January 14, 2021 Laya

Parsha Va’eira- thoughts, activities and Food ideas

Parsha Va'eira, Pasha with Safta Laya

I learned something important after my last blog……Safta Laya’s blog is NOT ONLY for Safta’s,/ grandmothers – and grandparents. It’s for anyone who wants a short quick idea on the Parsha- maybe something of interest, to learn more about,…. it’s for grandparents to make into a zoom session with their grandkids and it’s for parents, to use ideas to do activities, or make something in the kitchen . It’s a springboard for the journey into the Parsha during the week- being mindful as we move into Shabbat with meaning and intention.
So it’s not exclusive- it’s for anyone, and to be shared, and the focus is to encourage creativity, and stimulate ideas and thoughts and give the reader, listener- an opportunity to think out of the box, be creative and start turning the mundane into ‘Kodesh’ as we think about our Torah Parsha’s and how we can make it meaningful and relevant in our lives today.
Chodesh Tov,and Shabbat Shalom

PARSHA VA’EIRA– Thoughts from the Parsha

Hashem reveals HIS NAME at the beginning of the Parsha- ‘Ani Hashem’- I am Hashem. Rashi explains that ‘Hashem’ is the name revealed to Moshe- representing G-d as the One who carries out His promises, for G-d was prepared to fulfill his pledge to free the Jewish nation and bring them to the Land of Eretz Yisrael. G-d used another name to our Patriarch’s- He used the name ‘El Shaddai’ (Dai= sufficient). He only used the name ‘Hashem’ with Moshe because it was a matter of time when the Land of Israel would be given to the people- before this, neither the Land nor the Jewish people were ready for the journey, mentally, physically, emotionally or spiritually.

This week we will look at the first 3 plagues, do activities, and food ideas to bring the Parsha alive to your Shabbat table.

In this Parsha, we learn about the plagues and Moshe and Aaron going to Pharoah to ask for the Jewish people to be set free.

The ten plagues consist of 3 sets of 3 plaques each- and then the final plague which was the Plague of the Firstborn. The three sets of plagues were intended to ensure that we understood 3 important principles which are eternal. The first three plagues proved the existence of Hashem, the next 3 was to prove that Hashem rules over all matters, earth, and material matters, and the last 3 plagues were to teach us that G-d is unmatched by any power. With each set of 3 plagues,- we have 2 warnings, and then a punishment.

Based on what was mentioned before- the first 3 plagues were Blood, Frogs, Lice.        The first warning to Pharoah was at the River, (the river turned to Blood) and the 2nd warning was at the royal palace where Pharoah lived. These two plagues were to warn Pharoah, they were the ‘witnesses’  to show Pharoah that he was powerless to defy Divine Will (R. Bachya 10;1) (Malbim) The third plague, came without warning- it was the punishment to Pharoah and his people for not heeding the message. The first 3 plagues achieved their purpose when even Pharoah’s magicians were forced to acknowledge that ‘this is the finger of G-d’.

Hashem tells Moshe to tell Aaron to bring on the 1 st 3 plagues- Why Aaron and not Moshe?

Rashi explains that Moshe was saved by the river, (blood and frogs) and he hid the Egyptian that he killed in the soil, (lice come from the ground) and Moshe could not strike those things that saved him. He had to have ‘Hakaras Hatov-‘ He had to appreciate those things that helped him survive and live- both the water and the soil., and not strike them- that’s why Aaron brought on the first 3 plagues.

Story and Lessons to learn from the Plague of Frogs;

The Midrash explains that one big fat frog came out of the Nile River after the river turned back from blood to plain clear water. The Egyptians got a fright, and started to hit it, tried to kill it. Every time they hit it, more frogs appeared, and more and more. They kept trying to hit the frogs, the more they hit them, the more frogs appeared- until there were frogs everywhere, croaking, jumping, getting inside everything, and took over the whole palace and the Egyptians houses. Can u imagine frogs were jumping everywhere ( as the song goes) The Ba’al Mussar asks- If the Egyptians saw every time they hit the frogs, more appeared why didn’t they stop?

Our sages say, that ‘hitting the frogs’ is what happens to us when we get angry, the anger grows, and that makes us even more angry, and more angry and we keep ‘hitting the frog and getting even more angry until we can’t stop…. We have to learn how to stop- earlier on. We need to learn to stop near the beginning. STOP, PAUSE AND BREATHE. We need to realize what is happening, think about what we are doing, – become calmer…sooner…. We can’t let fear and anger control us- because we will regret our actions and behavior when we are so angry. We can learn to control our anger- Calm down and stay calm- then it doesn’t get worse. This is an important lesson we learn from the frogs.

FUN FACTS

Crafts; Things to Make;-

1) Oragami frogs that jump. Simple more complicated for every age.- fun to fold and jump. (Check on UTube for Oragami Frogs.)( Use green paper or color some paper green to make your frogs.)

2)Frog puppets-

What you need; Old single socks, green paper/cardboard, glue, ping pong balls – for eyes, or stick on eyes, green stick on dots, ( other frog- like additions)

Food fun;

 Edible Oreo Frogs;

Ingredients; 1 pkt of Oreo’s, Icing sugar, green coloring, , pkt of pretzel twists, ‘eyes ( paper or stick on) sprinkles,(optional) baking paper. Method; Make green icing with a few drops of water and green coloring in a small bowl. Coat the Oreo biscuit with green icing.- place on baking sheet. Take 2 pretzels ( the frogs legs) ice them with green icing. Place them on either side of the Oreo biscuit or put the biscuit on top of them .- (with some pretzel extending on either side) Sprinkles, or chocolate chips, ( woody frog) Put eyes in place of your Oreo frog. (Edible- use the creamy part of the Oreo’s for eyes and a piece of black biscuit in between. Place in the fridge until the icing has set.

Making Red Jelly- River turning to ‘blood’.

(Read the instructions on the Jello packet and follow directions) (With Parent supervision! ) I cup of boiling water in a glass cup. Add powdered jelly and stir gently and carefully with a fork. Watch the white water, turn red…. Place in the fridge to set…..Serve for dessert with  Oreo frogs…

Shabbat shalom. Safta Laya

SHABBAT SHALOM, CHODESH TOV!