B’H” WEEK 18/SHAVUAH 18 TAMMUZ 18/JUNE 28 – TAMMUZ 23/JULY 3 ===================================== IMPORTANT DATES/EVENTS: Shabbat candle lighting (Miami, FL) – 7:58 p.m. Shabbat Ends – 8:55 p.m. PARSHA OF THE WEEK: BALAK –till Monday PINCHAS – after Monday © Copyright 2021. International Torah Academy www.internationaltorahacademy.org 1 B’H” 1. DAVENING/SHAHARIT NOTE: Please, emphasize importance of focusing and centering first, before starting to say any of the blessings. Have Andrea imagine that she is talking to the most awesome energy that ever existed – the energy that created all of us and the world! It is important that she has this in mind every time before she prays. FOR SHAHARIT TEXT SEE APPENDIX I. 2. PARSHA ACTIVITY: BALAK – PART II Hi, Andrea! Last week we studied Parsha Balak – a story about a prophet Bilam who refused to say curse the Hebrew people. Today we are going to study his third blessing and do a painting or a mixed media art project. This is what Bilam said: “How good are your tents, Oh, Yakov, Your dwelling places, Oh, Israel; Stretching out like brooks, like gardens by the river, Like aloes planted by Hashem, Like cedars by the water. © Copyright 2021. International Torah Academy www.internationaltorahacademy.org 2 B’H” Water shall flow from his wells.” Assignment: Please, memorize this short passage and make a painting or mixed media art project showing what Bilam said. You may draw or cut out and glue pictures of cedars, tents, waterfalls, etc. on a piece of paper. 3. HAYENU/TORAH SONG OF THE WEEK This week we are continuing to study Part II of the Shabbat Song “Eshet Hayil.” SEE APPENDIX II. 4. HEBREW LETTER STORY - MEM …continued… Emuna and Reena ran out of the house happily following the Odem kids. As soon as they ran outside, they saw a beautiful pond with clear greenish water. “Wow! What is that?” Emuna exclaimed noticing a waterfall a few feet away. “This is the forest water fall. We are so lucky to have it near our house,” said one of the Odem kids with his swim suit on ready to jump into the spring. “Aren’t you cold?” asked Reena in awe, imagining that how cold she would be had she had jumped into the spring. “Not really,” answered the boy. “It is only cold for the first 1 minute, but once you are in the water and start swimming, © Copyright 2021. International Torah Academy www.internationaltorahacademy.org 3 B’H” you warm up pretty fast.” With freckles on his face, red hair and a big smile, he looked quite amusing. “Look at this waterfall,” he said. “It has a slope, do you see it? The water goes sideways, then falls down, and then flows towards out spring. It’s so beautiful! We are so lucky to have it. In the evening we see deer and foxes come here to drink water from it and many other kids of animals. I made some paintings of them. I can show them to you when we get back into the house, if you’d like. What are your names, by the way?” “Reena.” “Emuna.” Both girls curtsied as they introduced themselves. “My name is David. David Odem. I am the middle son of my parents. And is my brother Shaul and sister Leah.” “Just like from the book of Chumash,” thought Reena. “And our cat’s name is Pursy. You must have noticed him in the house. He is probably still sitting by the feet of your father,” giggled Emuna. “Not quite,” said Reena. “Look!” As the kids turned around, they saw Pursy digging in a pile of leaves. He found a hedgehog next to the oak tree in the pile of leaves and was trying to get to the animal. The hedgehog kept poking Pursy confusing him. “Pursy, what did you find there?” © Copyright 2021. International Torah Academy www.internationaltorahacademy.org 4 B’H” “It’s probably a hedgehog,” said Shaul. “There is a family of them here. They are nocturnal – so, most days they just hide here under the oak tree in the pile of leaves. By the way, do you see this Spanish moss hanging on the branches of the oak tree?” “Yes,” nodded Benji. He knew a little bit about Spanish moss from his friend Ariel. “What’s funny about this plant is that it is neither moss nor Spanish. This plant is native to the southern United States and many other countries like Mexico, Bermuda, the Bahamas, but not Spain. It is a flowering plant from the family of bromeliads. Some people collect it and stuff their pillows with them. The reason it was named Spanish moss was because it resembled long beards of Spanish conquistadors – the European explorers.” “Wow! You know so much!” exclaimed Benji in amazement. “Who taught you all that?” “I like to