Parshas Yisro

 

Watch a 20 second summary of Parshat Yisro. You can download these adorable puppets by clicking here! The set includes the entire Sefer Shemot. We also have coloring pages available here.

Yisro Parsha Summary

• This week, we learned about the aseres hadibros - the 10 commandments in depth. We went through each commandment with puppet shows and stories.  We discussed different ways to honor our  parents, we talked about lying and who lied in the Torah. The students really remembered. From examples of Terach lying about the idols, to Pharaoh lying about letting the Jewish people go and Dasan and Aviram. We spoke about what jealousy is and how to be happy for our friends. We worked a lot on reviewing the numbers 1-10. We did a lot of counting activities.
• We learned about how Hashem chose a mountain to give the Torah on. We spoke about being humble and not bragging. We also learned how Hashem offered the Torah to the other nations, but they didn’t want it. Only the Jewish people said נעשה ונשמע“” - we will do and we will hear.
• We talked about Shabbos and how we keep Shabbos. We made special covers for the light switch to use on Shabbos so that we don’t accidentally turn off/on the light.
• We spoke about jealousy. We brought up different examples and the children helped tell the stories and find good solutions.

 

I had different students come up to illustrate each of the 10 commandments as I taught them.

Parshas Yisro Craft - Shabbat light switch covers

We made special covers for the light switch to use on Shabbos so that we don’t accidentally turn off/on the light. We used foam or felt and decorated it however the children wanted. They wrote the letters שבת on it and we sent it home with velcro attached.

Materials needed:

• small foam rectangles or felt
• various decorating materials (sequins, foam shapes etc.)
• markers, glitter glue or paint
• velcro for the back

Write out the letters שבת and have the kids write it on their own. Then they can decorate it as they wish. Add velcro to the back so they can stick it on their light switch at home.

Velcro on the back

Parsha Drawing Journal

Every week, we draw a picture of the parsha (I always did it before shabbos party after reviewing the parsha of the week) and send it home at the end of the Chumash. I love that the children get to tell the story of the parsha in their own words. It is remarkable to see how much their handwriting and drawing skills improve from the beginning to the end of the book.

Click Here to download the Shemos drawing journal.

Parsha Songs

Click here for a parsha song.

I am your Hashem, I brought you from Mitzrayim

No other shall you serve, my Mitzvos observe

You shall not use in vain, Hashem’s holy name

Remember the Shabbos day, keep it a special way.

Honor your parents too, long life Hashem will give you

You shall not kill, that is Hashem’s will

You shall be moral and true, believe in the Mitzvos you do

Do not steal, when with others you deal

False witness never be, you must live truthfully

Don’t be jealous of your friend’s life, his things or his wife

The Torah Hashem did give, a guide for us to live

To Hashem always be true, because you are a Jew

Hashem gave us a present,

Do you know what it was?

He gave us the Torah, so we can do Mitzvos.

He asked the other people, do you want this gift of mine?

But they said, “No thank you, for Torah we’ve no time!”

Then to Bnai Yisroel, Hashem did go,

We said Naaseh V’nishmah because we love Hashem so!

 

I am a mountain so very high,

I can reach way up to the sky,

The Torah should be given on me,

‘Cuz I am the tallest of all, you see!

Oh no! I am much wider than you,

And there are so many things I can do,

The Torah should be given on me,

‘Cuz I am the strongest of all you see!

But little Har Sinai was so polite

She knew it was wrong to brag and to fight

She stood by so kindly, filled with respect

It was humble har sinai that Hashem did select.