PARSHAT SHMOT cakes and games

Moshe and the burning bush

Shoes removed

Remove your shoes

Moshe Bateiva

Shmot=Names

משה בתיבה

Miriam do you see Moshe?

Each and every one of us is unique and important.  In this week's parsha Bnei Yisrael start their difficult descent to Egypt.  After many years of hardship the Bnei Yisrael will finally come out of Egypt and receive the Torah, "Keish Echad Belev Echad"- united.  We are all different and have different opinions.  The trick is to accept everyone for who they are so that we can have ACHDUT in our times and be together as one.  When will we learn this valuable lesson?


PARSHA POINTS:

·    The Parsha begins by recounting Yaakov and his family's move to Egypt.

·  A new King Pharaoh has been appointed over Egypt and he does not know the great things that Yosef did for Egypt.

·  The Egyptians, under Pharaoh’s rule, turn Bnei Yisrael into slaves.

·  The Egyptian astrologers predict that a Jewish man free the Jewish slaves. Pharaoh therefore orders all boys born to Bnei Yisrael to be thrown into the Nile River. The Jewish midwives, Shifrah and Puah don't listen to him.

·  A boy is born to a man from the tribe of Levi and his mother puts him in a reef basket on the river so the Egyptians will not discover him. The daughter of Pharaoh rescues him and names him Moshe.

·  Moshe grows up in Pharaoh’s palace. When he goes out to foresee the Jewish slaves, he sees an Egyptian beating a Jewish slave. Moshe rescues the slave by killing the Egyptian and is told on by other Jews who saw him. He escapes Pharaoh by running to Midyan.

·  In Midyan, Moshe helps the seven daughters of the high priest Yitro. He marries Yitro's daughter Tzipora and works as his shepherd. Moshe and Tzipora have two sons, Gershom and Eliezer.

·  One day, Moshe encounters a bush that is engulfed in flames but is not burning. Hashem talks to Moshe from that bush and tells him to go to Egypt to free Bnei Yisrael. Hashem gives him signs to show Pharaoh that will convince him to let Bnei Yisrael go.

· Moshe goes back to Mitzrayim and, along with his brother, meets with Pharaoh. Pharaoh refuses to listen to Moshe and ignores the signs. Pharaoh decides to punish Bnei Yisrael by making their workload even harder.

PARSHA PUZZLE:

Pharaoh was worried; he did not like the news,

He felt the rising power that came upon the Jews,

He enslaved the Jews and they were  oppressed,

Please help us  God, the Jews were all distressed .

Pharaoh instructed Shifra and Puah, the 2 midwives,

That if a boy is born, they cannot stay alive.

They both did not listen, the thought just made them quiver,

Pharaoh instructed each boy must be thrown into the river.

We learn  the story of Moshe and Pharaoh’s daughter Batya,

How Moshe was saved because he was placed in a teiva.

He was saved from the basket that was placed in the water,

And when he grew up he married Yitro’s daughter.

Moshe was in charge of his father in laws flock,

One day while  watching the sheep, he got a little shock.

One of the sheep started running away,

When Moshe ran after it, he saw something on display.

Something that does not happen and something he removed.

He stared at it in awe, he was very moved.

What did he remove and what did he see?

If you know the answer, you know this parsha perfectly.

Cake with graham cracker crumbs and chocolate shoes.

(Answer:  He removed his shoes when he saw a burning bush that was burning and the bush was not destroyed.)

PLAYING WITH THE PARSHA:

·        Play the name game.  The first person begins with “I went on a trip and I took along Aliza.”  The next person continues with “I went on a trip and I took along Aliza and Bracha.”  Keep on going until you’ve reached the end of the alphabet.  This is a good memory game.

· Write down some Parsha questions before Shabbat.  Place them in a “basket” and pass it around the Shabbat table and each person picks a question and tries to answer it.   

                                    Here are some examples:

·  How many descendants of Yaakov came down with him

to Mitzraim?.

