VAYAKHEL parsha activities...

Migadol Vead Katan Mishloach Manot...  Check out this blog for more great Mishlaoch Manot ideas!

PARSHAT  VAYAKHEL
Rosh Chodesh Benching Adar II Thursday and Friday....

   Parshat Shkalim

Exodus 30:11-16

Chocolate coin desserts!! Of course

PARSHA POINTS:

·  At the beginning of the parasha, Bnei Yisrael are once again commanded to keep the mitzvah of Shabbat, and are forbidden to light fires on Shabbat.

·  In parashat Vaykhel, all the commandments about the Mishkan are executed. The Torah details the articles that were donated to the building of the Mishkan by Bnei Yisrael.

·  Betzalel ben Ori is made in charge of collecting and designing the vessels of the Mishkan and Ohaliav ben Achisamach is his assistant.

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 bat (daughter...) and Imabba meaning "with Abba" and Ima Abba written together!  Thanks Abba and Ima :-)

This week's  parshah of VAYAKHEL starts by saying: "And Moshe gathered together all the Community of Israel." (Exodus 35:1). According to Rashi, Moshe gathered all of the Community  the day following Yom Kippur, when Hashem had forgiven Bnei Yisrael for the sin of the golden calf.  He gathered the community to charge them with the building of the Tabernacle.

 The Olelos Efraim sees a homiletical lesson in the assembly of the people on the day after Yom Kippur.

It is not enough to be forgiven on Yom Kippur itself, we must be able to carry this for the entire year.

The pasuk continues and says: "These are the things that Hashem commanded to do them".  Hashem commanded the Bnei Yisrael to have achdut amongst each other.  Wake up Bnei Yisrael- where is the Achdut???

PLAYING WITH THE PARSHA:

•  This week the Parsha talks about Bnei Yisrael contributing their time and talents.  Discuss with your kids what they are talented in.  If your child is musical, maybe arrange going to a nursing home or hospital.  If they are good with kids they might be able to help out a mother in need.  Be creative with your kids.  Every child has strong qualities.

·  This weeks parsha talks about cooperation and working together.  The game Jenga is a lot of fun.  Jenga consists of 54 wooden rectangular pieces. You layer 3 rectangular pieces on the first row and then 3 more rectangular pieces in the opposite direction on top of that.  You continue until you finish using all the pieces.  Each player in turn pulls out a piece without knocking the tower over.  This focuses on concentration and working together.  Talk about cooperation.

· Put a puzzle together.  Talk about how details are important and trying to fit everything together to get the whole picture.  Discuss this with this week’s parsha with building of the mishkan and everything had to be complete.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT:

Contributions:

What you will need:

1. All kinds of candy that you have in your house.

2. Serving plate with dividers.

· These candies represent all the contributions that the Bnei Yisrael contributed towards the mishkan.  I particularly love this dessert because this it is a great way to get rid of leftover candy in your house!

Thought of the week:

The Torah tells us that every man and woman who wanted to contribute towards the building of the Mishkan, brought their contribution as an offering to Hashem. The Alshich notes that the Torah uses the word "every" to make an important point. The Torah wants to teach us that Hashem was equally pleased with the small contributions of the poor as he was pleased with the large contributions of the wealthy. To Hashem, the most important aspect of giving was not the amount, but rather the purity of the donator's intent.

There are many Jews who give tzedaka generously but who nonetheless feel that their mitzvah is not as significant to Hashem as the large donations of their wealthy neighbors. The Torah here teaches us that we can all equally rejoice in our mitzvah, because to Hashem, it is the intent rather than the amount that is important.

Have a wonderful Shabbat!!  Ruchie