"When you shall come to the Land and you shall plant any food tree, you shall treat its fruit as orlah; for three years it shall be orlah to you, they shall not be eaten. In the fourth year, all its fruit shall be sanctified lauding to Hashem. And in the fifth year you may eat its fruit- in order to increase its crop for you- I am Hashem, your G-d." ~Vayikra 19;23-25
Rashi explains on 19;23: "...three years it shall be orlah to you..."
From when does he begin to count the three years for it? From the time of its planting, i.e., from the time that it was planted.
Counting:
The first number sets that we learn, beginning from a very young age, are the set of counting numbers- 1, 2, 3,...- and the set of whole numbers- 0, 1, 2, 3... We learn that when we have none of something, we label that as 0, and when we count items, we assign each item a number in counting order, and we can label the whole group with the number of items using the highest counting number used to count the group. So, if I have a group of pens, the first one is 1, the second one is 2, and so on. If I count up to 13 in labeling them all, then I would say that I have 13 pens.
When counting the passage of time, we enter into a more complex concept, which can be difficult to understand. Just like with other units of measurement (pounds, inches, etc.), "0" indicates that no time has passed, but we don't have "1" until we reach one completed unit of time. So, if we're counting days, the beginning of the counting of time would be 0 days. However, we cannot count 1 day until a full 24 hours has passed, we cannot count 2 days until a full 48 hours has passed, and so on.
So how do we refer to the time in between? There are two ways of dealing with this. The first way, similar to other units of measure, is to break the intermediate time into either fractions (5/24 of a day, 1/2 of a day, etc.) or a smaller unit of measure (hours, minutes, etc.). With this method, 8 hours after the first full day would be 1 and 8/24 days or 1 and 1/3 days. The second way is to refer to the entire time in between two full cycles as "the 1st day", "the 2nd day", etc. So, from the moment we start counting the days, 0-24 hrs is labeled as the 1st day, but we only have 1 complete day after a full 24 hours. After 24 hours, we are then in the 2nd day, but we only have 2 complete days after a full 48 hours. After 48 hours, we are then in the 3rd day, but we only have 3 complete days after a full 72 hours. And so on...
Parsha Connection:
When we look at the directions we are given related to orlah, we are told that fruit from trees may not be eaten for three years, in the fourth year the fruit is given to Hashem, and in the fifth year it may be eaten. So how do we know when to start counting? Rashi explains that we start counting from the time that the seeds are planted. Now Rashi has given us our 0 point. One year later, we can count 1 yr; after a full cycle of another year, we can count 2 yrs; and finally after one more full cycle of a year, we can count 3 yrs. During this time, any fruit that is harvested may not be benefited from in any way. After we have counted 3 full, complete years, we are then "in the fourth year". Using our understanding of counting time to understand the verse, it seems that once we have counted 3 complete years, we will then be "in the fourth year". At this point, fruit may be harvested, and throughout this 4th year, the fruit is all sanctified to Hashem. Once we count the 4th complete year, then we enter into the 5th year, at which time we can eat the fruit ourselves.
Everyday Connection:
Have you ever noticed how children (and even some adults) get flustered when they try to figure out how old they are in between birthdays? Or how to refer to the age of a newborn baby in its first year of life? The next time you find yourself trying to calculate the age of something, try thinking about it as explained above, and see if that helps make more sense of it.
So, for example, that newborn baby is in his/her 1st year of life from the moment that they're born all the way until their 1st birthday. The day after their birthday, they begin their 2nd year of life, which continues all the way until their 2nd birthday (signifying 2 completed years of life).
Thursday, April 24, 2014
Friday, April 11, 2014
Acharei Mot- Compare & Contrast
"From the assembly of the Children of Israel he shall take two he-goats for a sin-offering and one ram for an olah-offering. Aaron shall bring near his own sin-offering bull, and atone for himself and for his household." ~Vayikra 16;5-6
"He shall take two he-goats and stand them before Hashem, at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting. Aaron shall place lots upon the two he-goats: one lot 'to Hashem' and one lot 'to Azazel'. Aaron shall bring near the he-goat designated by lot to Hashem, and he shall make it a sin-offering. And the he-goat designated by lot to Azazel shall be stood alive before Hashem, to atone upon it, to send it to Azazel to the wilderness." ~Vayikra 16;7-10
"He shall slaughter the sin-offering he-goat of the people, and bring its blood within the Curtain; he shall do with its blood as he had done with the blood of the bull, and sprinkle it upon the Ark-cover and in front of the Ark-cover. Thus shall he bring atonement upon the Sanctuary for the impurities of the Children of Israel, and for their willful sins among all their sins; and so shall he do for the Tent of Meeting that dwells with them amid their impurity. Any person shall not be in the Tent of Meeting when he comes to provide atonement in the Sactuary until his departure; he shall provide atonement for himself, for his household, and for the entire congregation of Israel.
