MATOT/MAASEI

CHAZAK CHAZAK VENITCHAZEK!  

ROSH CHODESH MENACHEM AV.

40 years in the desert- dessert!

PARSHA PUZZLE:

We went away, but not alone.

We’re two and a half, and on our own.

We’re really big, we can decide,

Where we should go, whatever side.

We thought it would be good for flock,

But our leader Moshe was a bit in shock.

Are we acting like our fathers before?

And not help out if there is a war?

We did agree that Moshe was right,

And we will come and help them fight.

We promised to give our brothers a hand,

Before we go back to live on our land.

Moshe listened and accepted our plea,

As long as we followed and we did agree,

Who are WE and which cities did we dwell,

If you look in the chumash you will know as well.

(Reuven, Gad, ½ shevet Menashe.)

 

PLAYING WITH THE PARSHA:

Sefer Bamidbar is about a journey, moving from place to place for forty years. In Parshat Masei, the Torah summarizes the entire journey the Bnei Yisrael took from Mitzraim until they were about to enter the Land of Eretz Yisrael.

This is a memory game in which each person in turn tells what he’s taking on a journey, going through the letters of the alphabet. The first person thinks of something that begins with the letter A, the second person thinks of something with  letter B, etc. Each person has to remember and say all the preceding things. For example, “I’m going on a trip and I’m taking an apple.” “I’m going on a journey and I’m taking an apple and a banana.”

To make it more challenging think of things that are associated with the journey through the desert. For example:  “I am going on a journey and I’m taking an aron, bamidbar etc…

FOOD FOR THOUGHT:

What better way to review Sefer Bamidbar then a number 40 cake.  This cake will be eaten quickly.  It definitely won’t take 40 years to finish it.

What you will need:

Chocolate cake recipe (double the recipe for this Parsha cake)

1 bundt shaped pan

1 rectangular pan

Frosting/ sprinkles if desired.

Chocolate Cake Recipe:

3 cups flour

2 cups sugar

1 tsp salt

2 tsp baking soda

2 cups cold water

1/2 cup cocoa

2/3 cup oil

2 Tbsp vinegar

2 tsp vanilla

Mix all the ingredients together.

Pour the batter into a Bundt shape pan.

Make another batter and pour it into a rectangular pan.  

Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 40 minutes. (Thanks Annette!)

When the rectangular shape has cooled, cut out a square on the top middle of the cake and another one on the left hand corner, to make the number 4.  Keep the leftover pieces to nosh on (it will be gone quickly!).  Take out the round Bundt shape and place it next to the 4 so it looks like the number 40.   Frost and sprinkle as desired.

Have a great Shabbat :-)!     Ruchie