Ma Koreh
Weekly Torah Portion:
Shabbat HaGadol Parashat Tzav Leviticus 6:1 – 8:36 צו
In Parashat Tzav, the five major types of קרבנות korbanot (sacrifices) are discussed again. This time Moshe speaks specifically to the כוהניםKohanim (Priests), including his brother Aaron and his sons, rather than to the entire Jewish people. As Moshe is now talking to the “professionals,” the information is more detailed and geared more specifically to the responsibilities of Kohanim. These details include the taking of the ashes from the altar out of the camp, the Kohanim’s clothing, rules for who may eat the priestly portion of the sacrificial offerings and how it is to be eaten, and the importance of keeping the fire going on the altar. The parashah ends with a description of the consecration of the Tabernacle and the ordination of Aharon and his sons as Kohanim. The משכן Mishkan is now ready to be used.
Family Discussion
During the time of the משכן Mishkan and Temple, the Israelites bought offerings and sacrifices to express thanksgiving and gratitude. What does gratitude mean for us in our lives today?
- Why is it important to express gratitude for the blessings and positives in our lives?
- What might we miss out on when are not grateful?
- What are some different ways we can show gratitude?
- Share things that you are grateful for in your life.
- How can we learn to appreciate ourselves and those around us more?
Yiddish Phase of the Week
Expand your Pesach Experience via the Internet
Pesach music – traditional and contemporary
Passover Rhapsody – A Jewish Rock Opera music video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRWNrk7FxG4
Six13 – Uptown Passover (An Uptown Funk for Pesach):
www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Q7Jo7FkLH4
The Maccabeats – Les Miserables:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=qmthKpnTHYQ
The Maccabeats – Dayenu:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZgDNPGZ9Sg
Chava Alberstein – Had Gadya:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHdVYy5B6JM
Moshe Oshey – Chady Gadyo:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=jr4LSdALxpI
Making Connections – Contemporary Slavery and the Seder
As we retell and remember our historic experience of slavery and freedom at Pesach, the Seder provides opportunities to raise awareness on the scourge of slavery, with an estimated 21 million people enslaved in our world today.
Slavery in the supply chain of goods we buy: Take a survey to see your slavery footprint
End Slavery Now: Learn more about slavery and what can be done to help end it
www.endslaverynow.org/learn/slavery-today
Free the Slaves: Organisation devoted to liberating slaves today:
www.freetheslaves.net/about-us/mission-vision-history/
Pesach Seder supplements to raise awareness and action on contemporary slavery:
www.freetheslaves.net/take-action/faith-in-action-ending-slavery/
New Symbolic foods for the Seder Plate to represent contemporary slavery:
http://forward.com/opinion/172965/a-statement-on-your-seder-plate/
A Taste of Pesach at Emanuel
Here is a sample of what took place this week in the lead up to Pesach in the Primary School this week
Year K: Students told the Pesach story of the Jewish people’s journey from slavery to freedom with lots of joyous singing, dancing and acting. Kornmehl students were special guests at this seder.
Year 1: Pesach Seder – a more traditional sit-down seder run by the children involving drama, dancing and singing.
Year 2: Pesach Seder – a more traditional sit-down seder led by the students in Hebrew and English, involving drama, dancing and singing. Proud parents and grandparents joined the students in a festive dance to conclude the seder.
Year 3: Parents and grandparents enjoyed a Pesach Seder conducted by the students in Hebrew, involving singing, dancing dramatic performances, a visit from Eliyahu HaNavi and plenty of matzah.
Year 4: Students, their parents and grandparents enjoyed a Pesach learning experience exploring the symbolism of the number 4 in the Seder: 4 names for Pesach, 4 cups of wine, 4 children, 4 questions. Students researched these areas in groups and shared their learning in presentations. They then joined their families to create Pesach related art on those themes.
Year 5: Students performed an upbeat Pesach concert, retelling the Pesach story through drama, dance, and singing traditional and contemporary Pesach songs. Students created movies exploring the concepts of freedom and slavery, interviewing teachers to learn more about what freedom means to them.
Year 6: This was a learning Seder experience filled with singing, questions and answers, quizzes, a rap battle between Moshe and Pharaoh and student presentations and reflections on the 10 plagues (traditional and contemporary), the 4 children and dayeinu.
Thank you – Todah Rabbah תודה רבה
It would have been impossible for these events to occur without the help and support of many people in the Emanuel School community. So, a big thank you to everyone involved in this week’s celebrations, with special mention to:
- Ruby Berkovic and Jen Opit, P&F powerhouses who made it all happen
- Our parent volunteers who assisted in set up and clean ups
- The parents and grandparents who came and supported these events
- Ofer Levy and Derek Manoy for taking photos
- Danny Burley and Michelle Lowy for bringing their music talents to our Pesach celebrations during rehearsals and performances
- Ben Marshall and Nathanael Clarke for IT support
- Miriam and Gayle in the Canteen for donating and preparing all the eggs for the seder
- The Jewish Life Leaders and Year 6 helpers who made charoset for the students
- Maintenance for all the schlepping and all the set ups, pack ups, set ups, pack ups…
- The Primary class teachers for their time and support
- The Hebrew and Jewish Studies teachers for their energy in preparing the students
- Stacey Rosenfeld and Holly Dillon for making everything happen
- The wonderful Primary students who rehearsed, prepared, sung, danced and performed so beautifully.
