פרשת שמות

Dvar Torah

Who’s in the Fight???

(שמות ב:יג) וַיֵּצֵא בַּיּוֹם הַשֵּׁנִי וְהִנֵּה שְׁנֵי־אֲנָשִׁים עִבְרִים נִצִּים וַיֹּאמֶר לָרָשָׁע לָמָּה תַכֶּה רֵעֶךָ:

In this week’s Parsha we find the story of Prince Moshe going out to see how his brothers are living.  The Torah tells us that on his second day out he found two men arguing and one had his hand raised to hit the other.  The Torah calls the man hitting “a Rasha” and Moshe asks him (wicked person) ”why are you hitting your friend”.  Rashi (2:13) points out that even though he had not yet hit, he is still called a Rasha just for wanting to hit someone.  Rashi also points out on the word “friend” that he too (the one getting hit) is also a Rasha. 

The question is, what did the friend do to be called a Rasha, is there something wrong with being hit?!

The Answer is that Rashi is telling us that every fight can be avoided if even one of the parties involved tries to stop the fight.  It is wrong to be involved in an argument, one should try to make peace and walk away.

How many times do we get into little disagreements with our families and friends that become big fights? The lesson of this story is to try and end these quarrels instead of escalating them.

Shabbat Shalom!

By the way, can you find a reference to SNOW in this week’s Parsha???

Parsha Questions

1) How did the בני ישראל multiply so much? (רש"י שמות א:ז)

2) What changed that made the בני ישראל have to go to work as slaves? Explain. (רש"י שמות א:ח)

3) What cities were בני ישראל forced to build? (שמות א:יא)

4) What are the actual names of the midwives? Why are they called differently in the תורה?

(רש"י שמות א:טו)

5) Whom did פרעה force to killing their baby boys? Explain. (רש"י שמות א:כב)

6) Who stood from a distance to see what would happen to the child? (רש"י שמות ב:ד)

7) Who came to the river at that time and saved the child? Why was she there? (רש"י שמות ב:ה)

8) Who nursed the child? (שמות ב:ט)

9) Who gave this boy the name משה? Why? (רש"י שמות ב:י)

10) Why did משה kill an Egyptian man? (שמות ב:יא)

11) What did משה call the men that were fighting? Who were they? (רש"י שמות ב:יג)

12) Why did משה run away? Where did he run to? (שמות ב:טו)

13) Why did the מדינים chase יתרו’s daughters away from the well? (רש"י שמות ב:יז)

14) Whom did משה marry? (שמות ב:כא)

15) What did they name their first child? Why? (שמות ב:כב)

16) What changed that made the Jews cried out to Hashem? Explain. (רש"י שמות ב:כג)

17) In who’s merit did Hashem accept the תפילות of בני ישראל? (שמות ב:כד-כה)

18) What caught the attention of משה while out in the desert shepherding? (שמות ג:יג)

19) Why did משה say that he was not able to try and get freedom for the בני ישראל? (2 parts)

(רש"י שמות ג:יא)

20) What signs did Hashem give to משה to prove that he was bringing the words of Hashem?

(שמות ד:א-ז)

21) Why did משה have צרעת on his hand? (רש"י שמות ד:ו)

22) “And Hashem was angry with משה.” What did משה lose as a result of this anger?

(רש"י שמות ד:יד)

23) From where in פרשת שמות do we see that עניים חשובים כמתים, and how? (רש"י שמות ד:יט)

24) What did צפרה do to save the life of משה? Explain. (שמות ד:כד-כו)

25) How did פרעה react to משה‘s initial request for setting the בני ישראל free? (שמות ה:א-ב)

26) What punishment did פרעה give the בני ישראל because משה visited him? (שמות ה:י-יג)

Don't miss the daily Tefilah videos found on Seesaw!  

Torah Math

Pharaoh asked the midwives in Egypt to kill the baby boys as they are being born. Both Shifra and Pu’ah refuse to follow the order of the king and for this, they are rewarded!  When asked by Pharoh why they had disobeyed his orders they explained that the Jewish women were like animals who do not need the help of others to deliver a baby. Where did they get the strength to do what they felt was right and not listen to the king, they know they could have been killed for this?!

