VAETCHANAN

Shabbat Nachamu...

Shma Yisrael, good enough to kiss....

PARSHA PUZZLE:

Numbers, numbers everywhere,

This week is number 10.

We know we’re counted in a minyan,

If there’s that many men.

From Adam until Noach

there were 10 generations,

From Noach until Avraham too,

when we became a nation.

We know we give maaser-

one tenth we give to poor,

these all sound so familiar,

we’ve learned this all before.   

Aseret Ymei teshuva,

Here we go again,

That famous number that we said-

The important number 10!

Dam, tsfardeya, kinim,

arov, Dever, and shechin,

barad, arbe, choshech,

makat bechorot for their sin.

In this week’s parsha do you know,

What 10 you should recall,

Can you tell us what it is

And also name them all?

(Aseret Hadibrot.  I am Hashem, No other god, Do not take the name of Hashem in vein, Keeping Shabbat, Honoring your parents etc…)

PLAYING WITH THE PARSHA:

Hashem told Moshe that he would not enter the land that was promised.  Moshe really wanted to enter Eretz Yisrael because he loved it so much.  Whenever he had an opportunity to try to have Hashem annul the decree, he tried to do so.  In the beginning of the sedra Moshe begged Hashem (vaetchanan) to give him a second chance and allow him to enter the land.

One game that you can play is Mother May I. Have everyone stand in a line.  One person is chosen to be the Mother or Father.  Everyone else must stand facing the Mother or Father a distance away.  Everyone can only move one at a time following instructions by the mother or father.  Each person has to try to touch the mother/ father.  Mother/ father will chooses someone, and give them instructions such as: “you may take one giant baby step.” The chosen one must say “May I?” and do what they are told.  If someone forgot to say “May I” or does it incorrectly, they go back to the beginning. It could be something like- Mother may I take 3 giant steps, 2 baby steps, 4 hopping steps etc….. If one forgets to ask "Mother may I?" he/she goes back to where he started from. First one to touch the Mother wins.

There are lots of different steps you can ask people to do which have special names for example:

Baby – very small step
Bunny Rabbit – a hop with both feet together
Giant – a very large step.

PARSHA CAKE:

In this week’s parsha we read the first paragraph of the shema.  What better cake to make then a mezuzah one.  It tastes so good you will want to kiss it too.

What you will need:

Apple cake recipe (see below)

Fondant or cookie dough 

The letter shin cookie cutter or make your own

Food coloring to color the fondant.

Applesauce  Cake Recipe (Thanks Yaffie!)

3 eggs                          

2 cups sugar

¾ cup oil

1 tsp baking soda

2 tsp cinnamon

2 cups flour

½ tsp baking powder

1 cup apple sauce

Mix everything together well in 2 well greased small rectangular pans.

Bake at 350⁰ for 1 hour.

Let the cake cool.  In the meantime, take a piece of fondant (batzek sukar) and roll out.  Work quickly as this tends to dry fast.  Mix in some food coloring and knead the fondant again.  Shape into the letter shin and let dry.  When the cake has cooled, put the shin on top.  No need to frost the cake.  If you have a pretty rectangular dish to display it, even better!

Have a great Shabbat!!!     Ruchie

DEVARIM

Shabbat Chazon....   Tisha B'av this coming Sunday.                                                                                                                            בס"ד     

Busy bumble bees- Dvorim...

                                                                                                                      

PARSHA PUZZLE:

In Sefer Devarim, Moshe speaks to every Jew,

Known as Mishna Torah -  repetition or review.

Going through the journey,  39 years in the midbar,

The miracles that happened, how they came this far.

Moshe told Bnei Yisrael the words of Hashem,

According to all that He commanded him.

The journey had a purpose, they had to understand,

Hashem wanted them to own His promised land.

We should be reminded of the miracles that were done,

And  remember that Hashem is the only One.

Moshe discussed the desert, each place he did describe,

and how the people chose a judge for every tribe.

Moshe reviewed Chet meraglim he spoke to them and cried,

He gave Bnei Yisrael rebuke, before he died.

What date is it written that Moshe gathered everyone?

Go look in a Chumash, when you find it you are done!

Answer:  The first day of the 11^th month- Aleph Shvat. 

PLAYING WITH THE PARSHA:

This week’s Parsha talks about the sin of the Meraglim (spies.)  Moshe recounts the tragic episode in detail. He reminds Bnei Yisrael how the Meraglim claimed that it would be impossible for them to conquer the nations in Eretz Canaan.   Even though Moshe protested, the Bnei Yisrael were afraid to enter Canaan. As a result, Hashem did not allow that entire generation to enter the land.

We have to be careful with our words and what we say.  Go around the Shabbat table and start a story.  No one is allowed to use the letter s in the story.  See how difficult it is to say a sentence without using the letter ‘s’.  After everyone finished asked how they felt.  It is not always easy to guard our tongue, but we must work very hard and try to think before we speak!

PARSHA DESSERT:

In this week’s parshah (44:1) Moshe talks about the Amorim who chased the Bnei Yisrael like bees. 

In Taamei Mesoret Hamikra, Rav Yehuda Hachassid writes that devarim, words, sound similar to dvorim, bees. The words of the Torah are like bees. To those who accept it, it will be as sweet as honey, and to those who refuse it, it will be harsh like a sting.

Let’s make BEEautiful Bee cookies. It will BEE the sweetest dessert!

 

You will need:

2 cups peanut butter

¼ cup margarine

2 cups powdered sugar

3 cups crushed cookies

½ cup chocolate chips

1/4 teaspoon oil

Sliced almonds

Combine the peanut butter and margarine in a bowl.  Beat until creamy. Add powdered sugar.  Beat until well mixed.  Stir in crushed cookies by hand.  Shape rounded teaspoonfuls into ovals.  You can wet your hands to make it easier to shape.  Place onto waxed paper.

Combine the chocolate chips and oil in a microwavable bowl.   Microwave for 50 seconds, remove and stir.  Continue microwaving for 10 seconds until chocolate is smooth.

Pour the chocolate into a small plastic bag.  Cut a small tip from the corner.

For each bee, squeeze 3 stripes of chocolate over each oval.  Insert slivered almonds on each side for the wings.  Add chocolate chips for the eyes.

Refrigerate- no need to bake!

Enjoy! Have a great Shabbat!

Hope you have an easy and meaningful fast. 

May we be zoche to see the building of the Bet Hamikdash speedily in our days.                            Ruchie