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SHABBAT SHALOM, HAGESHER!!! **see bottom of email for an AMAZING list of SHABBAT FRIENDLY GAMES!! Candle lighting: 5:01 pm Havdalah: 6:02 pm This week we read parashat Mishpatim. This week's d'var was written by the amazingly awesome Rel/Ed RGB member Becka Lefkoe!! In this week's parasha, Mishpatim, God tells the people of Israel his many laws and commandments. These are the big man's "Rules and Guidelines if you want really want to be a Jew". Totaling 53 in all, the new mitzvot are quite overwhelming to our wandering ancestors, who have lived without much constraint the past 40 years. There are rules and punishments about stealing, murdering, kidnapping. Then there are the laws about servants and loans. He even adds on the commandments about observing holidays and keeping kashrut. So many laws it would make your head spin! But let's focus in on a specific law about revenge. If a man kills another, then they "shall give a life for a life, an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, a hand for a hand, a foot for a foot. A burn for a burn, a wound for a wound, a bruise for a bruise. And if a man strikes the eye of his manservant or the eye of his maidservant and destroys it, he shall set him free in return for his eye. And if he knocks out the tooth of his manservant or the tooth of his maidservant, he shall set him free in return for his tooth." (Those history buffs out there might recognize the "eye for an eye" passage also from Hammurabi's Code, Mesopotamia 1760 BC. If you did, extra points for you!) Complete retribution, God tells us. That means if I break your nose by accident when I pushed you into the pool, you rightfully can then break my nose in return? It doesn't sound too nice, but God commands us! Do you think revenge should be taken this seriously? If I hurt you, you should then hurt me? By Jewish law then, many of these criminals tried in American courts would get immediate death penalty. No questions asked. Is this fair? And if isn't fair now, how could God ask the Jews so long ago to live by those same rules? Questions: 1. What does the torah command if a bull kills a man or woman? And what if the owner of the bull had been told of the bull's behavoir before? (3 points) 2. What does Mishpatim say about how are we supposed to treat strangers? (3 points) 3. If you could add one more law to Mishpatim, what would it be? (5 points) **please send all answers to sarahjaye1@aol.com Have a wonderful and relaxing Shabbat!! B'vracha, Sarah Richman Religion/Education VP Shabbat Friendly Games * Taboo * Set (Card game) * PDQ (Card game) * Time's Up (Card game) * Settlers of Catan * Rummikub * Monopoly * Mad Gab * Tri bond * Uno (Card game) * Othello * Connect 4 * Parchese * Poker or Texas Hold'Em, if the synagogue agrees * Sorry * Twister * Bananagrams * Scruples * Trivial Pursuit * Scrabble * Cranium * Sequence * Mancala * The Jewish version of Apples to Apples What is your favorite Shabbat friendly game (does not have to be from the above list)? (5 bonus points)

Hey USY!!! Who is excited for the Har Zion dance next weekend??!! I know I am! But what can make the dance 10 times better? SOCIAL ACTION!! Help Har Zion out by bringing socks to the dance next weekend!!! The socks will go the children of TIKVA, a Jewish home for children in Odessa. TIKVA’s mission is to care for the homeless, abandoned and abused Jewish Children of the Odessa region of Ukraine. TIKVA provides; a loving home, essential social services, a first-rate education in the environs of a re-emerging Jewish community, and an opportunity for a brighter future through immigration to Israel. Please bring those socks next week!! Ilana Beck Hagesher Regional SA/TO 07-08

