{"id":33886,"date":"2018-07-12T16:17:34","date_gmt":"2018-07-12T13:17:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/?post_type=wall&p=33886"},"modified":"2025-08-28T20:17:54","modified_gmt":"2025-08-28T17:17:54","slug":"chapter-torah-genesis-1","status":"publish","type":"wall","link":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wall\/chapter-torah-genesis-1\/","title":{"rendered":"chapter-Torah-Genesis-1"},"parent":0,"template":"","acf":{"type":"chapter","wall_id":"1","date":"20250831","books_group":"Torah","book":"Genesis","chapter":"1","chapter_main_number":"1","posts":[{"order":1,"id":"34687","color":"#faeed8","size":"1","name":"Genesis 1 - Judy Hammond ","post_title":"Genesis 1 - Judy Hammond","slug":"genesis-1-judy-hammond","old_id":"34687","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":34686,"post_title":"Soundcloud","slug":"soundcloud","old_id":"34686","first_name":"","last_name":"","description":"","short_description":"","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":34656,"alt":"","title":"491","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","width":300,"height":300,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","medium_large-width":300,"medium_large-height":300,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","large-width":300,"large-height":300,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","1536x1536-width":300,"1536x1536-height":300,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","2048x2048-width":300,"2048x2048-height":300,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","post_full_size-width":300,"post_full_size-height":300,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","home_baner-width":300,"home_baner-height":300}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"1","type_929":"4","show_author_image":true,"old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"","post_main_content_content":"","post_main_content_image":"","post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"The Audio Bible","tile_main_caption":"Genesis 1","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"read by Judy Hammond","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":"","tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"https:\/\/soundcloud.com\/929-bible\/genesis-chapter-1-read-by-judy-hammond","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","chapter_info":{"books_group":"Torah","book":"Genesis","chapter":"1","chapter_main_number":"1","date":"20250831","wall_id":"1"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":2,"id":"101459","color":"#f7e9e9","size":"2","name":"Join Us! ","post_title":"Join Us!","slug":"join-us","old_id":"101459","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":38102,"post_title":"929-English","slug":"929-english","old_id":"38102","first_name":"","last_name":"929-English","description":"","short_description":"","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":38333,"alt":"","title":"\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5.png","width":1513,"height":860,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5-300x171.png","medium-width":300,"medium-height":171,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5-768x437.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":437,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5-1024x582.png","large-width":1024,"large-height":582,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5.png","1536x1536-width":1513,"1536x1536-height":860,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5.png","2048x2048-width":1513,"2048x2048-height":860,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5-1200x682.png","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":682,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5-739x420.png","home_baner-width":739,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"1","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"What is this? What is it good for? What do I do now?","post_main_content_content":"

Hi -\u00a0<\/p>\r\n

Welcome.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n

929 is the number of chapters in the Tanakh, the Hebrew Bible, formative text of our Jewish heritage. 929 is a project dedicated to creating a global Jewish conversation around issues that unite and divide us, but always anchored in or inspired by Tanakh. 929 invites Jews everywhere to read Tanakh, one chapter a day, together with a website with creative readings and pluralistic interpretations, including audio and video, by a wide range of writers, artists, rabbis, educators, and more. Come join in the conversation!<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Each day, from Sunday to Thursday, you will land here on a new chapter, with the text of the chapter, an audio version, and many original materials about the chapter, including short posts with insights and comments, a playlist with podcasts lessons on the chapter, a Hebrew Corner with a word of the day, and a helpful summary of the major points of the chapter.<\/p>\r\n

Since this is the beginning of our second cycle (the first one lasted from July 2018 - Feb 2, 2022) all the material from the all the chapters is available \u2013 just click on the dropdown menu at the upper left. Fridays (\"Weekend\") are for summing up and catching up \u2013 there you can find some of the greatest hits of the week, and use the time to peruse chapters you may have missed during the week. And Shabbat is for what else? Taking a break \u2013 getting ready to start the new week with a new chapter.<\/p>\r\n

