Let it grow! Behar Bechukotai

Early in the week, I began teaching the girls about parasha Behar.  They were very interested in shmita and the fact it is still observed today (but only in Eretz Yisrael).
However this week is a double parasha and soon it was time to move on to Bechukotai.
"I don't really want to do the parasha Bechukotai," I said my children. They looked shocked by such a confession.
"Why not?"
"You have to!"
"It's the Torah!!!"
"You are right, and I will teach it to you. But is there something that I do to you sometimes that you don't like?" There was a long pause with introspective faces.
"You tell us off sometimes," Gabi replied. (This is the Australian idiom for scolding.)
"And that makes me feel awful," Cohava added.
"And that is what Hashem does in this weeks parasha and it makes me feel pretty awful too. But we will still talk about it," I explained.
We talked about the tochecha, the rebuke that Hashem gives in the parasha. Of course we also spoke about His promises of good. If we are good, things like rainfall for crops, will be good. If not, not.

This black and white, reward and punishment is simplest for children to understand. As we get older we struggle much more with why bad things happen when we are good. But for now, my children are content with these explanations.

Based on shmita and the rainfall, I decided it was time to plant something for our project. I am good at cooking and crafts, but gardening- I am a no-hoper. God makes plants grow. I make them die. My children have gained all of their horticultural experiences and knowledge from my lovely friend and neighbor, Amanda.

Knowing that growing was going to be a challenge for me I bought an idiot-proof tomato growing kit from K-mart. It said, 'just add water.' I figured I might be able to handle that.

The girls were very excited to finally "get to do something like Amanda!" Amanda's enormous prolific garden does not compare to this cup in which we might grow a tomato, but ok.

 Add water, add seeds. Ruti tried to help with the seeds.

 Gabi played in the dirt. Then we moved it outside next to some of my failed attempts at herbs. It is actually a plant cemetery. Oh well. In a week we need to transfer the 'growth' out of the cup. We'll see what happens.

 Last night, the aforementioned Amanda, taught a workshop in pickling olives.
Next year I think I will try this for the parasha project. She mentioned that most trees are only prolific every other year. And that many trees produce a bumper crop every seven years! The trees are ready for shmita even in Australia!

Hashem promises observance of shmita will ensure enough produce in the 6th, 7th, and 8th year. Of course He will. But we still need to do our hishtadlut and preserve the extra food. So this how one pickles olives in shmita (or any other times).

Amanda taught three techniques and we tried one.  But I will give instructions for the easiest of the three.

 1) Pick some fresh olives. Make sure they are all the same type. Black olives are green olives which have stayed on the tree for longer and are better (imho). Make sure none of the olives are squishy and remove all stems.
2)Fill a large 'Tupperware' container with brine. Either you can mix 1/3 sea salt with 1 liter of water, or you can add sea salt to water until a raw egg floats (with children this is either a math lesson or a demonstration about the Dead Sea).
3) Pour olives into brine and put a plate on top to submerge them. Put a weight (tin can) on the plate to keep it down. Leave for 3 weeks.
4) Rinse one off and taste it. If bitter leave them for longer. If tasty, they can be washed and eaten. But to make them much yummier...
5) Sterilize some glass jars (in the oven or dish washer). Put the rinsed olives in the jars. Put in fresh herbs, or garlic, or lemon wedges, or chili- however you like olives. Fill the jar with olive oil. Leave for 6 weeks (or longer) to let the flavours develop.
6) Enjoy! The olives are divine and the oil is a great salad dressing/chumus topping/etc.

Two more years until the next shmita, right?
But may the rains always fall in the right seasons.

Shabbat Shalom!

Tooth for a tooth???

Towards the end of this week's parasha the phrase 'tooth for a tooth' appears. It appears three different times in the Torah, but its halachic significance is secondary to this discussion. More importantly, towards the end of this Shabbat, Cohava lost her first tooth!

When it first fell out she was scared, but when I expressed great excitement, she quickly mirrored it. On our afternoon Shabbat walk she eagerly displayed her new gap to anyone who would look.

I am thrilled by this milestone, but feel that we should have a Torah way to mark it. 

There is whole tooth fairy/truth debate, but I think it is secondary for the potential learning experience in tooth loss.

First, in retrospect, I should have promoted Cohava to say 'Shehechiyanu' when it fell out, to bring Hashem into the moment.

