Shemot - Egyptian paper doll

The children of Israel multiply in Egypt. Threatened by their growing numbers, Pharaoh enslaves them and orders the Hebrew midwives, Shifrah and Puah, to kill all male babies at birth. When they do not comply, he commands his people to cast the Hebrew babies into the Nile.
A child is born to Yocheved, the daughter of Levi, and her husband, Amram, and placed in a basket on the river, while the baby’s sister, Miriam, stands watch from afar. Pharaoh’s daughter discovers the boy, raises him as her son, and names him Moses.

Egyptian Paper Doll

 find the paper doll template at   amstamps.com

Parashah cards 2

Each card features a drawing portraying a major topic discussed in the Parashah. It also includes information such as the number Parashah it is in the Torah, the number of Mitzvos the Parashah contains and the number of Pesukim, words and letters of which the Parashah is comprised. Utilize these cards to help  recall the names of the Parashot, the order in which they are read, the main events occurring in each Parashah and more! 
Why don't distribute the cards as a behavioral incentive or as a gift L’chvod Shabbos each week... From chinuch.org 

 Download the cards and instruction here

Terumah - Water color on paper

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.
On the summit of Mount Sinai, Moses is given detailed instructions on how to construct this dwelling for G‑d so that it could be readily dismantled, transported and reassembled as the people journeyed in the desert. 

Echelon Art Gallery
Oil Paintings, Prints, Drawings and Water Colors

Title: Terumah

Medium: Water Color on Paper

Drew Kopf
February 2009 – Shevat 5769

Original: private collection, Chicago, IL; gift of the artist.

 

Beshalach - Bird feeder

Shabbath Shirà - Beshalach

This Shabbat we celebrate a very special moment in the Torah, a very musical moment in Jewish biblical history. This Shabbat is Shabbat Shirah. It is the Sabbath of Singing, brimming with extraordinary music to celebrate Moshe and Miriam leading the Israelites across the Sea of Reeds and out of Egypt.

This Shabbat we read Parashat Beshalach. 

Shabbat Shirah gets its name from part of the sedra  known as Shirat HaYam (song of the sea).

Liturgically, this is the part of the Torah from which the Rabbis selected Mi Chamocha to become part of our worship. The prayer is taken from Shemot  15, 11 and 18. "Mi chamocha ba-ei-lim Adonai, mi ka-mocha ne-e-dar ba-kodesh, no-rah t'hi-lot o-seh feleh (11). Adonai yim-loch l'o-lam va-ed (18).(Who is like You, O G.d, among the gods that are worshipped? Who is like You, O G.d, majestic in holiness, awesome in splendor, working wonders (11)? Adonai will reign forever and ever (18)!).

Musically, not only does Shabbat Shirah lend itself to be a service throughout which one is totally immersed in amazing music led by the Cantor, choir, temple band and guest musicians, there is a special musical motif that exists just for this song/poem in the Torah.   An excerpt of the Shirah chant was included in the movie The Prince of Egypt in the song "When You Believe." 

 

This week's Torah reading contains the "song at the sea" sung by the Children of Israel upon their deliverance from the Egyptians, when the Red Sea split to allow them to pass and then drowned their pursuers.
Our sages tell us that the birds in the sky joined our ancestors in their singing; for this reason it is customary to put out food for the birds for this Shabbat (to avoid the possibility of transgressing the laws of Shabbat, the food should be put out before Shabbat).

Chaye Sarah - Rivka and water

In Chayei Sarah Abraham's servant travels to Aram to find a wife for Yitzack: Rivka.
The servant set out for his master's homeland and evening time found him beside the city well. He prayed for success in his mission, and asked for a heavenly sign to confirm his choice of a girl for Yitzack. He would ask a maiden for a drink of water, and the one who would answer: "Certainly, and I'll also give your camels to drink as well," would be the proper choice. Immediately a young lady approached and in response to the servant's request for a drink, she offered to give his camels to drink too. Upon questioning her, he discovered that she was Abraham's great-niece, Rivka.

