Friday, February 23, 2018

פרשת תצוה


Dvar Torah



The Power Of Speech

(שמות כז:כ) וְאַתָּה תְּצַוֶּה אֶת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וְיִקְחוּ אֵלֶיךָ שֶׁמֶן זַיִת זָךְ כָּתִית לַמָּאוֹר לְהַעֲלֹת נֵר תָּמִיד:

"And you should command the people..." (27:20)

The Torah begins this Parasha in a very unusual way, "and you should command..." Normally when Hashem tells Moshe to do something, the Torah says, "and Hashem spoke to Moshe..." Why does the Torah choose to introduce this Parasha in such a strange manner?

Our Rabbis tell us the Parasha started this way because the name of Moshe does not appear in Parashat T'tzaveh at all.

Why was Moshe’s name left out?

The Rabbis teach us that when the Jewish people made the golden calf, Hashem told Moshe that He would destroy the entire nation and replace the Jewish people with Moshe’s descendants.  Upon hearing this, Moshe cried and begged Hashem not to carry out this decree.  He also told Hashem that if all the Jews would be destroyed and not forgiven, Hashem should erase his, Mose’s, name from the Torah.

In truth, Hashem did forgive the Jews, so why is Moshe’s name not mentioned?

The Torah is showing us a lesson about speech.  We might not realize the power that every word we speak has.  Moshe said, "erase my name from the Torah." We see that even though the Jewish people were forgiven, Moshe’s name was erased from this Parasha to show that because Moshe had spoken these words,  Hashem fulfilled part of them.

We see from here that each and every word that we speak is so valuable and important.  Each word is measured and counted.  With this in mind, how careful should we be when we speak to our family, friends, and classmates.

Shabbat Shalom and Happy Prim!!!!


Parsha Questions


1) Why does this סדרה start with the word ואתה - and you, and not ויאמר ה' אל משה?
(שמות כז:כ עיין בעל הטורים)

2) What does the גמרא tell us that we see from here? (מכות יא.)

3) What kind of oil was used in the משכן to light the מנורה? (שמות כז:כ)

4) Explain שמן זית זך.  (רש"י שמות כז:כ)

5) Where was the מנורה kept and lit? (Be exact in its location.) (שמות כז:כא)

6) List the בגדי כהונה? (שמות כח:ד & כח:לו)

7) List which בגדים were for the כהן גדול and which were for the כהן הדיוט. (עיין רש"י שמות כח:מ)

8) What were the בגדי כהונה made from? (שמות כח:ה)

9) What was engraved into the two אבני שהם?  (שמות כח:ט-י)

10) In was order were these written? List all. (רש"י שמות כח:י)

11) How many letters were on each? (רש"י שמות כח:י)

12) Why was the חושן called חושן משפט? (רש"י שמות כח:טו)

13) What was placed on the חושן? (שמות כח:יז-כ)

14) What should be written on the אבני מילוים? (שמות כח:כא)

15) What was on the bottom of the מעיל? (שמות כח:לג-לד)

16) Why were these SO important? (שמות כח:לה)

17) What was engraved on the ציץ? (שמות כח:לו)

18) During the inauguration of the כהנים, a פר was brought as a sin offering. For what sin did this offering atone? (רש"י שמות כט:א)

19) What should be made for the קטרת to be burned on? (שמות ל:א)

20) וכפר אהרן על קרנתיו אחת בשנה. When was this? (רש"י שמות ל:י)


Virtual Classroom Check-in!
Questions about what we are learning online!


1) How much of a person needs to be in a Sukkah?

2) What story did the Mishnah tell to prove that one can sit in a Sukkah and have the table in their home?

3) Did you see a sword that could have been used to kill Eglon king of Moav?


Click Here http://rpmishnah.blogspot.com/


Kollel Quiz 

#1 Who Am I?
1. I was killed for a friend.
2. I made a party.
3. I opposed the Jews.
4. I refused to come.

