Parshat Pinchas

To settle the land of Israel the Jews were excited,
In Parshat Pinchas, the land was divided,
There were a lot of factors to take into consideration,
The terrain, location and each tribe's occupation.

There were three ways to show,
For each tribe to know,
Which plot of land was destined for them,
It was all determined by Hashem.

First, the leaders made a calculation,
Taking into account each tribes population,
Then the high priest used inspiration that was divine,
To interpret the letters that on the breastplate did shine.

The third way was to draw a lottery,
The names and places matched perfectly,
Why were the Jews shown in three different ways,
Where to settle in those days?

There is a lesson here for you and me,
About how to serve Hashem properly,
The land that was divided into 12 different parts,
Represents 12 different ways to serve Hashem with our hearts.

Although we each have a unique personality,
There are three things that apply to us all equally,
Calculation, Inspiration, and a lottery hold the key,
To connect with Hashem for all eternity.

The first step is to calculate logically,
That following the Torah is most beneficial for our family,
The second step is when we can feel holiness and sanctity,
When we are inspired and can appreciate spirituality.

The third step is when we follow the Torah even if it doesn't make sense,
A part of Hashem is our very essence,
Our connection to Hashem is like a lottery,
Which has no explanation but is meant to be!

Just like the Jews transformed the Cananite land into the promised land,
Our mission is to transform this world into a home for Hashem so grand,
We will each do our part,
That was given to us from the start.

Souvenir: Israel bracelet

Parshat Balak

For 40 years the Jews wandered in the desert sand,
At last it was time for the Jews to enter the promised land,
The mighty nations of Sichon and Og were defeated by the Jews,
The nation of Moav couldn't believe the news.

Balaam, was the one that King Balak did hire,
To have the Jews cursed was his desire,
Balak and Balaam did not get their way,
The curses were transformed to blessings on that day.

"He crouches and lies like a lion," Balaam did say,
It is a powerful description of the Jews that applies today,
"Like a lioness; who will dare rouse him?"
If you anger a lion your situation is grim.

If a lion or lioness you train,
A free animal it will always remain,
A lion can never truly be a pet,
In one second it can be a threat.

A lion can be captured,
But it can never be conquered,
To the circus viewers the lion's submission may seem real,
But in a second the lion could turn his trainer into a meal.

We have been in exile for many generations,
And have been enslaved by many nations,
To our enemies it seems like we've given in,
But in one second we can reveal our Neshama deep within.

Thank G-d, to practice our religion today we are free,
But we can't allow our Neshama to be in captivity,
We are distracted by money, fashion and technology,
Only when we allow our Neshama to shine can we truly be happy.

Let us always remember and be proud of who we are,
We are kings of the forest and we can go far,
Even if it is not popular, another Mitzvah we can do,
We can be a shining example for our family and friends too!

Like a lion let us be strong,
May we always know right from wrong,
May we utilize our power,
And do good deeds every hour.

May we merit the coming of Moshiach speedily,
Which Balaam did foresee in his prophecy,
When evil will be transformed totally,
From the cage of materialism we will be set free!

Souvenir: lion craft kit

Beraishit

There was once a couple who waited many years,
To be blessed with a baby they prayed and shed many tears,
At last they were blessed with a baby boy,
They were so grateful and full of joy.

When the boy grew up, he went to Yeshivah every day,
His father walked him all the way,
The boy studied Torah with all his heart,
"Beraishit Barah Elokim" is how the Torah does start.

The boy told his father that he didn't have to walk him all the way,
He could meet his friends and he would be ok,
At last, the father did agree,
And he went to meet his friends happily.

His happiness didn't last long,
He was kidnapped by an officer who was strong,
To hold onto his Chumash with all his might he did try,
But the officer put it in the king's library, on a shelf so high.

Meanwhile , the king was very sick,
They called the doctors quick,
To get a book of medicine from the library they did go,
They returned with the Chumash, to read Hebrew nobody did know.

The king's officer recognized the book,
He called the young boy to come and take a look,
The boy began reading the first verse,
The king began feeling better instead of feeling worse.

"In the beginning, Hashem created the heaven and the earth" he did explain,
By the time he was done, the king had no more pain,
"What would you like for saving my life?" the king asked the boy,
"To be reunited with my parents, is the only thing that will bring me joy!"

To see his parents he did yearn,
In a royal carriage he did return,
From all the king's gifts nothing could compare,
To his Chumash which he held so dear!

Souvenir: 7 days of creation necklace

Vayehi Binsoah Haron

When it is time to read from the Torah scroll,
To open the ark is an honorable role,
We stand with awe and fear,
As if we were receiving the Torah now and here.

When the ark is opened "Vayehi Binso'a Ha'Aron," we say,
It is a prayer that dates back to Moshe's day,
When the Jews camped and when they were on the go,
The ark which contained the tablets was the center of the show.

When the Jews were in the desert, the cloud of glory was their GPS,
When they would travel next the Jews could only guess.
When the cloud would rise, their possessions they gathered,
When the ark was lifted, Moshe said, "Your enemies shall be scattered."

For the Jews, the holy ark paved the way,
The wild beasts and poisonous snakes ran away,
No enemy threatened the Jews when they were on their way,
May Hashem scatter our enemies today.

We also remember a prophecy about Moshiach's days,
When the entire world will follow in Hashem's ways,
"Out of Zion shall go forth the Torah," we say,
"And the word of Hashem from Jerusalem," may it happen today!

Souvenir: small plush Torah

Shehakol

On all the food that does not grow,
We say the blessing of "Shehakol Nihiye Bidvaro"
On chicken, meat, fish eggs and cheese,
On ices and ice cream that we need to freeze.

By Hashem's word all things came to be,
We say "Shehakol" on chocolate and candy,
If we are unsure of a particular food's blessing,
We say "Shehakol" instead of guessing.

Souvenir: candy eraser

Haadama

On all the vegetables that are found,
Growing from the ground,
"Borei Pri Haadama" we say,
They are nutritious in every way,

Cucumbers, peppers, lettuce and tomatoes,
Carrots, spinach, broccoli and potatoes,
We thank Hashem for making the vegetables grow,
Each one is planted in its own neat row.

The blessing of "Haadama" is the one that is right,
On bananas to recite,
Because the banana tree doesn't last from year to year,
It just dries up and disappears.

Souvenir: vegetable eraser

Haeitz

When you are outside enjoying the breeze,
And you see delicious fruit hanging from trees,
The blessing of "Borei Pri Haeitz" comes to mind,
Thank you Hashem for creating the fruit that we find.

On Tu B'Shvat it is a custom to eat,
Fruit that Israel is blessed with, what a treat,
Grapes, figs, pomegranates, olives and dates,
Make a blessing and fill your plates!

Souvenir: fruit eraser

Hagafen

"Borei Pri Hagafen" is the blessing on grape juice and wine,
We thank Hashem for creating the fruit of the vine,
We drink wine many times on the Jewish calendar,
On Shabbat, Holidays and Simchas which are spectacular!

We use wine to separate,
Weekdays from holy days that are great,
With the Kiddush wine we sanctify,
With the Havdalah wine we say goodbye.

On Purim we drink until we can show,
That the difference between Haman and Mordechai we don't know,
On Pesach we drink not one cup but four,
For Elijah the Prophet we fill up one more.

At the Brit of a newborn baby boy,
A blessing is made on wine and we celebrate with joy,
Under the Chuppa at every wedding,
On a cup of wine there is a blessing!

Souvenir: kiddush cup