parashah vayelech

Moshè entrusts the leadership of Israel to Yeoshua. He puts the Torah into writing.
Hebrew letters forming the name of Yeoshua handpainted by children to remind the handwriting of the Torah scroll and the leadership to Yeoshua

 

parashah nitzavim- vayelech

Moshè transferred leadership to Joshua and wrote a Torah scroll which he handed over to the Levites. 
Moshè summoned Yeoshua and told him to be strong and courageous, for G‑d will be going before him and will not forsake him. 
Moshè then wrote the entire Torah and gave it to the Kohnaim and the Israelite elders. 

Homemade toy Torah scrolls and hand made decorated Torah scroll cover to make or use for parashah Nitzavim and Vayelech 

BIG

 

SMALL

making pine cone syrup for winter...

Mountain pine is a species of conifer, native to high places in Central Europe. 
Buds and young cones are harvested from the wild in the spring or summer and left to dry in the sun over the summer and into the fall, covered with sugar. 
Pine cones from the Alps

Achillea flowers

Jar of dried Achillea from the moutains this summer

Achillea millefolium, known commonly as yarrow or common yarrow, is a flowering plant in the family Asteraceae. The herb is purported to be a diaphoretic, astringent, tonic, stimulant and mild aromatic. The plant also has a long history as a powerful 'healing herb' used topically for wounds, cuts and abrasions. The genus name Achillea is derived from mythical Greek character, Achilles, who reportedly carried it with his army to treat battle wounds. This medicinal action is also reflected in some of the common names mentioned below, such as staunchweed and soldier's woundwort.The stalks are dried and used as a randomising agent . (wikipedia)

 

parashah ki tavò

The Species of Fruit Brought as Bikurim                                                          Bikurim wood Frame

(Image by Brent Kaufmann)

 The Israelites are commanded to bring the first of their fruit to the Temple, and to deliver all tithes to their proper recipients.
This section introduces us to the mitzvah of bikurim, the requirement to bring one's first fruits to the Holy Temple. This mitzvah applies to fruits and produce grown in the land of Israel, and only those for which the land of Israel is praised: wheat, barley, dates, figs, grapes, pomegranates and olives. When in the Temple, the owner of the fruits recites a brief thanksgiving prayer to G‑d and presents the produce to the priests.

summer break...

summer break...

summer break...

During the next weeks we take a little summer rest and there will be no planned crafts for the parashot. Wish you all a good and happy month of Elul and a joyfull summertime.

We will be back soon...

parashah re'eh

Moshè commands the Israelites to designate every seventh year as a Shmitah Year. During this year, creditors must forgive outstanding loans. The section then discusses the obligation to give charity to the poor with a happy heart, and to lend them money if necessary, even if the Shmitah Year is looming. A Jewish slave must be freed after six years of service and must be given generous severance gifts as he departs.

Tzedakah box

Make a tzedakah box with and for children from an empty coffee can. With adhesive plastic cover, labels and adhesive hebrew letters.

parashah Eikev

Moshè tells the Israelites that the land of Israel is constantly dependent upon G‑d for irrigating rains, and that the land is constantly under G‑d's watchful eyes. We then read the second paragraph of the Shema prayer. 

In this section we are admonished to observe G‑d's commandments, which will cause G‑d to supply bountiful rainfall and harvests. Non-observance will lead to exile. We are commanded regarding prayer, tefillin, mezuzah, and teaching Torah to our children.

Fruitfull handmade bright color basket 

After preparing the handmade basket the children filled it with the products of good harvests and bountufukk rainfalls thanks to observance of G.d's commandments. As for past week we focused on the first part of the Shemà, this week we decided to lead our attention to the second part in parashah Eikev.

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Just need wood toy fruits and vegetables, coloured webbing tape,ribbons, a pomegrenate and some ears of wheat.

See the basket also here at Lekhayim

 

summer diorama idea for kids

just have to add the water for the sea...

parashah Vaetchanan

The parashah also includes a repetition of the Ten Commandments, and the verses of the Shema, which declare the fundamentals of the Jewish faith: the unity of G‑d (“Hear O Israel: the L‑rd our G‑d, the L‑rd is one”); the mitzvot to love G‑d, to study His Torah, and to bind “these words” as tefillin on our arms and heads, and inscribe them in the mezuzot affixed on the doorposts of our homes.

 

AIR DRYING CLAY HANDMADE MEZUZOT

 The Shemà text for the children to insert

parashah devarim

Devarim, words.
Moshè recalls the journey from Sinai through the great and fearsome desert; the sending of the spies and the people’s subsequent spurning of the Promised Land, so that G‑d decreed that the entire generation of the Exodus would die out in the desert. “Also against me,” says Moshè, “was G‑d angry for your sake, saying: You, too, shall not go in there.

 We did words and letters to illustrate "devarim" and in between gave a special place to the spies episode with Yeoshua and Calev cartoon figures standing on it.

The to add a special meaning to the spies episode recall I added a special "yeoshua and calev pillow" to remember and honor the only two we were loyal to G.d and told the truth

see it at Lekhayim blog

Parashah mattot masei

The tribes of Ruben and Gad owned lots of cattle. Seeing that the eastern bank of the Jordan , the lands of Sichon and Og which they had just conquered , had abundant pasture, they asked Moshè if they could remain and settle on the eastern bank. 
The Rubenites and Gaddites will leave their cattle and families behind in fortified cities, and all their men will proceed into Israel with their brethren and lead them in the conquest of the land. Only after all the land has been conquered and settled would they return to the other side of the Jordan.
Moshè accepts the offer of the Rubenites and Gaddites.
These two tribes, along with half of the tribe of Menashè settle on the eastern bank of the Jordan, and conquer many of the areas wherein they encountered opposition.

Our "Eastern bank of the Jordan" diorama showing the land of Gad and Rubens with their its pasture and their cattle.