Volume 26 Issue 18 23 Jun 2017 29 Sivan 5777

Ma Koreh including Year 4 Pathways

Adam Carpenter – Head of Jewish Studies Primary

Weekly Torah portion

Parashat Korach Numbers 16:1 – 18:32

This week we read of a rebellion against the leadership of Moses and Aaron by Korach, a Levite, with the support of 250 members of the community. Korach accuses Moses and Aaron of taking their leadership and authority too far over the people. In response Moses accuses Korach and his supporters of rebelling against God. The Torah describes how God intervenes in the disagreement and punishes the rebels with death.

Family discussion

This week the Torah deals with matters of leadership and power. Leadership is often described as serving and guiding others and the community, and not a quest for personal power and glory for those who are leaders or wish to be so. What makes for effective or ineffective leaders and who are examples in our world today?

קרן קימת לישראל JNF activities

Yigal Nisell from the JNF came to the Primary School this week to run sessions for some of our classes. Year 4 students enjoyed learning about the activities of the JNF and the history and role of the blue boxes. Students then had the opportunity to create and decorate their own blue boxes. Yigal also gave an informative presentation to Year 6 students about the history of the JNF and its role in developing and nurturing the land and the State of Israel.

Year 4 Pathways – presentation ceremony

On Thursday, parents and grandparents of the Year 4 students attended a special Primary School Torah service and Tanakh presentation ceremony. Morah Gaida and Primary students conducted the morning tefillot filled with singing and ruach. To symbolise the passing on of the Torah from generation to generation, Devan Bloch and 3 generations of his family were called to the Torah and Lily Berger, who is celebrating her Bat Mitzvah this Shabbat, read beautifully from the Torah. In preparation for the ceremony, each child’s Tanakh had been lovingly decorated and personalised with family histories, stories, photographs and blessings. Before giving their child the Tanakh, parents were led in the Birkat HaBanim – the blessing over the children for their Year 4 child.  

After receiving their Tanakh, students recited the Shehechiyanu prayer. This beautiful ceremony was followed by hugs, kisses and the singing of Siman Tov uMazal Tov. The pride and delight expressed by the children and their families over the giving of the Tanakh were something very special to witness. Families shared a quiet moment at the end of the ceremony to read over and share the personalised messages and decorations with their child. Thank you to all the parents and family members who attended the ceremony and for the love and care put into personalising each Tanakh.