Parsha for Kids

By Chana Friedman

Hello, and welcome to Parsha for Kids! My name is Chana and I love learning Torah. I am so excited to learn the Parsha with YOU! Each week we will learn a key point or idea from the Parsha, and maybe ... more

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FAQs about Parsha for Kids:

How many episodes does Parsha for Kids have?

The podcast currently has 55 episodes available.

Parsha for Kids episodes:

January 18, 2023S2E2 Va'era 2023
In this week's episode, we learn about God's desire to take Bnei Yisrael out of Egypt in a way that would demonstrate He was the true Ruler of the world. God demonstrates this in several ways:
It would have been simpler to simply strike the Egyptians with blindness and then have Bnei Yisrael walk out of Egypt. God does NOT want to do this. He wants Pharaoh and the Egyptians to see God's power over the natural world and to willingly SEND Bnei Yisrael out of Egypt.

It would also have been simpler for Moshe to tell Pharaoh he would not pray for specific plagues to end until Pharoah had sent the Hebrews out. But once again, forcing Pharaoh wasn't the goal. God wanted Pharaoh to come to the realization that he should send out Bnei Yisrael on his own.

Each of God's plagues show God's dominance over an element or attribute of the natural world.
We also see a focus on gratitude in this week's parsha. Moshe is not permitted to perform the first three plagues because he owes a debt of gratitude to the sand and the water (each of which helped save him). Pharaoh owes Moshe gratitude as well- but doesn't act on it, preferring to go back on his word time and time again. We learn that we should be like Moshe and should not be like Pharaoh when it comes to being grateful and keeping our word.
Based on the questions and discussions in this week's episode, we come up with some very important lessons and takeaways for our own lives!
...more
34min
January 12, 2023S2E1 Shemot 2023
In this week's episode, we learn about the importance of gratitude, courage and rising to the occasion.
If Pharaoh had chosen to be grateful, he would not have begun to oppress the Hebrews. Bnei Yisrael's entire story could have gone differently.

The midwives, whether Hebrew or Egyptian, were told by Pharaoh himself to kill the male baby boys. They defied Pharaoh's orders, showing great courage in the process.

Bat Pharaoh, the daughter of the king, also defied her father when it came to saving a Hebrew baby boy- Moshe.

Moshe made a courageous decision to continue to stand up for what was right even when people did not show gratitude to him. It is more important to do the right thing than the easy thing.

Even though Moshe did not want to lead, eventually he rose to the occasion, accepting God's will for him.
Can you think of times that you have been grateful? Have you expressed it? How about times when you have been courageous- or taken on a role that scared you?
Based on the questions and discussions in this week's episode, we come up with some very important lessons and takeaways for our own lives!
...more
34min
January 05, 2023S1E12 Vayechi 2022
In this week's episode, we focus on blessings. Sometimes these blessings are very unexpected!
According to Midrash, the fact that Yaakov became ill before his death was actually a blessing. It gave him time to set his affairs in order and make sure to convey important information to his sons and grandsons.

Yaakov blessed his grandsons Ephraim and Menashe with the words "Hamalach HaGoel," which we sing till this day.

Even nowadays WE bless our male children to grow up to be like Ephraim and Menashe, using the same sentence that appears in this week's parsha.

Yaakov gave important information- and blessings- to all of the tribes. In many cases he let them know what would happen to their descendants in the future.
Can you think of blessings in your own life? What blessings have you received- and who has given them to you? It may be good to thank and acknowledge anyone who has blessed you.
Based on the questions and discussions in this week's episode, we come up with some very important lessons and takeaways for our own lives!
...more
27min
December 29, 2022S1E11 Vayigash 2022
In this week's episode, we learn about intensity. This manifests in several ways.
Yaakov and Binyomin had such a strong - intense- relationship that it was considered as though Yaaakov's soul was bound up with Binyomin's.

Yehuda has changed. He now has a true understanding of the grief he caused his father and he is adamant that he won't do that again. Yehuda has learned empathy.

Yosef has been through some extreme experiences, yet he recognizes God's hand in his life. His connection to God is intense, as is his willingness to show his brothers love even when they treated him cruelly in the past.

Yaakov's life had been filled with difficulty- and intensity- but there was a happy ending in that he got to see his son Yosef once more!
Based on our questions and discussions, we come up with some very important lessons and takeaways for our own lives!
...more
30min
December 22, 2022S1E10 Miketz 2022
In this week's episode, we learn that things are not what they seem. This happens in several different instances.
It appeared like Yosef was all alone. But God was actually with him all along. And God orchestrated events such that Pharoah dreamed dreams only Yosef could interpret, enabling Yosef to achieve a high position.

Yosef seemed to be a cruel and harsh viceroy. This was because the brothers did not recognize him- even though he recognized them. In truth, Yosef was testing his brothers to make sure they would no longer act to other people, especially Binyamin, as they had acted towards him.

