Rachel Judaica Lesson 3/17
Dear Daled-ites,
Today’s lesson for Shabbat school is about…Shabbat!
Parashat Emor, in the book of Vayikra, describes all kinds of work that Jews in biblical times were not supposed to do on the Sabbath, with the goal of getting a taste of the world to come on that one day of the week.
First, let’s watch a short video reminder of what’s in the book of Vayikra (that’s the book of the bible that we’ve been studying this year):
Now for our first exercise!
Find a piece of paper, and a pen, pencil, marker, or sharp crayon.
On one side of the page, write your regular daily schedule (pre-coronavirus), with as much detail as possible. Include your free time, time spent watching TV, time spent dancing, or writing songs, or playing video games, or eating snacks, or staring at the walls too.
On the other side of the page, write out a list of activities you would like to do on your ideal Shabbat, including rest, reading, socializing, creativity, places you’d go, people you’d spend time with, rituals and prayers that would add meaning to your day, foods you would eat, etc.
Read the material on pages 66 and 67 below this sectionand see if they give you more ideas to add to either one of your lists.
Circle the activities on both lists that you want to add, or do more of, in your daily life and on Shabbat, and plan at least one of those things to do today.
Exercise two: Read out loud the two blessings attached to this email, one for washing hands and one for eating Challah on Shabbat (try to read the Hebrew or the transliteration AND the English translation). Consider adding one or both of these blessings to your practice this week.
Exercise Three: Choose one (or both) of the coloring pages and take time to color and relax your spirit for Shabbat.
Shabbat Shalom, and I hope you feel a lot of Shalom (peace) in your Shabbat!
Morah Rachel