Adventures in Mama-Land

Every year we’re in Toronto, and for years before we made aliyah, my mother hosts a shalosh seudos for the ladies of our shul.  For some reason, my mother’s shalosh seudos always manages to fall out on a different parsha, so I can’t repeat what I’ve said in previous years. If you’re curious, here are some of these masterpieces from previous years… Parshas Chukas (2009) Parshas Re’eh (2010) Parshas Chukas (2011 – I guess it has sometimes repeated) Parshas Devarim/Chazon (2013) Parshas Pinchas (2015) The point being - I had to start from scratch looking at this week’s combined parsha – Matos-Masei. There is a very shocking section near the beginning of this week’s parsha. It’s connected with what we read two weeks ago in parshas Balak. Back then, the people of Moav and Midian sent women in to seduce the men of Bnei Yisrael – not just physically, our commentators tell us, but spiritually, leading the Jewish men into worshiping idols. Now, it’s time for revenge. Interestingly, we’...

This week’s parsha, Matos, includes a command to wipe out the women and children of Midian.  Shocking, yes, and disappointing, perhaps, to those of us with “modern sensibilities.”  Still, I must disagree with this assertion I found in an otherwise helpful dvar Torah :  “We are taught that Judaism is a religion of peace, and so we read these words with some disbelief- how can a Torah of life and peace teach ethnic cleansing?” Here’s the thing:  I don't believe the single word "peace" encapsulates Judaism any more than "Shabbat" or "kashrut" might.  It is a religion "of" doing God's will.  We can argue about what that will is (yay, arguments l’shem shomayim!), but sometimes, as in the difficult bits of this parsha or the command to wipe out Amalek, that Godly will comprises bloodshed and revenge as much as it does peace.  Which is not to say that the two – devilishly brutal, bloody revenge, and sweet, Godly peace – are mutually exclusive....

בְּמִדְבַּר / Bamidbar / Numbers 25:10-30:1 Click for printable PDF version . Don’t forget to read my Parsha Poem ( Matos and Masei ) and parsha overview (both).  Plus… copywork and parsha activities – something for every week of the year! Art credit:  Once again, actual original artwork, specially commissioned from a talented illustrator on fiverr … בס״ד פָּרָשָׁת מַּטּוֹת-מַסְעֵי Parshas Matos-Masei בְּמִדְבַּר / Bamidbar / Numbers 30:2-32:42 and 33:1-36:13 [1] When it comes to cheeses, we all have our taste, Some might like a muenster or cheddar, But when thinking of vows, they must not go to waste, For Hashem says to keep every __________! [2] Revenge on Bilam, that bad guy, is coming, For the evil he worked in his days; And just to be sure that he’ll quit all his humming, Hashem said to kill him four ways.  What were they? [3] Another great tzaddik is here introduced Related to Kaleiv, it can be deduced; Another great leader, through family produced A...

This is a basic overview of the parsha story in a format that can be adapted for a wide range of ages. Sources include parsha text, commentaries and midrash.  When introducing midrash or other non-pshat elements, I use the words “some people think” or something similar. ( find out why ) Please see the Vayeishev overview for how we use these narratives  in our homeschool.  I also have copywork sheets to go with the weekly parsha… enjoy!  (um, okay, not one for Pinchas yet, but maybe tomorrow) בס״ד Hashem wants us to be VERY careful choosing our words! You promised your best friend he can borrow your bicycle tomorrow, and he’s so excited! But when you get home, your family is packing for the cottage and bringing your bike along. The next day, your friend waits and waits and waits… and you never show up. He’s disappointed – you broke your promise! This parsha reminds us how serious it is to make a נֶדֶר / neder, a vow. We try not to make promises, in case we can...

בְּמִדְבַּר / Bamidbar / Numbers 30:2-32:42: Read it ;  hear it ; colour it . Printable PDF version here . No parsha narrative overview this week.  Copywork and parsha activities available at this page – updated weekly. Well, Reuvain and Gad had sheep in the mud, Yes, some very fat sheep had they; They knew what they planned, So they asked for some land, Just across from Israel it lay. But behind his beard, old Moshe feared, Yes, feared for their lives, did he; So he said “You’re disloyal, To Hashem great and royal – Don’t leave His company.” “Oh no, we’d never,” said those men so clever, Yes, men so clever, those tribes; “You see, we’ll come too, And we’ll fight with you, So please go and alert your scribes.” “Well, if that’s the case, then I’ll just erase Yes, wipe out your evil decree; You’re welcome to run, When the battle is won, But ‘till then, just stick close and see.” So ...