vayelech-yom kippur
BS”D
South Head Youth Parasha Sheet -
Parshas Vayelech
The Parshah of Vayelech tells us about the last day of Moshe’s life. He is exactly 120 years old (because he passed away on the same day that he was born--the 7th of Adar) and he knows that he will not be able to go into the land of Israel. He passes on the leadership to Yehoshuah and then finishes writing a Torah scroll that he gives to the Levites to put in the Holy Ark. Moshe tells them that they will read from this Torah once every seven years on the festival of Sukkot. This will be in the year of Hakhel, the year following Shemittah, when all the Jews--men, women and children--gather together in the Beit Hamikdosh and the king reads from the Torah. The Parshah ends with telling us that although there will be times when the Jews will turn away from G-d, and G-d will have to hide Himself from them, they or their children will always come back and the Torah will never really be forgotten.
Parsha questions Q1: how old was Moshe when he passed away? A1: exactly 120 years old Q2: On what day was Moshe born? A2: 7th of Adar Q3: Who Lead the Jewish people after Moshe’s passing? A3: Yehoshuah Q4: Where was Moshe’s Torah placed? A4: In the Holy Ark
BONUS RIDDLE: For men and for women, it’s easy to see To listen to Hakheil is necessary; But why bring the babies to hear this old tome, When it’s far more easy to leave them at home? Riddle Answer: Adults are rewarded for being there, but children are included, says Rashi (31:12), to reward those who bring them. Plus, who’d babysit?
TURN OVER TO LEARN ABOUT YOM KIPPUR
BS”D
Yom Kippur Many of us may think that Yom Kippur is a day of atonement for our sins. The reason being we translate the word “Teshuva” as “repentance”. In truth however “Teshuvah” is correctly translated to “return”. Every Jew has within them a “Neshama” - a soul which is part of G-d Himself! Even sinners posses this soul. On Yom Kippur, the Final day of atonement before our verdict is sealed, we make an impassionate plea before Hashem. It is then that this “Neshama” shines through. In its purist form it shows that we remain untainted at the core overshadowing any sins that may corrupt our external makeup. Thus Yom Kippur is a day we ‘RETURN’ to Hashem in the most meaningful and wholehearted way, the true definition of Teshuva.
Story Once during the Neilah prayer, the Baal Shem Tov cried and entreated more than usually. The disciples understood that there was a great prosecution Above and the situation was grave, and they also intensified their prayers and crying. When the rest of the congregation saw this, their hearts were shattered and they also joined the impassioned supplication. There was a young man there from a village, who had come for the Days of Awe to the Baal Shem Tov’s synagogue. He was completely uneducated, and he stood the whole time looking at the face of the cantor without saying anything. As a village dweller, the boy knew the sounds made by all the different farm animals, and he especially esteemed the rooster’s crowing. When he heard the weeping and the outcries, his heart was also shattered and he cried out loudly, “Cock-a-doodle-do! G-d, have mercy!” The worshippers in the synagogue were confused to hear a voice crowing like a rooster, and a few of them scolded him to quiet him down, and would have thrown him out if he had not protested, “I am also a Jew.” The confusion was pierced by the voice of the Baal Shem Tov, followed by the disciples as they hurried to finish the Neilah prayer. The face of the Baal Shem Tov shone, and with a special melody the repetition of the Amidah commenced for the Neilah prayer. As Yom Kippur ended, the Baal Shem Tov related to his disciples that there had been an accusation leveled in heaven, with the prosecution seeking to have a particular community sentenced to destruction. As he aroused divine mercy on the community, a great prosecution was aroused against him for encouraging Jews to settle in villages and out-of-the-way places, where they were likely to be influenced by their gentile neighbors. When he began to examine the behavior of the village dwellers, he saw that the situation was very grave. However, suddenly the sound of the call of the village dweller was heard in heaven, and its sincerity brought great pleasure above, nullifying all the prosecutions It was great seeing you in Shule! We hope you enjoy reading this Parasha Sheet and quizzing your family! Shabbat Shalom and Gmar Chatima Tova from the South Head Youth Crew!