Want a video presentation of the project? Just click.<\/a><\/p>\r\n

And if you want a look back at what the first cycle through was like - check out this amazing video collation.<\/a><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":101464,"alt":"","title":"-61fd290df0ef2--61fd290df0ef4gen1 - siyyum video shot.JPG","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/02\/61fd290df0ef2-61fd290df0ef4gen1-siyyum-video-shot.JPG.jpg","width":1357,"height":693,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/02\/61fd290df0ef2-61fd290df0ef4gen1-siyyum-video-shot.JPG-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/02\/61fd290df0ef2-61fd290df0ef4gen1-siyyum-video-shot.JPG-300x153.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":153,"medium_large":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/02\/61fd290df0ef2-61fd290df0ef4gen1-siyyum-video-shot.JPG-768x392.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":392,"large":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/02\/61fd290df0ef2-61fd290df0ef4gen1-siyyum-video-shot.JPG-1024x523.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":523,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/02\/61fd290df0ef2-61fd290df0ef4gen1-siyyum-video-shot.JPG.jpg","1536x1536-width":1357,"1536x1536-height":693,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/02\/61fd290df0ef2-61fd290df0ef4gen1-siyyum-video-shot.JPG.jpg","2048x2048-width":1357,"2048x2048-height":693,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/02\/61fd290df0ef2-61fd290df0ef4gen1-siyyum-video-shot.JPG-1200x613.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":613,"home_baner":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/02\/61fd290df0ef2-61fd290df0ef4gen1-siyyum-video-shot.JPG-822x420.jpg","home_baner-width":822,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"Get in on the ground floor...","tile_main_caption":"Join Us!","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"What is this 929 thing? Peek inside to see","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":101464,"alt":"","title":"-61fd290df0ef2--61fd290df0ef4gen1 - siyyum video shot.JPG","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/02\/61fd290df0ef2-61fd290df0ef4gen1-siyyum-video-shot.JPG.jpg","width":1357,"height":693,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/02\/61fd290df0ef2-61fd290df0ef4gen1-siyyum-video-shot.JPG-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/02\/61fd290df0ef2-61fd290df0ef4gen1-siyyum-video-shot.JPG-300x153.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":153,"medium_large":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/02\/61fd290df0ef2-61fd290df0ef4gen1-siyyum-video-shot.JPG-768x392.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":392,"large":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/02\/61fd290df0ef2-61fd290df0ef4gen1-siyyum-video-shot.JPG-1024x523.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":523,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/02\/61fd290df0ef2-61fd290df0ef4gen1-siyyum-video-shot.JPG.jpg","1536x1536-width":1357,"1536x1536-height":693,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/02\/61fd290df0ef2-61fd290df0ef4gen1-siyyum-video-shot.JPG.jpg","2048x2048-width":1357,"2048x2048-height":693,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/02\/61fd290df0ef2-61fd290df0ef4gen1-siyyum-video-shot.JPG-1200x613.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":613,"home_baner":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/02\/61fd290df0ef2-61fd290df0ef4gen1-siyyum-video-shot.JPG-822x420.jpg","home_baner-width":822,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_link_for_pay":"0","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"send_noty":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Torah","book":"Genesis","chapter":"1","chapter_main_number":"1","date":"20250831","wall_id":"1"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":3,"id":"114202","color":"#f6edf6","size":"2","name":"Beginning With The Good ","post_title":"Beginning With The Good","slug":"beginning-with-the-good","old_id":"114202","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":38102,"post_title":"929-English","slug":"929-english","old_id":"38102","first_name":"","last_name":"929-English","description":"","short_description":"","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":38333,"alt":"","title":"\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5.png","width":1513,"height":860,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5-300x171.png","medium-width":300,"medium-height":171,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5-768x437.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":437,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5-1024x582.png","large-width":1024,"large-height":582,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5.png","1536x1536-width":1513,"1536x1536-height":860,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5.png","2048x2048-width":1513,"2048x2048-height":860,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5-1200x682.png","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":682,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5-739x420.png","home_baner-width":739,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"1","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"At 929 \"Baktana\" (literally \u2013 \"just a little,\" \"in miniature\") for every chapter we try to explore a different piece. A little detail. From the chapter. In a way that works for the whole family \u2013 from small to large. And if everyone can gather round together \u2013 even better! You're invited to read the whole chapter together, or listen to it, and make use of the \"Points to Ponder\" and other posts on the page. ","post_main_content_content":"

Chapter 1 in the Book of Genesis (Breishit) tells a story of a very planned and ordered world that was created in six days, piece by piece.<\/p>\r\n

On the first day<\/span> <\/strong>\u2013 light was created, and day and night were put in place<\/p>\r\n

On the second day <\/span><\/strong>\u2013 the sky was created that separated between the water and space<\/p>\r\n

On the third day<\/span> <\/strong>\u2013 plants and trees<\/p>\r\n

On the fourth day<\/span> <\/strong>\u2013 the sun, moon and all the stars<\/p>\r\n

On the fifth day<\/span> <\/strong>\u2013 All the creepy-crawly creatures and the birds<\/p>\r\n

On the sixth day <\/span><\/strong>\u2013 animals and, in the end \u2013 people<\/p>\r\n

At the end of the all the days of creation, it says: \"And God saw that it was good.\"<\/h3>\r\n

That is, God looked at all that God created, and was satisfied with the creation, saw all the good in it\u2013 and only then moved on to the next day.<\/p>\r\n

Why is this moment important?<\/span><\/p>\r\n

What does it give to God, this appreciation? What does it give to the world?<\/span><\/p>\r\n

What does it mean \"to see the good\" in something? When is it easy? When is it hard for us?<\/span><\/p>\r\n

What good do you see in the things around you? What good things around you are harder to see?<\/span><\/p>\r\n

 <\/p>\r\n

There's a wonderful poet by the name of Datya Ben Dor. She wrote a poem that reminds us to open our eyes and see the good in everything around us.<\/p>\r\n

\"Open your eyes,<\/em>
\r\nLook at the world,<\/em>
\r\nThe world is full of beauty<\/em>
\r\nAnd it's all free,<\/em>
\r\nIt's such a joy to see!<\/em><\/p>\r\n

Your eyes will be full of beauty<\/em>
\r\nIf you just know how to look<\/em>
\r\nLife is doubly beautiful!<\/em>
\r\nSo whoever doesn't look<\/em>
\r\nWhoever doesn't look<\/em>
\r\nWhoever doesn't look misses out on all that beauty.\"<\/em><\/p>\r\n

(part of a larger work called \"Whoever Doesn't Look Is Missing Out,\" <\/em>\u00a9<\/em> all rights reserved to the author and ACUM)<\/em><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":114203,"alt":"","title":"-643e376da586c--643e376da586dbaktana.jpg","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2023\/04\/643e376da586c-643e376da586dbaktana.jpg.jpg","width":850,"height":572,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2023\/04\/643e376da586c-643e376da586dbaktana.jpg-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2023\/04\/643e376da586c-643e376da586dbaktana.jpg-300x202.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":202,"medium_large":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2023\/04\/643e376da586c-643e376da586dbaktana.jpg-768x517.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":517,"large":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2023\/04\/643e376da586c-643e376da586dbaktana.jpg.jpg","large-width":850,"large-height":572,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2023\/04\/643e376da586c-643e376da586dbaktana.jpg.jpg","1536x1536-width":850,"1536x1536-height":572,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2023\/04\/643e376da586c-643e376da586dbaktana.jpg.jpg","2048x2048-width":850,"2048x2048-height":572,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2023\/04\/643e376da586c-643e376da586dbaktana.jpg.jpg","post_full_size-width":850,"post_full_size-height":572,"home_baner":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2023\/04\/643e376da586c-643e376da586dbaktana.jpg-624x420.jpg","home_baner-width":624,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"\"Bak'tana\" For Families And Kids","tile_main_caption":"Beginning With The Good","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"How can we look at the world - 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Dr. Jaffe is also the author of Genesis: A Torah for All Nations (Gefen Publishing House) which can be found at https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Genesis-Nations-Jeffrey-M-Jaffe\/dp\/9657023181.\r\n\r\n","short_description":"Jeff Jaffe is the CEO of the World Wide Web Consortium at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and is the author of Genesis: A Torah for All Nations. ","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":96658,"alt":"","title":"jeff jaffe","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/jeff-jaffe.jpg","width":1897,"height":2581,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/jeff-jaffe-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/jeff-jaffe-220x300.jpg","medium-width":220,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/jeff-jaffe-753x1024.jpg","medium_large-width":753,"medium_large-height":1024,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/jeff-jaffe-753x1024.jpg","large-width":753,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/jeff-jaffe.jpg","1536x1536-width":1129,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/jeff-jaffe.jpg","2048x2048-width":1505,"2048x2048-height":2048,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/jeff-jaffe-882x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":882,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/jeff-jaffe-309x420.jpg","home_baner-width":309,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"1","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"A universal basis for human equality, gender equality, sustainability, free will, and reward and punishment\u00a0\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