read,” replied Shaul. “Friends, let’s go swi-i-i-i-i-i-m-m-m-m-m-ming,” howled Naphtali, as he jumped into the pool making a big splash. All wet, the children started laughing, except for Reena and Emuna. “We don’t have a change of clothes,” they looked at each other sadly. “What are we gonna do?” Reena knocked on the window of the house and waved her mom asking her to come over. As Mrs. Rivka opened the door and looked at the girls, she said with a smile, “You probably need a swimsuit, don’t you?” © Copyright 2021. International Torah Academy www.internationaltorahacademy.org 5 B’H” “Aha,” nodded Emuna. “One moment.” Mrs. Rivka was kind and never reprimanded her daughters. She loved him very much, and every lesson she taught them was through a song. A few seconds later, Mrs. Rivka came out with the girls’ swimsuits in her hands and five towels in the other. “Mrs. Odem gave everyone these towels. Enjoy your swimming.” She disappeared into the house, as the kids, along with Pursy still by the live oak tree, jumped into the ice-cold water to play water tag. ….. to be continued… EXERCISE: Please, have Andrea write Hebrew letter Mem in her new Hebrew Letter Book. Each page shall have borders and helping lines drawn by Andrea. 5. PAINTING/ AVODA YAD Wet-on-wet painting – free form. © Copyright 2021. International Torah Academy www.internationaltorahacademy.org 6 B’H” TAMMUZ 19/JUNE 29 Tuesday/Yom Shlishi 1. DAVENING We continue practicing morning blessings with Andrea in the same order. NOTE: Please, emphasize importance of focusing and centering first, before starting to say any of the blessings. Have Andrea imagine that she is talking to the most awesome energy that ever existed – the energy that created all of us and the world! It is important that she has this in mind every time before she prays. FOR SHAHARIT TEXT SEE APPENDIX I. 2. PARSHA STORY: PINCHAS – PART I VOCABULARY: Rosh – head Rosh Khodesh – the head/beginning of the month Averah – bad deed © Copyright 2021. International Torah Academy www.internationaltorahacademy.org 7 B’H” Hashem brought Moshe to the mountain Avarim and told him, “Go up to the mountain of HaAvarim and see the Land that I have given to the Children of Israel.” You will not go into the land of Israel because you didn’t follow my instructions on how to bring water from the rock. Do you remember that story? Moshe knew that Hashem was right and this time did not start arguing with him. He asked Hashem to appoint a new leader for the Children of Israel, and Hashem said that it should be Yehoshua Ben Nun – Yoshua Son of Nun. Hashem told Moshe to remind the Children of Israel of the importance of the holidays. The first one that he mentioned was Rosh Khodesh – The Head of the Month, or a New Moon. Pesach should be celebrated in the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month. On the first and seventh day of Pesach Hashem told us not to do any laborious work. On Shavuot, the Festival of the Weeks – on the day of first fruits – Hashem told us not to do any laborious work either. Rosh Hashana – the first day of the seventh month – should be another holiday. On that day we should not do any laborious work either. Yom Kippur – the tenth day of the seventh month – shall be the day when Hebrew people do not do any work and only think about what they did wrong during the past year. They should ask Hashem to forgive them and try not to repeat their mistakes. Sukkot – the fifteenth day of the seventh month – is another holiday for Bnei Israel. Hashem told us to celebrate it for seven days. On the first and the seventh day we should not do any laborious work. © Copyright 2021. International Torah Academy www.internationaltorahacademy.org 8 B’H” Shemini Atzeret – is the eighth day from the beginning of Sukkot. On this day we should not do any laborious work either. We should celebrate it as an additional holiday. And now let’s say this poem and clap rhythmically: Tishrei starts the year – the Rosh Hashana. We dip apples in honey And make a round challah. On Yom Rosh Hashana Right after Minchah We through bread in the water To forget and let go – No more averah! Tishrei starts the year – It’s the month of Sukkot And Shemini Artzeret When we party a lot. We dance with the Torah On Simcha Torah. We eat cookies and candy And keep singing, “Hoorah!” We say I am sorry On Yom Kippur, Annul all the vows And declare Hashem’s rule! Tishrei is the most special month of the year – So many occasions to connect to Hashem everywhere! © Copyright 2021.