Leil Shishi - Practical Biblical Measures

Tonight's Leil Shishi event was a remarkable experience for our students, combining Torah learning with engaging, hands-on activities. The evening began with a fascinating introduction by Rabbi Cohen, who connected this week's Parsha to our theme. He explained that when Avraham asked Sarah to prepare cakes using three se'ah of flour, he highlighted the significance of Torah measurements. But just how much is a se'ah?
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To make the concept of Shiurim—the measurements required for various Mitzvos—more tangible, we took a quick quiz. Students tested their knowledge on the measurements needed for ten mitzvos: for example, a revi’is of wine for Kiddush, double that for netilas yadayim, and the different heights required for an Eruv fence, menorah placement versus a Shofar and Sukkah. We delved deeper into the varying opinions of measurements, specifically contrasting the smaller Shiurim of R’ Chaim Naeh with the larger Shiurim of the Chazon Ish. Our learning also included a brief overview of these two Gedolim and their impact on halachic rulings.

Following the introduction, students broke into four interactive stations, each offering a unique opportunity to explore these concepts further: Students rotated through four engaging stations: measuring liquid Shiurim with coloured water to compare different revi'is size – marking our own Revi’is measuring cups, constructing custom rulers to mark tefachim and amos according to various opinions, weighing matza pieces to determine the correct size of a kezayis by weight (the Sefardi way), and using matza-meal to calculate the volume of a kezayis (the Ashkenazi way). Each station provided a hands-on opportunity to understand and visualize halachic measurements in a practical, memorable way.

The event wrapped up with everyone gathering for hotdogs and bentching, a perfect way to conclude a night filled with learning, discovery, and delicious food. Our Leil Shishi program not only deepened students' understanding of Shiurim but also made Torah learning engaging and memorable. We look forward to many more nights of meaningful exploration together!