Friday, December 19, 2014

Taking a chance when opportunity knocks

In Parshat Miketz we see an example of taking the chance when opportunity knocks. The Parsha starts with Pharoh's dream about 7 fat cows and 7 skinny cows. Then a second dream about 7 healthy looking ears of grain and seven thin ears grain. In both dreams the skinny or unhealthy images eat the healthy images in his dream. Pharoah is distraught and troubled what does this dream mean? He asks his advisors but not one of them could interpret the dream. Finally one of his servants Head of Cupbearer remembers that Yosef had interpreted his dream in jail. Pharoah summons Yosef to stand before him and interpret these dreams. Yosef is rushed to the palace and given a haircut, new clothing and a good shower.  In front of Pharoah, Yosef interprets the dreams. You will have 7 good years that will be plentiful and then you will have 7 years of drought and desolation of crops. Why two dreams with the same message because it will happen very soon. Looking at the dreams Yosef's interpretation is very logical and makes sense. According to many commentators that is where the interpretation stops. The next part of Yosef's speech is a suggestion that Pharoah hire someone, smart who can make a plan to collect the surplus from the good years so Mitzrayim will have food through the bad years. Hint Hint He is talking about himself. Hire me to manage the project. This was a bold move by Yosef. It is not easy to see in the dreams where there is hint to hire a new officer, but Yosef took the change when the opportunity afforded itself. He was in the presence of the most powerful person in Egypt. Yosef took the chance to promote himself and it worked. He was led around the Egypt on a chariot with people calling out this is the viceroy of Egypt.  This is an example for us to take the chance when the opportunity presents itself maybe this why Hashem put you in that place.
Shabbat Shalom

Yosef's Transformation

In the Shabbat Assembly, I spoke to the students about the transformation that happened to Yosef from Potiphar's house to the jail. In Potiphar's house he was a slave but not in a jail cell. He was chased after by Potipahr's wife and when he refused her advances she turned the tables on him. She screamed and claimed Yosef had attacked her when no one else was in the house. Potiphar returns home and he sentences Yosef to jail. Yosef is not able to even plead his case. He was quiet and reserved. He receives no trial.  I shared with the students that in Jewish Law cases are brought before a Beit Din for judgement and in the United States every person has the right to their day in court.  The evidence must prove guilt not the feeling or emotions of one person. Once in jail there was a transformation. The pasuk (39:21) states that Hashem gave Yosef "Chesed" and and put "Chan" favor in the eyes of the warden of the jail. I am interpreting this pasuk to mean that Yosef was able to be himself and show his charisma and honesty. The warden was able figure out the real personality of Yosef. He made Yosef into the leader of all the prisoners. This might not seem like such a great position but it was a position of leadership. This is where the transformation of Yosef from a depressed slave sold by his brothers to a leader who will rule Mitzrayim begins.
Sometimes in the most strange environments or situations we learn about ourselves and transform ourselves for the future.

Wednesday, December 10, 2014

Yaakov to Yisrael - The name Change and life change

At the Shabbat asembly for Vayishlach we talked about a game changer, the name change of Yaakov to Yisrael. Based on a Dvar Torah from Rabbi David Fohrman we walked through Yaakov life and how his personality changed with his name. When we are first introduced to Yaakov at his birth we are told he was holding onto the heel of Esav, the עקב. The heel is shaped like a "U" and through out Yaakov early years he approached life in a round about way. For example, the blessing from his father Yitzchok was not a straight forward episode. He went a very round about way to receive the Berachot. We hear Esav cry out to his father that "Hi is   named correctly Yaakov he tricked me many times" Perek 27:36
 וַיֹּאמֶר הֲכִי קָרָא שְׁמוֹ יַעֲקֹב, וַיַּעְקְבֵנִי זֶה פַעֲמַיִם
 Another example of his Yaakov tendencys  is his reaction to his dream of the ladder and angels. Hashem promises him that he will become a great nation and that Hashem will protect him. Yaakov 's response could have been thank you very much. His response was conditional if you do the following things for me than I am all yours. Again he was not direct. In Lavan's house his marriage to Rachel was round about etc...
When does all this change? Once Hashem says your name is Yisrael his approach is different. He is more direct. Thename  Yisrael, ישראל  has in the first 3 letters the word ישר  "straight." or direct. Look what happens in the next episode of the Parsha. Yaakov meets with Esav his brother, who wanted to kill him over 20 years ago. Yaakov could have traveled back home without going through Seir, Esav home, but he did not. He went straight to Esav and met him face to face. Later Hashem promises him a great nation an he accepts it without any conditions. Yaakov is embracing his new name and attitude of being direct. We could we could learn a lot from this approach. If we have a conflict or argument with some we should have direct conversation about the issue and not go around it. If we need some help or need to give advice be direct, be nice but also be direct.  Yisrael (Yaakov) learned over his lifetime that being straight froward works much better that avoiding. 