·  How many children were born at one time?

·  What were the names of the two midwives?

·   What did Paroah command his people to do to the boys?

·   Who were Moshe’s parents?

·  For how long did Moshe’s mother hide him?

·  Who gave Moshe his name? What does it mean?

·  What did Moshe do to the Mitzri who was hitting the Jew?

·  What was the first sign Hashem gave Moshe?

· What problem did Moshe have that he felt it would be too difficult to speak to Pharoah?

· Who did Moshe want to go speak instead of him?

·        Discuss what was unusual about the bush burning.  Think of other things that would be impossible to happen.  See how many things you can come up with.

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 :-)!

Hashem commands Moshe to remove his shoes from his feet.  The Pardes Yosef quotes the Medrash in Gemara Shabbat 129 saying: " Leolam yimkor adam afilu korot beito veyikach minaalayim leraglav."  A man should even sell the walls of his house and buy shoes for his feet.  From this we learn the importance of shoes to man.  Hashem commanded Moshe though to remove his shoes.  To step on holy land and to settle in Eretz Yisrael, "Shal naalecha", remove your shoes.  It is worthwhile to remove your shoes and live here in Eretz Yisrael.  ( I think my father is starting to get into making aliya :-)

In Parshat Shemot2/5 it says "    וַתִּשְׁלַח אֶת-אֲמָתָהּ וַתִּקָּחֶהָ
When the daughter of Pharoh saw the basket she stretched out her hand.The midrash tells us that there was a miracle and even though she could not reach the basket, her hand stretched out and she was able to reach it.  If she knew she could not reach it, why did she even stretch out her hand?  We learn from here that even if something seems beyond our reach, it is always important to try as hard as you can.  You never know.  You might be able to reach that which you never thought you can.....

Thought of the week:            

                            

The story of "Moshe and the Teiva" is a favorite of many Jewish children worldwide. Yocheved was forced to hide Moshe somewhere away from her house because it was only a matter of time before the Egyptians would find him. The Abarbanel explains that keeping Moshe in the house would endanger the entire family. An interesting question worth asking is why Yocheved specifically chose to hide Moshe in a little teiva on the banks of the Yeor?

The Midrash Raba explains that Pharaoh's astrologers saw that the Jewish leader who would take the Jews out of Egypt would have some sort of failure relating to water. As a result, Pharaoh decreed that all Jewish male babies be killed by drowning in the Yeor.  The Midrash explains that Yocheved hoped to confuse the astrologers by placing Moshe in the Yeor. She hoped that they would "see" that Moshe had met his fate in the water. The Abarbanel also explains that Yocheved hoped that a passerby would see Moshe and have mercy on him and save him. Of course, this is exactly what happened as Moshe was saved by Pharaoh's daughter, and was raised in Pharaoh's own house. This brings forth one of the most powerful lessons of the story: Not only was Pharaoh powerless to oppose Hashem's will of saving the Jews, but he unknowingly raised the very person who took them out of Egypt!     

 

Desserts of the week:

Moshe Bateva- (easy version)

What you will need:

1.     Small piece of Chocolate cake

2.     Graham crackers or Pettit bar cookies

3.     Clear jello

4.     Blue food coloring

5.     Plastic baby toy

·        Cut a rectangular piece of cake.

·        Line the cookies all around the cake.

·        Make the jello and add blue food coloring. Let cool.

·        Assemble around the “teiva”.

·        Place the plastic baby in the middle of the cake.

Moshe Bateva- more advanced…

What you will need:

1.     Rectangular cake.

2.     Green frosting

3.     “Chocolate rocks” – sold in the candy store.

