Blessing Vayechi

Vayechi is focused Yaakov blessing his progeny.

"What does 'vayechi' mean?" I asked.  They worked the translation through.

'And he lived' "So he died or he moved," Cohava responded. She explained that if you say 'and someone lived' then it is always said past tense. They either lived and are now dead or they lived in x and now live in y. Her point was valid but she was a little annoyed that the passuk continues by explaining he is still alive. 

"But he knows the end of his life is soon."

"How does he know?" Gabi asked.

"Cuz he is old," Ruti explained. 

"When I came home I noticed a beautiful note on the playroom door. Can you tell me about it?" I responded.

(If you cannot see the picture/decipher guess spelling it says, "Live every moment like it is your last day on earth". -Bubby. In loving memory of Bubby.)

We discussed this quote of my grandmother's (and certainly many before her) and why Cohava decided to post it. We took time to talk about the recent, very shocking death of Jennifer (Leah bat Avraham) a beautiful (inside and out) 24 year-old from our community. 

We then took time to bless (or compliment) each other in turn around the table, as though we were each Yaakov. This was very sweet and meaningful and took the edge off a tense morning. I highly recommend trying it.

"Umm, that was -uh- nice, but umm, are we going to make -umm- something also?" asked Ruti, always concerned about others feelings but eager to do art.

We did a project, which did not have the strongest parasha connection but was fun, heavy on fine motor, and made a nice product.

We took the wood pieces left from my class hannukiyot and plotted the letters in Hebrew on them. (This went through variou test runs but finally we discovered that minimal marks were ideal.)

Then the girls hammered nails into the marked spots.

Spray paint.

Then the girls pulled rainbow loom rubber bands between the nails.

 Tada!  (It's our last name in Hebrew)

Gabi maturely decided early on that this project was not for her. She said, "You know how Yaakov assigns animals and symbols to his sons? Like spirit animals? I am going to make one for each of you."

She made beautiful art for each of us. She had a beautiful reason for each one. Ruti's height, grace, and love for nature made her a giraffe. Tova's grace and cheekiness made her a monkey. Cohava's agility and speed made her a deer. I was deemed a peacock for my love of colors and 'go big or go home' attitude. "

"What should Abba be?" asked Gabi.
"Maybe a bear?" I suggested.
"A polar bear, maybe," she contemplated.
"They don't migrate," remarked Ruti.
"What?"
"Polar bears and arctic foxes are the only animals that don't migrate from the North Pole," she explained.  Those kindergarten teachers are amazing!