Parshiot Vayakhel/Pekudei
Parshiot Vayakhel וַיַּקְהֵל (He Gathered) and Pekudei פְקוּדֵי (Countings)
Torah portion: Shemot/Exodus 35:1-40:38
Haphtarah (concluding portion): Ezekiel 45:16-46:18
Brit Chadasha (New Testament): Hebrews 8:1-12, Hebrews 9:1-11
Did you know: Vayakhel/Pekudei are the 10th and 11th parshiot [portions] of sefer [scroll of/book of] Shemot? They are the last of the readings for sefer Shemot. Sometimes they are grouped together and sometimes they are separate. They are read separately in leap years. When they are grouped together, the reading is called a “double portion.”
Science: This week we read about how YHVH filled the tabernacle with a cloud. It was so dense that Moses couldn’t enter it. I remember hearing this really neat teaching about using soap and microwaving it to make it expand. If you unwrap a bar of Ivory™ soap and microwave it, the soap will expand into foam that is more than six times the size of the original bar. It’s a fun trick that won’t hurt either your microwave or the soap. The soap trick can be used to demonstrate closed-cell foam formation, physical change, and Charles’ Law. You can read the physics lesson plan here.
Fun Craft: Puffy Paint Clouds (based on the cloud of YHVH filling the tabernacle). You will need: shaving cream, white glue (basic school glue). Directions: To make a batch of puffy paint, simply mix equal parts of shaving cream and white glue. Apply the glue to heavy paper using a sponge brush. Let the painting dry. It will be fluffy and white.
Culinary Fun: Fluffy Popcorn Snacks. (We seem to be keeping with the cloud theme here). You will need: 1 (7 1/2 ounce) jar marshmallow cream, 1/4 cup butter or 1/4 cup margarine, 8 cups unbuttered popped popcorn. Directions: Grease 9×9 in baking pan and set aside. Combine marshmallow fluff and butter in microwave safe dish and cook 2 min on high. Stir and cook 1 min more (can do this on the stove top too). Stir in popcorn. Using a spatula or waxed paper, press mixture into pan. Let cool and cut into bars.
Bible: This week we read in detail what the priests wore. We are commanded to wear something special too. We are commanded to wear tsit tsit (also written tzitzit, tzitziot, tzit tzit). This is pronounced “zeet zeet.” You can read all about them and how to make them by following this link.
Restoring the Way Materials:
MessiShul Parsha Lapbook Curriculum: Shemot
Preschool Adventure Series homeschool curriculum
Messianic Weekly (Kids) Volume 1: Shemot
Messianic Weekly (Kids) Volume 2 [subscription $1.99/wk]
Messianic Weekly (Teens) Volume 1: Shemot
Messianic Weekly (Teens) Volume 2 [subscription $1.99/wk]
Parsha for Preschool Volume 1
Parsha for Preschool Volume 2 [subscription $1.99/wk]
Hebrew Handwriting Primer
Hebrew Handwriting With the Parsha Names
Noah’s Noodles Parsha Cookbook for Kids
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Petah Tikvah
Heart of Wisdom
Hebraic Roots Network
Holy Language Institute