#2 Who Am I?
1. I made you lose your mind.
2. I am so you can’t be differentiate.
3. Sometimes I am four times.
4. I was present for the request.


Submit this answer by clicking here



Torah Math

(שמות כז:כ) וְאַתָּה תְּצַוֶּה אֶת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וְיִקְחוּ אֵלֶיךָ שֶׁמֶן זַיִת זָךְ כָּתִית לַמָּאוֹר

This week’s Parasha begins by telling us of the Mitzvah of lighting. The Pasuk says; “and you shall command the children of Israel, and they shall take for you pure olive oil to light...”.  Although this Mitzvah is clearly referring to the Menorah lit in the Bet Hamikdash there are two other Mitzvot of lighting that we have -- Shabbat and Chanukah.  Each of these Mitzvot are commandments that woman are obligated in.  This is hinted in the words of this Pasuk.  The word “commanded” has the numeric value of 501, the same as the words “woman are obligated” telling us that there are these Mitzvot that woman are to perform.  Check it out!

                                                תצוה=נשים צוה=501       




TORAH TRIVIA!

Super Stumper Question:
This a question to ask others and discuss the answers.

Answer to last week’s question:  Was Haman a Jew?  According to the opinion that Haman was a former salve to Mordechai, since he was now free all of the Halachot of being Jewish applied to him.  

Question of the week:  Based on the answer above, where do you see this in the text of the Megilah?


 FOOD Section!


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

Spice Cake

Ingredients
Cake:
3 cups cake flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
2 sticks margarine, softened
2 cups sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 eggs
1 1/4 cups soy or almond milk

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Butter and flour 3 (8-inch) round cake pans.

In a small mixing bowl whisk together cake flour, baking powder, baking soda, ground nutmeg, ground cinnamon, ground ginger and ground cloves.

Cream the margarine, sugar and salt until light and fluffy with an electric mixer. Beat in the eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in the dry ingredients and the buttermilk alternately beginning and ending with the dry.

When the batter is well mixed and smooth, divide it amongst the 3 prepared cake pans and bake about 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cakes come out clean. Let cool in the pan for 10 minutes then turn out to cool completely. If the cake layers have domed a little during the baking process, slice off the tops with a long serrated knife so they are flat and even.

Place the first layer, cut side down, on a cake pedestal or serving plate. Spoon about 3/4 cup of butter cream onto the center of the cake. Spread it almost to the very edges with an offset spatula. Repeat with the remaining 2 layers. Garnish the top of the cake with finely chopped nuts and cocoa powder.


Friday, February 16, 2018

פרשת תרומה

Dvar Torah

 Filmed on Rosh Chodesh Adar after AWESOME dancing in the halls!

Noble Intentions

(שמות כה:ב) דַּבֵּר אֶל־בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וְיִקְחוּ־לִי תְּרוּמָה מֵאֵת כָּל־אִישׁ אֲשֶׁר יִדְּבֶנּוּ לִבּוֹ תִּקְחוּ אֶת־תְּרוּמָתִי:

“Speak to the children of Israel and they shall take for Me a portion” (25:2)

The Torah tells us that after the Jewish people sinned by making and worshiping the golden calf, Hashem’s divine presence left our midst.  To get this gift back, Hashem told us that if we build him a Mishkan (house of worship) then He would return and live amongst us.  In telling this to us, Hashem said “take for Me” meaning take for Hashem.

Was there no gain for the Jewish people in building the Mishkan? 

The way to sell a product is to explain to the buyer how it helps them, not to tell them it is not for them!

Another question on this Pasuk is that everything that we have is from Hashem and is only a loan to us to use in our service to Him.  The Pasuk says “Speak to the children of Israel”. Since all that we have is not ours, why speak to the Jewish people? Why not just tell them “you need to give back a sum of the money given to you by Hashem?”

Hashem did not want us to build a Mishkan so that we can have the gains of the Mishkan. Rather, Hashem wanted us to build it for Him.  He wanted us to do the Mitzvah with the right intention, not with personal gain as our motive.