South Head Youth Parasha Sheet -
Parshas Vayelech
The Parshah of Vayelech tells us about the last day of Moshe’s life. He is exactly 120 years old (because he passed away on the same day that he was born--the 7th of Adar) and he knows that he will not be able to go into the land of Israel. He passes on the leadership to Yehoshuah and then finishes writing a Torah scroll that he gives to the Levites to put in the Holy Ark. Moshe tells them that they will read from this Torah once every seven years on the festival of Sukkot. This will be in the year of Hakhel, the year following Shemittah, when all the Jews--men, women and children--gather together in the Beit Hamikdosh and the king reads from the Torah. The Parshah ends with telling us that although there will be times when the Jews will turn away from G-d, and G-d will have to hide Himself from them, they or their children will always come back and the Torah will never really be forgotten.
Parsha questions Q1: how old was Moshe when he passed away? A1: exactly 120 years old Q2: On what day was Moshe born? A2: 7th of Adar Q3: Who Lead the Jewish people after Moshe’s passing? A3: Yehoshuah Q4: Where was Moshe’s Torah placed? A4: In the Holy Ark
BONUS RIDDLE: For men and for women, it’s easy to see To listen to Hakheil is necessary; But why bring the babies to hear this old tome, When it’s far more easy to leave them at home? Riddle Answer: Adults are rewarded for being there, but children are included, says Rashi (31:12), to reward those who bring them. Plus, who’d babysit?
TURN OVER TO LEARN ABOUT YOM KIPPUR
BS”D
Yom Kippur Many of us may think that Yom Kippur is a day of atonement for our sins. The reason being we translate the word “Teshuva” as “repentance”. In truth however “Teshuvah” is correctly translated to “return”. Every Jew has within them a “Neshama” - a soul which is part of G-d Himself! Even sinners posses this soul. On Yom Kippur, the Final day of atonement before our verdict is sealed, we make an impassionate plea before Hashem. It is then that this “Neshama” shines through. In its purist form it shows that we remain untainted at the core overshadowing any sins that may corrupt our external makeup. Thus Yom Kippur is a day we ‘RETURN’ to Hashem in the most meaningful and wholehearted way, the true definition of Teshuva.
Story Once during the Neilah prayer, the Baal Shem Tov cried and entreated more than usually. The disciples understood that there was a great prosecution Above and the situation was grave, and they also intensified their prayers and crying. When the rest of the congregation saw this, their hearts were shattered and they also joined the impassioned supplication. There was a young man there from a village, who had come for the Days of Awe to the Baal Shem Tov’s synagogue. He was completely uneducated, and he stood the whole time looking at the face of the cantor without saying anything. As a village dweller, the boy knew the sounds made by all the different farm animals, and he especially esteemed the rooster’s crowing. When he heard the weeping and the outcries, his heart was also shattered and he cried out loudly, “Cock-a-doodle-do! G-d, have mercy!” The worshippers in the synagogue were confused to hear a voice crowing like a rooster, and a few of them scolded him to quiet him down, and would have thrown him out if he had not protested, “I am also a Jew.” The confusion was pierced by the voice of the Baal Shem Tov, followed by the disciples as they hurried to finish the Neilah prayer. The face of the Baal Shem Tov shone, and with a special melody the repetition of the Amidah commenced for the Neilah prayer. As Yom Kippur ended, the Baal Shem Tov related to his disciples that there had been an accusation leveled in heaven, with the prosecution seeking to have a particular community sentenced to destruction. As he aroused divine mercy on the community, a great prosecution was aroused against him for encouraging Jews to settle in villages and out-of-the-way places, where they were likely to be influenced by their gentile neighbors. When he began to examine the behavior of the village dwellers, he saw that the situation was very grave. However, suddenly the sound of the call of the village dweller was heard in heaven, and its sincerity brought great pleasure above, nullifying all the prosecutions It was great seeing you in Shule! We hope you enjoy reading this Parasha Sheet and quizzing your family! Shabbat Shalom and Gmar Chatima Tova from the South Head Youth Crew!