Friday, November 28, 2014

Parsha Summary and Questions

Fleeing from Esav, Yakov leaves Be'er Sheva and sets out towards Charan, the home of his mother's family. After a fourteen year stopover in the Yeshiva of Shem and Ever, he resumes his journey and comes to Mount Moriah, the place where his father Yitzchak was brought as an offering, and the future site of the Beit Hamikdash. He lays down to sleep and has a prophetic dream of angels ascending and descending a ladder between heaven and earth. Hashem promises him the Land of Israel, that he will found a great nation and that he will be guarded by Divine protection everywhere. Yakov awakes and vows to build an altar there and tithe all that he will receive. Then he travels to Charan and meets his cousin Rachel at the well. He arranges with her father, Lavan, to work seven years for her hand in marriage, but Lavan deceives Yakov and substitutes Rachel's elder sister, Leah. Yakov commits himself to work another seven years in order to also marry Rachel. Leah bears him four sons - Reuven, Shimon, Levi and Yehuda - the first Tribes of Israel. Rachel is jealous that she cannot conceive, and gives her handmaiden Bilhah to Yakov. Bilhah bears Dan and Naftali. Leah also gives Yakov her handmaiden Zilpah, who bears Gad and Asher. Leah now gives birth to Yissachar, Zevulun, and a daughter, Dina. Hashem finally blesses Rachel with a son, Yosef. Yakov decides to leave Lavan, but Lavan, aware of the wealth Yakov has made for him, is reluctant to let him go, and concludes a contract of employment with him. Lavan tries again to swindle Yakov but is unsuccessful, and Yakov becomes extremely wealthy. Six years later, Yakov, aware that Lavan has become resentful of his wealth, takes advantage of his father-in-law's temporary absence and flees with his family. Lavan pursues them but is warned by Hashem not to harm them. Yakov and Lavan agree to a covenant and Lavan returns home. Yakov continues on his way to face his brother Esav.

Parshat Vayetzah
Question for Grades 1 - 2

1.Upon what did  Yakov lay his head to rest? ( 28:11) 
2. What did Yakov do that the other shepreds were not able to do? (29:10)  
3. How did Lavan greet Yakov? (29:13) 
4. What did Yakov say he wanted in return for working for Lavan? (29:18) 
5. How many daughters did Lavan have, and what were their names?  
6. How did Lavan trick Yakov? (29:24) 

Questions for Grades 3- 5 
1. What two promises did Hashem make to Yakov in his dream? (28:13-14)  
2. What was Lavan’s answer to Yakov when asked why he tricked him? (29:26)  
3. How many additional years did Yakov work to marry Rachel? (29:27) 
BONUS How long did Yakov need to wait until he married Rachel? (Look closely at 29:28)
4. What was the name of  Leah’s daughter? (30:21) 
5. What areTeraphim? Who stole them(Rashi 31:19)  


6.What did Yakov say would happen to the person who had the idols? (31:32) 






Thursday, November 27, 2014

The blink of an Eye..Follow your instincts

At the Shabbat Assembly last week I discussed with the students the power of a "blink". That moment in time when your think without thinking. You make decision based on what you see in that instance. In the Parhsa of Tolodot we have the episode of Yitzchok's blessings to Yaakov. Let's look for Yitzchok "blink" moment.  Realizing the he was getting older and about to die, Yitzchok sends Esav to prepare food for him so he can eat and then give him a Beracha before he dies. Esav leaves and Rivkah tells Yaakov now is the time to get the Blessings. Yaakov bring the food into his father's tent and the reaction right away from Yitzchok is, "Who are you?" Yitzchok's first response was how can this be it is too quick for all the food to prepared. Then Yitzchok starts a process and he talks to this son, feels the skin of this son, smells the scent of this son, and is convinced by his investigation that this is indeed Esav and he blesses accordingly. Almost immediately right after Yaakov leave the tent Esav walks in with all the food and tells his father he is ready. Yitzchok is shocked and afraid. He was right his first inclination was a correct one. The first person was Yaakov not Esav. Although the first born blessing needed to go to Yaakov as part of Hashem's plan for the future of Bnei Yisrael we can still learn that the "blink" is right most of the time.  There are times each day that we need to make decisions and we need to trust our instincts and make those
decisions. It could happen on a test when we see and questions and are not sure about the answer. Always go with your first choice. It could happen on the bus when you are not sure if it is the right thing to do.  Your first feeling about it is most probably correct. It happens when we talk and play with our friends. Should I say this or play it this way? always go with what you feel in your gut, in to stomach.  
To quote form Malcom Gladwell's website "Blink reveals that great decision makers aren’t those who process the most..."  

