D'var for Terumah!

This week's parshah is Terumah.

The people of Israel are called upon to contribute thirteen materials—gold, silver and copper; blue-, purple- and red-dyed wool; flax, goat hair, animal skins, wood, olive oil, spices and gems—out of which, G‑d says to Moses, “They shall make for Me a Sanctuary, and I shall dwell amidst them.”
On the summit of Mount Sinai, Moses is given detailed instructions on how to construct this dwelling for G‑d so that it could be readily dismantled, transported and reassembled as the people journeyed in the desert.
In the Sanctuary’s inner chamber, behind an artistically woven curtain, was the ark containing the tablets of testimony engraved with the Ten Commandments; on the ark’s cover stood two winged cherubim hammered out of pure gold. In the outer chamber stood the seven-branched menorah, and the table upon which the “showbread” was arranged.
The Sanctuary’s three walls were fitted together from 48 upright wooden boards, each of which was overlaid with gold and held up by a pair of silver foundation sockets. The roof was formed of three layers of coverings: (a) tapestries of multicolored wool and linen; (b) a covering made of goat hair; (c) a covering of ram and tachash skins. Across the front of the Sanctuary was an embroidered screen held up by five posts.
Surrounding the Sanctuary and the copper-plated altar which fronted it was an enclosure of linen hangings, supported by 60 wooden posts with silver hooks and trimmings, and reinforced by copper stakes.

"Terumah in a Nutshell." Chabad.org. Chabad, n.d. Web. 28 Feb. 2017. <http://www.chabad.org/parshah/article_cdo/aid/1311/jewish/Terumah-in-a-Nutshell.htm>.

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D'var for Mishpatim!

This week's d'var is written by Emma Freedlander.

This weeks torah portion is Mishpatim. This portion is after the receiving of the Ten Commandments at Sinai. G-d gives various laws for the people of Israel. Some laws were regarding how they would govern and how their justice system would work.
Other laws regarded the treatment of foreigners and seasonal festivals. Also, the Israelites were told not to cook meat with milk.
This parsha contains 53 mitzvot.
G-d tells the Israelites that they will make it to the holy land, but they must follow their new rules and laws.
The people of Israel agree to do what they are told. Moshe goes up Mount Sinai to get the Torah while leaving Aaron and Hur in charge.

Natick USY at TO semi!!

Natick USY had an abundance of fun at NERUSY's TO Semi!!!

D'var for Beshalach!

This week's parshah is Beshalach.

Soon after allowing the children of Israel to depart from Egypt, Pharaoh chases after them to force their return, and the Israelites find themselves trapped between Pharaoh’s armies and the sea. G‑d tells Moses to raise his staff over the water; the sea splits to allow the Israelites to pass through, and then closes over the pursuing Egyptians. Moses and the children of Israel sing a song of praise and gratitude to G‑d.
In the desert the people suffer thirst and hunger, and repeatedly complain to Moses and Aaron. G‑d miraculously sweetens the bitter waters of Marah, and later has Moses bring forth water from a rock by striking it with his staff. He causes manna to rain down from the heavens before dawn each morning, and quails to appear in the Israelite camp each evening.
The children of Israel are instructed to gather a double portion of manna on Friday, as none will descend on Shabbat, the divinely decreed day of rest. Some disobey and go to gather manna on the seventh day, but find nothing. Aaron preserves a small quantity of manna in a jar, as a testimony for future generations.
In Rephidim, the people are attacked by the Amalekites, who are defeated by Moses’ prayers and an army raised by Joshua.

"Beshalach in a Nutshell." Chabad.org. Chabad, n.d. Web. 08 Feb. 2017.

Feb 7 SA/TO Snap

Hey everyone! On an average day a person usually uses up 80-100 gallons of water. Taking a bath has an average amount of 36 gallons. Old shower heads used to take up about 5 gallons of water a minute but now there are shower heads where it only uses 2.1 gallons a minute. An average shower is 8.2 minutes long. In total 17.2 gallons of water is used for one shower. There is a saying that you should drink 8-8ounce glasses of water a day (half a gallon of water). The amount of water that people drink is extremely smaller than the amount used for a shower or bath. This shows how people are using way too much water for something that does not need that much water used. So, with this information it shows that taking showers instead of baths and taking shorter showers will help with keeping the amount of water used to a smaller rate.