème Frosting and frozen for up to 2 weeks. Thaw cupcakes and apply Chocolate Ganache topping and swirl design before serving. Any leftover Crème Frosting can also be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

CHOCOLATE CUPCAKES
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (or gluten-free all-purpose flour plus ¾ teaspoon xanthan gum)
1 cup sugar
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup cold coffee or water
1/2 cup canola oil
2 tablespoons white or apple cider vinegar
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line 2 (12-cup) cupcake pan with 14 cupcake liners.

In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, and salt. In a separate bowl, whisk together coffee, oil, vinegar, and vanilla. Pour the wet mixture into the dry mixture and whisk until just combined. Do not over mix.

Fill the cupcake liners about two-thirds full with batter. Bake for 16 to 18 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cupcake comes out clean with a few crumbs clinging to it. Cool the cupcakes completely before frosting.

To assemble the cupcakes: Fit the piping bag with a small round or Bismarck tip and fill with the Crème Frosting. Insert the tip into the center of the top of each cupcake and squeeze the bag to fill with about 2 to 3 teaspoons frosting. There is no need to scoop out any of the cake. Spread the top of each cupcake with a thin layer of Chocolate Ganache and pipe a 4-loop design with the Crème Frosting.

CRÈME FROSTING
1 cup non-hydrogenated vegetable shortening
3 cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 to 5 tablespoons soy, almond, or rice milk
1 piping bag, fitted with a small round or Bismarck tip

To make the Crème Frosting: Using a handheld or stand mixer, beat the shortening until smooth. With the mixer running on low, add powdered sugar, vanilla, and 1 tablespoon nondairy milk at a time, as needed, until frosting reaches a spreadable consistency. You may not need to use all of the nondairy milk. Beat on high for 2 more minutes until light and fluffy.

CHOCOLATE GANACHE
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips (dairy-free)
¼ cup canned coconut milk, mixed well before measuring 
2 tablespoons canola oil

Melt chocolate chips and coconut milk in a double boiler or microwave. Whisk in oil until smooth.

Makes 14 cupcakes

פרשת ויצא

Dvar Torah

Respect Others Mitzvot

(בראשית כט:יא) וַיִּשַּׁק יַעֲקֹב לְרָחֵל וַיִּשָּׂא אֶת־קֹלוֹ וַיֵּבְךְּ:

The Torah tells us that when Yaakov arrived at the home of Lavan and saw Rachel, he cried. Rashi tells us (29:11) that the reason for his tears was because Yaakov had nothing to give her. Where was his money? Rashi explains that when Esav found out that Yaakov had received the Brachot from Yitzchak he wanted to kill him. Esav sent his oldest son Elifaz to chase after and kill Yaakov. Elifaz was a student of Yaakov and when he caught up to Yaakov he did not want to kill him, but his father had told him to.Elifaz asked Yaakov what to do since he had a Mitzvah of honoring his father. Yaakov told him that a poor person is just like a dead person, so Yaakov gave Elifaz all that he had.

The Halacha is that a person needs to listen to everything which their parent tells them except if the parent tells them to do a sin. Killing is a sin. Why did Yaakov not just tell Elifaz that he did not need to listen to his father?

Yaakov’s response shows us the love that Yaakov had for the Mitzvot. He would even give his own things to help someone do their Mitzvah the best way possible.

From this story we can learn many things; one is how important listening to one’s parents is. If an evil person like Esav and his children could do this Mitzvah, then, for sure, we could. Also, we see how important it is to do Mitzvot right, from the fact that Yaakov gave everything he had, and it was not even for his Mitzvah!

With this in mind how should we treat each Mitzvah that comes our way whether it is us who is doing it or help and giving an opportunity for others to fulfill a Mitzvah?

Shabbat Shalom!

Parsha Questions

1) From where did יעקב leave? To where did he go? (see בראשית כח:י)

2)  When יעקב traveled to חרן, the תורה stresses that he departed from באר שבע. Why?

(see רש"י בראשית כח:י)

3) When יעקב was traveling he stopped to rest. Where did he lie down? (see רש"י בראשית כח:יא)

4) What made יעקב need to stop there? (see רש"י בראשית כח:יאא)

5) What did יעקב see in his dream? What was he told? (see בראשית כח:יב-טו)

6) When יעקב awoke and realized where he was, he says אין זה כי אם־בית אלקים וזה שער השמים. Explain what is meant by וזה שער השמים. (see רש"י בראשית כח:יז)

7) What did יעקב promise to Hashem? Why? (see בראשית כח:כ-כב)

8) When יעקב arrived at the well, what did he see that he did not approve of? (see בראשית כט:ז)

9) What explanation did the shepherds give to יעקב? (see רש"י בראשית כט:ח)