Wednesday, November 26, 2014

How do we treat guests - What we can learn from Rivkah

 At the Shabbat Assemby we spoke about what we can learn from Rivkah at the well with Eliezer. What do we do when  we meet people? Or have guests?  Based in a word in the pasuk the Midrash tells us that the water came up to meet Rivkah. When she gave water to Eliezer it was easy, the water was right there. That was nice but what really impressed Eliezer was how Rivkah Drew water for the animals. She goes back to the well and needs to lower the bucket all the way and pull it up many times to give drinks to the camels. Notice here, there is no word in the pasukim for the Midrash to link to a water miracle. Rivkah needed to do this act of kindness all by herself. It is after this that Eliezer realizes this is the person for Yitzchok.   We can learn from Rivkah that we need to make efforts to do kindness for others. It is not easy at times, but our efforts show people that we care about them. It just the way want to be treated. 

Monday, November 10, 2014

It is all in the Name Yitzchok

I shared with the students in grades 1-3 the idea that names in Tanach mean something, and that our names mean something, too. Looking at the naming of Yitzchok, the son of Avraham and Sarah, there  are hints to his name from the first news of his birth. Avraham is told that he will have a son and he falls on his face and "laughs" ויצחק (V'yitzchok). Later, the three messengers come to Avraham at the tent, where Sarah overhears the news and laughs to herself ותצחק (v"tizchok).   Some commentaries explain this laughter as a joyous emotion in response to the great news of a child in their future. Finally, when the child arrives it is not a surprise that they name him Yitzchok. What does this name have to do with his personality? Most people will tell you that Yitzchok's greatest attribute was his strength. How does the name Yitzchok, which is most commonly translated as laughter, show strength?


I read that Yitzchok's strength was in his ability to laugh things off. In a difficult world, Yitzchok tried not to let things bother him. This is a huge strength. To hear a comment and not allow it to get you angry or frustrated is a great mindset to cultivate.  This is the great attribute of Yitzchok.  We can learn from Yitzchok and his ability to let thing roll off his back.  In our lives there will always be strangers, family members and friends who will say or do something that will annoy us. The way we react to it shows our character. Are we able to let it slide and not allow it to bother us?  This would display great stength of character and self confidence. We can try to be like Yitzchok and show the power of laughter.


PS - For further discussion: do you see a connection between your Hebrew name and your personality characteristics?

Sunday, October 26, 2014

God closed the Door on Noach

In parshat Noach we find a person who needs to withstand the pressures of a corrupt society.  We are told that Noach was the only Tzadik in his generation. Can you imagine his life?! He was surrounded by people doing the horrible things. How does someone not fall to the level of the people around him?. Not only did Noach not sink to their level but he raised himself to the level of a Tzadik. One who walked with Hashem. Hahsem selected Noach and his family to be saved from world destruction.  I think that Noach was able to stay away from the pressures of his surrounding because he isolated himself. He became only interested in himself and his family. Hashem told him to build an Teva and he did it. Hashem told him to enter the Teva and Noach did not ask Hashem for his best friends to join him because he had none. He was occupied with building an inclosure, the Teva, that would save his family. Interestingly after Noach, his family and the animals board the Teva the Pasuk reads "And Hashem closed him inside".  My understanding it that Hashem was isolating Noach from all the the bad that was going to happen in the flood waters outside the Teva. Inside the Teva Noach was able to teach his family and feed the animals. Noach was living metaphoraclly in a Teva his whole life. Secluded from the horrible people of his generation and the bad influences. Noach's life teaches the lesson of protecting youself first, removing ourselves from bad situations. Removing ourselves from bad people, friends.  As students in a school you might be with some children who are making fun of someone on the bus. What do you do? Do you join in? Do you move away. You might be at a playdate on Shabbat and the your friend starts doing something you know is wrong. What do you do? Do you remove yourself?.  Moving away from a situation is not easy, but sometimes required.  There are times that we need to close ourselves in our own Teva to protect ourselves, just like Hashem closed Noach in the Teva to save him,   It is better not to associate ourselves with people who do the wrong and bad things.The lesson from Noach's life is simple to see and hear but hard to accomplish. I pray that we all have the stregnth when needed to remove ourselves from bad influences.