The Mishnah in <\/span>Sanhedrin<\/span><\/i> (4:5) teaches that man was created as a single individual to teach the supreme worth of every single person \u2013 a precursor to \u201cAll men are created equal.\u201d Rashi (verse 27) supports this by pointing out that Adam and Eve were originally created as a single conjoined being. Rabbi Shimshon Rafael Hirsch comments that this teaches that both genders were equally directed by God and are in equal likeness to God. From this verse we derive contemporary messages of equality for all people, including gender equality.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

While verse 26 appears to give mankind dominion over the planet, that is immediately limited by verse 29, which restricts the dominion to only eating certain types of foods. In 2:15, Adam is placed in Eden to <\/span>watch over it<\/span><\/em>. These two facts are echoes of today\u2019s imperative \u2013 that while we control resources of the earth, we must focus on its sustainability.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Finally, when God declares (verse 31) that creation was <\/span>very<\/span><\/em> good, commentaries look for what was good beyond what was already listed explicitly. Some (e.g., Ramban) indicate that what was <\/span>very<\/span><\/em> good was the evil inclination and\/or death. This interpretation sends a message to all of humanity to recognize the basic philosophical notions of free will, reward, and punishment.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

These universal messages to humanity: equality, gender equality, sustainability, free will, and reward and punishment are appropriate to embed in the opening chapter of the Torah. They are applicable to all people, not just the Jewish people.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\r\n

Indeed, the entire first eleven chapters of the Bible are logically associated with <\/span>all<\/span><\/i> people because the Jews have not yet been formed as a people. God must have included this narrative in the Torah for a reason. Given that the Torah is a book of laws, one might conclude that these chapters are for the laws of the nations.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

That framework shines a different light on these chapters from our usual perspective. For the next eleven chapters, I will post some of these insights. We will see that these conceptual ideas provide the seven Noahide laws with a more complete framework.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

In <\/span>Genesis: A Torah for All Nations<\/span> <\/a><\/em>(Gefen Publishing House), I explore the thesis that the first eleven chapters of Genesis play a similar role for non-Jews that the entire Torah plays for the Jewish people. That is, this opening section of the Bible contains laws (the seven Noahide laws), and many vignettes that give life to those laws and provide moral teachings. In the book, we discuss forty-two messages that the Torah provides to humanity, which can be found in its first eleven chapters.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

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The Power And The Promise ","post_title":"Speech: The Power And The Promise","slug":"speech-the-power-and-the-promise","old_id":"101583","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":46656,"post_title":"Molly Morris","slug":"molly-morris","old_id":"46656","first_name":"Molly ","last_name":"Morris ","description":"Molly Morris holds a Masters degree in Leadership and Community Engagement. Her particular area of interest is biblical leadership. Molly participates in the 929 initiative with a dedicated group from the Beth Avraham Yoseph of Toronto congregation. \r\n\r\n","short_description":"Molly Morris holds a Masters degree in Leadership and Community Engagement. Molly participates in the 929 initiative with a dedicated group from the Beth Avraham Yoseph of Toronto congregation. \r\n\r\n","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":92561,"alt":"","title":"molly morris","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/molly-morris.jpg","width":2192,"height":2488,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/molly-morris-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/molly-morris-264x300.jpg","medium-width":264,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/molly-morris-768x872.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":872,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/molly-morris-902x1024.jpg","large-width":902,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/molly-morris.jpg","1536x1536-width":1353,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/molly-morris.jpg","2048x2048-width":1804,"2048x2048-height":2048,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/molly-morris-1057x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":1057,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/molly-morris-370x420.jpg","home_baner-width":370,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"1","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"God\u2019s creation speech gave birth to universal relationships and moral responsibility\u00a0\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

The retelling of the Genesis story often focuses on what God created, and in what order. There are discourses about why God needed to create the world in the first place, and how creation can be explained scientifically. But to me, the pivotal question is about the method in which the world was created: not cosmologically speaking, but practically \u2013 or at least as practical as one can be, thinking about the creation of the world. God\u2019s chosen tool for creation was language. \u201cGod said, let there be\u2026\u201d and there was, over and over, for six days of creation. Who was God talking to? Adam wasn\u2019t created until the sixth day and surely the angels didn\u2019t need to hear God\u2019s voice. It\u2019s unlikely that God was talking to himself, so was He talking to the universe?<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Throughout Tanach, God reveals himself through language: speaking to Moses individually, speaking to the Jewish nation from Mount Sinai and speaking through a litany of prophets. Language is a gift that differentiates humans from other creatures, and language is most often the first seed of human connection. Speech connects us to each other, and sadly is also what can drive us from one another. We understand the power of speech extends beyond a mere verbal communication tool. We speak to infants who cannot understand our words. We speak to our pets, often assuming they understand our words. We even speak to house plants. And many of us, myself included, do speak to ourselves. Speech is the vehicle through which we begin relationships.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, in his essay \u201cThe Power of Speech\u201d posited that speech is also what enables us to create new moral facts, pointing to the example of making a promise. A promise, Rabbi Sacks said, is akin to creating an obligation that didn\u2019t previously exist, and in support of that theory he wrote that Friedrich Nietzsche believed \u201cthe ability to make a promise was the birth of morality and human responsibility.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

