Sunday, March 15, 2015

Parshas Vayakhel and Pekudei


Would you like to know more on this week's Parsha?
Click here:

Vayakhel: http://www.torahtots.com/parsha/shmos/vayakel2.htm
Pekudei: http://www.torahtots.com/parsha/shmos/pekudei2.htm

Would you like to watch a Parsha musical?
Click here:

http://www.chabad.org/multimedia/media_cdo/aid/366033/jewish/As-a-Jew-the-musical.htm

Here's the Parsha song:

http://www.chabad.org/parshah/article_cdo/aid/573601/jewish/Parshah-Song.htm

Letter Pay and Letter Fay

Yes. Isabelle was our Mail Carrier. She had a big job to bring us two letters that we learned this week. Letter Pay and Letter Fay. Pay has one big line on top, one big line coming down, one big line on the bottom, one little line coming down, one line in the middle, and a dot. Letter Fay is made the same way as Pay just without the dot.
Pay and Fay are many times interchangeable letters)

David forming the letters.

Words that begin with Letter Pay:
Pesach

Purim

Peel - Elephant


Pesach Story

There was a famine in  Eretz Yisroel so the Jewish people moved down to Mitzrayim where their brother Yosef the King generated food.
After Yosef and all of Yaacov's sons passed away King Pharoah rocked the boat for the Jewish people. He was afraid that they will overtake Mitzrayim considering their large number of people and strength they imbued.

King Pharoah arranged to weaken the Jews in case they had such thoughts.
He formed forced labor onto the Jewish people under difficult conditions.
King Pharoah's astrologer notified him that a baby boy will soon be born and when he grows up he will lead all the Jewish people out of Mitzrayim.
King Pharoah was opposed to that. He liked being boss and having people work hard for him. He wanted to decrease any energy the Jews may have and keep them under his watchful eye while doing what he demanded of them. Pyramids had to be built.
King Pharoah decreed all baby boys must be gotten rid of.
Yocheved, a Jewish Mommy, chose to make the right choices even if it wasnt safe. So one day, when she found out that she had a baby in her stomach, she said she will keep this baby even if it will be a boy. And that is what she did. She had a baby boy who lit up the house with his radiance and glow when he was born. She kept her baby for as long as possible. 
As time had passed, Yocheved knew it wouldn't be safe to keep her baby at home since King Pharoah's officers come around to check the homes for any baby boys.
She had an idea to place her baby in a safe floating basket and put him into the Nile River. And that is what she did.


Princess Basya, King Pharoah's daughter, came to the river that day to cool off from the heat. She heard a baby's cry and chose to bring the baby to her, so she can feed him, and take him home.
The basket was too far for her to reach but because Hashem liked her idea of saving a Jewish baby although her very own father decreed against such a deed, Hashem miracoulsy made Princess Basya's hand stretch enough to get the baby and bring him to her. She named him Moshe.

Princess Basya  brought the baby to the palace and to her surprise King Pharoah let her keep the baby.
Moshe grew up and took on the job of a shepherd. One day Hashem told him his job as a shepherd is over because his job now would be to lead the Jewish people out of Mitzrayim.
Hashem told Moshe to go with his brother Ahron to King Pharoah and tell him he must let the Jewish people out of Mitzrayim, out of slavery and into freedom.
Moshe and Ahron went together to speak with Pharoah. Pharoah refused. Moshe warned him of plaguesthat Hashem would bring upon him and Mitzrayim. Pharoah laughed it off and refused to let the Jews go.
Hashem brought ten plagues to punish Mitzrayim.
1. Blood.
2. Frogs.
3. Lice.
4. Wild animals.
5. Sick farm animals.
6. Boils.
7. Hail Stones
8. Grasshoppers
9. Darkness
10. Death of First Born.

King Pharoah was a first born child. 
This punishment scared him the most. He knew he could not run from this plague.
He ran to Moshe telling him he will definetly let the Jewish people leave Mitzrayim this time. For real!!. He begged Moshe to take all the Jews out immediatley.
Moshe answered the King that they will leave in the morning.

All the Jewish people were getting ready to leave. They packed their bags, toys, animals... 
The women prepared food and drinks to take along for the way.
They were in their kitchen kneading dough when they heard Moshe calling out telling everyone that it was time to leave.
The dough didnt have time to rise and bake.
The women took the dough, put them into bags, and slung them over their shoulders. 
It baked on their backs in the hot sun into matza crackers. 