Dear Hagesher, As you know (either by experience or the subject), this Email regard the Hagesher Regional Shekel Challenge Israel Trivia. It is to test the USYers' knowledge of Israel. This week's Questions are: 1. Who wrote Hatikvah, Israel's National Anthem? 2. What is the length of compulsory military service in Israel? (Men and women separately; both answers needed) 3. Which Israeli law grants all Jews the right to Israeli Citizenship? Remember, THE COMPETITION DOES NOT START UNTIL 8PM WEDNESDAY NIGHT. In order to receive full credit for your answers you must: 1) Answer ALL questions correctly. 2) Include your name and chapter in the email. 3) Email your answers to Hageshershekelchallenge@gmail.com before shabbat on Friday. Also, whats going on in Israel now? I'll tell ya! Israel plans Egypt border fence: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7230955.stm Israeli start-up lets you pay by phone: http://web.israel21c.net/bin/en.jsp?enDispWho=Articles%5El1963&enPage=BlankPage&enDisplay=view&enDispWhat=object&enVersion=0&enZone=Technology& Thanks very much and B'hatzlacha with the trivia!, Daniel Berdugo Hagesher Israel Affairs Vice President 2007-2008

SHABBAT SHALOM HAGESHER!!!!

Candle lighting: 5:10pm
            Havdalah: 6:11pm

This week we read parashat Terumah.  This week's d'var was written by the
ever-talented Rel/Ed RGB member, Rebecca Kossman!!:

In this parasha G-d tells the Israelites, with great detail, how to build
the mikdash which will be G-d’s “dwelling”. This mikdash consists of the
ark, the table and menorah, the roof coverings, the walls, two chambers, and
the outer courtyard. In order to construct this magnificent structure, the
Israelites are asked to make offerings of 15 specific items.

One question we might have is, why would God want a dwelling place with the
Israelites? An interesting answer to this question comes from  Midrash Rabbah.

“There was once a king who had an only daughter, and one of the kings came
and married her. When her husband wished to return to his country, her
father said to him: "My daughter, whose hand I have given you, is my only
child; I cannot part with her. Neither can I say to you, 'Do not take her,'
for she is your wife. This one favor, however, I ask of you: wherever you go
to live, prepare a chamber for me that I may dwell with you, for I cannot
leave my daughter." In the same way, G-d said to Israel: "I have given you
the Torah. I cannot part with her, and I also cannot tell you not to take
her. But this I request of you: wherever you go, make for Me a house wherein
I may dwell."

Another question that arises is why did G-d gave such specific details as to
how the mikdash had to be built?  One way of looking at it, is when you do a
group project for school. Since there are so many jobs to do, each person in
the group takes one job as their sole responsibility. However, there is
always one person in the group who wants to do it his/her own way and winds
up telling everyone else what to do.  Although in this case, it shows a lack
of being able to compromise on the one person’s part, in parashat Terumah
G-d is just ensuring that his “dwelling” turns out the way G-d wants it. If
G-d had told the Israelites to just build it any old way, the results could
have been disastrous!!

Trivia
1) Name 4 out of the 15 materials that the Israelites gave to make the
mikdash. (1 point each)
2) How many veils is the tabernacle to be made from? (3 points)
3) Tell about a time when you had a very specific way of wanting to do
something, did all you could to make sure everything went as you wanted it
to. (5 points)

BONUS POINTS:
4) Why are there two Adar's this year? (3 points)
5) Which Adar is Purim in (3 points)

**PLEASE SEND ALL ANSWERS TO SARAHJAYE1@AOL.COM**

Have a lovely Shabbat, and come to the masquerade ball Saturday night at Har
Zion, 7:30!!!

B'vracha,
Sarah Richman
Religion/Education VP

Dear Hagesher, As you clearly know, this email, as it does each week, contains three trivia questions about Israel as well as an Israeli news update. I hope that you take the time out of your busy week to read this because not only does it contain SUPER COOL trivia, but also important news about Israeli issues including politics, technology, sports, and much more. This weeks trivia questions are: 1. To date, how many Olympic medals has the State of Israel won? 2. How many different campuses of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem are there AND What are they? 3. What famous ancient documents dating back to before 100 CE are currently housed in the Israel Museum in Jerusalem? REMEMBER, you must answer all questions correctly and send them back to Hageshershekelchallenge@gmail.com with your name and chapter written in the email before shabbat. The competition does not start until 8 PM WEDNESDAY NIGHT. Thank you. Next thing on the agenda, AN ISRAEL UPDATE!! Read the following articles to get a sense of current events in Israel! Israel to Add Homes in East Jerusalem: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/12/AR2008021202619.html Israeli universities part of 'rodent whiskers' robotic project: http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1202657414905&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull That's it for now. Tune in next week for more trivia and updates!, Daniel Berdugo Hagesher Israel Affairs Vice President 2007-2008