In their answer, the word אלהן is missing the letter Yud. Without the letter Yud, the numeric value of the word is the same as Hashem’s name אלקים (spelled with a ה)! Their ability to do what was right came from Hashem!

"כי חיות הנה בטרם תבוא אלהן המילדת וילדו"

 TORAH TRIVIA!

Super Stumper Question:

This a question to ask others and discuss the answers.

Last week’s question: If enough oil was found for one day, the miracle was then only for seven days, so why do we celebrate Chanukah for eight days????? (There are many answers)

Question of the week: Fast days are for doing Teshuva, yet on some, we do not say Tachanun at Mincha. Which ones do we omit Tachanun at Mincha????

 FOOD Section!

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

Grilled Broccoli and Cauliflower

Ingredients

-1 head of broccoli (about 1 pound), broken into 1-inch florets, stalks peeled and thinly sliced

     You can also use a bag (16 oz) of frozen broccoli

-1 large head of cauliflower (about 2 pounds), broken into florets

     You can also use a bag (16 oz) of frozen cauliflower

-3 tablespoons olive oil

-4 garlic cloves, thinly sliced

-2 lemons, thinly sliced (mostly for garnish)

-Salt and pepper to taste

Directions

Preheat oven to 475 degrees. On two rimmed baking sheets, toss broccoli and cauliflower with oil, garlic, and lemons; season with salt and pepper. Roast until vegetables are browned and tender, 25 to 30 minutes, rotating sheets from top to bottom and tossing vegetables once halfway through.

Note about using these vegetables:

Check your fresh broccoli and cauliflower by soaking in warm salt water, then rinse and check of bugs. Please ask your Rabbi how would properly check vegetables for insects.

פרשת ויחי 2

Dvar Torah

Our Focus

וַיְחִי יַעֲקֹב בְּאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם שְׁבַע עֶשְׂרֵה שָׁנָה וַיְהִי יְמֵי־יַעֲקֹב שְׁנֵי חַיָּיו שֶׁבַע שָׁנִים וְאַרְבָּעִים וּמְאַת שָׁנָה:

 (בראשית מז:כח) 

This week’s Parsha starts off by telling us that “Yaakov lived in the land of Egypt” (47:28).  Rashi points out in wonderment that between most Parshiot there is a space, but between the Parshiot of Vayigash and Vayichei, there is no space.  Rashi explains that the reason for this is that once Yaakov passed away, the eyes and hearts of the Jewish people were closed because of the suffering of the enlargement. 

The question is asked by many commentaries; “The enlargement did not start until after Yosef and all of his brothers died”.  Furthermore, at this point in the Parsha, Yaakov was still alive so why does Rashi tell us that their eyes and hearts were already closed?

The answer is that when Yaakov and his children moved down to Egypt they came to the nicest part of the country, they were liked by the king and overall very comfortable.  Because the children of Yaakov felt at home, they did not focus on the dream of returning to Israel, therefore, Rashi is pointing out that their minds and hearts were closed because they felt like they had nothing to strive for. 

 The lesson we learn from this is that even though we live in comfort, we still need to remember our dream of Eretz Yisrael (Israel).  Let us remember this when we stand every day and Daven facing east towards our home, to be totally rebuilt soon, Israel.

  

Shabbat Shalom, stay warm and have an AMAZING winter break!

Virtual Classroom Check-in!

Questions about what we are learning online!

1) How did the Jewish people justify allowing the Can’anim to stay in Israel?

2) Why was this wrong?

3) Name three reasons that the 10^th of Tevet is a fast day.

Kollel Quiz 

#1 Who Am I?

1. I am for “all the youth”.

2. I am for your bed.

3. Some sing me.

4. I am a little fishy.

#2 Who Am I?

1. We are the blessing.

2. We are two of twelve.

3. We are swapped.

4. We had wicked offspring.

Submit this answer by clicking here

פרשת ויחי Part I

Parsha Questions

1) Why in a ספר תורה is there no break in the lines or the words between פרשת ויגש and ויחי?