As magnificent as our physical world is, God\u2019s creation speech also gave birth to universal relationships and moral responsibility. It\u2019s up to us to live up to those words, and it starts with the power of speech.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

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And Dicing The Tanakh\u00a0 ","post_title":"Slicing And Dicing The Tanakh\u00a0","slug":"slicing-and-dicing-the-tanakh","old_id":"101408","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":33877,"post_title":"Marc Bregman","slug":"marc-bregman","old_id":"33877","first_name":"Marc","last_name":"Bregman","description":"Marc Bregman received his Ph.D. from The Hebrew University in Jerusalem in 1991. He taught at the Hebrew Union College (Jerusalem), The Hebrew University in Jerusalem, the Schechter Institute for Judaic Studies in Jerusalem, and at the Ben-Gurion University in Beer Sheba, Israel. During 1993 he was Visiting Associate Professor at Yale University, and during 1996 he was the Stroum Professor of Jewish Studies and Visiting Research Fellow at the University of Washington in Seattle. During 2005, Bregman served as the Harry Starr Fellow in Judaica at Harvard University and was awarded a Teaching Fellowship at the Center for Advanced Judaic Studies at the University of Pennsylvania. He also has served as Forchheimer Visiting Professor in the Faculty of Humanities at The Hebrew University in Jerusalem. He is the author of The Tanhuma-Yelammedenu Literature: Studies in the Evolution of the Versions (Gorgias Press, 2003). In 2006, Bregman was appointed the Herman and Zelda Bernard Distinguished Professor of Jewish Studies at the University of North Carolina in Greensboro, where he also headed the program in Jewish Studies, until 2013. Bregman retired from UNCG as of July 31, 2017. He has now returned to Jerusalem where he is continuing his research and teaching activities.","credit":"","image_url":"","short_description":"Marc Bregman is the Herman and Zelda Bernard Distinguished Professor of Jewish Studies emeritus, at the University of North Carolina in Greensboro.","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":33878,"alt":"Marc Bregman","title":"Marc Bregman","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman.jpg","width":361,"height":488,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman-222x300.jpg","medium-width":222,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman.jpg","medium_large-width":361,"medium_large-height":488,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman.jpg","large-width":361,"large-height":488,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman.jpg","1536x1536-width":361,"1536x1536-height":488,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman.jpg","2048x2048-width":361,"2048x2048-height":488,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman.jpg","post_full_size-width":361,"post_full_size-height":488,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman-311x420.jpg","home_baner-width":311,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"1","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"929 chapters: where did they come from?\u00a0\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

The current division of the Tanakh into 929 numbered chapters and verses may seem to be an integral and original component of the sacred scriptural text. However, it turns out that the numerically divided format of our Bible is a medieval Christian innovation, usually attributed to\u00a0 <\/span>Stephen Langton<\/span><\/a>, Archbishop of Canterbury in his 1226 edition of the Latin Vulgate.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

There are, of course, other ways of dividing and citing the scriptural text. Most familiar to Jews are the traditional weekly Torah portions (<\/span>parashot, sidrot<\/span><\/em>) according to which the Torah is read in synagogue<\/span>.<\/span><\/i> This way of reading through the entire Pentateuch according to an<\/span> annual cycle<\/span><\/a> reflects the ancient practice of the Babylonian Jewish community that was eventually accepted in most of the Jewish world until today. However, a so-called<\/span> triennial cycle<\/span><\/a> of Torah readings was practiced in the Land of Israel and Jewish communities under its influence until at least the 12<\/span>th<\/span> century, completing the Torah once every three years. These shorter and more numerous Torah portions, known as<\/span> Sedarim<\/span><\/a>, are marked in the margins of the text with the Hebrew letter <\/span>Samekh<\/em> <\/span>in some Biblical manuscripts and conveniently numbered in the widely accepted Tanakh Koren (Jerusalem 1962).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The earliest surviving manuscripts of Scripture, discovered at Qumran in the Dead Sea Scrolls indicate sense divisions in the Hebrew text by simply leaving spaces. The early Midrash on Leviticus,<\/span> Sifra<\/span><\/a> teaches that the \u201cbreaks\u201d (<\/span>hafsaqot<\/span><\/em>) between the \u201csections\u201d and \u201csubjects\u201d in the Biblical text were to give Moses time for reflection\u00a0 between consecutive parts in the flow of the Scriptural text. According to<\/span> Talmud Nedarim 37b<\/span><\/a>, the division of the Biblical text into readily understandable units goes back to the initial public reading of the Torah in the time of<\/span> Ezra and Nehemiah<\/span><\/a>.<\/span> Menachot 32a<\/span><\/a> mentions briefly the division of the Biblical text into \u201copen and closed\u201d sections to which<\/span> Maimonides<\/span><\/a> devotes an extensive Halakhic discussion. These<\/span> parashiyyot petuhot ve-setumot<\/span><\/a> are preserved in our Torah Scrolls. They are marked by the Hebrew letters <\/span>peh (petuhah) <\/span><\/i>and<\/span> samekh (setumah)<\/span><\/i> in the authoritative<\/span> Masoretic text<\/span><\/a> preserved in vocalized Biblical manuscripts and printed Hebrew Bibles to this day.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

In addition to the \u201cRabbinic Bible\u201d (<\/span>Mikra\u2019ot Gedolot<\/span><\/a><\/em>), first published by the Christian printer Daniel Bomberg in Venice in 1517, a famous example of a printed Hebrew Bible is the edition published by the Jewish printer<\/span> Joseph Athias<\/span> in Amsterdam in 1661 and 1667, edited by the Christian Professor Johannes Leusden of Leyden. <\/span><\/a>Upon its publication Athias was elected to the Amsterdam printer's guild, an unprecedented honor for a Jew. In 1667, the Dutch government presented Athias with a gold medal and chain, in recognition of his having produced a reliable text of the Hebrew Bible for study by both Jews and Christians.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The 929 Tanakh project provides a contemporary on-going forum for our exploring the Bible together regardless of religious persuasion.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

