BESHALACH-SHABBAT SHIRA- TU B'SHVAT

Parshat Beshalach
                                Happy Tu Bshvat!!!             

PARSHA POINTS:

Minhag on Shabbat Shira to leave crumbs for the birds. (Pretzels, chocolate and candy treat)

•    Moshe takes Yosef's remains as they leave Mitzrayim. 
•  Meanwhile, Pharaoh and the Egyptians regret their decision to free Bnei Yisrael. They chase after them and almost catch up to them at the Red Sea.
•  When Bnei Yisrael see the Egyptians approaching them they start to complain to Moshe.
• Hashem tells Moshe to lift his staff over the sea. Moshe does so and the sea splits in half and Bnei Yisrael cross over. 
• When the Egyptians try to follow them, the sea closes over them and drowns the whole army.  
• When Bnei Yisrael see that they were saved they sing a song of Praise to Hashem 
• Bnei Yisrael travel to two places and in both places complain to Moshe about something they are missing. Hashem provides them with water and meat. Finally, Hashem decides to give Bnei Yisrael heavenly food every day (except Shabbat; on Friday they gather double) called Munn.

• When Bnei Yisrael travel to Refidim, they encounter Amalek who attack Bnei Yisrael. Yehoshua, Moshe's student, leads the army, while Moshe stands on a mountain with his hands raised supported by Aharon and his nephew Chur. Bnei Yisrael defeat Amalek. Bnei Yisrael are then commanded to wipe out Amalek.

PARSHA PUZZLE:

Something we are taught both at home and school,

That we should follow every rule.

And appreciate all that we’ve got,

Because Baruch Hashem we have a lot!

Sometimes it might be hard to tell,

That we do have it really well.

We might complain and want some more,

And not be happy with what we had before.

Eizehu Ashir Hasameach Bichelko,

Be happy with what you have, that for sure you know.

If your friend has more than you,

Be happy for them, that is what you should do.

In this week’s parsha we can see,

That Bnei Yisrael were not so happy.

Even though they should be in awe,

From all the nissim that they saw.

They felt something was missing, that it was a pain,

And then they started to complain.

What 2 things did they miss? That they had none,

And because of this Hashem brought the Munn.

If you know the answer, then I am glad to say,

You really know your Parsha today!

PLAYING WITH THE PARSHA:

• Then Moshe and the Children of Israel will sing this song. . ." The Shabbat of Parshat Beshalach is known as Shabbat Shira, the Shabbat of Song, because the parsha contains the SHIRAT HAYAM, the "Song of the Sea" which was sung after the miracle of the parting of the red sea.

Singing at the Shabbat table is a beautiful way to enjoy Shabbat.  Why not make a fun game out of singing in honor of Shabbat Shira.  The first person starts a song and everyone joins in.  When the song ends listen for the last letter of that song.  Try to start another song beginning with that letter.  Keep trying different songs and even have someone stop a song in the middle and use the last letter of the word that you stopped at.

Go around the table and each person should say something good that happened to him this week and something good he did to someone else. This is an activity we like to do every week at our Shabbat table.  Sometimes it is hard to think about the good that has happened and it is important to appreciate the good things in life!

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 :-)!

 "ויקח משה את עצמות יוסף עמו", and Moshe took the bones of Yosef with him. Gemara Sotah 13/1 teaches us, how beloved the mitzvot are for Moshe Rabbeinu.  While all of the Bnei Yisrael were busy gathering the gold of Mitzrayim, Moshe was busy doing the mitzvah of taking care of Yosef's bones.

Even though, taking the spoils of Mitzrayim was also a mitzvah, Moshe was not interested in the riches.  In Mishlei 10/18 it says "חכם לב יקח מצוות".    A smart person will take mitzvot.  If Moshe was such a smart person, he could have done both, gather the wealth and the bones.

Moshe Rabbeinu wanted to teach Bnei Yisrael a valuable lesson.  Yosef was the man who had all the gold and silver in the world, yet when he left the world the only thing he had left were his bones. The riches and wealth did not matter.

Every day is important in life and everyday counts.  At the end of the day, a good name is what will remain.  Make every day count.  Do an act of kindness and good deed.  That will always be remembered.

Thought of the week:

Why was it significant for the Torah to specify that Miriam and the women went out with Tupim to thank Hashem after Kriyat Yam Suf? Rashi explains that the women were sure that Hashem would make miracles for the Jewish people and they therefore brought tupim with them from Egypt in order to have the means to thank Hashem for those future miracles. The Tupim therefore symbolize the women's steadfast emuna that Hashem constantly watches over us and will even break the ironclad laws of nature to save the Jewish people.

In fact, the Gemara in Sota informs us that we were redeemed from Egypt through the merit of the Jewish women who had steadfast emuna that Hashem would keep his promise and take us out of Egypt. That emuna allowed them to continue having children despite the evil decrees of Pharaoh to drown all the male Jewish babies. We see that the power of emuna is immense. That is why Habakuk tells us that the foundation of Judaism is:  וצדיק באמונתו יחיה      

FOOD FOR THOUGHT:

Tof Miriam:

What you will need:

1.     Round cake

2.     Frosting

3.    Round cookies

·   Insert the round cookies into the cake all around.

·   Frost the cake

       

There you have Miriam’s tambourine!

Splitting of the Sea:

Since this parsha talks about splitting of the sea, why not create your own kriyat yam suf cake.  It will be hard to “split” this cake, you will want it all for yourself!   Watch out, this cake can disappear in a “split” second! 

What you will need:

1.     One big rectangular cake

2.     Blue frosting

3.     Cookie dough

4.     Horse-shaped cookie

5.     People-shaped cookies

6.     Fish gummies

·        Cut the cake in half.

·        Fill in the middle with the blue frosting (whip with blue food coloring).

·        Put the cookie people upside down to resemble the mitzrim.

·       Stick the fish gummies in the frosting

·        Place the horse cookies on their sides.

Chur, Aharon and Moshe:

What you will need:

1.   Cookie dough

2. People shaped cookie cutter

• Make three people cookies.

·Put up their hands and attach it to each other.

·Bake and enjoy.

Discuss with your kids about how when Moshe’s hands were raised that was a sign from Hashem that Bnei Yisrael will win the war over Amalek.

Added Suggestion:

·        Make split pea soup (For the “splitting” of the sea).

Split Pea Soup:

1 medium onion, peeled and finely chopped
1 medium carrot, peeled and finely chopped
1 stalk celery, finely chopped
3 Tbsp. olive oil
4 cloves garlic crushed
2 cups dried green peas
8 cups stock
1 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. black pepper
Fry the vegetables in the oil for 10 minutes. Make sure they do not burn.
Add the garlic and cook for another minute.
Add the peas, stock,  and seasoning.
Cover the pot and bring to a boil.  
Simmer on low for at least 1 hour 15 minutes.
Enjoy!
(answer to parsha puzzle:  Water and meat)

                               Have a wonderful Shabbat!  
                                              Ruchie