Chaburat Taryag: Parshas Shemini

Hello, dear children! It's Saba Kadisha. Oy, oy, oy! Last week we learned about the seven days of the Miluim. And this week, at last, the eighth day arrives. Sunday after school, the four friends came like every week to Saba Kadisha's room. This week we have a big, special parsha, and it has three things every kid needs to know. Three? Star-counter ready. A star for each one. Easy! Number one: for seven days, Aharon and his sons waited and prepared. And this week, at last, the eighth day came. Aharon did the avodah in the Mishkan for the first time, with great joy. Moshe and Aharon came out of the Ohel Moed and blessed all of Israel. Then a fire came out from before Hashem and rested on the wood on the mizbe'ach. This fire showed everyone that Hashem was with them in the Mishkan. All of Israel saw the fire and understood: Hashem loves the Mishkan they built. When they saw it, they were filled with joy, and they bowed down to Hashem. Children, when we prepare for a mitzvah for a long time and then at last we get to do it, what joy! We're happy with the mitzvah with all our heart. Simcha b'mitzvos! One star! Number two: That same day, something very sad also happened. And Aharon was silent. Vayidom Aharon: he accepted what Hashem did with emunah. Aharon didn't understand everything, but he knew that Hashem loves him and that everything Hashem does is for the good, like a little child who trusts his father even when he doesn't understand. Because of his silence, Hashem spoke to Aharon alone and gave him a special mitzvah: when the kohanim work in the Mishkan, they don't drink wine. Children, even when something doesn't go our way, we know: gam zu l'tovah, this too is for the good. Hashem always loves us. Two stars! And number three: Hashem taught Moshe and Aharon which animals we may eat. A kosher animal needs two signs: split hooves, and it chews its cud. A hoof that is split in two, and it brings up its food to chew it again, like the cow and the sheep. And there are also birds we may not eat. Hashem gave us these mitzvos so that we will be holy. And fish need fins and scales. Fins to swim, and scales, like a small, shiny coat. Some fish have no scales, and those we don't eat. Children, our mouth is holy, so we pay attention to what goes into it. So we check what we eat. Three stars! The counter is full! And just then, Gadi came into Saba Kadisha's room with a small book in his hands. All week he had learned a perek of Mishnayos by heart. So here is this week's mission: One: be happy with mitzvos. Two: accept everything with emunah. And three: pay attention to what goes into your mouth. My gadget says: a mitzvah done with joy is a double mitzvah. Wow, Gadi, well done! On Shabbos I'm going to say the whole perek at the table. But Gadi got a little nervous. What if he forgets? Then he remembered Aharon, who prepared for seven days and did the avodah with joy. Gadi, you learned this all week. Now just be happy. My gadget says: good preparation brings great joy. And on Shabbos, Gadi said the whole perek with great joy, and his father smiled a big smile. And the first star lit up. On Tuesday, the friends planned a trip to the park. But in the morning, heavy rain started, and the trip was cancelled. The friends were a little sad. Oof, why today of all days? Gadi: Gam zu l'tovah, this too is for the good! So they stayed with Saba Kadisha and heard a fascinating story from him. And it was a very happy day. In the end, Gadi said: Really, this too was for the good. And the second star lit up. Later, Rubi took out a new snack he got from a friend. He was hungry after a long day and already wanted to open it. Wait, Rubi! Does it have a hechsher? Rubi checked and didn't find a hechsher. So he put the snack aside and took a red apple instead. And the third star lit up. My gadget says: what goes into the mouth is very important. And at the end, the friends and Saba Kadisha sang a happy niggun together. Friends, this week we were happy with mitzvos, we said gam zu l'tovah, and we checked what we eat. Three stars! The mission is complete! On Shabbos night, at the table, the friends told about the fire that came down from Heaven, about Aharon, who accepted everything with emunah, and about the signs of kosher animals and fish. Dear children, this week we learned to be happy with mitzvos, to accept everything with emunah, and to pay attention to what goes into our mouth. Hashem loves you. And next week we'll learn about what comes out of the mouth. What's that? We'll see next week! And now, thank you for watching with us, and Shabbat shalom! And next week we'll learn that the words that come out of our mouth need to be clean too. How do we guard our mouth? We'll find out next week!