This week we learn in a double portion all about a strange illness called Tzara’at. In the times of the Mishkan and Beit Hamikdash, Tzara’at was a disease caused by gossiping or speaking badly about another person (Lashan Ha-Ra). The only way to be sure that a particular white spot on the skin was in fact the dreaded disease, was for the person to be examined by a Kohen, not by a doctor!  The person would have to leave their home and stay away from the camp for at least a week and undergo certain rituals after they were declared cured.  Then they could bring offerings and return home.  The offerings included two birds, one of which would be set free.  The symbolism of the birds is that they twitter – is that not how people nowadays like to keep in touch, by ‘tweeting?’  Lets hope only for sharing good news!

We also learn that warnings about a person’s behaviour would be given before they actually suffered the disease – their homes would become stained by patches of different colours and even clothing could be affected. If the person did not make an attempt to change his ways and make up for the hurt caused, then the evidence of their Lashan Ha-Ra would be visible for everyone to see.  This was to teach that we should act on warnings and not leave things until it is too late for a bad consequence to result, and also that everything we have – all our possessions – including our homes and clothes are gifts from Hashem and should be treated with respect.

Questions to ask your children

What is Lashan-Ha-Ra?

How would you feel if someone spoken Lashan-Ha-Ra about you?

How could you tell if someone had been talking badly about some?

How would this person be cured?

Please take a look at the following link.

http://www.g-dcast.com/tazria/

Shabbat Shalom

Please take a look at the Kabbalat Shabbat rota for this term.

Please feel free to join us for any Kabbalat Shabbat. We begin at 1:15pm during early closures and 2:45pm during normal closures.

Upper School

The children have been learning about the mitzvot of Hachnasat Orchim, (hospitality) and Bikur Cholin (visiting the sick).

Just three days after he had his brit mila,  Avraham welcomes 3 guests into his tent and feeds them. Sarah is told that she will have a child. Avraham argues with God about destroying Sodom. Sodom is destroyed, but Lot is saved. Avraham and Sarah travel to Gerar. Yitzchak is born. Hagar and Ishmael are expelled and then saved from starvation by God. The Akeda (binding of Yitzchak): God tells Avraham to sacrifice Yitzchak, his son. So he binds Yitzchak up and just before Avraham slaughters him, a voice from heaven calls out to tell him not to.  Instead, Avraham sacrifices a ram and uses his horn as a shofar. At the end of the portion, Rivka is born.

Questions to ask your children…

How old was Sarah when she found out she was going to have a baby?

Which mitzvah were the three men doing when they went to  Avraham’s tent?

How did Avraham show hospitality?

What happened to Lot’s wife when they escaped from Sedom?

Our lower school Shabbat table this morning

Kabbalat Shabbat in school on Friday was a very special occasion.   The whole of Primary 4 sat on the table and lead the service.  They told the school all about how Hashem created the world in six days and rested on the seventh day.  They explained to the children that this is why we rest on Shabbat.  They also told the children that on Shabbat UK we try to make one change to our Shabbat celebrations at home.  Whether we will make sure we light the candles, switch off devices or even take a trip to Shul.  Each child has brought home a Shabbat UK pledge to complete.  Please can your child bring them back into school as soon as possible, so they can be displayed.

It was lovely to see so many children joining in with Shabbat UK activities in the community.  Whether it was at the Challah Bake on Thursday night,  in Shul on Shabbat morning or at the Havdalah event at Giffnock Shul on Saturday evening.

The Calderwood Lodge staff and pupils at the Challah Bake.

The Chasidic band enjoyed singing Bim Bom, which they had only heard for the first time when they visited Calderwood Lodge for Kabbalat Shabbat.

Lots of fun singing and dancing.

Welcome to our Kodesh blog.  Each week, information about the  weekly parasha will be uploaded with some questions you can ask the children. You will also get a chance to see what the children have been learning about in their lessons.

This week’s Parasha is Eikev

Questions to ask your child

Can you remember all 7 special fruits of Israel?