As Eliezer stood by the well in Charan, Rivka walked toward it. The posuk tells us that as soon as Eliezer watched Rivka begin to draw water, he raced toward her and asked her the pre-determined questions. The gracious response led to our destiny.
The Medrash questions why Eliezer raced forward to greet Rivka. It answers that as Rivka went to draw water, Eliezer saw a miraculous event. As she lowered her bucket, the waters in the well rose to greet her. Therefore Eliezer ran to greet this maiden, as this was a spiritual individual who must truly be Yitzchak’s bashert (pre-ordained). 

 

To associate water miracle with Rivka create a water gift for your children friends. Arrange to get some Yarden water from Israel then pour into glass ampoules and label them. Add some white sand or shell grains if you like.

download ampoules labels  HERE

Vayiera - the paper oak

“Adonay appeared to him by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat at the door of his tent in the heat of the day” (Bereshit. 18:1).
The Oak of Mamre (also called the Oak of Sibta), at Hirbet es-Sibte, two kilometres southwest of Mamre also called The Oak of Abraham is an ancient tree which, in tradition, is said to mark the place where Abraham entertained the three angels or where Abraham pitched his tent. It is estimated that this oak is approximately 5,000 years old. 

Build an oak with children: a roll of paper, markers, scissors and true leaves picked from a tree. Add a squirrel to your oak if you like.

Noach - Pop Up animals shapes

While society as a whole descended into a state of anarchy and utter corruption, only Noah remained righteous and faithful to G‑d's ways. Noah was informed by G‑d that a mabul ("flood") will soon destroy all of civilization, and only Noah and his immediate family would survive in a teivah ("ark," boat) that he was to build. G‑d gave Noah the exact dimensions of the teivah he was to build, and commanded Noah to bring along into the teivah specimens of every species of animal and bird to repopulate the world after the mabul, and to stock the boat with food to feed all its inhabitants.

Pop up paper abstract shapes of animals. Draw the shape of the animals you like the most, cut the and laminate. Create your abstract pop up ark...

Bereshit - the fifth day

In the Torah's opening reading, Bereishit, G‑d creates the world in six days and rests on the seventh. Adam and Eve eat from the Tree of Knowledge and are expelled from the Garden of Eden. Cain slays Abel and is punished accordingly. Enumeration of the ten generations between Adam and Noah, the birth of Noah, and the degeneration of mankind.
We still focus on the section that recounts the story of creation in six days. On the first day G‑d made darkness and light. On the second day He formed the heavens, dividing the "upper waters" from the "lower waters." On the third day He set the boundaries of land and sea and called forth trees and greenery from the earth. On the fourth day He fixed the position of the sun, moon and stars. 

Fish, birds and reptiles were created on the fifth day

 

Create a DIY sea diorama inside an upcycled jar. It is easy  to make and simple while talking about the days of creation with children. Use some gravel or shells dust ( you can find it at pet shops), add some small pebbles, an plant for aquarium and a coloured stone. Finish with one or two toys fishes. Take care to add boiled  water or distilled water to prevent lime deposits.

Parashah cards

Each card features a drawing portraying a major topic discussed in the Parashah. It also includes information such as the number Parashah it is in the Torah, the number of Mitzvos the Parashah contains and the number of Pesukim, words and letters of which the Parashah is comprised. Utilize these cards to help  recall the names of the Parashot, the order in which they are read, the main events occurring in each Parashah and more! 
Why don't distribute the cards as a behavioral incentive or as a gift L’chvod Shabbos each week... From chinuch.org

Download the cards and instruction here

Behar - Bechukotai

This week's double reading, Behar-Bechukotai, speaks about the Sabbatical and Jubilee years, laws regulating commerce and the redemption of slaves. It also contains a vivid description of the rewards for observing G‑d's commandments and the series of punishments that will befall us if we choose to disregard them. The Torah then discusses different types of gifts given to the Temple, and the animal tithe.
We are promised incredible blessing if we diligently study Torah and observe the mitzvot. The blessings include plentiful food, timely rain, security, peace in the land, the elimination of wild animals from the land, and incredible military success. And more blessings: An overabundance of crops and G‑d's presence will be revealed in our midst. 
With this we conclude the Book of Vaiykrà.