Three days after the Jewish people had left, King Pharoah suddenly felt sorry for letting all the Jews go. He ran after them with his huge army. The Jewish people had no where to run besides turn to Hashem and daven.
Well Hashem did many miracles for them until then. He created a situation in which King Pharoah didnt have a choice but let the Jews go. Hashem can do anything!! He commanded Moshe to keep walking with the Jews even though they were heading towards the big Red Sea with crashing waves.
Hashem ordered Moshe to pick up his hands with his staff over the water and the water split in half. The Jews crossed over on dry land to safety. The water closed up before the Mitzriyim could come and get the Jews back. 

What a story!!

Mazel Tov Adam!!

Mazel Tov Adam on your new baby brother!!
May you set good examples for your baby and may he follow in your great foot steps. :)

Our friends drew a book for Adam: "What Do Big Brother;s Do?"
They had great ideas.  :)

Tzedaka

Thank you to David, Doron, Jackie, Isabelle, and Adam for bringing their filled Tzedaka boxes into school.
We will use this money to buy new markers, toys, and books for our class.

Sunday, March 8, 2015

Parshas Ki Sisa

Would you like to know more on thi Parsha? Click here:
http://www.torahtots.com/parsha/shmos/kisisa2.htm

For a song on the Parsha click here: 
http://www.chabad.org/parshah/article_cdo/aid/573599/jewish/Parshah-Song.htm

Letter Ayin

Yahoo!
We got a new letter named Letter Ayin. It has two big lines coming down, and one big line on the bottom. It looks like two big eyes and a mouth.

Which words begin with Letter Ayin?
Aynayim- Eyes

Oogiyot- Cookies
Hamantashen Oogiyot Cookies which we made together for Purim. Yum!!

Purim Customs

When the tables were turned and the Jews were victorious over being annihalated, Esther and Mordechai felt it was necesary for this Purim story to be written for all later Jewish generations as a reminder of Hashem's guiding hamd in our daily lives and the many great lessons we can learn from this large story.
They decided to write the story in a Megillah and chose 4 mitzvos to be kept annually. 

 Purim Mitzva #1: Listen to the Megillah being read the night and day of Purim.
Purim Mitzva #2:
Give two ready made foods to at least 1 person.

Purim Mitzva #3: Eat a meal

Purim Mitzva #4: Give Tzeddaka to at least 2 people in need.
Here we are at our Purim Party, listening to the Purim Story.
Then we had an amazing 2015 Costume Runway!!
Woot Woot! To our Princess Daniela!!
We then danced, traded Mishloach Manos, and enjoyed a treat.

Purim Story

 

Many years ago, in the Land of Persia, in the City of Shushan, there was a King named Achashveirosh who allowed the Jewish people living in his land to rebuild the Beis Hamikdosh and move back to Eretz yisroel. His wife, Queen Vashti halted the process.

King Achashveirosh called upon all people in his land, including all the Jewish people to come and join him in celebration on becoming the new king and having his throne finished being built.
There was a special man, a Tzaddik, who cared deeply for the Jewish people. His name was Rabbi Mordechia. He begged the Jewish people not to go to the party although it was enticing. He told them it wasn't a place for a Jewish person. Many people abode Mordechai and didn't go to the party, others went out of fear of disobeying the King since the party invite was a law for all citizens to join, and others went to have fun.

At the party Haman, the King's Adviser, offered the Jewish people non Kosher food to infuriate Hashem. Haman wasn't one to be very kind.

King Achshveirosh had a Queen her name was Vashti. She was at her palace entertaining her maid servants at her party. The King called for her to join him at the party.
She didn't feel comfortable to come since Hashem had made big, red, hot, and swollen pimples appear on her face. Hashem was upset with her for forcing Jewish girls work for her on Shabbos although she knew they weren't allowed to and even though they told her so. She made them work, mop, and clean her palace anyways. She wouldn't take their religion or requests into consideration.

King Achashveirosh was upset that his Queen disobeyed him and wouldn't show up at the party. Haman, the King's Adviser, recommended to the King that since his Queen embarrassed him by refusing his  invite, she doesn't deserve to be the Queen any longer. He should get rid of her.
And that is what the King did.

King Achashveirosh listened to anyone;s advice that was offered to him. He didn't think much for himself. Why? King Ach. didn't come from a royal dynasty and didn't have royal blood. He was a self appointed king. He wasn't very secure about his position and decisions he had to make so he listened to everyone else;s advice.

The King woke up the next morning and was sad when he remembered he gave up his Queen. Haman advised him to find a new queen. Haman was appointed as the King's Chief Adviser.
All girls from around the land was instructed to come to the palace and have King Achashveirosh choose an eligible king. It wasn't a choice.