When I searched online for what other people do for a Torah tooth loss, I was unimpressed with the results, although I enjoyed this article about teeth in the gemara and other rabbinic writings.  

I also looked at some Jewish themed tooth fairy pillows but prefer the fuzzy pink and white one Cohava and I sewed together. 

Still tooth and Torah-less, I started to think about what I have taught Cohava about teeth.  A couple of weeks ago, for parashat Tazria Metzora, we made lashon toothbrush holders.  In their parasha reader that week, it had explained that ones' teeth and lips are the soldiers and guardians against the tongue speaking lashon harah. Now Cohava is missing a solider she is going to need more reinforcements!

In addition to the money I will be giving her for the tooth (there is no reason to go against convention), Cohava will be getting a short note (not sure if it will be from me or the tooth fairy) about Lashon Hara. I need to reread the Chofetz Chaim (it will do me some good) so I can get the statements into phrases she will understand.

The first tooth is going to include a note which says: Fight the Lashon Hara! Do not say something that will hurt someone else."

 If it is from the tooth fairy it might be written in pink on glittery paper. 

If anyone has ideas on making tooth loss a teaching moment I would love to hear it!

Count on It- Emor

Parashat Emor begins with laws relating to the cohanim. This is an area which I described in very broad terms with my own girls, although discussed in depth with a girl whose Bat Mitzvah is this week. The BM girl was very unsettled by the "unfairness" related to cohanim. We spent a great deal of time discussing how being different isn't the same as unfair.

Cohava's approach to cohanim was simpler. "I am going to marry Binyamin (a boy in her class) because he is a cohen and is going to be a rabbi!"
The next day I mentioned it to Binyamin's mother. "Interesting," she said. "I didn't know he planned to be a rabbi. That is good. But I am not sure how he is going to become a cohen, since his father isn't one..."

After all of the laws of marriage, impurities, deformities, and mourning relating to a cohen, Emor describes all of the Chagim of the Torah and the mitzvah of counting the Omer. The variety in Chagim is quite special. Rav Kook famously explained that there are 613 so everyone has a mitzvah they truly love, embrace, and embody. I think the variety in Yamim Tovim serve the same purpose. Everyone has their favorite holiday and their favorite components of each chag.

For our weekly project, we made an Omer counter. Husband wandered in the room while we were hard at work. "Umm, you know we are more than half way through," he remarked.
"Yes, Abba. Today is 30," Cohava replied, barely looking up from her work. The girls count the omer every night with a scroll counter from the Olivewood Factory. My objective in this project had less to do with the mitzvot of the Omer and more to do with teaching numeracy.

I cut 13 pieces of construction paper in quarters, found a cheap carabiner clip, and a whole punch. The girls got their markers and they got to work.
"I will do 1!" Cohava announced.
"I've got 2!" Gabi added. And so it went. With Cohava the focus was writing in the right direction. With Gabi it was number formation. They both practiced ordering.

Once all the numbers were written, the girls had to sort them into the right order. Again, this is a very important numeracy skill. Once all the numbers were in order, each girl made a picture of Matan Torah for Shavuot. 

Then hole punching began. If I really wanted to preserve the project the papers would need laminating, but with only a few weeks left, I think this will be fine. I slid the papers onto the carabiner. Our counter does not include weeks and days, but the girls worked hard on early maths skills. In a few years they can practice dividing by 7. 

Ta-da!

Shabbat Shalom and Happy Counting!

Take two- Pesach Sheni

I love Pesach Sheni!  One month ago was Pesach, celebrating and commemorating the exodus from Egypt. In the Torah, when the second Korban Pesach was performed, not everyone was able to participate. In Bamidbar 9:6-8 those who missed out approached Moshe and Aaron for advice on their omission. There Hashem explains Pesach Sheni, an opportunity for people in certain situations to offer the sacrifice exactly one month later.

This is a day which many Chabad and other chassid groups hold dear because of the theme of second chances.  I find this component very moving.  Usually if you miss something you miss it, but here Hashem is saying, "I know it wasn't your fault that you missed out, please share your korban with Me." Pretty profound.

Sefer Hachinuch provides an even more powerful look at the mitzvah of Pesach Sheni. Pesach is one of the greatest examples of Hashem's awesome control over the world. Yitzeat mitzrayim, the amazing miracles, signs, and wonders He created to free us from bondage, produced a cornerstone of our belief in Him. Hashem wants everyone to have the opportunity to celebrate that belief and trust in His control over the world.