4.     Decorating bags to put icing in

5.     Fondant

6.     Blue food coloring

7.     Brown food coloring

·         

 The Burning Bush

What you will need:    
Your favorite cake
whip or marshmallow fluff
crushed graham crackers or petit bars.
Bake your favorite cake.
frost with whip or fluff
add crushed cookies.
You can add a plastic bush.
I have a chocolate mold of shoes. (you can put toy shoes if you would like)
Man shaped cookie

 Decorate the man- give him eyes, nose, mouth, buttons etc…  Place the man on the cake.  Push him a bit into the cake so he stands.  Place the bush on the cake as well.  Rest the feet and shoes on the side of the cake.   

One more.... With the extra cookie dough.  Chocolate chips for nails...                    

Shal naalecha Meal Raglecha- remove your shoes- cookie feet...

Cupcakes:

Icing

Food coloring

Skewers

Paper                                                                   

6 eggs                                                        
1 1/2 cups sugar 
2 cups flour 
2 tsp baking powder 
1/2 tbsp vanilla sugar 
1/2 cup oil 
1/2 cup orange juice 
1 tbsp cocoa (optional) 

Beat eggs and sugar. 
Sift together flour, baking powder and vanilla sugar. 
Add to eggs alternating with the orange juice and oil .
Add cocoa if desired 
Set aside the batter for 1 hr.  Pour batter into lined  muffin tins 2/3 full 
Bake at 350 degrees  for 20-25 minutes 


Glaze
1/2 to 3/4 cup whipped topping

6 oz baking chocolate or chocolate chips (optional)

Pour whipped topping into a saucepan. 
Add chocolate and mix until it is creamy. 
Let this sit for 10 minutes 
Dip each cupcake  into the glaze and sprinkle your choice of topping. Refrigererate until it is set.

Colorful frosting:

Frosting:
2 egg whites
3½ cups confectioner’s sugar
1 tablespoon orange juice
food coloring
Beat the egg whites on medium high speed until stiff, but not dry. Slowly add the confectioner’s sugar and orange juice. Beat for one minute or until the frosting is thick and glossy. Add a little additional water or sugar, if needed to get the right consistency. Add the color of your choice.
Spread the frosting on the tops of the cupcakes immediately.

VAYECHI

The 12 Shvatim and crossed hands.  :)

 Parsha Treats:

Brachot that Yaakov gave

They should multiply like the fish

The hands that crossed over

Bracha of Shevet Dan

Asara Btevet- Kotel.  Hope you had an easy and meaningful fast!

PARSHA POINTS: 

• Yaakov lives his last seventeen years in Mitzraim.

• Before Yaakov dies he makes Yosef swear that he will bury him in Israel.

• Yaakov blesses Yosef's two sons, Ephraim and Menashe.

• Yaakov switches his hands and puts his right hand on the younger son, Ephraim, and his left hand on the older, Menashe.

• Yaakov blesses them with the famous blessing:   Hamalach Hagoel:

          "May the angel who redeemed me from all harm bless the youths, and may they be called by my name and the name of my fathers, Avraham and Yitzchak, and may they multiply abundantly like the fish in the midst of the land."

• Yaakov blesses Yosef's son's further, with the blessing we give our boys on Friday night:  

          "May G‑d make you like Ephraim and Menashe."

•  Yaakov gathers his sons and gives each of his sons a bracha, each with their own unique strengths and weaknesses.

•  Yaakov makes a final request to be buried with his forefathers in Mearat Hamachpela.

• Yaakov dies at the age of 147.

•  Yosef requests permission from Pharoh to leave to bury his father.

• Yosef, his family and the elders of Mitzrayim go to bury Yaakov in Mearat Hamachpela.

• Upon returning to Mitzrayim, the brothers fear that Yosef is still angry with them and will take revenge.

• Yosef reassures his brothers that he is not angry with them.

• Yosef lives until the age of 110.

• Before he dies, Yosef makes his family swear that they will bring the remains of his body to Eretz Yisrael.

This concludes Sefer Bereishit.  Tune in next week to find out what happens next........  and for some great Parsha Cakes!!!