SHABBAT SHALOM HAGESHER!!! Candle lighting: 5:18 pm Havdalah: 6:19 pm This week we read parashat Tetzaveh: Parashat Tetzaveh goes through 53 of the 613 commandments. The first commandment stated in this parasha is to only use pure olive oil when lighting the menorah. It talks about Aaron and his sons being selected to be the Kohanim, and it goes through some of the garments they are supposed to wear such as a long outer robe, a quilted vest, a jeweled breastplate, and a golden forehead plate. The Torah goes into great detail describing how to properly dress the Kohanim. The parasha also thoroughly describes there ceremony consecrating the Kohanim into their priestly service. Only the Kohanim are permitted to light the menorah and prepare the offerings given from the inner, golden alter. Looking at all of the commandments, the image that popped into mind was that of my own synagogue, and it is amazing to me that so many of the practices described in this parasha are similar to today. The inner, golden alter reminds me of the Biman, and we dress our Torahs similarly to how the Kohamin used to dress. Questions: 1. What do the jewels on the breastplate represent? (3 points) 2. What material was used for the Kohanim's garments? (3 points) 3. How do you dress up when you are doing something important? (5 points) Have a wonderful and relaxing Shabbat and holiday weekend!!! Take a look around your synagogue tomorrow and see what similarities you can spot between your synagogue and what is described in Tetzaveh! B'vracha, Sarah Richman Religion/Education VP

SHABBAT SHALOM HAGESHER!!! Candle lighting: 5:26pm Havdalah: 6:27pm This week we read parashat Ki Tisa. This week's d'var was written by the lovely Rel/Ed RGB member, Becka Lefkoe!! The people of Israel are getting quite impatient in this week's parasha, Ki Tisa. Moses has been up at Mount Sinai (getting the ten commandments from God) for the past 40 days and the Jews start to believe that he might never come back. Meanwhile, Moses is faithfully at the top of Mount Sinai, conversing with God over the new commandments and his people. When God sees the impatience of the Jews down at the bottom of the mountain, he decides to immediately wipe them out for their sins. But what could bring on a punishment such as this one, you ask? Well, the Jewish people, becoming antsy with the lack of a leader, pull all their gold and silver together and build a beautiful Golden Calf. But this Golden Calf, as magnificent as it may look, was used to idol worship--they break God's FIRST commandment! Imagine how angry you would get if you bring a group of people out of slavery, dayenu, and then you give them food and shelter for 40 years. Dayenu... but it still wasn't enough for the Jewish people! They were impatient and ungrateful to both God and Moses, and for this they definately did not deserve God's gifts. As you probably know and realize, the Jewish people were not smoted by the wrath of God. We have the state of Israel now and still a strong Jewish community and religion. But we came close to extinction there at the base of Mount Sinai. Our impatience almost cost us our lives. "Patience is a virtue"--it's more than just one of those cheesy sayings a grandmother says while squeezing your cheeks. Patience is truly worth the success and rewards afterwards. So remember now on that when you snap at someone for being late or yell at your mother to make dinner faster, be patient. They're working as fast as they can, and your complaining won't make them go any faster. It will get you punished. Good Shabbos! Questions: 1. What were the names of the two artisans in charge of the Sanctuary's construction? (3 points) 2. What does Moses do when he sees the Golden Calf? (3 points) 3. Why does Moses wear a veil after he comes down the second time from Mount Sinai? (3 points) 4. If you could build anything out of gold, what would it be? (5 points) **please send all answers to sarahjaye1@aol.com Have a wonderful Shabbat! B'vracha, Sarah Richman Religion/Education VP