It seemed as though Binyamin had stolen the special silver goblet from Yosef. In truth, however, Yosef had his servant plant it in Binyamin's sack. Would the brothers think Binyamin was guilty of this theft? Or would they realize he was innocent?
Based on our questions and discussions, we come up with some very important lessons and takeaways for our own lives!
...more
29min
December 15, 2022S1E9 Vayeshev 2022
In this week's episode, we learn how to behave towards others- even in situations that are challenging.
Yosef's mother died when he was young. When someone grows up without a parent, they are considered a yasom, or orphan. The Torah tells us to be extra careful when it comes to treating a yasom kindly. Unfortunately, Yosef's brothers did not think about this enough.

Taking the perspective of others, and trying to figure out why they behave the way they do, can only help us. If Yosef's brothers had been willing to consider his perspective, perhaps they could have made peace. Instead, they ended up selling him into slavery and causing their father intense pain.

Even when we make terrible mistakes, we can learn from them. We see this through Yehuda's growth in this parsha. Yehuda is the one who advises his brothers to sell the slaves- but later becomes the one who learns to relate to Yaaakov's pain.

God is always with us, even when human beings are being cruel to us. God was with Yosef when no one else was.

It's important to do the right thing even when no one is watching. Potiphar's wife wanted Yosef to marry her, and Yosef could have done it secretly. But he knew God would not like this, and so he did not.

Gratitude is so important. If the cupbearer had remembered to act on his gratitude towards Yosef, Yosef would not have needed to remain in prison!
Based on our questions and discussions, we come up with some very important lessons and takeaways for our own lives!
...more
29min
December 07, 2022S1E8 Vayishlach 2022
In this week's episode, we learn what to do when faced with a crisis. There are several crises in this parsha:
When it seems like Esav is about to attack, Yaakov must determine what to do. In the end, he combines practical steps to preserve his family with a spiritual focus, praying to God for salvation.

Similarly, when Yaakov is attacked by an unknown figure, it turns out to be a blessing in disguise. Yaakov remains level-headed throughout the encounter, not allowing his fear to rule him.

When Dinah is harmed and kidnapped, Yaakov and his sons disagree about the best approach. After learning more, you can consider what *you* would have done in that situation.

When Rachel dies in childbirth, Yaaakov makes sure to rename his son, recognizing the name she had originally bestowed upon the child was given out of pain.
Based on our questions and discussions, we come up with some very important lessons and takeaways for our own lives!
...more
22min
November 30, 2022S1E7 Vayetze 2022
In this week's episode, we learn how to navigate tricky and complicated situations. When Yaakov ran away from Esav, he escaped to his uncle Lavan's house. Unfortunately, Lavan was not a trustworthy person. Over the course of this parsha, we learn about some important concepts including:
Middah Kneged Middah- Measure for measure. Sometimes, even when people have the best intentions, their actions may come back to haunt them. This is exactly what happened to Yaakov in this week's parsha.

How should we act when we feel angry? Yaakov received some shocking and upsetting news and he modeled how to behave appropriately in the face of it.

When people act in a tricky or inappropriate way, should we act similarly? Yaakov demonstrates that we should not, and that honesty is the best policy, even when other people are not making the right choice.
Based on our questions and discussions, we come up with some very important lessons and takeaways for our own lives!
...more
27min
November 23, 2022S1E6 Toldot 2022
In this week's episode, we learn about the impact of keeping secrets. Both Rivka and Yaaakov chose not to break Yitzchak's heart by revealing Esav's flaws- but their choices led to a lot of pain.
We also address:
Why did Yitzchok and Rivka pray for a child from opposite sides of the room?

What information did Rivka have that Yitzchok did not possess?

When Yaakov tested Esav, did Esav fail or pass the test?

Can people who commit evil acts still have good qualities?

How can we communicate well in our own families?
Based on our questions and discussions, we come up with some very important lessons and takeaways for our own lives!
...more
32min
November 16, 2022S1E5 Chayei Sarah 2022
In this week's episode, we focus on women. We consider the death of Sarah, Avraham's wife, the marriage of Yitzchak to Rivka, a woman who was similar to Avraham in many ways, and Avraham's later marriage to a woman called Keturah, whom Rashi says was Hagar.
We also address:
Why does the Torah spend so much time describing how Avraham purchased a burial place for Sarah?

Where do we get the custom of swearing on something holy, like the Bible?

What qualities made Rivka the right wife for Yitzchak?

Was Rivka's brother, Lavan, like his righteous sister- or not?

How is it possible that both Yishmael and Yitzchak buried their father Avraham? Hadn't Yishmael been sent away?
Based on our questions and discussions, we come up with some very important lessons and takeaways for our own lives!
...more
20min

FAQs about Parsha for Kids:

How many episodes does Parsha for Kids have?

The podcast currently has 55 episodes available.