8th Grade Siyyum - Integrated Pesach/Rube-Goldberg Course Pack

Last year, Hillel Day School 8th graders participated in the Technion North American Rube-Goldberg competition. Siyyum students prepared for this project through an integrated Jewish Studies-Science Project Based Learning unit that explored creativity, innovation, and wisdom through the lens of Pesach. Out of the hundreds of videos submitted for this competition, Hillel Day School was awarded two of the finalist positions. Below are three youtube videos: the Technion competition announcement and two finalist videos submitted by the Hillel Day School 2015 graduating class. All three of these videos can be found on the Technion's Youtube page.

Lesson 1

Class Notes:

Lesson 2

Class Notes:

Instructions: Below is a blank Seder Plate. Please fill in our Ke'ara to the best of your memory.

בראשית ל״ז:ל״א

(לא) וַיִּקְח֖וּ אֶת־כְּתֹ֣נֶת יוֹסֵ֑ף וַֽיִּשְׁחֲטוּ֙ שְׂעִ֣יר עִזִּ֔ים וַיִּטְבְּל֥וּ אֶת־הַכֻּתֹּ֖נֶת בַּדָּֽם׃

Genesis 37:31

(31) Then they took Joseph’s tunic, slaughtered a kid, and dipped the tunic in the blood.

Tunic	כְּתֹ֣נֶת
They slaughtered	וַֽיִּשְׁחֲטוּ֙
A goat	שְׂעִ֣יר עִזִּ֔ים
They dipped	וַיִּטְבְּל֥וּ

1. You may recall that the Israelites moved down to מצרים because of a man named יוסף, the beloved son of יעקוב who was sold by his brothers to merchants. What important event in יוסף's life does this pasuk mention?

2. With this knowledge in mind, what item on קערת הפסח might this pasuk reference? Explain your reasoning.

שמות א׳:י״ד

(יד) וַיְמָרְר֨וּ אֶת־חַיֵּיהֶ֜ם בַּעֲבֹדָ֣ה קָשָׁ֗ה בְּחֹ֙מֶר֙ וּבִלְבֵנִ֔ים וּבְכָל־עֲבֹדָ֖ה בַּשָּׂדֶ֑ה אֵ֚ת כָּל־עֲבֹ֣דָתָ֔ם אֲשֶׁר־עָבְד֥וּ בָהֶ֖ם בְּפָֽרֶךְ׃

Exodus 1:14

(14) the various labors that they made them perform. Ruthlessly they made life bitter for them with harsh labor at mortar and bricks and with all sorts of tasks in the field.

They embittered	וַיְמָרְר֨וּ
Their lives	חַיֵּיהֶ֜ם
With mortar and brick	בְּחֹ֨מֶר֙ וּבִלְבֵנִ֔ים
Ruthlessly	בְּפָֽרֶךְ