In spite of these two impressive reasons for Pesach Sheni, the lack of a Beit Hamikdash prevents much from happening today.  There is a tradition to eat matza. People don't say Tachanun.

For a week my girls have been getting excited for Pesach Sheni (as a date between Yom Haatzmaut and Lag B'Omer).  When I asked if they wanted matza pizza for lunch Gabi looked confused.
"But we don't eat matza pizza at seder," she replied.
"I don't like matza so much. Why can't we have charoset and marror?" Cohava added.
"Yes! Charoset! And huevos haminados!"

Why not?
I didn't make it to the shops for marror, I wasn't cooking huevos haminados for 8 hours, and the charoset has to be nut-free, but I think they will still be happy at lunch time.

May your second chances be meaningful and your days filled with awe for Hashem.

Sweet Mitzvot- Acharei Mot Kedoshim

Another double parasha! Acharei Mot is important, with a thorough description of the avodah done by the Kohen Gadol on Yom Kippur. But as I explained to the girls, "We don't have the Beit Hamikdash, we aren't the Kohen Gadol, and it isn't Yom Kippur, so it doesn't apply to us right now." But Kedoshim describes numerous mitzvot that apply to all of us, all the time.

The idea of being holy and behaving that way was prompted by the girls, right before we started learning about it. I had the parasha book on my lap and Gabi was getting ready for bed.
"Is it ok that I am going to sleep in leggings and a T-shirt?" she declared. (The idea here is no skirts)
"Sometimes I see ladies outside running in only leggings. Is that ok?" Cohava asked.
"Good question," I replied. "This week's second parasha is Kedoshim. In it Hashem says that we are holy because He is holy. So we act and dress, think and do things in a certain way to keep our specialness. Who is our Abba in Shamayim?"
"Abba?"
"Rabbi?"
"Hashem!"
"Oh!"
And then we began learning some of the mitzvot. Kibud av v'Em, honoring one's parents is one of my favorites to teach. Cohava came home with a lovely card which described the mitzvah and how she will try to uphold it. V'ahavta l'reyacha kamocha, love your neighbor as yourself is definitely another.

But making a project from these wonderful mitzvot wasn't very easy because it was a very busy week.
Highlights include Yom Haatzmaut and my Hebrew Birthday. Obviously I only focused on the Jewish calendar with the girls, but the general calendar does play a role. In this case it was left over Easter candy. Although there isn't much kosher, I found some good cheap stuff. Amazingly the M&Ms were perfect for Yom Haatzmaut. However the pareve bunny chocolates were creepy looking and didn't taste good. But I decided without the ears, they looked like smiling people (maybe I used too much imagination).

 Since the girls were busy every afternoon this week, I made the project myself. Using this recipe (without the milk and with red food coloring) I made heart shaped cookies and placed the smiley bunny people inside.

 I explained to the girls that these were "V'ahavta l'reacha kamocha" cookies, which is why they had happy faces and love hearts. And then I explained that they were made for sharing more than eating. My plan was for the cookies to come to shul and the girls to distribute them to everyone, and explaining this mitzvah. The cookies were yum, but my plans for the project didn't come to fruition.

Watch your mouth! Tazria Metzora

Sorry for the long Pesach hiatus. One day I might post about our adventures, although I suspect parashat Tzav will never have a project.

This week is the double parshiot of Tazria and Metzora. They are read together during all non leap years (get ready for next year!) with the same topic dominating both: Tzaraat!  Tzaraat was a condition which appeared on the skin, clothing, or a house in response to a person's sin. It offered a physical manifestation so a person could witness the consequences of their actions.  Although the Torah does not state it explicitly in this parasha, lashon harah is considered one of the primary causes of Tzaraat.

Because Tzaraat is a challenging topic for children by itself, the connection to how we speak is an important tie in.

One day this week, Gabi complained about a rash on her leg.
"Gabi was speaking lashon hara. Now she has Tzaraat," Cohava announced.
"I think it is dry skin and she just needs some moisturizer," I countered.
"Nope, definitely tzaraat," Cohava argued.
Gabi stared at her leg. "It is red, not white. And you are not a Kohen. So I don't need to leave the house," she concluded. Amazingly, moisturizer cleared it up.

Explaining lashon hara to children is important, but not simple. We read Mr. Peabody's Apples by Madonna (yes, Madonna) which is a semi-modern take on the chassidic tale of opening the pillow. The illustrations are the best part of the book, but here you can hear the Material Girl reading her book.