He shall go out to the Mizbe'ach that is before Hashem, and make atonement upon it: He shall take from the blood of the bull and from the blood of the he-goat and place it on the horns of the Mizbe'ach all around. He shall sprinkle upon it from the blood with his finger seven times; and he shall purify it and sanctify it from the impurities of the Children of Israel.
When he is finished atoning for the Sanctuary, the Tent of Meeting, and the Mizbe'ach, he shall bring the living he-goat near. Aaron shall lean his two hands upon the head of the living he-goat and confess upon it all the iniquities of the Children of Israel, and all their rebellious sins among all their sins, and place them upon the head of the he-goat, and send it with a timely man to the desert. The he-goat will bear upon itself all of their iniquities to a cut land, and he should send away the he-goat to the desert." ~Vayikra 16;15-22
In continuing with the on-going theme of organization of information, this week we'll compare similarities and differences between the 2 goats that they Kohen brings for Yom Kippur atonement. Rather than using a Venn Diagram, as we've done in the past, this week we'll use a compare and contrast chart to organize our information.
We begin by making a chart with 3 columns- 1 column to list the different attributes which we will compare across each category, and a separate column for each category that will be compared.
Next, we create a list of the different aspects of goat which we will compare. When creating this list, it helps to look critically at each category, one at a time, and create a list of attributes for that category. Then, for the next category, scan your existing list for each attribute, and add any attributes that are new to the end of the list.
Last, we go through the lists and mark-off which attributes apply to which categories.
For those who find it easier, you can mark the lists simultaneously while creating the attribute list in the chart. This way, as you are finding the attributes, you just add a check-mark to all categories that apply and you are able to fill out the chart simultaneously while you are actually creating it.
Once the chart is complete, we can easily look at each individual attribute to see the categories to which the attribute applies. This type of chart is particularly helpful when comparing multiple categories or items for which specific attributes are important to you. This allows you to quickly identify an attribute and scan through the chart to see which categories are relevant to the attribute on which you are focusing. As with many of our recent topics, organizational tools and logical thinking are critical in math, but they also extend beyond math into so many other areas of life.
"He shall take two he-goats and stand them before Hashem, at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting. Aaron shall place lots upon the two he-goats: one lot 'to Hashem' and one lot 'to Azazel'. Aaron shall bring near the he-goat designated by lot to Hashem, and he shall make it a sin-offering. And the he-goat designated by lot to Azazel shall be stood alive before Hashem, to atone upon it, to send it to Azazel to the wilderness." ~Vayikra 16;7-10
"He shall slaughter the sin-offering he-goat of the people, and bring its blood within the Curtain; he shall do with its blood as he had done with the blood of the bull, and sprinkle it upon the Ark-cover and in front of the Ark-cover. Thus shall he bring atonement upon the Sanctuary for the impurities of the Children of Israel, and for their willful sins among all their sins; and so shall he do for the Tent of Meeting that dwells with them amid their impurity. Any person shall not be in the Tent of Meeting when he comes to provide atonement in the Sactuary until his departure; he shall provide atonement for himself, for his household, and for the entire congregation of Israel.
He shall go out to the Mizbe'ach that is before Hashem, and make atonement upon it: He shall take from the blood of the bull and from the blood of the he-goat and place it on the horns of the Mizbe'ach all around. He shall sprinkle upon it from the blood with his finger seven times; and he shall purify it and sanctify it from the impurities of the Children of Israel.