3. This pasuk describes the way that בני ישראל were treated in מצרים. What were בני ישראל forced to do?

4. With this knowledge in mind, what three items on קערת הפסח might this pasuk reference? Explain your reasoning.

שמות י״ב:א׳-ז׳

(א) וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יְהוָה֙ אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֣ה וְאֶֽל־אַהֲרֹ֔ן בְּאֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרַ֖יִם לֵאמֹֽר׃ (ב) הַחֹ֧דֶשׁ הַזֶּ֛ה לָכֶ֖ם רֹ֣אשׁ חֳדָשִׁ֑ים רִאשׁ֥וֹן הוּא֙ לָכֶ֔ם לְחָדְשֵׁ֖י הַשָּׁנָֽה׃ (ג) דַּבְּר֗וּ אֶֽל־כָּל־עֲדַ֤ת יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר בֶּעָשֹׂ֖ר לַחֹ֣דֶשׁ הַזֶּ֑ה וְיִקְח֣וּ לָהֶ֗ם אִ֛ישׁ שֶׂ֥ה לְבֵית־אָבֹ֖ת שֶׂ֥ה לַבָּֽיִת׃ (ד) וְאִם־יִמְעַ֣ט הַבַּיִת֮ מִהְיֹ֣ת מִשֶּׂה֒ וְלָקַ֣ח ה֗וּא וּשְׁכֵנ֛וֹ הַקָּרֹ֥ב אֶל־בֵּית֖וֹ בְּמִכְסַ֣ת נְפָשֹׁ֑ת אִ֚ישׁ לְפִ֣י אָכְל֔וֹ תָּכֹ֖סּוּ עַל־הַשֶּֽׂה׃ (ה) שֶׂ֥ה תָמִ֛ים זָכָ֥ר בֶּן־שָׁנָ֖ה יִהְיֶ֣ה לָכֶ֑ם מִן־הַכְּבָשִׂ֥ים וּמִן־הָעִזִּ֖ים תִּקָּֽחוּ׃ (ו) וְהָיָ֤ה לָכֶם֙ לְמִשְׁמֶ֔רֶת עַ֣ד אַרְבָּעָ֥ה עָשָׂ֛ר י֖וֹם לַחֹ֣דֶשׁ הַזֶּ֑ה וְשָׁחֲט֣וּ אֹת֗וֹ כֹּ֛ל קְהַ֥ל עֲדַֽת־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל בֵּ֥ין הָעַרְבָּֽיִם׃ (ז) וְלָֽקְחוּ֙ מִן־הַדָּ֔ם וְנָֽתְנ֛וּ עַל־שְׁתֵּ֥י הַמְּזוּזֹ֖ת וְעַל־הַמַּשְׁק֑וֹף עַ֚ל הַבָּ֣תִּ֔ים אֲשֶׁר־יֹאכְל֥וּ אֹת֖וֹ בָּהֶֽם׃

Exodus 12:1-7

(1) The LORD said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt: (2) This month shall mark for you the beginning of the months; it shall be the first of the months of the year for you. (3) Speak to the whole community of Israel and say that on the tenth of this month each of them shall take a lamb to a family, a lamb to a household. (4) But if the household is too small for a lamb, let him share one with a neighbor who dwells nearby, in proportion to the number of persons: you shall contribute for the lamb according to what each household will eat. (5) Your lamb shall be without blemish, a yearling male; you may take it from the sheep or from the goats. (6) You shall keep watch over it until the fourteenth day of this month; and all the assembled congregation of the Israelites shall slaughter it at twilight. (7) They shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and the lintel of the houses in which they are to eat it.

5. Please write a one-sentence summary of the passage above.

6. With this knowledge in mind, what item on קערת הפסח might this pasuk reference? Explain your reasoning.

ויקרא כ״ג:ד׳-ח׳

(ד) אֵ֚לֶּה מוֹעֲדֵ֣י יְהוָ֔ה מִקְרָאֵ֖י קֹ֑דֶשׁ אֲשֶׁר־תִּקְרְא֥וּ אֹתָ֖ם בְּמוֹעֲדָֽם׃ (ה) בַּחֹ֣דֶשׁ הָרִאשׁ֗וֹן בְּאַרְבָּעָ֥ה עָשָׂ֛ר לַחֹ֖דֶשׁ בֵּ֣ין הָעַרְבָּ֑יִם פֶּ֖סַח לַיהוָֽה׃ (ו) וּבַחֲמִשָּׁ֨ה עָשָׂ֥ר יוֹם֙ לַחֹ֣דֶשׁ הַזֶּ֔ה חַ֥ג הַמַּצּ֖וֹת לַיהוָ֑ה שִׁבְעַ֥ת יָמִ֖ים מַצּ֥וֹת תֹּאכֵֽלוּ׃ (ז) בַּיּוֹם֙ הָֽרִאשׁ֔וֹן מִקְרָא־קֹ֖דֶשׁ יִהְיֶ֣ה לָכֶ֑ם כָּל־מְלֶ֥אכֶת עֲבֹדָ֖ה לֹ֥א תַעֲשֽׂוּ׃ (ח) וְהִקְרַבְתֶּ֥ם אִשֶּׁ֛ה לַיהוָ֖ה שִׁבְעַ֣ת יָמִ֑ים בַּיּ֤וֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי֙ מִקְרָא־קֹ֔דֶשׁ כָּל־מְלֶ֥אכֶת עֲבֹדָ֖ה לֹ֥א תַעֲשֽׂוּ׃ (פ)

