Post on 25-Apr-2018
transcript
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Tribe Spark 2: Parashat Nitzavim and Vayelech
Hello and welcome to Spark! Spark is aimed at facilitating the
smooth running of Toddlers’ Services, Children’s Services and
Youth Services across United Synagogue communities.
Firstly, thank you for offering to run a Children’s Service in your
local shul. The US is very proud of the numerous Children’s
Services that are run every week across the UK. We would not be
able to do this without you!
Spark has been designed in order to help you run your Children’s
Services. Obviously, every Children’s Service is different, in terms
of how many children there are; what their age range is; its length;
and how knowledgeable the children are likely to be of this week’s
parasha.
Ideally, where possible, a Children’s Service should consist of
some time used to discuss the weekly parasha and some time
devoted to davening. Spark gives you an overview of the weekly
parasha, a song, activity, discussion or Dvar Torah linked to the
parasha or any important event that week. It is separated into
sections for different age groups but often you will find that an
activity in one section will be suitable for children in another
section. So, please take the time to read through it all – I know you
are busy people but it will help you and ultimately the children.
Please also try to read Spark during the week as sometimes some
props will be needed. It will give you a chance to find them.
It is important to note that Spark should help you to run
Children’s Services, but it does not completely run it for you. It is
not designed to give to one of the children to read out to the group
for them to run themselves. You are running the Children’s
Service, and Spark is here to help you do it.
I hope that you and the children in your service will benefit from
Spark2. As always your feedback would be welcomed.
Shabbat Shalom,
Sharon Radley
(sharonradley@tribeuk.com)
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Parasha Summary:
This week we have two parshiot – Nitzavim and Vayelech.
Nitzavim:
Moshe gathers together all the Jewish people on the last day
of his life and makes a new treaty between them and God.
From now on every Jew in every generation will be
responsible for himself and his fellow Jew.
Moshe warns of the exile and destruction of Eretz Yisrael
that will result from the Jewish people abandoning God’s
laws. He assures them that they will eventually repent and
will be returned to the Land.
The punishment for serving idols is repeated.
The parasha concludes by discussing the freedom of choice
and the mitzvah of teshuvah.
Vayelech:
Moshe is one hundred and twenty years old and knowing
that it is the last day of his life, bids farewell to the Jewish
people.
Moshe summons Joshua and charges him with leading the
Jewish people into the Land.
CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE
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Moshe then wrote the entire Torah and gave it to the
Kohanim.
Moshe and Joshua are commanded by God to write the song
that He would tell them and to teach it to the Jewish people.
God says that a time will come when the people would
abandon God and He will at that time hide Himself from
them. They will then be subjected to troubles and will claim
that these misfortunes are happening to them because God
has abandoned them. This song will be a reminder to them
that these events are as a result of their own behaviour.
Moshe gives the commandment of Hakhel, whereby every
seven years at the end of the Sabbatical year, on the first day
of Chol Hamoed Sukkot the entire nation was commanded
to assemble at the Bet Hamikdash. There the King would
read selected sections of the Torah.
Moshe took the freshly finished Torah scroll and gave it to
the Levi’im. He instructs them to put it next to the Ark.
Moshe gathers all the people together to hear the song. The
song is narrated in the parasha next week.
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Toddlers Service
This week we read two parshiot in shul. In the second one we
learn that Moshe was very old and knew that he wouldn’t be able
to be the leader of the Jewish people any more. He also knew that
the Jewish people were about to enter Eretz Yisrael and would
need an excellent leader to take them into the Land.
Activity
Action game:
Sit the children in the circle and choose a volunteer to go out of the
room. Choose another child to be the leader. The leader will
perform actions such as clapping hands or tapping their feet. All
the children in the circle should watch the leader and whenever
the leader changes the actions so should the rest of the group. It is
the job of the volunteer to work out who the leader is when they
are called back into the room. The children in the circle should not
make it obvious when they look at the leader to see when an action
has been changed. The game should be played whilst the children
are singing.
Discuss:
What do you think makes somebody a good leader? Is it just
the person with the loudest voice?
Have you ever had a leader or a teacher who you thought
was excellent and why?
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Children’s Service
Years 1-3
This week we read two parshiot in shul. In the second one we
learn that Moshe was very old and knew that he wouldn’t be able
to be the leader of the Jewish people any more. He also knew that
the Jewish people were about to enter Eretz Yisrael and would
need an excellent leader to take them into the Land.
Activity One:
Rock Paper Scissors (with a difference...)
Check all the children know how to play rock/paper/scissors. Decide
with them a definitive way that you are all going to play the game
so that they are all playing it in the same way.
