Ma Koreh

Weekly Torah portion:

Parashat Terumah Exodus 25:1-27:19

Following on from the Mount Sinai experience, the Israelites are instructed to bring a gift from the heart, a תרומה- terumah, that will be collected and used to build a Divine dwelling place or sanctuary, known as the משכן – Mishkan or Tabernacle. This Torah portion provides detailed instructions and descriptions of the Mishkan itself and for the holy items, such as the altar, the golden Menorah and the Aron HaKodesh – the Holy Ark, and the items contained within it.

Family discussion

What makes a place holy? Have you ever been to a place or a natural space where you have felt connected to something greater than yourself?

Gifts from the heart: What does it mean to give a gift from the heart? Do you think it is better to give or to receive gifts? What makes you say that?

Yiddish word of the week: Nosh

As we prepare for our Purim celebrations, there are a number of mitzvoth that revolve around food:

מתנות לאביונים Matanot Le’evyonim – sending food to the needy

משלוח מנות Mishloah manot – sending food gifts to friends

סעודה Seudah – a festive meal.

Our love of a nosh prompted the well know saying about Jewish history and festivals: “They tried to kill us, we survived, now let’s eat! (nosh)”

Nosh or Nash comes from the Yiddish word נאש meaning to eat or to have a snack.

You can have a nosh on the run or invite friends over for a nosh.

For parents, ensuring your child has enough to nosh on can be a full-time job.

Hebrew words of the week:
יחד and יחיד

As we approach Purim, we are exploring with students a theme found within Megillat Esther and the Purim story.

Yachad meaning ‘together’ or ‘unity’ יחד

Yachid meaning ‘unique’ or ‘individual’ יחיד

We may be tempted to think that unity and uniqueness are mutually exclusive concepts that require that uniformity and individuality cannot exist within community. Yet in Hebrew, the words share a common origin and are connected.

Haman becomes enraged by Mordechai’s refusal to bow down to him and by the distinct customs and religion of the Jews of Persia. For Haman, togetherness and unity equal uniformity and an intolerance of any kind of difference. To achieve his vision of absolute unity, Haman plots to destroy and remove the Jews from Persia. Mordechai and Esther are determined to keep what makes them unique, realising their connection and solidarity with the Jews of Persia.

Without ‘yoU’ and ‘I’ there can be no ‘UnIty’ יחד and יחיד

A well known saying on this theme in our tradition, and a favourite song sung at school, comes from Psalm 133:

הנה מה טוב ומה נעים שבת אחים גם יחד

Hinei ma tov u ma nayim shevet achim gam yachad

“How good and pleasant it is for all peoples to live as one.”

For Harry Belafonte’s soulful rendition of Hinei Ma Tov go to: www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCzUWap9rm0

Follow the link below to listen to the contemporary Israeli band Gaya sing their beautiful, uplifting song Yachad: www.youtube.com/watch?v=fh3I2GouqDE