Parshas Masei for Kids

פרשת מסעי

Forty-two journeys through the midbar, written out one by one, and the borders of Eretz Yisrael. The arei miklat are set aside, and Sefer Bamidbar closes at the edge of the land.

In a Torah Tale book, your own child is the hero of this story - drawn from their photo, on every page, in their own name. Written under rabbinical guidance with strict tznius, printed and shipped to your door in English, Hebrew or Yiddish.

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What happens in Parshas Masei

Moshe Rabbeinu writes down all forty two journeys of Bnei Yisrael, from leaving Mitzrayim until reaching the plains of Moav by the Yarden. Rashi gives a beautiful mashal: a king whose son was sick took him far away to be healed, and on the way home the king said, here we slept, here you were cold, here you had a headache. So too Hashem reminds Bnei Yisrael of every place He cared for them in the midbar.

Hashem then describes the borders of Eretz Yisrael, and gives forty eight cities to the Leviim, six of them arei miklat, cities of refuge where a person who hurt someone by accident can go and be safe. The parsha ends with the daughters of Tzelafchad marrying within their shevet so the land stays in its place. Sefer Bamidbar closes with Bnei Yisrael at the very edge of the land, and we say together: Chazak, chazak, v'nischazek.

Lessons and middos for children

  • Remembering Hashem's kindness

    Hashem remembered every stop of the journey. We can think back and thank Hashem for all the good He has done for us.

  • Every step matters

    Each of the forty two journeys was written down. Every small effort a child makes is counted too.

  • Being a safe place for others

    The arei miklat protected people. We can make others feel safe and welcome around us.

Questions for the Shabbos table

  1. How many journeys did Bnei Yisrael travel in the midbar?
  2. Why do you think Hashem wanted every stop written down?
  3. If you wrote the journeys of your own year, what stops would you include?
  4. How can you make someone feel safe and welcome?

How your child steps into the story

Your child travels with the camp as Moshe Rabbeinu writes down the names of each place they rested, all the way to the banks of the Yarden. The story ends with the land in sight and Sefer Devarim, with Moshe's final words, about to begin.