Leviticus 23:4-8

(4) These are the set times of the LORD, the sacred occasions, which you shall celebrate each at its appointed time: (5) In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month, at twilight, there shall be a passover offering to the LORD, (6) and on the fifteenth day of that month the LORD’s Feast of Unleavened Bread. You shall eat unleavened bread for seven days. (7) On the first day you shall celebrate a sacred occasion: you shall not work at your occupations. (8) Seven days you shall make offerings by fire to the LORD. The seventh day shall be a sacred occasion: you shall not work at your occupations.

7. Please write a one-sentence summary of the passage above.

8. With this knowledge in mind, what item on קערת הפסח might this pasuk reference? Explain your reasoning.

Class Notes:

Lesson 3

Class Notes:

שמות י״ג:ו׳-ז׳

(ו) שִׁבְעַ֥ת יָמִ֖ים תֹּאכַ֣ל מַצֹּ֑ת וּבַיּוֹם֙ הַשְּׁבִיעִ֔י חַ֖ג לַיהוָֽה׃ (ז) מַצּוֹת֙ יֵֽאָכֵ֔ל אֵ֖ת שִׁבְעַ֣ת הַיָּמִ֑ים וְלֹֽא־יֵרָאֶ֨ה לְךָ֜ חָמֵ֗ץ וְלֹֽא־יֵרָאֶ֥ה לְךָ֛ שְׂאֹ֖ר בְּכָל־גְּבֻלֶֽךָ׃

Exodus 13:6-7

(6) “Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread, and on the seventh day there shall be a festival of the LORD. (7) Throughout the seven days unleavened bread shall be eaten; no leavened bread shall be found with you, and no leaven shall be found in all your territory.

You will not see	וְלֹֽא־יֵרָאֶ֨ה
Bread	חָמֵ֗ץ
Leaven	שְׂאֹ֖ר
In all of your territory	בְּכָל־גְּבֻלֶֽךָ

1. Restate the content of pasuk 6 in your own words.

2. Carefully examine pasuk 7. What is odd about this pasuk?

3. What question should we ask?

משנה פסחים ב׳:ב׳

(ב) חמץ של נכרי שעבר עליו הפסח מותר בהנאה. ושל ישראל אסור בהנאה. שנאמר (שמות יג, ז) לא יראה לך שאור:

Mishnah Pesachim 2:2

(2) If there exists chamets of a gentile, which [was in existence] during Pesach, it is permitted to benefit from it [after Pesach]; but [if it were] of an Israelite, it is forbidden to benefit from it [after Pesach], as it is stated (Exodus 13:7), "And there shall not be seen any leaven to you."

A gentile (non-Jew)	נכרי
Which existed (was already made) during Pesach	שעבר עליו הפסח
You are allowed to benefit from it	מותר בהנאה
You are forbidden	אסור
For it says	שנאמר

4. Consider the following scenario: פסח ended two days ago and you want to purchase bread for your household from the local bakery.

a) Based on this משנה, are you allowed to purchase and consume bread that was baked during פסח at a non-Jewish bakery? Why or why not.

b) Based on this משנה, are you allowed to purchase and consume bread that was baked during פסח at a Jewish bakery? Why or why not.

5. Based on your answers to #4, what does the ruling of this משנה encourage Jews to do?

Lesson 4

Class Notes:

