YALDAH GIRL FUN!

Here's where YALDAH readers and all Jewish girls can get interesting reading, fun ideas, and more!

Friday, April 4, 2008

Dvar Torah for Parshat Tazria

The quiet clank of knives and forks on plates was testimony to the delicious supper. The Cohen family sat together, enjoying the steamy meatballs and spaghetti. Ben, with a thoughtful look on his face, broke the silence.

"Why do crabs need to break out of their old shells in order to grow bigger?"

His older sister, Rachel, gave him a glare. "David! We're eeeeaaaating."

"Seriously," David persisted in his questioning. "It must be painful—imagine having to shed your comfy shell… Our biology teacher just laughed at my question today, but I really mean it!"

Rachel was about to launch into a lecture about how biology should never be mentioned at the dinner table, when she noticed their father clearing his throat.

"You know," Mr. Cohen began, "your question is actually connected to this week's Torah reading." David blushed with pride. "I didn't realize it had anything to do with the reading of Tazria!"

"Oh yes," his father continued. "Let's see…what does Tazria talk about?"

Rachel leaned forward with interest. "It's all about tzara'at. That was a skin disease somewhat similar to leprosy that the Jews used to get if they spoke negatively about someone else, lashon hara. They would have to leave the camp or the city and remain outside until their tzara'at was cured."

Mr. Cohen smiled. "True, whoever got tzara'at needed to leave the encampment. How do think that person felt?"

"Painful, hurt, humiliated... hey, are you comparing them to crabs?!" Ben looked at his Dad. "How could you? The crabs are going through the pain to grow—something good is happening. And… I mean… someone who got tzara'at needed to go through the pain as a punishment! There's no comparison!"

Rubbing his hands together, Mr. Cohen looked at his two children. "It may seem like there is no similarity between a crab and someone with tzara'at—but there is. Tzara'at may seem like a punishment, but it is in fact a cleanser. At the end, only good came out of it—the person became a changed man!"

"I get it," Ben exclaimed, "The punishment was not so terrible, because in the end, there was an improvement—he became like a new person!"

"Bingo! The name of the Torah reading, Tazria, which means "to plant," is also a hint to this, teaching us that something new and positive comes from hardship. You plant the seed in the ground, it autodestructs, and then you get something new growing."

They all sat there in silence, until Rachel summed it up: "No pain, no gain!"


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A Joke...

What kind of a bank does a penguin go to?
       

A snowbank.

Thursday, April 3, 2008

Opportunity


When one door closes, another door opens. - Alexander Graham Bell. 
If you fail on something, now you see that possibility is canceled out, so just try again! Everything was planned by Hashem and meant to happen.

Wednesday, April 2, 2008

Tuesday, April 1, 2008

Banana Popsicle

Ingredients:
Banana
Popsicle Stick
Chocolate, Chopped Nuts, Sprinkles or crushed Graham Crackers

Directions:
Take a banana and slice it in half. Stick the popsicle stick into the bottom of the banana. Melt chocolate chips (with adult's help). Spread melted chocolate on the banana. Dip the banana in sprinkles, chopped nuts, or crushed graham crackers (or all three!). Put in the freezer on a sheet of wax paper until hard. Enjoy!
*You can also make this recipe without the chocolate, and dip the banana directly in the toppings - it is just harder for them to stick. 

Monday, March 31, 2008

Star of David Picture Frame

What you need: 
6 popsicle sticks 
glue or glue gun 
anything to decorate it with 
ribbon (optional) 

Directions:
1. Glue the popsicle sticks together to make two separate triangles (each should be made with 3 popsicle sticks) 
2. Glue both triangles together (one pointing up and the other opposite) 
3. Decorate it anyway you like! When it's dry glue a picture in the middle and tie a ribbon to it and hang it up! 

Sunday, March 30, 2008

Survey of the Week

What's your favorite clothing accessory? Post your answers in the comments section.