10)  While יעקב was speaking with the shepherds who came to the well? Why? (see בראשית כט:ט)

11) What was יעקב able to do when he saw רחל? (see בראשית כט:י)

12) Why did יעקב cry when he met רחל? (see רש"י בראשית כט:יא)

13) Why did רחל tell her father that she met יעקב? (see רש"י בראשית כט:יב)

14) Why did לבן run to greet יעקב? (see רש"י בראשית כט:יג)

15) For whom did יעקב work (to marry) originally? (see בראשית כט:כ)

16) What was his attitude toward this work? (see רש"י בראשית כט:כ)

17) If יעקב planned to marry רחל how did he end up marrying לאה? (see רש"י בראשית כט:כה)

18) Who felt hated? Did יעקב really “hate” her? What words in the פסוק show us this?

(see בראשית כט:ל-לא)

19) What did Hashem do to make לאה feel more loved? (see בראשית כט:לא)

20) List all the children of לאה and why she gave them each name? (Explain each name)

(see בראשית כט:לב-ל:כא)

Name:	Reason for the name?

22) Seeing that she had no children, what did רחל do? (see בראשית ל:ג)

23) List all the children of בלהה and why she gave them each name? (Explain each name)

(see בראשית ל:ו-ז)

Name:	Reason for the name?

24) Why did לאה give זלפה to יעקב to marry? (see בראשית ל:ט)

25) List all the children of זלפה and why she gave them each name? (Explain each name)

(see בראשית ל:י-יג)

Name:	Reason for the name?

26) What did Hashem remember about רחל that allowed her to have a child?

(see רש"י בראשית ל:כב)

27) What did רחל name her son? Why this name? (see בראשית ל:כב-כד)

Name:	Reason for the name?

28) Why after יוסף was born was יעקב now able to go home? (see רש"י בראשית ל:כה)

29) What did לבן accuse יעקב of taking from his house when he left? (see בראשית לא:כו-ל)

30) After his meeting with לבן, what מלאכים met יעקב? (see רש"י בראשית לב:ב)

Classroom Check-in!

Questions about what we are learning in class

1) In what matter was Torah SheBa’al Peh?

2) Who was Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi?

3) What problem was there during his time period?

Torah Math

As Yaakov is leaving, he stops to sleep.  As he is laying there Yaakov has a dream with a latter and angels going up and down. We are taught that this dream was actually telling Yaakov the future, but how, was it a prophecy?

Actually, within the word we can see that it was, check this out!

 חלום=זהו בנבואה

Totally AWESOME!

 TORAH TRIVIA!

Super Stumper Question:

This a question to ask others and discuss the answers.

Answer to last week’s Question:

Q : In Tana”kh, how many and which pieces of land in Eretz Yisroel were purchased? Which? By whom????

A: The 3 places in Eretz Yisrael that were purchased were Me’arat Hamachpela-by Avraham, Shchem-by Yaakov, Har Hamoria-by Dovid Hamelech

 Question of the week: On every Rosh Chodesh we say 1/2 Hallel. What exception(s) are there to this rule????

A: Coming soon! 

Kollel Quiz 

#1 Who Am I?

1. I was older.

2. I cried.

3. I had six boys.

4. I knew the signs.

#2 Who Am I?

1. I am not white.

2. I am tricky.

3. Father-in-law and uncle.

4. I am not Naval.

Submit this answer by clicking here

 FOOD Section!

Can you guess what this recipe connects to this week’s Parsha?

Rock Candy

Gather the following supplies:

* Measuring cup and spoon

* Large saucepan

* Long wooden spoon

* Clean glass jar (a tall, strong one)

* Clean piece of cotton string

* Popsicle stick, pencil, or wooden skewer

* Paperclip

* 1 cup water

* 2 cups of granulated sugar

* A few drops of your favorite candy flavoring (optional)

* A few drops of food coloring (optional)

 Step 1: Tie the piece of string around the middle of the stick or pencil. The string should be a little shorter than the jar.

Step 2: Get the string damp a little water and roll it in the sugar. Put the paper clip on the end of the string. Place the stick over the top of the glass jar. The string should be hanging down inside the jar, but shouldn't be touching the bottom.

Step 3: Cook the candy mixture.

a. Boil the water.

b. Stir in the two cups of sugar, stir until sugar is dissolved.

c. Remove the pan from the heat, add flavoring and/or coloring, if using.

d. Pour hot mixture into the jar.

Step 4: Put the jar in an out of the way spot where it won't be disturbed. The crystals will start growing on the string in a couple of hours.

Let the crystals grow for 3-10 days. The longer they grow, the larger they'll be. Letting them grow longer will result in bigger crystals.

Step 5: Remove the string from the jar, and eat your candy! Store leftovers in an airtight container.