ויקרא כ״ג:ט׳-ט״ז

(ט) וַיְדַבֵּ֥ר יְהוָ֖ה אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֥ה לֵּאמֹֽר׃ (י) דַּבֵּ֞ר אֶל־בְּנֵ֤י יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ וְאָמַרְתָּ֣ אֲלֵהֶ֔ם כִּֽי־תָבֹ֣אוּ אֶל־הָאָ֗רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֤ר אֲנִי֙ נֹתֵ֣ן לָכֶ֔ם וּקְצַרְתֶּ֖ם אֶת־קְצִירָ֑הּ וַהֲבֵאתֶ֥ם אֶת־עֹ֛מֶר רֵאשִׁ֥ית קְצִירְכֶ֖ם אֶל־הַכֹּהֵֽן׃ (יא) וְהֵנִ֧יף אֶת־הָעֹ֛מֶר לִפְנֵ֥י יְהוָ֖ה לִֽרְצֹנְכֶ֑ם מִֽמָּחֳרַת֙ הַשַּׁבָּ֔ת יְנִיפֶ֖נּוּ הַכֹּהֵֽן׃ (יב) וַעֲשִׂיתֶ֕ם בְּי֥וֹם הֲנִֽיפְכֶ֖ם אֶת־הָעֹ֑מֶר כֶּ֣בֶשׂ תָּמִ֧ים בֶּן־שְׁנָת֛וֹ לְעֹלָ֖ה לַיהוָֽה׃ (יג) וּמִנְחָתוֹ֩ שְׁנֵ֨י עֶשְׂרֹנִ֜ים סֹ֣לֶת בְּלוּלָ֥ה בַשֶּׁ֛מֶן אִשֶּׁ֥ה לַיהוָ֖ה רֵ֣יחַ נִיחֹ֑חַ וְנִסְכֹּ֥ה יַ֖יִן רְבִיעִ֥ת הַהִֽין׃ (יד) וְלֶחֶם֩ וְקָלִ֨י וְכַרְמֶ֜ל לֹ֣א תֹֽאכְל֗וּ עַד־עֶ֙צֶם֙ הַיּ֣וֹם הַזֶּ֔ה עַ֚ד הֲבִ֣יאֲכֶ֔ם אֶת־קָרְבַּ֖ן אֱלֹהֵיכֶ֑ם חֻקַּ֤ת עוֹלָם֙ לְדֹרֹ֣תֵיכֶ֔ם בְּכֹ֖ל מֹשְׁבֹֽתֵיכֶֽם׃ (ס) (טו) וּסְפַרְתֶּ֤ם לָכֶם֙ מִמָּחֳרַ֣ת הַשַּׁבָּ֔ת מִיּוֹם֙ הֲבִ֣יאֲכֶ֔ם אֶת־עֹ֖מֶר הַתְּנוּפָ֑ה שֶׁ֥בַע שַׁבָּת֖וֹת תְּמִימֹ֥ת תִּהְיֶֽינָה׃ (טז) עַ֣ד מִֽמָּחֳרַ֤ת הַשַּׁבָּת֙ הַשְּׁבִיעִ֔ת תִּסְפְּר֖וּ חֲמִשִּׁ֣ים י֑וֹם וְהִקְרַבְתֶּ֛ם מִנְחָ֥ה חֲדָשָׁ֖ה לַיהוָֽה׃

Leviticus 23:9-16

(9) The LORD spoke to Moses, saying: (10) Speak to the Israelite people and say to them: When you enter the land that I am giving to you and you reap its harvest, you shall bring the first sheaf of your harvest to the priest. (11) He shall elevate the sheaf before the LORD for acceptance in your behalf; the priest shall elevate it on the day after the sabbath. (12) On the day that you elevate the sheaf, you shall offer as a burnt offering to the LORD a lamb of the first year without blemish. (13) The meal offering with it shall be two-tenths of a measure of choice flour with oil mixed in, an offering by fire of pleasing odor to the LORD; and the libation with it shall be of wine, a quarter of a hin. (14) Until that very day, until you have brought the offering of your God, you shall eat no bread or parched grain or fresh ears; it is a law for all time throughout the ages in all your settlements. (15) And from the day on which you bring the sheaf of elevation offering—the day after the sabbath—you shall count off seven weeks. They must be complete: (16) you must count until the day after the seventh week—fifty days; then you shall bring an offering of new grain to the LORD.