When you say, “Off you go”, the children should walk around the
room. When you say, “Stop”, they should stop and find a partner
to play rock/paper/scissors with, three times. The person who scores
least in this game should walk behind the winner and chant their
name aloud. The two of them should walk around the room
looking for another pair to play against. The pair that looses this
competition should stand behind the winning pair and chant the
name of the person at the front. There should now be four people
in this group. They should walk around the room chanting the
name and looking for another group to play against. In the end
you should end up with one long line of children chanting the
name of the person at the front.
CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE
6
Activity Two
Action game:
Sit the children in the circle and choose a volunteer to go out of the
room. Choose another child to be the leader. The leader will
perform actions such as clapping hands or tapping their feet. All
the children in the circle should watch the leader and whenever
the leader changes the actions so should the rest of the group. It is
the job of the volunteer to work out who the leader is when they
are called back into the room. The children in the circle should not
make it obvious when they look at the leader to see when an action
has been changed. The game should be played whilst the children
are singing.
Discuss:
What do you think makes somebody a good leader? Is it just
the person with the loudest voice?
Have you ever had a leader or a teacher who you thought
was excellent and why?
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Children’s Service
Year 3-6
Vayelech, 31:7
‘Moshe summoned Yehoshua and said to him before all the Jewish
people, “Be strong and courageous, for you shall come with this
people to the Land that God swore to their forefathers to give
them and you should cause them to inherit it. God- it is He who
goes before you, He will be with you, He will not release you and
nor will He forsake you. Do not be afraid.....’
This week we read two parshiot in shul. In the second one we
learn that Moshe was an old man and knew he was about to die.
He also knew that the Jewish people were about to enter Eretz
Yisrael and that he would need to appoint a new leader to take
them into the Land. This man was Yehoshua.
Activity One
Action game:
Sit the children in the circle and choose a volunteer to go out of the
room. Choose another child to be the leader. The leader will
perform actions such as clapping hands or tapping their feet. All
the children in the circle should watch the leader and whenever
the leader changes the actions so should the rest of the group. It is
the job of the volunteer to work out who the leader is when they
are called back into the room. The children in the circle should not
make it obvious when they look at the leader to see when an action
has been changed. The game should be played whilst the children
are singing.
CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE
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Activity Two
Rock Paper Scissors (with a difference...)
Check all the children know how to play rock/paper/scissors. Decide
with them a definitive way that you are all going to play the game
so that they are all playing it in the same way.
When you say, “Off you go”, the children should walk around the
room. When you say, “Stop”, they should stop and find a partner
to play rock/paper/scissors with, three times. The person who scores
least in this game should walk behind the winner and chant their
name aloud. The two of them should walk around the room
looking for another pair to play against. The pair that looses this
competition should stand behind the winning pair and chant the
name of the person at the front. There should now be four people
in this group. They should walk around the room chanting the
name and looking for another group to play against. In the end
you should end up with one long line of children chanting the
name of the person at the front.
Ask: In the parasha this week we are told that Moshe appointed
Joshua/ Yehoshua as the next leader of the Jewish people.
(See top of page 6) What do the children know about
Yehoshua that would make them think he was the right
candidate to become the next leader of the Jewish people?
CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE
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Explain:
Yehoshua was one of the twelve spies who were sent on a
mission to assess Eretz Yisrael. There were twelve spies sent
and all of them except two men gave negative reports on the
Land. One of these men was Yehoshua. It surely must have
been very difficult for Yehoshua to withstand the peer
pressure from the other spies, yet he bravely remained loyal
to Hashem and did not criticise Eretz Yisrael. The other spy
who also stood up for the truth was Calev. In fact if we look
at the episode of the spies in the Torah we see that it was the
passionate Calev who stood up to the other spies first –
before Yehoshua. Yehoshua only spoke later when the
Jewish people were really worked up and wanted to return
to Egypt. Why didn’t Yehoshua stand up for Eretz Yisrael
right at the start of the spies feedback like Calev did? Was he
swayed by the opinion of others?
Our rabbanim tell us that Yehoshua only spoke out later
because was a realistic and reflective person who knew how
and when to lead. He knew that the spies would not change
their mind and so at first he did not speak up – he realised
there was no point. Only when the Jewish people began to
speak about changing God’s plan by wanting to go back to
Egypt did Yehoshua speak up as that for him was one step
too far.
We also learn that before Yehoshua goes on the mission to
spy out the Land, Moshe changes his name. Previously he
was called Hoshea but Moshe adds letters from Gods name
to this name so that he is now called Yehoshua. This addition
of letters signifies protection from God. Yehoshua was the
only spy singled out to have his name changed as Yehoshua
was Moshe’s personal assistant and advisor.
CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE
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Moshe knew that Yehoshua was the kind of person who
would not be swayed by the opinions of others. In order to
remain steadfast and strong Yehoshua would need a
blessing from Moshe.
So to sum up: We can see from these two points that
Yehoshua was a brave, loyal, realistic, sensible, and
thoughtful man. He had a very close relationship with
Moshe and was an obvious choice as the next leader.
Discuss:
What do you think makes a good leader?
Have you ever had a leader or a teacher who you thought
was excellent and why?
11
Youth Service
12-16
‘Standing up for your convictions’.
Sit all participants in a circle and say one of the statements below.
If a participant agrees with the statement they should stand up
and if they don’t they should remain seated. Watch your
participants carefully. You will see that some stand up and when
they see their friends remain seated they quickly sit down again.
Some will stay seated but when they see their peers standing they
will jump to their feet.
Statements for game:
Chocolate is the best ice cream flavour.
Tottenham is the best football team.
Peanut butter is better than jam.
Kids should not be allowed to eat sugary cereal.
Teenagers should not be allowed to watch TV or go on
screens on school nights.
CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE
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All kids should own mobile phones.
It’s ok to borrow something without permission.
People must report cheating they see on a test.
Everyone must work to pick up litter.
Kids should be friends only with people of whom their
parents approve.
Every Jewish person should learn to speak Ivrit.
It’s important to support Israel with our words and deeds at
all times.
It’s important to keep kosher.
For the final round ask pupils to share a belief about which
they feel strongly.
CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE
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Next, ask the participants:
How did it feel to stand up for the statements with which
you agreed?
How did it feel to stay seated?
How did it feel to be the only or one of the only ones to be
standing?
How did it feel to be the only one or one of the only ones to
be seated?
Were there times when you felt pressure to stand?
Where there times when you would have stood but you felt
embarrassed to stand?
Did you ever change your mind and sit down after standing
or stand after remaining seated? Why?
What character trait do you think it takes to be the only one
sitting or standing?
Do you think being able to withstand peer pressure is an
important character trait for a leader?
Explain: In the parasha this week we are told:
‘Moshe summoned Yehoshua and said to him before all the Jewish
people, “Be strong and courageous, for you shall come with this
people to the Land that God swore to their forefathers to give
them and you should cause them to inherit it. God- it is He who
goes before you, He will be with you, He will not release you and
nor will He forsake you. Do not be afraid.....’ (Vayelech, 31:7)
Moshe knew he was about to die and that the Jewish people were
about to enter Eretz Yisrael and would need a new leader to take
them into the Land. This man was Joshua/Yehoshua.
CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE
14
Ask
Have any of the participants heard of Yehoshua before?
What do the participants know about Yehoshua that would
make them think he was the right candidate to become the
next leader of the Jewish people?
Explain
Yehoshua was one of the twelve spies who were sent on a
mission to assess Eretz Yisrael. There were twelve spies sent
and all of them except two men gave negative reports on the
Land. One of these men was Yehoshua. It surely must have
been very difficult for Yehoshua to withstand the peer
pressure from the other spies, yet he bravely remained loyal
to Hashem and did not criticise Eretz Yisrael. The other spy
who also stood up for the truth was Calev. In fact if we look
at the episode of the spies in the Torah we see that it was the
passionate Calev who stood up to the other spies first –
before Yehoshua. Yehoshua only spoke later when the
Jewish people were really worked up and wanted to return
to Egypt. Why didn’t Yehoshua stand up for Eretz Yisrael
right at the start of the spies feedback like Calev did? Was he
swayed by the opinion of others?
Our rabbanim tell us that Yehoshua only spoke out later
because was a realistic and reflective person who knew how
and when to lead. He knew that the spies would not change
their mind and so at first he did not speak up – he realised
there was no point. Only when the Jewish people began to
speak about changing God’s plan by wanting to go back to
Egypt did Yehoshua speak up as that for him was one step
too far.
CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE
15
We also learn that before Yehoshua goes on the mission to
spy out the Land, Moshe changes his name. Previously he
was called Hoshea but Moshe adds letters from Gods name
to this name so that he is now called Yehoshua. This addition
of letters signifies protection from God. Yehoshua was the
only spy singled out to have his name changed as Yehoshua
was Moshe’s personal assistant and advisor. Moshe knew
that Yehoshua was the kind of person who would not be
swayed by the opinions of others. In order to remain
steadfast and strong Yehoshua would need a blessing from
Moshe.
So to sum up: We can see from these two points that
Yehoshua was a brave, loyal, realistic, sensible, and
thoughtful man. He had a very close relationship with
Moshe and was an obvious choice as the next leader.
Discuss:
What do you think makes a good leader?
Have you ever had a leader or a teacher who you thought
was excellent and why?
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