BEIT SHEMESH AND PARSHAT VAYIGASH

LESSONS FROM THE PARSHA:
Beit Shemesh made the world news,
but not in a very good light.
Hoodlums attack men, women and girls,
and they think what they are doing is right.
Where is the brotherly love?
Why all of this sinat chinam?
yelling shiksa, throwing items and spitting,
looks like it's one big pogrom.
Have we not learned a lesson from Yosef?
have we not seen what happens with hate?
where brothers throw their own into a pit,
and not care one bit about his fate!
This week's parsha is full of emotion,
 Binyamin and Yosef finally embrace,
they cry on each others shoulders,
those lost years they can never replace.
They cry because they see the future,
and even though now they are overjoyed,
but the sinat chinam will come back ,
and both Temples will be destroyed.
When will we ever learn,
accept each other, have tolerance, peace?
Maybe we can all learn this dear lesson,
from a sweet girl named Naama Margolese.



PARSHA POINTS:
 Here is something fun to do:

Print out the parsha review.  You can make one or a few copies.  Cut each line into strips.  Mix them up and give it to your kids and guests to see if they could figure out the correct order. You can leave some chumashim on the table to help them out. 

I am Yosef, Is my father still alive?

• Yehuda begs Yosef to let him switch places with Binyamin.

• Yosef orders all of the Egyptians to leave the room.

• Yosef breaks down and tells his brothers "I am Yosef...Is my father still alive?" 
• The brothers are shocked, but Yosef comforts them.

• Yosef instructs his brothers to return quickly to Canaan and bring his father Yaakov and their families back to Egypt, where they will be supplied with plenty of food.

• The brothers return to Canaan laden with gifts from Yosef  and Pharoh.

• The brothers inform Yaakov that Yosef is still alive.  (Yaakov's granddaughter, Serach, who plays the harp, gently breaks the news by singing "Yosef is still alive".)

•  Yaakov and his entire family go down to Egypt.

• They stop off in Ber Sheva where G-d tells Yaakov not to be afraid and He will make him into a big nation.

• Yaakov arrives in Egypt with 70 family members.

• Yaakov and his family settle in Goshen.

• Yaakov and Yosef cry on each others shoulders.

• Yosef instructs his brothers to tell Pharaoh that they are shepherds.

• Yosef introduces his father to Pharoh.

• Yaakov blesses Pharoh.

• The Egyptians have no money left and sell their cattle and land.

• Yaakov and his family living in Goshen are prosperous.

Tune in next week to find out what happens next..........


PARSHA PUZZLE:

 
When your parents are away on business or a vacation,

When they come back home it is a celebration.

You missed them so much and cannot wait until they arrive,

Even though it was hard, you managed to survive.

Your parents also missed you and they cannot wait,

To be reunited, it really is great.

You learn to appreciate your parents, it’s true,

And realize how much they both do for you!

Can you imagine if you did not have a phone,

And you cannot reach them when you are alone.

Or imagine that they are so very far,

Or that you do not know exactly where they are.

In this week’s parsha there is something exciting,

The story of brothers finally reuniting.

It is sad and it’s happy all rolled into one,

At the end a reunion between father and son.

Who reunited, how long were they apart?

This story this week, just touches your heart.

PLAYING WITH THE PARSHA:

This week’s parasha begins the concluding drama of the book of Bereishis, the story of Yoseph  and his 11 brothers, their estrangement and eventual reunion in Mitzraim.  We were left in suspense last week, once the Goblet was found in Binyamin’s sack.  This week, we learn about the heartwarming reunion between the family.

A nice game that could be played is a story game.  One person starts a story for everyone to hear.  In the middle of the story he stops and then someone else continues the story.  Once the story is finished, you can also restart the stoy and try to have a different plot.  Everyone can have a turn to start a story and stop at a dramatic part and let someone else continue the stoy.  It is amazing how many different ideas you will have.



SHABBAT IMABBA:

Here is a great way for my father and I to learn a little bit of Parsha each week, even though we live far from each other. ( I like the play on words of Abba in the word Shabbat and Imabba meaning "with Abba" and Ima Abba written together!  Thanks Abba and Ima :-)!

In Perek 46, pasuk 28 it is written that Yaakov sent Yehuda ahead to look at Eretz Goshen (Goshna).  Rashi explains that he sent Yehuda ahead to set up a Yeshiva there.  The gematria of Goshna is 358.  The gematria of leyeshiva is 357. How can we connect the two?  When one is in chutz laaretz, no matter how good one thinks it is, there is still something missing.  There is no Torah like Torat Eretz Yisrael.
It is time to come home, don't you think....



PARSHA CAKE:

In this week’s parsha, Yosef sends his  brothers back to Canaan, to his father Yaakov – laden with gifts from Pharaoh and Yosef – and informed Yaacov that Yosef was alive, indeed he ruled over all of Egypt. "And the spirit of their father Yaakov was revived."

Here is a cake that will make a beautiful PRESENTation!

Laden with gifts...

You will need:

Divine Chocolate cake

Toy horse

Sour sticks

Round cookies for wheels

Chocolate coins for the present.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups sugar
• 1-3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup  Cocoa
• 1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1-1/2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup soy milk
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 cup boiling water

Directions:

1.      Heat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour a one 9x11 inch deep baking pan.

2. Stir together sugar, flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a large bowl. Add eggs, milk, oil and vanilla; beat on medium speed of mixer 2 minutes. Stir in boiling water Pour batter into prepared pans.

3. Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool completely before frosting..

Have a wonderful Shabbat filled with happiness and peace and ahavat chinam!            
                               
                                 Ruchie

OD YOSEF CHAI!!    AM YISRAEL CHAI!!!!!!!!!