משנה מנחות י׳:ה׳

(ה) משקרב העומר יוצאין ומוצאין שוק ירושלים. שהוא מלא קמח וקלי. שלא ברצון חכמים. דברי רבי מאיר. רבי יהודה אומר. ברצון חכמים היו עושים. משקרב העומר הותר החדש מיד. והרחוקים מותרים מחצות היום ולהלן. משחרב בית המקדש התקין רבן יוחנן בן זכאי שיהא יום הנף כולו אסור. אמר רבי יהודה והלא מן התורה הוא אסור. שנאמר (ויקרא כג, יד) עד עצם היום הזה. מפני מה הרחוקים מותרים מחצות היום ולהלן. מפני שהן יודעין שאין בית דין מתעצלין בו:

Mishnah Menachot 10:5

(5) Once the omer was offered, they used to go out and find the market of Jerusalem already full of flour and parched grain [of the new produce], [though this was] against the will of the Sages, [these are] the words of Rabbi Meir; Rabbi Judah says: they were acting [in accordance with] the will of the Sages. Once the omer was offered, the new grain was permitted immediately, but for those that lived far off it was permitted only after midday. After the Temple was destroyed Rabbi Yohanan ben Zakkai decreed that it should be forbidden throughout the day of the waving. Rabbi Judah said: Is it not forbidden [in such a case] by the Torah, for it is said, “Until this very day?” (Leviticus 23:14) So why was it permitted for those that lived far away from midday [when the Temple stood]? Because they know that the court would not be lazy regarding it.

1. Background: What was Yom Henef?

2. Based on the first paragraph, what was regularly found in the market?

3. Consider your previous answer. Why would this be a problem?

4. Examine the third paragraph. What was the difference between those living around the Temple and those who lived far away?

5. Consider your previous answer. Why might this be a problem?

6. What did Rabbi Yohanan ben Zakkai התקין?

7. In your opinion, why did he make this תקנה?

Pesachim 114b

רב יוסף אמר צריך שני מיני בשר אחד זכר לפסח ואחד זכר לחגיגה

types =מיני

8. According to this passage, what are the two types of בשר on the ke'ara?

9. Consider each בשר. How does the word זכר change or enhance our understanding of the בשרים?

Lesson 5

Instructions: Without mentioning specific names, please think about the most successful student you have ever met. In the space below, write down what you think was the key to this individual's success.

Endow/give	חונֵן
אנשים	לֶאֱנושׁ
From you	מֵאִתְּךָ

= דַּעַת

= בִּינָה

= הַשכֵּל

Lesson 6

Class Notes:

שמות ל״א:א׳-ג׳

(א) וַיְדַבֵּ֥ר יְהוָ֖ה אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֥ה לֵּאמֹֽר׃ (ב) רְאֵ֖ה קָרָ֣אתִֽי בְשֵׁ֑ם בְּצַלְאֵ֛ל בֶּן־אוּרִ֥י בֶן־ח֖וּר לְמַטֵּ֥ה יְהוּדָֽה׃ (ג) וָאֲמַלֵּ֥א אֹת֖וֹ ר֣וּחַ אֱלֹהִ֑ים בְּחָכְמָ֛ה וּבִתְבוּנָ֥ה וּבְדַ֖עַת וּבְכָל־מְלָאכָֽה׃

Exodus 31:1-3

(1) The LORD spoke to Moses: (2) See, I have singled out by name Bezalel son of Uri son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. (3) I have endowed him with a divine spirit of skill, ability, and knowledge in every kind of craft;

The tribe of	לְמַטֵּ֥ה
I will fill him	וָאֲמַלֵּ֥א
Intelligence	וּבִתְבוּנָ֥ה
Craftsmanship	מְלָאכָֽה

1. Who was בְּצַלְאֵ֛ל?

2. What unique qualities does he have?

משלי ג׳:י״ט

(יט) יְֽהוָ֗ה בְּחָכְמָ֥ה יָֽסַד־אָ֑רֶץ כּוֹנֵ֥ן שָׁ֝מַ֗יִם בִּתְבוּנָֽה׃

Proverbs 3:19

(19) The LORD founded the earth by wisdom; He established the heavens by understanding;

Founded	יָֽסַד
Established	כּוֹנֵ֥ן

3. Consider our previous conversations about creativity. How do these two passages enhance our understanding?