(רש"י בראשית מז:כח)

2) How many years did יעקב live in מצרים? How old was יעקב when he was נפטר? (בראשית מז:כח)

3) Why did he ask יוסף to ensure his burial in ארץ ישראל, instead of the other sons?

(רש"י בראשית מז:כט)

4) Why did יעקב ask יוסף do to “חסד ואמת” with him? (רש"י בראשית מז:כט)

5) Why did יעקב not want to be buried in מצרים? (רש"י בראשית מז:כט)

6) Where did יעקב want to be buried? (בראשית מז:ל)

7) Explain: “מנשה and אפרים are to me like ראובן and שמעון”. (רש"י בראשית מח:ה)

8) Why did יעקב choose now to mention the death and burial of רחל to יוסף? (רש"י בראשית מח:ז)

9) Why did יוסף assume his father made a mistake when giving מנשה and אפרים their blessings?

(בראשית מח:יז)

10) Which great leader comes from מנשה and which from אפרים? (רש"י בראשית מח:יט)

11) What ברכה did יעקב give to מנשה and אפרים? (רש"י בראשית מח:כ)

12) For how many days did מצרים mourn over the loss of יעקב? (בראשית נ:ג)

13) Why was an area in כנען called אבל מצרים? (בראשית נ:י-יא and see רש"י יא)

14) Which two sons of יעקב did not carry his coffin? Why not? (רש"י בראשית נ:יג)

15) After the burial of יעקב who was afraid of whom and why? (בראשית נ:טו and see רש"י)

16) What was done to show that there was no reason to fear? (בראשית נ:יט-כא)

17) Whom did יוסף “blame” for ending up in מצרים? Explain what he meant. (בראשית נ:יט-כא)

18) How many generations did יוסף see in his lifetime? Whom? To Whom? (בראשית נ:כג-כד)

19) Who made his brothers swear that their children would bury him in ארץ ישראל when

they left מצרים? (בראשית נ: כג-כד)

Torah Math

After learning that Yosef would fulfill Yaakov final request to be buried in Me’Arat Hamachpela, Yaakov bowed. Rashi explains that he was bowing to Hashem to thank him for the news that he would indeed be buried with his fathers in Eretz Yisrael.

If we look at the numeric value of the words we can actually see this! The Torah tells us וישתחו יעקב אל ראש המיטה . This means that Yaakov bowed. These words have the same value as the words מודים על בשֹורה טובה , that mean “A thanks upon hearing good news”!!!

WOW!!!! SO KOOL!!!!!!

 TORAH TRIVIA!

Super Stumper Question:

This a question to ask others and discuss the answers.

Answer to last week’s question:  The ONLY Mitzvah that can ONLY be fulfilled when sitting down is standing for a parent or elder.

Question of the week: What is the only part of Davening that is skipped when Davening with a Minyan???

 FOOD Section!

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

 DUE TO THE ONGOING HUNGER IT WAS HARD TO FIND ANYTHING TO MAKE THIS WEEK.

  

Gingerbread  Mummy Cookies

Ingredients

Cookie Mix:

1/4 cup softened margarine

1/2 cup Sugar

1/2 cup Molasses

1/3 cup Water

3 1/4 cups Flour

1 tsp. Baking soda

1 tsp. Ginger

1/2 tsp. Cinnamon

1/2 tsp. Cloves

1/2 tsp. Salt

Glaze and decorations

1 tbsp. margarine

1/2 tsp. Vanilla

3 tbsp. Soy-Milk

Powdered Sugar

Instructions

In a bowl, cream butter and sugar. Add molasses and water. Mix well. Add remaining ingredients. Knead very well until forms a ball.

Roll out on lightly floured board. Cut into Gingerbread men shapes using Gingerbread man cutter. Place on cookie sheet.

Bake at 350 degrees F oven for 8-10 minutes. Allow cooling. Makes about 2 dozen mummies.

Glaze:

Mix all ingredients adding enough powdered sugar to make a smooth drizzling consistency. Place in pastry/decorating bag, or in a small plastic bag. Using tip, or cut a very small hole in the tip of the plastic bag, drizzle back and forth over cooled Gingerbread men to create your mummy.

Eyes can be created with decorations or a tube of decorator gel.