This is a very important lesson for all of us.  Sometimes when we need to do a Mitzvah we look to see what personal gain there is for us.  Hashem is reminding us that we should do all of the Mitzvot with noble intentions.  With this in mind, how should we treat the next opportunity to do a Mitzva, whether it is for Hashem or for our friend?

Shabbat Shalom and Chodesh Tov!


Parsha Questions

1) For whom should תרומה be taken? (רש"י שמות כה:ב)

2) How much was expected from each person? (שמות כה:ב)

3) What was collected for the building of the משקן? List all. (שמות כה:ג-ז)

4) What do the words ועשו לי מקדש ושכנתי בתוכם mean? How does this effect us everyday?
(שמות כה:ח)

5) What was the ארון הקודש made of? In what way? (שמות כה:י-טז ועוד עייו ברש"י)

6) What were the measurements of the ארון הקודש? (שמות כה:י-טז)

7) What was to be placed on top of the ארון הקודש? (שמות כה:יז-כב)

8) What was the שלחן made of? (שמות כה:כג-כד)

9) What was placed on the שלחן? When was it there? (שמות כה:ל)

10) In what special manner should the מנורה be made? From what? (רש"י שמות כה:לא)

11) What should the walls of the משקן be made of? (שמות כו:טו)

12) Where did the בני ישראל get שיטים wood in the מדבר? (רש"י שמות כו: טו)

13) What was the מזבח made of? (שמות כז:א-ב)

14) What were the measurements of the חצר of the משקן? (שמות כז:יח)


Virtual Classroom Check-in!
Questions about what we are learning online!


1) Do snacks need to be eaten in the Sukkah

2) Why did Rabbi Tzadok not make a Bracha after he had a snack?

3) How many meals does a person need to have in the Sukkah on Sukkot?


Click Here http://rpmishnah.blogspot.com/


Torah Math

(שמות כה:ט) כְּכֹל אֲשֶׁר אֲנִי מַרְאֶה אוֹתְךָ

As we can well imagine, the planning and building of the Mishkan was a big and challenging job.  How was it that Moshe was able to understand all the instructions that Hashem gave him?

In Sh’mot 25:9 the Pasuk says “like all that I have shown you...”. Did Hashem actually show these images to Moshe?

The word in Hebrew is Mareh, the numeric value of this word (246) is the same as the name of the angel Gavriel.  Hashem sent Gavriel to show Moshe what everything was to look like... CHECK IT OUT!!!

מראה=גבריאל

Kollel Quiz 

#1 Who Am I?
1. I has blossoms even in water.
2. I was a fiery creation.
3. I can be found on the “Arch of Titus”.
4. I cause the Kohen Gadol to walk the longer route.

#2 Who Am I?
1. I was only for the first.
2. I was a three-in-one deal.
3. I occupied on space.
4. Beware! I can cause death.



Submit this answer by clicking here


TORAH TRIVIA!

Super Stumper Question:
This a question to ask others and discuss the answers.

Answer to last week’s question:  We cover the Challah:
     1) Just like the Ma’an was covered when Hashem gave it to us.
     2) Really the Bracha on Challah should go before Kiddush.  

Question of the week:  Was Haman really a JEW???


 FOOD Section!

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


Challah French Toast

INGREDIENTS

4 eggs
2/3 cup milk
2 teaspoons of cinnamon
8 thick slices of leftover challah
Oil
Maple syrup

Optional
2 teaspoons freshly grated orange zest
Fresh berries



METHOD

1) Beat eggs, milk, and cinnamon together.
          If using, add orange zest
2) Whisk until well blended.
3) Pour into a shallow bowl.
4) 2 Dip each slice of bread into the egg mixture, allowing bread to soak up some of the mixtures.
5) Pour vegetable oil over a large skillet on   medium-high heat.
6) Add as many slices of Challah onto the skillet as will fit at a time. Fry until brown on both sides, flipping the bread when necessary.
7) Serve hot with maple syrup, and if available, fresh berries.

Remember: Cooking is all about the MAGIC!