The book is a good jumping off point of how we don't tell tales, true or otherwise, but barely scratches the surface of what lashon hara is really about. And one cannot get too involved in telling children about not speaking about others, without the important caveat of immediately reporting to an adult if someone touches you...

I was unsure of how thoroughly my girls understood lashon hara when I set off to create a parasha project.

 At K-Mart I found these toothbrush holders, which I decided were perfect. Big mouth, almost skin coloured, and only 20 cents each!

But I let the girls choose what to do with them.

"We could tape their mouths shut so they can't speak lashon hara," Cohava suggested.
"Or put things in their mouth," Gabi added. When they asked about the actual purpose of the containers and I demonstrated with toothbrush and paste, they wanted to maintain authenticity.

 Cohava decided hers would represent lashon hara, while Gabi chose lashon hatov.
They set to work with permanent markers. Cohava worked hard at making Tzaraat sores with a white-out pen and red stop signs. Gabi drew "happy pictures" all over hers.

They were proud of their results and discussed how they would remember not to speak lashon hara every morning and night when brushing teeth.

I still was unsure of how well they understood what is lashon hara. One day Gabi asked, "What are consequences?" so using a scenario we had seen involving other people, we discussed various consequences.
Gabi said, "Now I know what consequences are, but I think we are speaking lashon hara." She ran and got the new toothbrush holders and put them on the table.

If  you do not find these nifty holders at K-Mart, Cohava brought this home from school:

 Much simpler to make and also gets the point across.

Vayikra with a Pinch of Salt

Welcome to Vayikra, a detailed account of korbanot, the sacrifices brought in the Mishkan. Maybe it is because I am a former vegetarian or because we cannot bring korbanot today but this topic does not excite me. It was not a week where I had an abundance of information to share with the girls. I have always found it surprising that in many communities Sefer Vayikra is the first topic taught to school children.

Obviously, I was not going to try any actual korbanot for the project of the week. And that is all there is in the parasha- except for chapter 2 verse 13.

13. And you shall salt every one of your meal offering sacrifices with salt, and you shall not omit the salt of your God's covenant from [being placed] upon your meal offerings. You shall offer salt on all your sacrifices.

יג. וְכָל קָרְבַּן מִנְחָתְךָ בַּמֶּלַח תִּמְלָח וְלֹא תַשְׁבִּית מֶלַח בְּרִית אֱלֹקיךָ מֵעַל מִנְחָתֶךָ עַל כָּל קָרְבָּנְךָ תַּקְרִיב מֶלַח:

There are many beautiful commentaries on this passuk. There is a midrash that on the second day of creation, when Hashem moved half the water into the Heavens, the waters of the ocean became jealous. They wanted to reach these lofty heights. Hashem promised them that they would also achieve a great stature, that is when their salt is used for sacrifices. 

Ramban explains that salt has two diametrically opposed properties. It destroys, as it prevents plants from growing, and it saves, as it preserves food. The salt used on sacrifices is symbolic of our relationship with God. When we serve Him appropriately, it preserves us. When we don't, our own destruction is imminent. 

The salt used in sacrifices is the primary source for the salt used on Challot on Shabbat. Sorry Lot's wife.

If you haven't guessed already, we made salt holders for our project. 

We already have a plethora of salt shakers, so I thought we would make salt bowls. From what I have inferred, salt bowls are preferable for challah because 1) salt shakers are a relatively new invention 2) the challah should be dipped in salt. 

My husband also follows the Moroccan minhag of declaring "Hashem Melech, Hashem Malach, Hashem Yimloch le'olam va'ed" after his first bite of challah. I always assumed this was reminiscent of saying the passuk before Shacharit - a way to inspire the right mood for the meal. Or a pun on 'melach', the Hebrew word for salt. Apparently the meaning is much deeper.

So the project:

I typed the aforementioned passuk and made the text go in a circle.

I printed the circles, let the girls cut them out, and they got to work colouring them.

 When the circles were finished, I laminated them while the girls decorated the cups. The cups were just disposable hot/cold cups, which I cut in half.

 For cup decorating, they used permanent markers.

Meanwhile, Ruti worked on her own project.

 

When the girls were finished the cups, I hot glue gunned the two parts together.
Wallah!

When the girls were asleep I discovered they misunderstood the purpose of the cups, and thought they were salt shaker holders. I will clarify it before Shabbat.

Shabbat Shalom!