Rosh Chodesh Cheshvan - We need Rain -- In Israel



This past week we welcomed in the month of Cheshvan. It is called MarCheshvan becasue it does not contain any special day.  The Banot prepared a 2-3 min video about what is important about this month for the Jewish People and the land of Israel. 
enjoy!! 


Sunday, August 17, 2014

How can we help Israel

This summer has been very difficult for the Jewish People living in Eretz Yisrael. From the beginning of July they have been under attack. All of us, have friends and families that needed to move or to go into hiding from the sirens, missile and tunnel attacks.  In the diaspora, we spent our days listening to news reports, following Facebook and Twitter for updates on the situation in Israel. What actions items did Jews living outside of Israel do to help the situation? 
  • Some people raised money for the IDF and injured soldiers. 
  • Some people show that they Stand with Israel by attending Rallys.n (NYC)
  • Some people participated in Solidarity Mission to Israel
  • Some said more Tehilim.
  • Some committed to learn more each day. 
I understand the first 3 ideas as action items that bring financial or emotional support to the people in the land. The last two of saying Tehlim and committing to learn more each day how do they help?
I know I know you are going to tell me praying more and learning more are always a good thing.

In this past week's Parsha of Eikev certain pasukim prove to me learning Torah and following the Mitzvot is as important as the other action items.  We have pasukim describing the land of Israel as a land filled with all the good. It has seven special species, it has a unique climate, it is a land that "God has His eyes on constantly from the beginning of the year until the end." (Devarim 11:10-12). God promised us all the benefits from the land. BUT if we do not follow the rules and laws then the land will shut down and we will be "expelled from the land". (Devarim 11:13-17).   The group of pasukim that explains it the most clearly for me is from Devarim 11:22-25. 
 כב כִּי אִם-שָׁמֹר תִּשְׁמְרוּן אֶת-כָּל-הַמִּצְוָה הַזֹּאת, אֲשֶׁר אָנֹכִי מְצַוֶּה אֶתְכֶם--לַעֲשֹׂתָהּ:  לְאַהֲבָה אֶת-יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם, לָלֶכֶת בְּכָל-דְּרָכָיו--וּלְדָבְקָה-בוֹ.  כג וְהוֹרִישׁ יְהוָה אֶת-כָּל-הַגּוֹיִם הָאֵלֶּה, מִלִּפְנֵיכֶם; וִירִשְׁתֶּם גּוֹיִם, גְּדֹלִים וַעֲצֻמִים מִכֶּם.  כדכָּל-הַמָּקוֹם, אֲשֶׁר תִּדְרֹךְ כַּף-רַגְלְכֶם בּוֹ--לָכֶם יִהְיֶה:  מִן-הַמִּדְבָּר וְהַלְּבָנוֹן מִן-הַנָּהָר נְהַר-פְּרָת, וְעַד הַיָּם הָאַחֲרוֹן--יִהְיֶה, גְּבֻלְכֶם.  כה לֹא-יִתְיַצֵּב אִישׁ, בִּפְנֵיכֶם:  פַּחְדְּכֶם 
וּמוֹרַאֲכֶם יִתֵּן יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם, עַל-פְּנֵי כָל-הָאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר תִּדְרְכוּ-בָהּ, כַּאֲשֶׁר, דִּבֶּר לָכֶם.

22 For if you will diligently keep all this commandment which I command you, to do it, to love the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways, and to cleave unto Him, 23 then will the LORD drive out all these nations from before you, and you will dispossess nations greater and mightier than yourselves. 24 Every place where the sole of your foot shall walk will be yours: .......25 There will be  no man be able to stand against you: the LORD your God shall lay the fear of you and the dread of you upon all the land that ye shall tread upon, as He has spoken to you.