Dear Hagesher Seniors, As Spring Convention is approaching, it is time for all of you to send in your pictures, quotes and one-liners for the Senior section of the yearbook! Please send us a recent picture of just you (THIS SHOULD NOT BE YOUR SENIOR PICTURE), your favorite quote, and also include any one-liners that you would like to add. One-liners, as most of you know, are shout outs to specific people. This could include fellow seniors, USYers, your chapters, or even advisors if you'd like. Each of you will have 3 FREE one-liners that are one sentence long, and any additional one-liners that you would like to add will be $1 each to Tikun Olam (to be paid at Spring Convention)! *please note that one-liners are limited to ONE LINE and will be cut off if they are too long! You must e-mail either Miriam Smerling at mls26@bww.com or Misha Gross at michellejayne@gmail.com by MARCH 10TH if you want to get them into the yearbook! Thanks, Miriam Smerling Communications RGB 07-08

Erev Tov Hagesher!, IT'S ISRAEL TRIVIA TIME! As spring convention draws closer and closer, Trivia is getting more and more crucial to determining which chapter will win the first Hagesher Shekel challenge. However, other ways for chapters to get shekels include doing Israel Challenges, members going on pilgrimage, and more. For any questions contact me, Dan Berdugo, at Hageshershekelchallenge@gmail.com. Anyways, this weeks Trivia is: 1. What city in the southern region of Israel is sometimes called the "Capital of the Negev?" 2. In what ancient city is M'arat HaMachpelah located? 3. True or False: Israel has the highest ratio of university degrees to the population in the world. REMEMBER, you must answer all questions correctly and send them back to Hageshershekelchallenge@gmail.com with your name and chapter written in the email before shabbat. The competition does not start until 8 PM WEDNESDAY NIGHT. Thank you. On another note, here is an ISRAELI NEWS UPDATE!!! Obama backs Israel, rejects Farrakhan's backing: http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080227/pl_afp/usvotedemocratsisrael_080227053653 Israel, Japan oppose Iran nuclear plans: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080227/ap_on_re_as/japan_israel_1 Well that's all for this week. I hope to see you all at some point soon!, Daniel Berdugo Hagesher Israel Affairs Vice President 2007-2008

SHABBAT SHALOM HAGESHER!! Candle lighting: 5:34pm Havdalah: 6:35pm This week’s parasha, Vayakhel, is a parasha full of facts, instructions, descriptions, and measurements. As curious as I’m sure all of you are about the exact measurements of every piece of fabric and wood used in constructing the Mishkan, there is one verse in this parasha that intrigues me a lot. Exodus 35:5 reads (as translated by Etz Chaim): Take from among you gifts to the Lord; everyone whose heart so moves him shall bring them”. Unlike many things God says, bringing gifts to help build the Mishkan is not a commandment. In fact, the Torah explicitly says people can bring gifts at their heart’s desire. Instead of telling you what I think about that, or any other commentary I want to ask you: 1. What does this verse mean to you? What does it make you think about? (5 points) 2. Can you find any commentary on this verse? Explain in your own words (5 points) 3. Do you think the idea of doing things as your heart desires should be applied to other commandments? (5 points) **please send all answers to sarahjaye1@aol.com Have a relaxing Shabbos!! B'vracha, Sarah Richman Religion/Education VP

NYU Prospective Students Weekend April 4th-6th Join the KOACH community for a chance to experience Shabbat at college! Dorm with NYU students and enjoy Kosher meals and vibrant religious services! Don’t miss out on this exciting opportunity! For more info, contact Abe Fried-Tanzer at abeft@nyu.edu NYU Students will be on hand to answer any questions you may have about NYU and Jewish life at college.