There was a kind and beautiful girl named Esther. She didn't have a Mommy and Tatty so she lived with her kind and caring Uncle Mordechai who took care of all her needs and taught her everything she knew. Esther trusted Mordechai. She heard about the King looking for a new queen and quickly went to tell Mordechai that she doesn't want to go. She would rather live with him.
Mordechai understood Esther. He told her that he also wanted her very much to continue living with him but she would have go to the palace like all the girls. And if in the case Esther would be chosen to be the queen, Mordechai reminded her that it was what Hashem would want.

She was taken to the palace by the King's guards. She was brought in front of the King for judgement and all of the sudden Hashem placed a thought in King Achashveirosh's mind to choose Esther as his new Queen.

King Achashveirosh made Mordechai his Advisor on the consultation of Esther. He told him that every King would have a Jewish advisor since it was good for bringing up the economy of the land and for big palatial decisions that needed to be made.
The King also rewarded Mordechai for saving his life from two guards that wanted to get rid of the King.
The King recorded this great deed in his Big Book of Memories.

Haman grew jealous day by day of Mordechai. He was upset that Mordechai wouldn't bow to him like the rest of the citizens since he felt so important and prestigious at this point since he was Chief Adviser.
Mordechai politely refused to bow saying he only bows to Hashem and no human being besides for Kings out of respect.

Haman was very offended and insulted by Mordechai. He quickly went to speak with the King and asked if he can get rid of a nation who is no good for the Land. The king immediately agreed to Haman's wishes. He figured his Chief Adviser knew what he was doing and didn't bother asking him which nation he was referring to.
Well, this nation were the Jewish people.
He chose a date to get rid of the Jews, the 13th day of the Hebrew Month of Adar. He sent a message to all the people asking for their cooperation in the Jews eradication.
When Mordechai and the Jews heard this terrible news they davened to Hashem, begging him to foil Haman's plans.

In the meantime, Mordechai went to Esther telling her that Hashem placed her in the palace not for her own pleasure of course, but for the need of the Jewish for when they will need her help on their behalf. He told her to go to the King and tell him that Haman was planning to get rid of her nation and herself. (King Achavshveirosh didn't know she was Jewish)
She went on condition that the Jewish people would daven very intensely that the King will accept her and her words.

The Jews davened and fasted.
Queen Esther went into the King's chambers to speak with him on this urgent matter but didn't feel it was the right time to tell him about Haman's plans. Instead she invited the King and Haman to a party at her palace which they both happily agreed to.
 

At the party, Esther still hadn't felt ready to divulge this huge secret of her being a Jew and about the awful plan of Haman and so she invited them to a second party. At the second party, the Queen pointed to Haman and revealed Haman's full plan and intentions.

Haman and his entire family were punished for being involved in this horrible project.
The Jewish people were victorious.


It seemed that Hashem was hiding and not there for the Jewish people. But Hashem can never do that. He is always around even when it seems He has left us, doesnt care for us, or watching out for us.

But Hashem was able to make the whole story of Purim come into play naturally and able to achieve everything He wanted. Hashem is in control.
Hashem wanted the miracles of Purim to come naturally through the Jewish people's hard work, davening, and teshuva (repentance). 
Therefore, Hashem's name is not written in the Megilla Purim story because Hashem was masked though nature then.


Sunday, March 1, 2015

Rosh Chodesh Adar/ Hat Day

Rosh Chodesh Adar was like no other Rosh Chodesh.
We danced and sang and got to show all our friends the hats we dressed up in.
Yes. We had a great time with our friends!! Yippee Doo!!

Now, we are excitedly looking forward to celebrating this fun holiday of Purim. :)


Parshas T'Tzaveh





For more info on the Parsha click here:

http://www.torahtots.com/parsha/shmos/tetzave2.htm

For a nice song about the Koehn Gadol click here:
http://www.chabad.org/parshah/article_cdo/aid/573596/jewish/Parshah-Song.htm

Letter Samach

We learned a very simple letter this week: Letter Samach. It has one extra big line on top and a semi circle. If you want to write Letter Samach even simpler you can just make a circle. We call it the Simple Circle Samach. :)


Bibi, Nissan, and David forming Letter Samach like a Champ! :)))

A Hebrew name and words that begin with the Letter Samach:
Sasha
Siddur - Prayer Book
Seder Plate
Sukariyah - Candy
Yum!!! Slirp! Slirp!