Many months before Covid-19 closed our school, students embarked  on a year long study of the census we called "Everybody Counts." For the  next two weeks this podcast will share peeks into our classrooms  where young learners engaged in text study as they shared questions,  connections, inferences, and predictions when presented with the Torah's  many depictions of the use and dangers of counting people.

Many months before the Coronavirus closed our school, students embarked on a year long study of the census we called "Everybody Counts." For the next three weeks this podcast will share peeks into our classrooms where young learners engaged in text study as they shared questions, connections, inferences, and predictions when presented with the Torah's many depictions of the use and dangers of counting people.

Parashat Ki Tissa returns us to Moshe in quarantine (from the Italian word meaning "space of 40 days") on Mount Sinai as he prepares to bring down the two tablets inscribed with the 10 commandments.

As we, in California, are in quarantine as well, we were not able to conduct our usual intimate study session with three students of various ages. So we offer this class study as an alternative.

Parashat Tetzaveh is a fashion mavens dream of a portion. Detailed descriptions of the sacred garments to be worn by the Kohanim are followed by an ornate ordination ceremony.

Parashat Terumah includes a set of instructions for the precise construction of the Mishkah, the portable tabernacle the Israelites carried with them through their desert wanderings.

Parashat Mishpatim is a carefully constructed compendium of laws intended to instruct the traveling Israelites (and the modern reader) on proper punishment for a variety of misdeeds.

Parashat Beshalach describes the Israelite's crossing of the Reed Sea and the whining and complaining that soon follows.   

Parashat Bo describes the last three plagues in Egypt and Pharaoh's final capitulation.

Parashat Va'era  begins the showdown between Moses (& Aaron) and Pharaoh, between the God of Israel and the Gods of Egypt, between a slave uprising and an intransigent ruler.

Parashat Shmot begins the book of Exodus. Shortly after the Israelites are enslaved by the Egyptian Pharaoh, a baby destined to lead the slaves to freedom is born, hidden, adopted and raised all within a few verses.