Tag: Parent-Child Learning
Kids’ Voices Count: JPDS-NC Election Project 2016
September 22, 2016 by
We are excited to launch Kids’ Voices Count: JPDS-NC Election Project 2016. This schoolwide election project will focus on giving life to the rights and responsibilities of children as social and political actors in the public sphere. Students will be creating a voting guide for adults in our community in which they will give voice to their […]
Torah Talk for Parashat Ki Tavo
September 20, 2016 by
In this parasha, Moshe instructs the Bnei Yisrael on the first fruit offering and then elaborates on the terms of the covenant by listing the blessings for keeping the commandments and the punishments for disobeying them. We encounter an interesting verse towards the end of the parasha [29:4]: “I have led you forty years in the […]
Torah Talk for Parashat Ki Teitzei
September 13, 2016 by
In this parasha, Moshe enumerates many laws that relate to topics of family relationships, interpersonal ethics, and forbidden mixtures. Twice in this parasha, the Torah lists a reward of long life for fulfilling a particular commandment. It is unusual for the Torah to cite a specific reward for completing a commandment, and this same reward […]
Torah Talk for Parashat Shoftim
September 6, 2016 by
In this parasha, Moshe reviews the justice system for the Bnei Yisrael. Moshe talks about the limits future kings should have on their possessions and explains that the Kohanim [priests] and Levi’im [Levites] should not be paid and should survive on donations from the people. Finally, Moshe explains the laws of warfare. The system of […]
Torah Talk for Parashat Re’eh
August 30, 2016 by
In this parasha, Moshe instructs Bnei Yisrael (the Israelites) regarding idolatry, false prophets, pure and impure foods, tithes, freeing slaves, and pilgrimage festivals. The section about false prophets (13:2-6) raises questions in the Talmud (Tractate Sanhedrin 90a): Is there such a thing as a human being who is able to cause miracles to happen? And, […]
Torah Talk for Parashat Eikev
August 24, 2016 by
In this parasha, Moshe continues his speech to the Bnei Yisrael, reminding them to keep Hashem’s commandments when they enter the land of Israel. Chapter 8, verses 3-10 describe a literal or metaphorical partnership between Hashem and the Jewish people and the dichotomy between our physical and spiritual existences. These verses open with the principle, […]
Torah Talk for Parashat Va’etchanan
August 17, 2016 by
In this parasha, Moshe stresses to the Bnei Yisrael the importance of keeping Hashem’s commandments when they enter the land of Israel; Moshe repeats the Aseret HaDibrot (Ten Commandments) and utters the Sh’ma and V’ahavta passages. Two poignant stories, one from the ancient world and one from the last century, revolve around the recitation of […]
Torah Talk for Parashat Devarim
August 10, 2016 by
In this parasha, Moshe recounts to the Bnei Yisrael different episodes from the 40 years in the wilderness; he gives them encouragement as they look ahead to their upcoming conquest of the land of Cana’an. One of the episodes Moshe recounts is the defeat of Og, King of the Bashan. The original story occurs in […]
Torah Talk for Parashat Matot-Masei
August 3, 2016 by
In Parashat Matot, Moshe describes the laws of oaths; the Bnei Yisrael battle the Midianites; and the tribes of Reuven and Gad request to dwell outside of the Land of Israel. In Masei, the final parasha in the book of Bemidbar (Numbers), the Bnei Yisrael stand on the banks of the Jordan River, ready to […]
Torah Talk for Parashat Pinchas
July 27, 2016 by
In this parasha, Hashem gives Pinchas, the grandson of Aharon, a covenant of peace; Hashem explains to Moshe the distribution of the Land of Israel to male heirs in their respective tribes; the daughters of Tzelophchad petition to inherit their father’s portion; and Moshe appoints Yehoshua (Joshua) as his successor. This parasha also contains a […]