When he is finished atoning for the Sanctuary, the Tent of Meeting, and the Mizbe'ach, he shall bring the living he-goat near. Aaron shall lean his two hands upon the head of the living he-goat and confess upon it all the iniquities of the Children of Israel, and all their rebellious sins among all their sins, and place them upon the head of the he-goat, and send it with a timely man to the desert. The he-goat will bear upon itself all of their iniquities to a cut land, and he should send away the he-goat to the desert." ~Vayikra 16;15-22
In continuing with the on-going theme of organization of information, this week we'll compare similarities and differences between the 2 goats that they Kohen brings for Yom Kippur atonement. Rather than using a Venn Diagram, as we've done in the past, this week we'll use a compare and contrast chart to organize our information.
We begin by making a chart with 3 columns- 1 column to list the different attributes which we will compare across each category, and a separate column for each category that will be compared.
Next, we create a list of the different aspects of goat which we will compare. When creating this list, it helps to look critically at each category, one at a time, and create a list of attributes for that category. Then, for the next category, scan your existing list for each attribute, and add any attributes that are new to the end of the list.
Last, we go through the lists and mark-off which attributes apply to which categories.
For those who find it easier, you can mark the lists simultaneously while creating the attribute list in the chart. This way, as you are finding the attributes, you just add a check-mark to all categories that apply and you are able to fill out the chart simultaneously while you are actually creating it.
Once the chart is complete, we can easily look at each individual attribute to see the categories to which the attribute applies. This type of chart is particularly helpful when comparing multiple categories or items for which specific attributes are important to you. This allows you to quickly identify an attribute and scan through the chart to see which categories are relevant to the attribute on which you are focusing. As with many of our recent topics, organizational tools and logical thinking are critical in math, but they also extend beyond math into so many other areas of life.
Thursday, April 3, 2014
Metzora- Following Directions (with a bonus flow chart)
This week's post is based on Vayikra 14;33-57. It is the section of the parsha where Hashem tells Moshe and Aaron how to handle cases of tzara'at on the structure of a person's home.
Continuing in my theme of graphs and charts, this week we'll look at how to make sense of the information given by converting it into a direction based format. How can we break down the information into step-by-step instructions for a person or Kohen to follow? Processing information by following step-by-step instruction (younger grades) or by breaking it down into its basic steps (older grades) is a skill that is critical for learning logical thinking (younger grades) and then for creating logical solutions to solve problems (older grades).
Following Directions:
While helpful in many areas in life, being able to follow a given direction is an important tool for success in math. Given the logical, step-by-step nature of mathematics, establishing a process and following through with that process is a necessary skill for working through problems and developing methods for problem solving.
Parsha Connection:
In this week's parsha, Hashem gives Moshe and Aaron step-by-step directions for how to handle a case of tzara'at that is detected in the structure of a house. In order to "cure" the spiritual disease, it is important for the afflicted and for the Kohen to follow a specific order of directions. Let's break it down into the individual steps.
1) "...the one to whom the house belongs shall come and declare to the Kohen, saying: Something like an affliction has appeared to me in the house." ~Vayikra 14;35
2) "The Kohen shall command, and they shall clear the house when the Kohen has not yet come to look at the affliction, so that everything in the house should not become impure;" ~Vayikra 14;36
3) "...and afterward shall the Kohen come to look at the house." ~Vayikra 14;36
4) "He shall look at the affliction and behold!- the affliction is in the walls of the house, depressed, deep greens or deep reds; and their appearance is lower than the wall." ~Vayikra 14;37
5) "The Kohen shall exit from the house to the entrance of the house;" ~Vayikra 14;38
6) "...and he shall close off the house for a seven-day period." ~Vayikra 14;38
7) "The Kohen shall return on the seventh day; he shall look and behold!- the affliction had spread in the walls of the house." ~Vayikra 14;39
8) "The Kohen shall command, and they shall remove the stones that contain the affliction, and they shall cast them outside the city onto an impure place." ~Vayikra 14;40
9) "And the house shall be scraped from within, all around; the mortar that they have scraped at the edges they are to pour outside the city onto an impure place." ~Vayikra 14;41
10) "They shall take other stones and bring them in place of the stones; and they shall take other mortar and plaster the house." ~Vayikra 14;41
Bonus: A Flowchart- Did the tzara'at return? (Vayikra 14;43-53)
At the end of the section about tzara'at in the home, we have information about how to determine if the home has been "cured" of tzara'at or if it is still present. This information can be organized nicely into the flowchart below.