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He and his daughter studied the Tanach again for her bat mitzvah. Josh has taught many classes on Tanach throughout the years and currently in the New Rochelle 929 group. When not studying for 929, Josh works as an in-house lawyer in New Jersey.","short_description":"Josh has taught many classes on Tanach throughout the years and currently in the New Rochelle 929 group, and is an in-house attorney in New Jersey. ","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":78134,"alt":"","title":"josh blechner","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","width":276,"height":351,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner-236x300.jpg","medium-width":236,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","medium_large-width":276,"medium_large-height":351,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","large-width":276,"large-height":351,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","1536x1536-width":276,"1536x1536-height":351,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","2048x2048-width":276,"2048x2048-height":351,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","post_full_size-width":276,"post_full_size-height":351,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","home_baner-width":276,"home_baner-height":351}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"1","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Setting up the software for the actual fabrication\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

Evolution, big bang theory, a world millions of years old. How do these modern scientific theories fit in with a biblical narrative that recounts creation over seven days? Libraries full of books have been written on this very topic, so a short 929 post would not be remotely adequate to discuss these issues.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

When reading this first chapter of Genesis, though ,we can note that there is something unique about this chapter: God does a lot of talking and observing.\u00a0 The phrase \u201cand God said\u201d appears ten times, the phrase \u201cand God saw\u201d appears seven times, the phrase \u201cand God called\u201d appears four times, and the phrase \u201cand God blessed\u201d appears three times. This contrasts with the more active verbs found in chapter 2 of Genesis (more on that tomorrow).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Chapter 1, therefore can be read as a blueprint or coding of creation. God maps out the various pieces of creation and inputs their functions. The sky and sea are separate, the land should spring forth grass and plants, the birds are in the sky and fish in the sea, and man and animals roam the earth. These creations are programmed to procreate on their own. This seems to fit a narrative where God mostly talks, calls, and sees, but there is very little physical action. Once the computer program is cued up with the special code, we can turn to chapter 2 for the actual\u00a0 physical creation.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

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The Beginning ","post_title":"In The Beginning","slug":"in-the-beginning-2","old_id":"101410","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":36669,"post_title":"Yakov Azriel","slug":"yakov-azriel","old_id":"36669","first_name":"Yakov ","last_name":"Azriel","description":"Yakov Azriel, who lives in Israel, has published five books of poetry in the USA and hundreds of poems in journals and magazines. His poems have won twenty-two prizes in international poetry competitions, and he has twice been awarded fellowships from the Memorial Foundation for Jewish Culture.","short_description":"Yakov Azriel is an English language poet who lives in Israel","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":36670,"alt":"","title":"Yakov.Azriel.Photo","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Yakov.Azriel.Photo_-e1533158407668.jpg","width":1099,"height":1519,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Yakov.Azriel.Photo_-e1533158407668-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Yakov.Azriel.Photo_-e1533158407668-217x300.jpg","medium-width":217,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Yakov.Azriel.Photo_-e1533158407668-741x1024.jpg","medium_large-width":741,"medium_large-height":1024,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Yakov.Azriel.Photo_-e1533158407668-741x1024.jpg","large-width":741,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Yakov.Azriel.Photo_-e1533158407668.jpg","1536x1536-width":1099,"1536x1536-height":1519,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Yakov.Azriel.Photo_-e1533158407668.jpg","2048x2048-width":1099,"2048x2048-height":1519,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Yakov.Azriel.Photo_-e1533158407668-868x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":868,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Yakov.Azriel.Photo_-e1533158407668-304x420.jpg","home_baner-width":304,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"1","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Who is audacious enough to believe: \u201cIn the image of God, God created Man?\u201d\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

First day<\/strong><\/em>: Do you wish to know how light
\r\nCan find a voice and sing?
\r\nHow light can grow legs and dance?
\r\nThe light emanating from the name
\r\nOf God, hidden and hiding in
\r\nWorlds within words, breaks out to shine.
\r\n
\r\nSecond day<\/strong><\/em>: The upper waters ascend from the shadows to shimmer and shine
\r\nAs they wash and separate heavy black Torah letters from light
\r\nWhite parchment; the lower waters, descending, sing
\r\nHymns as they read the notes of music inscribed in
\r\nMolecules of water, accompanied by soft waves that dance
\r\nAs they separate and divide to spell out the letters of God\u2019s name.<\/p>\r\n

Third day<\/em><\/strong>: Are you searching for the Shechinah\u2019s<\/em> throne, and the name
\r\nShe gives her kingdom? Find them not only in
\r\nThe praise the light green grass prays, or in the psalms light
\r\nGreen sea-weeds whisper as they sway; but her crown and scepter shine
\r\nIn every living cell, as millions of genes sing
\r\nHer name, as chromosomes dazed by her glory dance.
\r\n
\r\nFourth day<\/em><\/strong>: If the righteous teach the crippled how to dance
\r\nAnd help each nobody find a sacred name;
\r\nIf the moon reflects the sun, the sun reflects our deeds; if in
\r\nBlinded or bruised eyes, the righteous allow light
\r\nTo enter, so that eyes heal and see and shine
\r\nAgain; - if so - the sun can rekindle, the moon glow and sing.
\r\n
\r\nFifth day<\/em><\/strong>: When crocodiles and leviathans rebel; when snakes refuse to sing;
\r\nWhen peacocks mutate into vultures and refuse to shine;
\r\nWhen the King of the universe seems to abdicate His throne, king in name
\r\nOnly; when Torah letters cease to swirl in Hasidic dance,
\r\nFreeze and petrify; when the only light
\r\nIs Job's night; open then the gates of the soul, invite Faith in.
\r\n
\r\nSixth day<\/em><\/strong>: Who is audacious enough to believe: \u201cIn
\r\nThe image of God, God created Man?\u201d The words dance
\r\nAnd teach the crippled to prance, too; the words shine
\r\nAnd teach moons and suns also to blaze; the words sing
\r\nAnd give dust and ashes, fusing with God's name,
\r\nThe audacity and the courage to ignite the light.
\r\n
\r\n<\/p>\r\n

