JCC Association's Early Childhood Curriculum Project 'This New Month'

	January 30 - February 27 2006

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This Month's Torah Portions:

Overview
The Departure From Egypt
The Miracle of the Manna
The Miracle of Drinking Water
Jethro

The Miracle of Drinking Water
Exodus Chapter 17, Verses 2, 4 and 6

Chapter 17, Verses 2 and 4:

Vyarev Ha'am Eem Moshe, Vayomru: Tinu Lanu Mayeem Vineeshteh, Vayomer Lahem Moshe: Ma Tireevuen Eemadee- Ma Tinasuen Et Hashem? Vayeetzak Moshe El Hashem Leimor: Ma Eh'ehseh La'am hazeh, Od Mi'at U'sikalunee."

And the nation argued with Moses and they said: give us water and we will drink, and Moses said to them: why are you arguing with me- why are you testing G-D? And Moses cried out to G-D saying: what should I do for this nation- a little more and they will stone me.

Overview of the Biblical Text:

The Jews traveled through the desert following the cloud and fire of G-D which guided them. When they arrived at a place called Rephidim, there was no water at all for them to drink. The people became annoyed at Moses and complained to him that it would have been better to remain enslaved in Egypt than to die of thirst in the desert. Moses, in turn, directed their complaints to G-D.

Chapter 17, Verse 6:

Heeninee Omeid Lifanecha Sham Al Hatzur Bichoreiv Viheekeeta Vatzur Viyatz'u Meemenu Mayyem Vishata Ha'am, Vaya'as Kein Moshe Li'einei Zeeknei Yisrael."

G-D speaks to Moses saying: "Behold, I will stand before you at the rock in Horeb and you will hit the rock and water will come out of it so that the nation can drink, and Moses did so before the eyes of the elders of Israel".

Overview of the Biblical Text:

After to listening to Moses, G-D performed another miracle for the Children of Israel. This time G-D told Moses to take his stick and hit a certain dry rock with it. Moses did so and immediately water began to flow from it so that the people were able to drink. Rashi tells us that this water traveled with the Jews through the desert for forty years.

G-D wanted the people of Israel to realize that He performed a special miracle for them. Rashi tells us that this is why G-D told Moses to take along the elders with him when he went to hit the rock. They served as witnesses that there had not previously been any spring water at the site of the rock prior to Moses hitting it.

Discussion Questions:

Why did the Jews get so angry about not having water?
Where does the water that we drink come from?

Activity Ideas:

Water Exploration- Explore various water sources. Visit a reservoir or water supply holding tank. Research the size and holding ability of that particular plant. Discuss how much water is needed per person per day. Estimate how much water the entire school would need for a) one day b)one week c)one year.