And Moshe came and he told all these words of this song in the ears of the nation, he and Hoshaya Ben-Nun.
At the end of this week’s Parasha the Torah tells us that Moshe and Hoshaya Ben-Nun told the people this song referring to the Parasha which is written as a song.
The question is, almost forty years earlier Hoshaya’s name was changed to Yehoshua to help him on his mission to spy on the land of Canaan (Israel). Why now, as he becomes the leader of the B’nai Yisroel, is he referred to as Hoshayaa, his childhood name and not Yehoshua, his name of leadership?
Rashi says, that this is to show that this is the same person as he was when he was younger. This means that he did not become great at an older age, rather he began working on himself at a younger age to become great, therefore he is called by the name of his youth, Hoshaya.
We see from here that greatness is not obtained only in our old age, but it is something that we must work on even from when we are young.
In the time of the Bet Hamikdash on Yom Kippur (the day of judgment) the Kohain Gadol (high priest) would change his clothes several times as we read in the Torah reading for Yom Kippur morning. He would dress in the beautiful gold garments except when he was entering into the Kodesh Kadashim (Holy of Holies), then he would change into just the regular white clothes of the Kohanim. After leaving he would change back into the gold. The question asked is why did he need to switch back and forth?
Rashi tells us that the reason for these switches is because “the prosecutor cannot be the defendant”. This means that the gold will remind Hashem of the sin of the golden calf, and we don’t want Him to be reminded of this. He may become angry again, especially if the person reminding Him is the person asking for forgiveness for all of us.
The question is, will Hashem not see the gold on the Kohain Gadol the rest of the day, why can’t he keep it on to go into the Kodesh Hakadashim anyway?
The answer is that of course, Hashem sees the gold, but we don't want to “put it in His face”.
This is teaching us a lesson about how to act with others. There are things that we know which may bother other people, Hashem is telling us not to do them even unintentionally!
With this in mind, how should we act around other people in school and at home?
And Moshe commanded him saying, at the end of seven years, on the holiday of the sabbatical year, on Chag HaSukkot... Call out this Torah... Gather the nation...
In this week’s Parasha we learn about the Mitzvah of Hakel. Once every seven years, the king calls all of B’nei Yisroel together and reads Sefer Devarim aloud for everyone to hear. The Torah tells us that this should be done on Sukkot after a Shemitta year.
Why specifically after a Shemitta year?
The Torah in its kindness and care for everyone gave this Mitzvah at a time that the farmers have not been working for a year. These farmers would, therefore, have time during this year to learn Torah and do extra Mitzvot. This would also allow them to be able to come to the Bet Hamikdash to be part of Hakel.
The question is, this Mitzvah was not just for farmers. Were there only farmers amongst the Jews? Were there no doctors, butlers, bakers, and candlestick makers?
Of course, this Mitzvah was not only given to farmers, rather it was given to teach us a lesson from the farmers. This lesson is for everyday life not just for the year of Hakel. We should remember that just like the farmer who has extra time and uses it to learn Torah and do Mitzvot, we too in our extra or free time should do the same. Every day that we do not come to school our day should start with Tefilah and learning Torah.
Shabbat Shalom!
Parsha Questions
1) How old was משה when he spoke to the בני ישראל the last time? (דברים לא:ב)
2) Why was משה unable “to go out and come in”? (דברים לא:ב עין רש"י)
3) Who would be the leader of the בני ישראל when they crossed the ירדן? (דברים לא:ג)
4) Who carried the Holy Aron? (דברים לא:ט)
5) What is the מצוה of הקהל? (דברים לא:י-יג) Include in your answer:
a) who came?
b) to where?
c) who performed this מצוה?
d) when was it done?
e) why it was done?
6) The Torah says ְ והִסְתַּרְתִּי פָנַי מֵהֶם. What does this mean and what does it refer to?
(דברים לא:יז ועד עיין רש"י)
7) What is the last מצוה of the Torah? (דברים לא:יט)
Classroom Check-in!
Questions about what we are learning in class
1) How was Torah SheBa’al Peh taught before it was written down?
2) Who was Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi?
3) Why had no one before him written down the Mishnah?
Torah Math
In this week’s Parasha we find an enlarged צּ in the Pasuk הַצּוּר תָּמִים פָּעֳלוֹ. These words mean that Hashem is the always a Rock to help us. The letter צּ can look like a person with their arms stretched out in prayer. This shows us that as a result of our Daven, Hashem is ALWAYS with us.
TORAH TRIVIA!
Super Stumper Question:
This a question to ask others and discuss the answers.
Answer to last week’s question: If Rosh Hashana falls on a Thursday-Friday, we will read a different Torah reading on Thursday, Friday, Shabbat (Parshat Hashavua), Sunday (Tzom Gedalia), and Monday!
Question of the week: What Bracha is only made on a Wednesday?
Can you guess what this recipe connects to this week’s Parsha?
Strawberry Shortcake
Ingredients
3 pints fresh strawberries
1/2 cup white sugar
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
4 teaspoons baking powder
2 tablespoons white sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup shortening
1 egg
2/3 cup milk
2 cups whipped heavy cream
Directions
Slice the strawberries and toss them with 1/2 cup of white sugar. Set aside.
Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Grease and flour one 8 inch round cake pan.
In a medium bowl combine the flour, baking powder, 2 tablespoons white sugar and the salt. With a pastry blender cut in the shortening until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Make a well in the center and add the beaten egg and milk. Stir until just combined.
Spread the batter into the prepared pan. Bake at 425 degrees F (220 degrees C) for 15 to 20 minutes or until golden brown. Let cool partially in pan on wire rack.
Slice partially cooled cake in half, making two layers. Place half of the strawberries on one layer and top with the other layer. Top with remaining strawberries and cover with the whipped cream.
The Torah tells us, on the last day of Moshe's life, he called everyone together and gave an uplifting speech. When he was telling them about the Mitzvot he said: (30:11-14) That the Torah and the Mitzvot are not in the heaven, nor are they over the sea. Rather they are close to you and available to you to put into your hearts to do them.
There is a famous question asked about the giving of the Torah; of all the places to give the Torah to the Jewish nation, why was the Torah given in the desert? There are so many nice places in the world where the Torah could have been given. For example Jerusalem, why was the Torah not given there, after all, it is the capital of OUR country?
The answer is that the Torah was given to everyone, not just to the people in one place or another. The Torah was given in the desert because the desert is ownerless and anyone who wants can go there. Hashem wanted us to know that the Torah and Mitzvot are available for everyone to do. That is why Moshe said that the Torah and Mitzvot are accessible to everyone.
With this in mind, how should we treat ALL the Mitzvot even if they seem harder to do?
Remembering 9/11
This week in class we had an opportunity to discuss some very important topics and I wanted to share the highlights with you so that you can process with your child.
We discussed Rosh Hashanah and the concept that one of our goals in life is to use the special gifts and talents, given to us by Hashem, to serve G-d and to make the world better. We used examples and highlights from this week's Parsha reinforcing the idea that each of us has unique talents and abilities that can be used to make a difference for others.
We connected this idea with the heroes and heroines of 9-11. Because will not be in school on 9/11, we spent time today learning about the heroism that made a difference on that awful day in our history. Please click below to watch the video that we watched together, "Boatlift'. This short movie depicts The story of courage, resolve and powerful spirit that rose among some otherwise regular citizens on that fateful day.
I encourage you to ask your Fifth Grader about being heroes and overcoming challenges, and their thoughts and feelings about 9-11.
Parsha Questions
1) Why did משה רבינו gather בני ישראל together on the day of his death? (דברים כט:ט. עין רש"י)
2) Who was gathered to listen to משה רבינו? List all that are named. (דברים כט:ט-י)
3) Who are the wood-cutters and water-drawers mentioned here? (דברים כט:י. עין רש"י)
4) In what order did בני ישראל stand before Hashem? (דברים כט:ט-י)
5) To whom was the promise made by Hashem, that the בני ישראל would inherit ארץ כנען? When was this promise made? (דברים כט:יב)
6) How can we guarantee that Hashem will bless us and give us more than enough of everything that we need? (דברים ל:ח-י)
7) What challenges stand in the way of us fulfilling the words and the Torah? Explain.
(דברים ל:יא-יד)
8) What/Who did Hashem choose as witnesses to the covenant between Him and בני ישראל? Why did Hashem choose them? (דברים ל:יט עין רש"י)
Classroom Check-in!
Questions about what we are learning in class
1) What is wrong with a Mishnah beginning with a question?
2) Why did Amelia Bedelia have such a hard time with the Goldberg’s?
3) What is the main concept of Rosh Hashanah?
4) Why is Shofar the main Mitzvah on Rosh Hashanah?
Torah Math
In this week’s Parasha the Torah tells us that we should listen to Hashem. We know that we cannot hear the voice of Hashem, however, if we decode the words we can see that listening to the Rabbis is like listening to Hashem Himself!
(דברים ל:י) "כּי תשמע בקול"
=
זה בקול דברי תלמידי חכמים
Each line has the numeric value of 988, check it out!!!
TORAH TRIVIA!
Super Stumper Question:
This a question to ask others and discuss the answers.
Answer to last week’s Question: Levi never brought Bikurim because they had no land. They were allowed to live in the public cities?
Question of the week: How is it that we would read from the Torah 5 consecutive day and it is not a long holiday?
Can you guess what this recipe connects to this week’s Parsha?
Long Life Pizza
1/2 head cauliflower, coarsely chopped
1/2 cup shredded Italian cheese blend
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
1 egg
1 teaspoon chopped garlic
salt and ground black pepper to taste
Place cauliflower pieces through the feeding tube of the food processor using the grating blade; pulse until all the cauliflower is shredded.
Place a steamer insert into a saucepan and fill with water to just below the bottom of the steamer. Bring water to a boil. Add cauliflower, cover, and steam until tender, about 15 minutes. Transfer cauliflower to a large bowl and refrigerate, stirring occasionally, until cooled about 15 minutes.
Preheat an oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicon mat.
Stir Italian cheese blend, parsley, egg, garlic, salt, and pepper into cauliflower until evenly incorporated. Pour mixture onto the prepared baking sheet; press and shape into a pizza crust.
Bake in the preheated oven until lightly browned, about 15 minutes.
