Vayakhel - Pekudei

In this week's portion, Vayakhel-Pekudei, Moses gathers the Jews and relays to them all the details regarding the construction of the Tabernacle, its vessels, and the priestly garments. The actual construction and assembly is also described. This portion repeats many of the details described in the portions of Terumah and Tetzaveh, wherein G‑d instructed Moses regarding the assembly of all these objects. The Tabernacle is erected, and G‑d's presence dwells therein.

Mishkan booklet to color

Shabbath Parah

The Torah reading of Parah (Numbers 19) is added to the weekly reading. Parah details the laws of the "Red Heifer" and the process by which a person rendered ritually impure by contact with a dead body was purified.
When the Holy Temple stood in Jerusalem, every Jew had to be in a state of ritual purity in time for the bringing of the Passover offering in the Temple. Today, though we're unable to fulfill the Temple-related rituals in practice, we fulfill them spiritually by studying their laws in the Torah. Thus, we study and read the section of Parah in preparation for the upcoming festival of Passover.

Red Heifer painted toy

ki tisa

G‑d tells Moses the recipe for making holy "anointing oil." This oil, which was prepared with various aromatic herbs and fine spices, was used to anoint and sanctify the Tabernacle, its vessels, and Aaron and his sons. The remainder of the oil was put aside, and was used to anoint kings and high priests of future generations. 

Making Cinnamon Scented Oil at Home

This week we are going to explore Torah through our sense of smell. We are also going to discuss the different types of scents; good and bad, sweet and sour, pleasant and bitter. We will discuss the way that fragrance can inspire people’s moods. We will also discuss how at other times in our tradition a scent can be used as an example of certain type personality.
Now in the same vein, this week our parsha is discussing the making of the Shemen Meshechat – the fragrant Anointing Oil (שמן המשחה) which was needed for the inauguration. 

Essential oils are perfect for aromatherapy, massage or various cosmetic solutions. Making homemade essential oil is easy. You could have spotted the method of making essential oils in the ‘Perfume’ movie – it’s called enfleurage and includes soaking flowers or herbs in oil. To make your own essential oil you need only carrier oil and herbs, flowers or beans you’ll be using to infuse it with their flavors. See how at Sparkle woman   
 
Photo credit: Flickr, Lizzy Lane Farm

Purim graggers

Saltshakers transformed into Purim draggers

Mordechai and King Ahasuerus graggers, filled with rice and beans

Meghillot

Meghillot of Ester crafts

Mishloach Manot

Mishloach manot, which means the “sending of portions” in Hebrew, are gifts of food and drink that Jews send to each other during the holiday of Purim. Sending mishloach manot is a mitzvah that is meant to ensure that everyone has enough food to enjoy the traditional Purim feast. It is also thought of as an opportunity to strengthen relationships between people. What better way to show someone you’ve thought about them during the holiday than by sending a gift basket?

PURIM BASKETS - MISKLOACH MANOT

Decorated tin boxes Prurim baskets

Breakfast milk cups Purim baskets

Oatmeal containers Purim baskets

                      Colored tin baskets with handles

Purim baskets from empty tea, coffee boxes and oatmeal containers.
Download and print Purim collage from NORUNNINGWITHSCISSOR  then glue it on empty boxes and paint it with Modd Podge.
Downlaod Purim wrapping paper pieces that are going on oatmeal containers that will be filled with mishloach manot, food gifts for Purim from LEORAW

Tissue shaped fish

Tissue Adar fish

Handmade tissue shaped fish craffor Adar

Purim crafts for Purim seudà table

Glittered Bottles

Crowns of lace

Tetzaveh

This week's Parshah, Tetzaveh, we discover the special garments worn by the priests and high priest when serving in the Tabernacle.

 Laminated cohanim cards

 The High Priest's Choshen Mishpat ("Breastplate of Judgment"). It contained four rows of precious stones, each row containing three stones. Artisans engraved the names of the Twelve Tribes of Israel upon these twelve stones. This cloth breastplate contained a fold wherein the Urim v'Tumim, a parchment on which was written G‑d's Name, was inserted. The Choshen Misphat was then secured by straps which connected it to the ephod.

Choshen Mishpat craft

 Downlaod the cards images from Temple Institute and read about priestly garments

Purim greeting card

Mordechai and Ester pop-up card

 

Pop-up Purim card you can do with your family inspired by Laya Crust.
See how to make at Laya Crust HERE

Terumah

G‑d commands the Israelites to build a Tabernacle. He provides the exact details of how to construct it, and how to build the different instruments and vessels which were used therein.

Our homemade Mishkan Model 

G‑d then gave detailed instructions regarding the construction and dimensions of the Tabernacle and its vessels—starting with the Ark that housed the Tablets. The Ark was to be made of gold-plated acacia wood. Rings were to be attached to the corners of the Ark,
wherein were inserted the poles that were used to transport the Ark.

The Tabernacle's sanctuary was to consist of two sections: the innermost chamber was the Holy of Holies, wherein the Ark was to be placed; and the outer chamber was the Holy Chamber, which housed the Menorah and the Table (as well as the Golden Altar which will be described in next week's reading). Two curtains were to be woven of dyed wools and linen. One was to be placed between the Holy of Holies and the Holy Chamber, the other covered the eastern side of the Tabernacle—its entrance.

 

The covering of the Sanctuary was to consist of several layers of tapestries. The first layer was to be a woven mixture of dyed wools and linen. The second layer was to be made of goat's hair. These two oversized coverings also covered the outsides of the Tabernacle's walls. The very top of the Tabernacle was then to be further covered by dyed ram skins and tachash hides.

 

Adar!

Purim costume

Purim "Lord of the Rings" costume

 

 Tauriel, a Silvan Wood-elf , is a character of The Hobbit film trilogy and it's one of our costumes this year for Purim. Felt made at home.

Paper bags for Purim

hand-drawn paper bags

 Handmade colourfull paper bags to use for Purim parties or easy to made mishloach manot

Shabbath Shekalim

This week we read in the Torah about the command to every Jew to contribute half a shekel towards the building of the Mishkan,the Sanctuary in the desert.
In the Torah’s command concerning the half-shekel, particular emphasis is laid on the necessity of giving half of a whole shekel.
Each party to the covenant was to regard himself as incomplete, a mere “half.” Hence, when G‑d told Moses that He was about to make a covenant with the Jews, He was emphasizing once again the lesson of the half-shekel that a Jew and his Creator are two indivisible halves, together forming one whole, a perfect unity.

Drawing colourful Shekalim 

 Laminated Shekel cards