Home abundance of plants

 Painted stones

Emor - the omer

After making brief mention of the Shabbat, the Torah talks about the holiday of Passover and the mitzvah of eating matzah. On the second day of this holiday, an "omer" barley offering is brought in the Temple. This is followed by a seven-week counting period that culminates with the holiday of Shavuot. After discussing the Shavuot Temple service, the Torah briefly interrupts the holiday discussion to mention the obligation, when harvesting fields, to leave certain gifts for the poor.

 Wheat drawing

... and my daughters too did their wheat drawing, in brown and green.

CD case Omer counter

Meditative wheat drawing about counting the omer
Chose a simple drawing that is  related to the theme of Counting the Omer…wheat. Drawing a stalk of wheat is just a few basic shapes that don’t need to be perfect. 

Saw at CHAI AND HOME

 

Achare Mot - Kedoshim

The High Priest is instructed to only enter the Holy of Holies chamber of the sanctuary once a year, on Yom Kippur; and even on this holiest day of the year, the entry into the Temple's inner sanctum must be accompanied by a special service and specific offerings which are detailed in this reading. The High Priest was only permitted to enter amidst a cloud of burning incense. Also, special white garments were worn by the High Priest on this day. While offering the day's sacrifices, the High Priest would "confess" on behalf of the entire nation, attaining atonement for the past year's sins. This section continues with a description of the "scapegoat" ceremony procedure. 

Paper roll scapegoat 

 An easy to make scapegoat from paper roll and wool. This child made one was very funny to put together.

Tazria Metzorah

We learn the laws of tzara'at which appears following a burn to the skin. We discover that tzara'at can also affect the areas on the body covered by hair. The symptoms and laws of such a tzara'at are quite different than standard tzara'at. This section concludes with the laws of a person afflicted by multiple dull white areas on his skin. 

Shea Butter Hand Cream 

Talk about skin care , how about making a body butter together?
See some instructions here
Then choose a jar and a nice label for it .

Shemini

G‑d gives the commandments of Kosher, explaining how to distinguish between kosher and non-kosher animals, fish, and birds. Kosher animals must chew their cud and have cloven feet. The Torah lists four animals that have only one of these attributes, but not both, and are therefore non-kosher. Kosher fish must have fins and scales. The Torah then gives a list of species of non-kosher birds, and species of kosher locust. The Torah then discusses the ritual impurity caused by coming in contact with the carcass of a non-kosher animal, as well as certain species of rodents and amphibian creatures.

Kosher / no kosher collage

Tzav

Parashah Tzav, continues describing the various sacrifices offered in the Tabernacle and Temple . This is followed by an account of the seven-day inaugural of the Tabernacle. The Torah describes the mandatory daily removal of ashes from the altar. This was the first order of the day in the Temple service. 
The fire on the mizbaiyach was to be kept burning continuously.

Round fire children collage 

 

Vayikrà

The Torah reading, Vayikra, begins the third book of the Torah. This portion will provide a description of the various sacrifices , animal, fowl, and meal-offerings , offered by the priests in this newly constructed Sanctuary. G‑d calls out to Moses from the Tabernacle and teaches him the laws of the elective burnt offering, the Olah sacrifice, the laws of the cattle, sheep, or goat Olah. 
G‑d instructs the Jews to add salt to every animal sacrifice or meal offering, a symbol of our everlasting "salt covenant" with G‑d.
The Shelamim sacrifice which could be brought from cattle, sheep, or goats
The Chatat sacrifice.
The Korban Oleh Viyored depended on the financial position of the transgressor,a wealthy person brought a sheep or goat, a person of lesser means brought two birds, and a pauper brought a meal offering.
The Asham Sacrifices.

 Korbanot cardboard tray

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

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

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