Shabbat<\/em><\/strong>: The Sabbath gives her crown, her name, her dance,
\r\nHer dreams, to all who sing, who yearn to shine
\r\nWith joy, in her palace of light.<\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":45679,"alt":"","title":"Adam's_Creation_Sistine_Chapel_ceiling_by_Michelangelo_JBU33cut","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Adams_Creation_Sistine_Chapel_ceiling_by_Michelangelo_JBU33cut.jpg","width":1920,"height":855,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Adams_Creation_Sistine_Chapel_ceiling_by_Michelangelo_JBU33cut-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Adams_Creation_Sistine_Chapel_ceiling_by_Michelangelo_JBU33cut-300x134.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":134,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Adams_Creation_Sistine_Chapel_ceiling_by_Michelangelo_JBU33cut-768x342.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":342,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Adams_Creation_Sistine_Chapel_ceiling_by_Michelangelo_JBU33cut-1024x456.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":456,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Adams_Creation_Sistine_Chapel_ceiling_by_Michelangelo_JBU33cut.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":684,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Adams_Creation_Sistine_Chapel_ceiling_by_Michelangelo_JBU33cut.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":855,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Adams_Creation_Sistine_Chapel_ceiling_by_Michelangelo_JBU33cut-1200x534.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":534,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Adams_Creation_Sistine_Chapel_ceiling_by_Michelangelo_JBU33cut-943x420.jpg","home_baner-width":943,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"929 Poetry Corner","tile_main_caption":"In The Beginning","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Who is audacious enough to believe: \u201cIn the image of God, God created Man?\u201d","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":45679,"alt":"","title":"Adam's_Creation_Sistine_Chapel_ceiling_by_Michelangelo_JBU33cut","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Adams_Creation_Sistine_Chapel_ceiling_by_Michelangelo_JBU33cut.jpg","width":1920,"height":855,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Adams_Creation_Sistine_Chapel_ceiling_by_Michelangelo_JBU33cut-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Adams_Creation_Sistine_Chapel_ceiling_by_Michelangelo_JBU33cut-300x134.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":134,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Adams_Creation_Sistine_Chapel_ceiling_by_Michelangelo_JBU33cut-768x342.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":342,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Adams_Creation_Sistine_Chapel_ceiling_by_Michelangelo_JBU33cut-1024x456.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":456,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Adams_Creation_Sistine_Chapel_ceiling_by_Michelangelo_JBU33cut.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":684,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Adams_Creation_Sistine_Chapel_ceiling_by_Michelangelo_JBU33cut.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":855,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Adams_Creation_Sistine_Chapel_ceiling_by_Michelangelo_JBU33cut-1200x534.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":534,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Adams_Creation_Sistine_Chapel_ceiling_by_Michelangelo_JBU33cut-943x420.jpg","home_baner-width":943,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_link_for_pay":"0","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"send_noty":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Torah","book":"Genesis","chapter":"1","chapter_main_number":"1","date":"20250831","wall_id":"1"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"362","name":"Poetry","old_id":"762"},{"term_id":"370","name":"Divine\/human","old_id":"770"}]},{"order":9,"id":"33865","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"One Word. Three Profound Lessons. ","post_title":"One Word. Three Profound Lessons.","slug":"one-word-three-profound-lessons","old_id":"33865","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":33859,"post_title":"Avidan Freedman","slug":"avidan-freedman","old_id":"33859","first_name":"Avidan","last_name":"Freedman","description":"Rabbi Avidan Freedman is the Rabbi of Hevruta, the Shalom Hartman Institute's post high school program for Israelis and North Americans, and an educator in the institute's high school. He is an activist advocating for moral limits on Israeli arms exports, and on behalf of African refugees, and a proud husband and father of 5. He received his rabbinical ordination from Yeshivat Chovevei Torah in New York, and from the Israeli chief rabbinate.","credit":"","image_url":"","short_description":"Rabbi Avidan Freedman is the Rabbi of Hevruta, the Shalom Hartman Institute's post high school program for Israelis and North Americans, and an educator in the institute's high school. ","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":33860,"alt":"Avidan Freedman","title":"Avidan Freedman","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Avidan-Freedman-e1532029306365.jpg","width":856,"height":1024,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Avidan-Freedman-e1532029306365-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Avidan-Freedman-e1532029306365-251x300.jpg","medium-width":251,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Avidan-Freedman-e1532029306365-768x919.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":919,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Avidan-Freedman-e1532029306365-856x1024.jpg","large-width":856,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Avidan-Freedman-e1532029306365.jpg","1536x1536-width":856,"1536x1536-height":1024,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Avidan-Freedman-e1532029306365.jpg","2048x2048-width":856,"2048x2048-height":1024,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Avidan-Freedman-800x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":800,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Avidan-Freedman-e1532029306365-351x420.jpg","home_baner-width":351,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"1","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"To believe that there are answers to these questions is an act of faith","post_main_content_content":"

Rashi doesn't waste any time. On the very first word of the Torah \u2013 be-reshit<\/em>, \"in the beginning (of\u2026)\" - he raises a question, and offers answers which provide us with (at least) 3 central principles to guide our reading of the next 929 chapters.<\/p>\r\n

\"This verse simply cries out 'Interpret me!', as our sages interpreted: For the sake of Torah which is called 'the first' (reshit) (Proverbs 8:2), and the for the sake of Israel who are called 'His first (reshit) produce (Jeremiah 2:3).'\"<\/p>\r\n

Principle 1: Every problem is an invitation.<\/strong>
\r\nTo the academic scholar, the Torah's idiosyncrasies are evidence of human involvement in the composition of the text. To the rabbinic mind, they are a call for human involvement, and this call begins from the very first word. The verses cry out to us. They need us to make meaning of them. Even the smallest irregularity demands a question, which means that we need to be extremely critical readers, lest we miss an invitation.<\/p>\r\n