PARSHA PUZZLE:

In this week’s parsha, Yaakov Avinu was dying very soon,

Reuven, Shimon Levi, Yehuda, Yissaschar, Zevulun,

Dan Naftali, Gad, Asher, Yosef and Binyamin,

Were told about their greatness and also of their sin.

Yaakov was poetic, each bracha well thought out,

And each shevet understood and knew what their bracha was about.

One shevet will be judges, and one will trade at sea,  

One shevet will be learners  and one will have monarchy.

One shevet will be brave in battle, another that go hand in hand,

were separated from each other, and one did not get his own land.

One brother compared to a wolf,  one was blessed with olive trees,

One  swift as a deer, one rebuke,  each took their bracha with ease.
Figure out  the brachot, like the one that’s compared to a snake,

When you answer this you can say: "Chazak chazak venitchazek!"

(answers below...)

PLAYING WITH THE PARSHA:

In this week’s parsha, Yaakov gathers his sons to give them each brachot before he dies.  Each bracha was well thought out and given one at a time to each Shevet.   
Have each person consider how Hashem has blessed their life. Each person should think of things he considers a blessing from Hashem. Encourage everyone  to think deeply and come up with nice things that happened to them. After a set amount of time, go around the Shabbat table and  each person should say their blessing out loud. Keep going around and around until people run out of blessings. The last person to name a blessing wins.

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 :-)!

The Parsha starts out with the pasuk saying "Vayechi Yaakov Beeretz Mitzraim shva esre shana".  Yaakov lived in Egypt for 17 years. 
The word Vayechi equals 34.  Yaakov had a good life for 34 years. The first 17 years, when all of his family were togehter, and the last 17 years of his life when the brothers reunited.  We can learn from here that when family comes together and unite, those are the best years of ones life.  
( I hope my parents are hinting that they will come to Israel soon to join us and make aliya :-)!)

PARSHA CAKE:

My daughter and friends created this fun Parsha cake!

This week’s Parsha talks about the 12 shevatim and the brachot they received from their father Yaakov.  It also talks about Yaakov switching his hands to give the bracha for Ephraim and Menashe.  I thought that a clock (12) and the “hands” crossing each other is a great way to think about this parsha!  Enjoy!

You will need:

Carrot cake

Cookie dough

Fruit leather

Numbers out of chocolate mold, cookie shapes or piping.

Candies with brachot on them (optional)
Candies for the different brachot: i.e. snake, deer etc... (optional)
We bought chips that were in the shape of hands, since Yaakov crossed his hands...

Ingredients:

• 4 eggs
• 1 1/4 cups vegetable oil
• 2 cups sugar
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2 cups flour
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 3 cups grated carrots
• 1 cup chopped pecans

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a round 10 inch baking pan.
2. In a large bowl, beat together eggs, oil, white sugar and 2 teaspoons vanilla. Mix in flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt and cinnamon. Stir in carrots. Fold in pecans. Pour into prepared pan.
3. Bake in the preheated oven for 40 to 50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let cool in pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack and cool completely.

Frost with dessert whip if you would like.  Place the numbers around the clock,  Take the fruit leather and cut them into 2 rectangles for the hands of the clock.  Make hands out of the prepared cookie dough or out of the fruit leather.  Don’t forget to cross the hands over.

Enjoy and have a wonderful Shabbat!

Chazak Chazak Venitchazek!!!  
My mother baked a Chocolate cake..

Answer to Parsha puzzle:  Reuven- rebuke  Shimon and Levi- separated , Levi had no land, Yehuda- monarchy , Yissaschar- learners, Zevulun- trade, Dan- snake, Gad, chase the enemy, Asher- olive trees,

Naftali- deer,Yosef- vine, Binyamin- wolf.

VAYIGASH

Laden with gifts

Yosef reveals to his brothers who he is.
Don't they all looked a bit shocked... ;-)

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. 

• 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 Bereishit, 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 story and try to have a different plot.  Everyone can have a turn to start  and stop at a dramatic part and let someone else continue the story.  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 Yaakov 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!

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!!!!!!!!!