PINCHAS

PARSHA PUZZLE:

We are sisters, we do care,

We found out something’s not so fair!

A part of land was important to us,

So we decided to make a fuss.

Each family received a share,

For someone who’s no longer there.

The father had to have a son,

But our dear father, he had none.

So we were brave, righteous and wise,

We wanted Moshe to compromise.

Our father was not part of Korach’s crew,

He was a kind and honest Jew.

We stood in front of Moshe and the judges too,

And Moshe was not sure what to do.

Moshe then spoke right to Hashem,

Who said, yes give some land  to them.

Because of us the law was known,

What is our name and what do we own?

Answer: (bnot Tzlafchad:  Machlah, Noah, Choglah, Milkah and Tirtzah.- and they received an inheritance of their father’s land)

PLAYING WITH THE PARSHA:

This past week on the 17^th day of Tamuz, marked the beginning of a three week period of mourning for Jews, which ends on the ninth of Av- Tisha B’av.  Jews all over the world fast to remember the many tragedies that have befallen on us on this day.

One of the well known tragedies  that happened on this day, is the city walls of Yerushalayim were breached, which was the beginning of the destruction of Yerushalayim and the Beit Hamikdash.

Take a box of Lego, Duplo or blocks.  Go around the Shabbat table and ask each person a parsha question (you can look inside your Chumash to help you). You can also ask them a question about the three weeks/ 9 days.  Every time someone gets it right, they “build” a tower.  Talk about Achdut and how people work together to build it. 

Then, suddenly when you feel like it, go and break the tower without any reason.  Listen to everyone’s reaction.  Talk about how the Jews felt to have the Beit Hamikdash destroyed.  Nice lesson.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT: 

This week’s parshah talks about Rosh Chodesh. Pinchas 28:1-15 is the Torah reading for Rosh Chodesh on a weekday. Pinchas  28:9-15 is the maftir Torah reading for Shabbos Rosh Chodesh.  In honor of Rosh chodesh here is a moon shaped cookie recipe.

Ingredients:
1 cup fresh almonds coarsely ground
1 1/4 cup plain flour
1/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup margarine softened
1 egg yolk
2 drops almond extract

 Directions:

Combine all dry ingredients. With your hands work in margarine and egg yolk. Mixture will be dry. Chill the dough. Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

Take about 1 heaping tbs. of dough and roll between your hands, shaping into crescents. Lay on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake about 20-min. Remove carefully and cool on rack.   Enjoy! 

Have a great Shabbat!