Principle 2: The little things count.<\/strong>
\r\nThe tiniest problem can be the opening to ask the deepest question. The Torah's opening words would normally translate as \"in the beginning of, God created.\" A small grammatical matter, to which a number of grammatical solutions could be offered. Instead, the Midrash uses it as a springboard to raise a profound question that was begging to be asked. Why did God create this world in the first place? No explanation is offered in the text, and so the \"mistake\" is transformed into a response to this unasked question by understanding the first letter of 'breshit' as a contraction meaning \"for the sake of\".<\/p>\r\n

Principle 3: These questions have answers.<\/strong>
\r\nTo believe that there are answers to these questions is an act of faith in the Torah and its learners. It is to believe that the divinity of the Torah is expressed by the multiplicity of meanings embedded in the text, and to believe that that we have the ability to unearth those meanings in new ways.<\/p>\r\n

929 is a chance to join a journey of new questions and new answers. Welcome!<\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":84946,"alt":"","title":"ps68-question","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/ps68-question.png","width":1280,"height":1002,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/ps68-question-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/ps68-question-300x235.png","medium-width":300,"medium-height":235,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/ps68-question-768x601.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":601,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/ps68-question-1024x802.png","large-width":1024,"large-height":802,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/ps68-question.png","1536x1536-width":1280,"1536x1536-height":1002,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/ps68-question.png","2048x2048-width":1280,"2048x2048-height":1002,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/ps68-question-1200x939.png","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":939,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/ps68-question-537x420.png","home_baner-width":537,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"One Word. Three Profound Lessons.","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"929 is a chance to join a journey of new questions and new answers. Welcome!","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":84946,"alt":"","title":"ps68-question","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/ps68-question.png","width":1280,"height":1002,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/ps68-question-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/ps68-question-300x235.png","medium-width":300,"medium-height":235,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/ps68-question-768x601.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":601,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/ps68-question-1024x802.png","large-width":1024,"large-height":802,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/ps68-question.png","1536x1536-width":1280,"1536x1536-height":1002,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/ps68-question.png","2048x2048-width":1280,"2048x2048-height":1002,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/ps68-question-1200x939.png","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":939,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/ps68-question-537x420.png","home_baner-width":537,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","old_create_date":"","tile_link_for_pay":"0","links":false,"send_noty":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Torah","book":"Genesis","chapter":"1","chapter_main_number":"1","date":"20250831","wall_id":"1"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"366","name":"Commentators","old_id":"766"},{"term_id":"367","name":"Questions\/Answers","old_id":"767"}]},{"order":10,"id":"64754","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"2","name":"Visualizing Creation ","post_title":"Visualizing Creation","slug":"visualizing-creation","old_id":"64754","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":46171,"post_title":"Avner Moriah","slug":"avner-moriah","old_id":"46171","first_name":"Avner ","last_name":"Moriah ","description":"Avner Moriah is a prolific Israel artist who has addressed a wide range of Jewish and Israeli themes during the four decades of his artistic journey. 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How can the Creation story be visualized? Where is God in the picture? Is the order of Creation on each of the six days important? What are the most significant features of Creation? Relating to these kinds of questions is so difficult that medieval artists seldom included portrayals of Creation in Hebrew illuminated manuscripts of the Torah.<\/p>\r\n

Avner Moriah illustrates his version of the story using shapes as part of his creation \u2013 circles, spirals, spikes, and dots in different configurations. Looking from right to left, we realize that he made no effort to describe the order of Creation day by day, but rather challenged the viewer to decipher the various acts of Creation that are figured in the picture. The artist pictured the tohu<\/em>, the substance formed in the initial act of Creation, out of which everything else was shaped and made, as erratically arrayed amorphous yellow shapes in the upper right-hand corner.<\/p>\r\n

The continuation of the verse \u201cand the spirit of God (ruach<\/em>) hovered over the face of the waters\u201d is visualized as a non-anthropomorphic spirit of God, figured as a three-dimensional spiral next to the waters (tehom<\/em>) on its left. Again shaped as spirals, this time in several other colors, the spirit of God is pictured to the left of a white and a black rectangle, which represent day and night. Below we see a patch of blue between two white circles, suggesting the firmament that separates the waters.<\/p>\r\n

Under the image of the firmament, the artist illustrates the sun and the moon as well as the stars, skipping over the creation of the Third Day, and displaying the flying fowl, which was part of Creation on the Fifth Day.<\/p>\r\n

Returning to the top of the picture, we find images of the two acts of Creation on the Third Day to the left of the two small spirals representing the spirit of God. First, we see a rectangular area in which there is a crocodile (sea-monster), representing the sea, and below it a stretch of yellowish green for a patch of grass and trees. The sea-monster in the water is mentioned specifically with the fowl on the Fifth Day, \u201cAnd God created the great sea-monsters\u201d (Gen. 1:21), thus making it clear that they are not mythological creatures, but are to be counted among God\u2019s creations.<\/p>\r\n

Elsewhere in the picture are the various animals \u2013 wild four-legged beasts, as the lion; domesticated four-legged animals, as the bull and the deer; and the crawling creatures. The winged creatures are figured as well and different kinds of fish are seen in the water. Most prominently, there are four figures standing together in the foreground \u2013 Adam and Eve (who are not flanking that certain tree) together with Cain and Abel \u2013 all modeled after cult figurines and the images on seals taken from ancient Near Eastern civilizations.<\/p>\r\n

