Adventures in Mama-Land

I haven’t posted many of these lately, but we’re still doing them.  Naomi’s illustrations are more of the stick-person variety than the detailed scenarios she was sketching before, but they are still cheerful and fun.  Today, she wanted to write her own narration – I wouldn’t let her for the main narration (you can see my lousy handwriting down below), but she added her own caption on the left-hand side.  (the baby carriage floating over the king’s Torah isn’t really floating – it’s in the background ) She got the thing about needing “three things – a chumash, a gemara and a mishna” is from My First Parsha Reader, which said every Jewish home needs these things as part of the mitzvah of writing a sefer Torah.  And then Naomi started correcting me and said, “Every sentence must begin with a capital letter [I write in all-caps, but make the first letter bigger]… and end with a pyramid .”  She meant period, but I drew a little pyramid over the period after Mish...

דְּבָרִים / Devarim / Deuteronomy 29:9-30:20 Click for printable PDF version . Don’t forget to read this week’s Parsha Poems (Nitzavim-Vayelech Poem 1 and Poem 2 ) and parsha overview .  Plus… copywork and parsha activities – something for every week of the year. פָּרָשָׁת וַיֵּלֶךְ Parshas Vayeilech דְּבָרִים / Devarim / Deuteronomy 31:1-31:30 [ 1 ] Moshe is old – at the end of his life, His days full of travel, of feuding and strife; Of birthdays, he’s already had good n’ plenty, And now his last age is __________! [ 2 ] If you were nearing your own end, You might for doctors quickly send, But if anything, Moshe has more need Of composers, with great speed!  What was he doing? [ 3 ] Of course, a good leader is so hard to find A leader for me-a and you-a and you-a But out of the people, one name comes to mind, And that’s Moshe’s brave young friend, __________! [ 4 ] BONUS! This Torah, that Torah – can’t you decide? How do we know which one’s bonafide? ...

NOW!!!  Click here to download this summary as an MP3 audio file (large-ish download – be patient).  Feedback always welcome!  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.  There are also brand-new copywork sheets for this week’s parsha… enjoy! This week, it’s Moshe’s birthday! Actually, there’s only one birthday mentioned in the entire Torah, and that’s way back in sefer Bereishis, in parshas Vayeishev (its name sounds sort of like this week’s!), where Paroh is celebrating. On that day (do you remember all the way back to last year?), he frees his butler (wine steward, שַׂר הַמַּשְׁקִים/sar ha-mashkim) and has the ba...

דְּבָרִים / Devarim / Deuteronomy 29:9-31:30: Read it ;  hear it ; colour it . Click for printable PDF version .  And don’t forget to read last year’s poem ! Copywork and parsha activities – updated weekly. My dear lovely Jews, I stand here today, One hundred and twenty years old, so they say Though I don’t remember the date of my birth I’m feeling just how long I’ve been on this earth. Soon you will cross to the land over there, But my own destiny – well, I’m sure you’re aware, That I cannot go over, I’ll remain on this side, With the memories, here, of all those who’ve died. But your new generation will not be alone, Nor into the enemies’ clutches be thrown, Hashem will cross first, ahead of your ranks, (though He’d like it so much if you’d later say thanks). Not just from Hashem, but there’s help close at hand, From a leader who trembles with you on the sand, Who raises his staff and says, “Follow me through! Whatever Hashem says comes next, we will do!” The ...