These pasukim state very clearly that if the Jewish people observe the mitzvot and serve God then God will drive out our enemies from before us, and no person/people will be able to stand up against us. This is the formula we need. We love God by learning and davening. In my learning group this summer we dedicated our learning of Mishanyot each day to the people of Israel, soldiers, and civilians. The staff set up a "Shemira" (Guard) rotation of learning in the Beit Midrash from 10:00 to 12:45 each night. We were learning Torah in America but our hearts were in Israel.  All forms of support for Israel are needed and important. Using the end of this week's Parsha as a lens I feel that our campers and staff made a difference and helped the success of the operation. 

Sunday, July 27, 2014

A post from Camp Nesher

                This coming week the theme at Camp Nesher is Mitzvot and Meaning. One of the mitzvot that we engage in 3 times a day is Tefilah.   What are things we can do to make our Tefilot more meaningful and more powerful?. The main reference to worshiping is from Devarim 11:13  ולעבדו בכל לבבכם  “ If you serve the Lord your God with all your heart.”  What is avoda shebelav, service of the heart? The Sifrei quoted by Rashi tell is “this is Tefila” .  Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks points out in his introduction to the Koren Siddur that there are two forms of worship in the Torah, Prayer and Avoda.  Prayers like the ones by Avraham  for the city of Sodom, Jacob before his confrontation with Esav, and Chana praying for a child are simple, direct and in response to a concern.  Moshe prays to Hashem on behalf of Jewish People for 40 days and he prays for healing of Miriam in a five word sentence. We see from these examples that there is no set time, no set text, and no set place to pray. It is a spontaneous often emotional reaction to a situation. Any where. Any time. Any place.
                The other form of worship is known as Avoda , Kornanot. The sacrifices need to be brought in the Beit Hamikdash at certain times a very comprehensive way and only by certain people. They are offered 3 times a day and on special days. If you offer a Korban at the wrong time or  place it is not accepted.  There is a set place, set time, set procedures and set people. There is no room for improvisation.  This is the direct opposite of prayer.
                In the absence of the Beit Hamikdash we have combined these two forms of worship. The words of Tefila and time of Tefila are set for us. We are left with very little room for our self expression.  The emotional response of prayer, like our Avot, is important how can we still have it in our “set” Tefilot.  Rebbetzin Peshy Neuberger spoke at our school a few years ago and shared with us a 12th grade tefila assignment that I think could help us. The assignment was to pick a concern or topic that was very close to your heart and attempt to find reference to this topic in the tefilot that you read. It transferred the very structured tefilot into a new canvas of meaning for each of her students.  Over the past month we have all been feeling the situation in Israel and looking for a ways to make our Tefilot more powerful, meaningful, and emotional.   We should attempt Rebbiztin Neuberger's idea. Try to look for words that talk to you about the situation in Israel.  I did it with one of my chinuch classes and there were so many word, different words,  that were selected by campers.  It is very hard to understand every word of davening but we can search for the ones we understand and the ones that speak to us. Like is says in Pirkei Avot 2:18 “When you daven do not make it fixed routine.” Try it and you can transform your tefilot into a powerful and meaningful plea to Hashem. A Tefila that is really from the heart,  a true Avoda Sheblav.



Friday, January 31, 2014

Parsha questions in Hebrew

Attention students of Yavneh Academy. Answer these Hebrew questions and hand them in to the office for 50 nekudot!!!!

פרשת תרומה

 א. ממה היה עשוי הארון?
1.
מעצי ברוש
2.
מעצי שיטים
3.
מעצי ארז
4.
מעצי אורן

ב. במה ציפו את הארון?
 1. בנחושת
2.
בזהב
3.
בעורות
4.
בכסף
ג.  מה הונח בארון?
1.
סידור
2.
שני לוחות הברית
3.
כתר תורה
4.
חומש
 ד.  כמה כרובים היו על הארון?
1. שלושה
2.
חמישה
3.
ארבעה
4.
שניים
 ה.  מה שמו על השולחן?
 1. את לחם הפנים
2.
ספר תורה
3.
את לוחות הברית
4.
קורבן תמיד
  ו. מה הבדיל בין הקודש לקודש הקודשים?
 1. קיר
2.
עצים
3.
פרוכת
4.
ארון
 ז.  למה שימשו אבני השוהם ואבני המילואים?
  1. לאפוד ולחושן
2.
למנורה
3.
לשולחן
4.
לארון

ח.  איזה כלי היה עשוי מקשה אחת?
 
1.
המנורה
2.
המזבח
3.
הארון
4.
השולחן