{"id":50669,"date":"2019-03-03T22:51:45","date_gmt":"2019-03-03T20:51:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/?p=50669"},"modified":"2022-09-25T15:40:07","modified_gmt":"2022-09-25T12:40:07","slug":"being-gods-child","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/being-gods-child\/","title":{"rendered":"Being God\u2019s Child"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[281],"tags":[473,384,428,627],"acf":{"old_id":"50669","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":50469,"related_cahpter":"167","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content":{"description":"A forgiving Parent, a demanding Ruler","content":"

Chapter 14 opens with a stunning declaration, one that appears only once in the Torah. \u201cYou are the children of the Lord your God.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

Despite that it feels like this statement belongs alongside the Shma as a unique statement of Jewish belief and faith, it is used to introduce a section of the Torah that creates space and difference between the practices of the children of Israel and those of the other nations of the world. You, and you alone are children of God and as such, you need to behave differently than everyone else. <\/span><\/p>\n

Others see this statement as an attempt to comfort a mourner. The second part of the verse prohibits cutting oneself in anguish after a loved one dies. \u00a0The Sforno explains why this is prohibited: \u201c It is not proper for you to show extreme concern and pain for the death of a relative, when a more honorable and distinguished relative still remains ,in whom there is hope for (ultimate good). Therefore, since you are children of God, Who is your eternal Father, it is unseemly that you should worry and mourn excessively over the death of anyone.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

I found this both difficult and uplifting. Difficult as it is very challenging to control our emotions in accordance with this interpretation.<\/span><\/p>\n

On the other hand, it is uplifting as it asks us to aspire to such a close relationship with God that we find comfort in God\u2019s presence in our lives even as we are experiencing our most painful losses. \u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The sages, sensing the \u201cvalue\u201d of this statement insisted on interpreting the phrase as a stand alone statement with the high stakes theological meaning that we would expect. In a passage that may also offer insight into Rabbi Yehuda and Rabbi Meir\u2019s view of parenthood, the Talmud in Masechet Kiddushin records this debate. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou are the sons to the Lord your God,\u201d indicates that when you act like sons and cleave to the Holy One, Blessed be He, you are called sons, but when you do not act like sons you are not called sons. This is the statement of Rabbi Yehuda.<\/span><\/p>\n

And Rabbi Meir says: \u2018Either way you are still called sons\u2026\u2019\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

These two views are reflected when we declare Avinu, Malkeinu – our Father, our King. The father figure is forgiving, but the king is demanding and unforgiving.<\/span><\/p>\n

Yet, there is still hope that Rabbi Yehuda\u2019s view can be overcome. It is true that the King is demanding, but it is also true that the King – the all powerful King – \u00a0also has the power to help.<\/span><\/p>\n","image":{"ID":50673,"id":50673,"title":"dt14-father-son","filename":"dt14-father-son.jpg","filesize":0,"url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt14-father-son.jpg","link":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/being-gods-child\/dt14-father-son\/","alt":"","author":"7","description":"","caption":"","name":"dt14-father-son","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":50669,"date":"2019-03-03 20:51:30","modified":"2019-03-03 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