Lesson 17

Lesson 16

Lesson 15

What was the primary sin of the people who lived in the generation of Noach and the flood?

Why were these people punished more severely than the generation of the people who built the tower of Bavel?

There are many different types of stealing, some of which are unfortunately very common, can you list a few examples of things that we need to be aware of?  

Lesson 14

What happens to the souls of the bride and groom under the Chupa?

This is why Hashem doesn't allow anyone else to get in the way of a married couple's life. The husband and wife need to be faithful and committed only to eachother.

Lesson 13

Why does embarrassing someone go into the category of death?

What can we learn from Rochel and Yosef?

When giving Charity, why is it better for the poor person not to know who the money is from?

Why do we cover the Challa at our Shabbat meals?

Lesson 12

We began learning about the sixth one of the Aseret Hadibrot which is "Do not kill." We spoke about the value of life and we discussed that each and every person that G-d created is different and each person has a unique mission on this earth.

Why is saving a life compared to saving a whole world?

Lesson 11

We learnt that the Aseret Hadibrot are divided into two categories. The first five are between man and Hashem and the second five are between man and man. Why is the Dibrah of honoring our parents part of the first category?

How can a person honor his or her parents after they pass away?

Lesson 10

Mushka Gourarie and her classmates made a beautiful performance called "A Mother's Prayer." They sang songs about a mother praying for her child at every stage in his or her life.

When a child realizes how much their parents do and care for them they will be happy to honor, respect and help their parents in any way they can!

Mushka Gourarie helping her Mommy by holding her sister Shaina.


The Gourarie kids helping their Mommy make dinner.

Please share what you have done to show honor and respect for your parents!

Photos can be sent to Chanie@Chabadtomsriver.com.

Honoring Shabbos is something we can do!

Shaina Gourarie helps peel the potatoes for the cholent, a traditional Shabbat food.



Devorah Leah Gourarie helps bake a cake to honor Shabbat.

Send your picture to Chanie@Chabadtomsriver.com

Yosef Mokir Shabbat

Yosef Mokir Shabbat

(based on tractate Shabbat 119a)

There was once a man called Yosef. Yosef
loved the Sabbath and honored it very much.
Everyone called him, "Yosef Mokir Shabbat,"
for Shabbat was very dear to him.

Near Yosef's house there lived a wealthy Gentile
who owned a lot of property.

One day the non-Jew visited his sages, the
stargazers. They said to him:
"We see in the starts that all of your property
will go to Yosef Mokir Shabbat."

The Gentile was afraid of losing all his wealth.
He went and bought a very precious jewel with
all of his money. He took a fancy hat and
sewed the jewel upon it.

He thought to himself: "Now I am sure that
my wealth will remain in my hands, for it
rests upon my head all the time."

But G-d in heaven decreed differently.
One day the non-Jew went for a walk on a bridge.
Suddenly, a strong wind came and blew the
hat into the water.

A huge fish appeared and swallowed
the jewel from the hat.

On Friday afternoon the fish was caught by
the fishermen. They brought it to market but
they worried: Who would buy such a gigantic
fish - especially since by this time, everyone
had already prepared fish for Shabbat?

One of the fishermen said, "Take the fish to
Yosef Mokir Shabbat. He will surely buy such
a special fish, even if he has already prepared
other fish."

The fishermen went to Yosef Mokir Shabbat
and he bought the fish.

Yosef hurried to prepare the fish in honor of
Shabbat. He took a knife and opened the fish.

And behold! Inside the fish's belly Yosef found
the precious jewel!

After Shabbat Yosef sold the jewel for a lot of
money. An old man met him and said,
"If someone lends to the Sabbath,
the Sabbath will pay him back."

Lesson 9

Friday night at sunset is the beginning of Shabbat. There are special rituals and customs for this holy day, including lighting candles and reciting the Kiddush.

Kiddush is from the same word as Kadosh – holy. The Kiddush is a prayer that we say over a cup full of wine in which we acknowledge the holiness of this day. We acknowledge that G-d created the world in six days and rested on the seventh. G-d gave the holy day of Shabbat as a gift to his holy nation, the Jewish people.