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Parashat Ki Tavo, September 17th, 2011, 18 Elul, 5771

Dear Talmidot, Parents and Friends –

 

1)       This week at Midreshet Moriah

2)       Faculty Devar Torah – Mrs. Bracha Krohn

3)       Mazel Tovs

4)       Mi She-Berach List

 

 

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The Midreshet class of 5772 spent a beautiful shabbat together 'at home' this past weekend together with the Berglas, Mayer, Proops, Krohn and Porath Zibman families. After a spiritually uplifting Friday night davening, the students ate their Friday night meal with their 'rakezet' group, together with their Rakezet and her family. Following dinner, Shana Bet students led a leibidik tisch and the singing lasted well into the night. 

After Tefillah on Shabbat morning, Rav Berglas addressed the students and there was a delicious Kiddush of home baked goods as well as some favorite treats from Jerusalem's famous bakeries. Following Kiddush there was a session on building a learning community, as the girls will be doing this year at Midreshet, with a focus on Bein Adam l'Chaveiro themes based on Pirkei Avot.

Shabbat continued with lunch, menucha, and more fun and educational activities throughout the day. It ended with slow, beautiful singing at Seuda Shlisheet and Havdalah.

 

Sunday morning the students gathered in the Beit Midrash and had an orientation on chavruta style learning as well as Kashrut in Israel. Our 'mystery trip' began after lunch as we headed out to the separate beach in Herzliya. The girls went swimming, played ice breaker games and as evening fell, wrapped up the day, exhauster but happy!

 

Monday was spent choosing and registering for classes and the girls finally started learning in their classes on Tuesday morning. It's been a very busy week, but a great one! 

We're excited for the girls first free Shabbat this weekend and for them to come back energized for their first full week of learning next week!

Don't forget to check out the pictures from the 1st week at Midreshet at:

http://midreshetmoriah.com/pictures/

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True Appreciation

Bracha Krohn

 

When reading the opening psukim of this week’s parsha, Ki Tavo, one might start to feel confused: is this the haggadah we’re reading or parshat hashavua? The answer, of course, is both! This week’s parsha contains the text that we read as one of the focal points on Seder Night: "Arami oved avi."

By reading these psukim, the script that the Jew must say when he offers his first fruits in the Beit haMikdash, and expounding on them with the midrash, we tell the story of the Exodus every year, at the seder after "mah nishtana."

Why do we use these psukim on Seder Night and not the actual story as it unfolds in Sefer Shmot?

A simple answer is the practical one – these five psukim tell the story succinctly, clearly and with all the highlights: we ended up in Egypt, were oppressed, grew and became a great nation, were enslaved and tortured and ultimately saved by Hashem who brought us to Eretz Yisrael, a land flowing with milk and honey!  We don’t have that much time seder night – even with this short version, we are up until after midnight…

Another answer, however, helps us understand why we are reciting this story at the moment we bring the first fruits, the bikkurim.

The farmer bringing his bikkurim is feeling pretty good about himself: he had a successful harvest and now brings beautiful fruit to the kohanim. This mitzvah to recite chapter 26, verses 5-10 is in order to put him in his place and remind him that Hashem provided and always has! It is G-d who ensured this ripe harvest and continues to make it rain! These psukim remind us that the same G-d who took us out of mitzrayim and did those amazing miracles for our new nation is the same G-d who helps us daily with our little successes, like a good crop. We need to appreciate G-d’s presence (and presents!) in our life and this mandated script, as well as the reference to Yetziat Mitzrayim, helps us regain our humility and appreciation.

Why do we use this specific text at the Seder? Because, perhaps, as we sit around the table on pesach in our houses with our family, enjoying the freedom of a good life, we need to appreciate how we got here! By using the story that the person bringing bikkurim recites, we are learning the same lesson he learns: Hashem is the cause for our lives, safety, health, successes and riches. We can never be reminded of this too many times.

Shabbat Shalom, and may your awareness of G-d’s presence in your lives keep His presents coming!

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Mazel Tov 

 

Birth:

Dina(Lyman) ('00-'01) and Scott Friedman on the birth of a daughter

Giela (Nussbaum)('95-'96) and Ben Gellis on the birth of their daughter, Mira Salit. Mazal Tov to big brothers Adir, Mayteev and Elyon

Yhi ratzon shetizku lgadla lTorah lChupa ulMa'asim tovim.  

 Mrs. Debra Applebaum (Midreshet Librarian) and family on the birth of a grandson

Yhi ratzon shetizku lgadlo lTorah lChupa ulMa'asim tovim. Kshem shenichnas lBrit kein yikanes lTorah lChupah ulMa'asim tovim.

 

Please help us stay informed - http://midreshetmoriah.org/send-mazaltov.asp 

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Mi SheBerach List

We have started a new list. Please email midmoriah@gmail.com if there is a name you would like to add.  

Aviva Miriam bat Esther (9/11/11)

Osnat bat Clara (9/11/11)

Refael Matisyahu Yaacov ben Gittel Rivka (9/11/11)

Avraham Yehuda ben Davida Yehudit (9/11/11)

Tziporah Faiga Bat Sima Shaindel (9/11/11)

Chava Deena Etya Bat Chaya Tziporah Sheva (9/11/11)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This Week at Midreshet

 

 

 

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