 <\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":64755,"alt":"","title":"01 Bereshit","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/01-Bereshit.jpg","width":1929,"height":2500,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/01-Bereshit-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/01-Bereshit-231x300.jpg","medium-width":231,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/01-Bereshit-768x995.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":995,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/01-Bereshit-790x1024.jpg","large-width":790,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/01-Bereshit.jpg","1536x1536-width":1185,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/01-Bereshit.jpg","2048x2048-width":1580,"2048x2048-height":2048,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/01-Bereshit-926x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":926,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/01-Bereshit-324x420.jpg","home_baner-width":324,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"The Chapter Illustrated","tile_main_caption":"Visualizing Creation","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Circles, spirals, spikes, and dots...","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":64755,"alt":"","title":"01 Bereshit","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/01-Bereshit.jpg","width":1929,"height":2500,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/01-Bereshit-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/01-Bereshit-231x300.jpg","medium-width":231,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/01-Bereshit-768x995.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":995,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/01-Bereshit-790x1024.jpg","large-width":790,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/01-Bereshit.jpg","1536x1536-width":1185,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/01-Bereshit.jpg","2048x2048-width":1580,"2048x2048-height":2048,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/01-Bereshit-926x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":926,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/01-Bereshit-324x420.jpg","home_baner-width":324,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"tile_link_for_pay":"0","send_noty":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"Isaiah","chapter":false,"chapter_main_number":false,"date":false,"wall_id":"1067"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"368","name":"Parasha","old_id":"768"},{"term_id":"369","name":"Visual Arts","old_id":"769"}]},{"order":11,"id":"69219","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"The Gap Between God and Humankind ","post_title":"The Gap Between God and Humankind","slug":"the-gap-between-god-and-humankind","old_id":"69219","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":69185,"post_title":"Elliott Rabin","slug":"elliott-rabin","old_id":"69185","first_name":"Elliott ","last_name":"Rabin","description":"Elliott Rabin is Director of Thought Leadership at Prizmah: Center for Jewish Day Schools, where he edits Prizmah's magazine HaYidion, writes, produces podcasts and manages research projects. 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To grasp the way the Bible portrays its heroes, one must start by understanding the place of humanity within the wide canvas of Creation:<\/span><\/p>\r\n

When I behold Your heavens, the work of Your fingers,<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>the moon and stars that You set in place,<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>what is man that You have been mindful of him,<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>mortal man that You have taken note of him,<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>that You have made him little less than God,<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>and adorned him with glory and majesty? (Ps. 8:4-6)<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The psalmist projects astonishment in two directions. When he looks in the heavens, he appreciates the enormousness of the universe\u2014all, in his eyes, the work of God\u2019s hands. On this cosmic scale, human existence seems insignificant, a mere pittance. Yet at the same time, on the terrestrial level, people are \u201cadorned in glory and majesty,\u201d granted power like a god on earth. From the first perspective, humankind is impossibly distant from God; from the second perspective, humankind is so close, \u201ca little less than God.\u201d These two perspectives form the warp and woof from which biblical stories are woven.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The Babylonian creation epic Enuma Elish presents humanity\u2019s mission in far less glorious terms, emphasizing the contrast between people and gods. Marduk, the chief god, creates humankind as servants of the gods. People are to do the hard work so that the gods can live a life of leisure.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The Bible\u2019s Creation story does not present humanity\u2019s role as being in service to God. Instead, the Bible\u2019s opening chapters emphasize the psalmist\u2019s \u201clittle less.\u201d When God rests on the seventh day, the text does not say that people step in to serve God; rather, God establishes a rhythm of work and rest that (we discover in Exodus 31) is given to people as well. The Bible thus underscores the <\/span>resemblance<\/span><\/em> between humanity and God.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Etymology powerfully reveals this resemblance. The Hebrew word for image in Genesis 1:26, <\/span>tzelem<\/span><\/em>, comes from the Akkadian word <\/span>tzalmu<\/span><\/em>, referring to a physical, man-made object, often a statue or figurine of a king in which a divinity chooses to reside. There is something of God within all people, \u201cmale and female\u201d; no person is created with more or less of God\u2019s image. The Bible conceives of human creatureliness in radically democratic terms.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

As the Bible has it, a gap extends between God and people. Sometimes, this gap appears small, merely a \u201clittle less,\u201d; while at other times, the gulf seems enormous, unbridgeable. Either way, according to the Bible, all people reside together on the other side of this gap. No special individuals\u2014no heroes\u2014can jump over to God\u2019s side.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The Bible\u2019s emphasis on the essential distance between people and God deeply colors the way it portrays all characters. The biblical narrator ensures that the reader is always cognizant that human heroes are not, and can never become, divine. Compared to heroes that readers encounter from other cultures, then, biblical heroes begin with a profound handicap.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Adapted from The Biblical Hero: Portraits in Nobility and Fallibility<\/em> by Elliott Rabin by permission of the Jewish Publication Society. \u00a92020 by Elliott Rabin.<\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":69430,"alt":"","title":"BiblicalHero","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/BiblicalHero.jpg","width":3200,"height":2372,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/BiblicalHero-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/BiblicalHero-300x222.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":222,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/BiblicalHero-768x569.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":569,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/BiblicalHero-1024x759.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":759,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/BiblicalHero.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1139,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/BiblicalHero.jpg","2048x2048-width":2048,"2048x2048-height":1518,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/BiblicalHero-1200x890.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":890,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/BiblicalHero-567x420.jpg","home_baner-width":567,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"The Gap Between God and Humankind","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"The Bible conceives of human creatureliness in radically democratic terms.","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":69430,"alt":"","title":"BiblicalHero","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/BiblicalHero.jpg","width":3200,"height":2372,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/BiblicalHero-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/BiblicalHero-300x222.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":222,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/BiblicalHero-768x569.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":569,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/BiblicalHero-1024x759.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":759,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/BiblicalHero.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1139,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/BiblicalHero.jpg","2048x2048-width":2048,"2048x2048-height":1518,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/BiblicalHero-1200x890.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":890,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/BiblicalHero-567x420.jpg","home_baner-width":567,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"tile_link_for_pay":"0","send_noty":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Torah","book":"Genesis","chapter":"1","chapter_main_number":"1","date":"20250831","wall_id":"1"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"370","name":"Divine\/human","old_id":"770"}]},{"order":12,"id":"34435","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"2","name":"Genesis 1 ","post_title":"Genesis 1","slug":"genesis-1","type":"no","writer":false,"iframe":"","related_cahpter":"1","type_929":"2","show_author_image":true,"old_id":"23865","post_main_content_title":"Genesis 1","post_main_content_description":"","post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_content":"