Volume 26 – Issue 32 10 Nov 2017 21 Heshvan 5778

Ma Koreh

Avraham’s life changes instantly

Weekly Torah Portion:
Parashat Chayei Sara 23:1 – 25:18.

When Sarah dies at the age of 127, Avraham’s life changes instantly. He purchases land in the town of Hevron and buries Sarah in the cave of the Machpelah. To secure his family’s future, Avraham sends his servant, Eliezer away from Canaan, back to his homeland, to find a wife for his son Yitzhak. Eliezer decides that whoever offers to give him water and then waters his camels will be the person to marry Isaac. After Rivkah’s act of kindness in providing water to Eliezer and his camels, Eliezer meets Rivkah’s parents who agree for her to marry Isaac. Eliezer and Rivkah return to Avraham and Isaac marries Eliezer. Isaac loves Rivkah and finds comfort with her following the death of his mother.

Family discussion

  • Share stories of how members of your family met each other and married.
  • What are the most important qualities that we should consider in our friends and partners?
  • Avraham wants Yitzhak to marry someone from his own kin, from his father’s homeland. Is it still important to marry someone from the same tribe, nation or religion? Why or why not?

Avraham models the mitzvah of כבוד המת – Kavod HaMet (Honouring the Dead) by burying Sarah in a respectful manner. Explore the following links to learn more about Jewish customs and rituals relating to death and mourning.


Give your Rosh a workout: Online Jewish quizzes…

How much do you know about Jewish views on the Afterlife and the Messiah?

https://www.myjewishlearning.com/quiz/ceremonies-for-newborns/


Year 4 student work: Reflecting on the journey of the Israelites by Liberty Waldner

Liberty Waldner, Year 4

THE ISRAEL TELEGRAPH ??

A LONG JOURNEY TO THE PROMISED LAND

The slaves, were crying and calling out, the hot sun beat on their faces, as the Egyptians whipped them and shouted at them.

The Israelites had been slaves for 400 years and each one hated it. 
They were forced into labour and treacherous work. They barely had enough to eat and drink and many died from disease and illnesses…

But that was the past, now the Israelites were on a journey that would change everything…

The Israelites had a leader called Moshe. God had spoken to him and told him that he had to free the people of Israel.

The Israelites were in the Midbar, a huge desert. The Israelites complained and moaned, they did not believe Moshe could actually save them.

Food was scarce and water even more scarce. The only food that they had was manna. Manna fell from the sky every morning. The Manna tasted like anything you wanted it to. The Israelites stayed there a little while.

The Israelites walked in the desert as the sun beat against their faces.
They reached Mount Sinai.

Moshe stood before The Israelites at the top of Mount Sinai.

The Israelites stood at the bottom of the mountain, waiting to see what would happen.

Moshe was given The Aseret HaDibrot (The 10 Utterances) on stone tablets. He stood on Mount Sinai holding the commandments. “We have received The Aseret HaDibrot, they are our teachings they are our guides and God has given them to us,” he cried to The Israelites at the foot of Mount Sinai.

The Israelites have arrived at the outskirts of Israel, the promised land.
Twelve scouts were chosen, 1 from each tribe.
They were sent in to the land and were told to search the land and bring back information.

The scouts searched and explored the land for 40 days. On the 40th day the scouts returned with information about the land. Ten of the 12 scouts bought news saying the land was horrible and no one could live there. This angered and upset the Israelites. The Israelites started shouting at Moshe. They asked him why they were lied to and told that this was a good land.

Then the other two scouts, Yehoshua and Calev spoke. They said: “The land is lovely and there are great farming grounds”. With that they presented some fruits that they had found while scouting the land.

Then God spoke. “I promised this land to you. You shouted and rallied against Moshe and for this you must now wander for 40 years. One day for each year”.

After 40 years of wandering in the wilderness, Moshe stood up and spoke to the Israelites: “I am growing old and weary. I shall soon die and you will need a new leader. Hosea who has just been crowned Yehoshua, will lead you as I have. You shall respect him and always remember The 10 Commandments that we were given on Mount Sinai”. A few days later Moshe died. God buried him on Mount Nebo. No one knew where he was buried…