Hi -\u00a0<\/p>\r\n
Welcome!<\/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!<\/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?\u00a0Just click.<\/a><\/p>\r\n And if you want a look back at what the first cycle through was like - check out this\u00a0amazing 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":"","tile_main_caption":"New to 929? Welcome! ","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Click here for instructions...","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_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":"","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":false},{"order":3,"id":"102156","color":"#f7e9e9","size":"1","name":"Reconstructing The (Ivory) Tower ","post_title":"Reconstructing The (Ivory) Tower","slug":"reconstructing-the-ivory-tower","old_id":"102156","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":59587,"post_title":"Benjamin Morse","slug":"benjamin-morse","old_id":"59587","first_name":"Benjamin ","last_name":"Morse ","description":"Dr. Benjamin Morse studied religion and art history at Vassar, Oxford, and the Courtauld before completing a PhD in biblical interpretation. His dissertation reads the Hebrew Bible\u2019s \u201cmodern methods\u201d through the lens of painting and collage. His illustrated children\u2019s Torah, The Oldest Bedtime Story Ever, has won multiple awards.\r\nPhoto by Lenka Opalena.","short_description":"Dr. Benjamin Morse studied religion and art history, and is the author and illustrator of the illustrated children\u2019s Torah, The Oldest Bedtime Story Ever. ","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":59588,"alt":"","title":"Benjamin Morse by Lenka Opalena","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Benjamin-Morse-by-Lenka-Opalena.jpg","width":1069,"height":1576,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Benjamin-Morse-by-Lenka-Opalena-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Benjamin-Morse-by-Lenka-Opalena-203x300.jpg","medium-width":203,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Benjamin-Morse-by-Lenka-Opalena-695x1024.jpg","medium_large-width":695,"medium_large-height":1024,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Benjamin-Morse-by-Lenka-Opalena-695x1024.jpg","large-width":695,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Benjamin-Morse-by-Lenka-Opalena.jpg","1536x1536-width":1042,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Benjamin-Morse-by-Lenka-Opalena.jpg","2048x2048-width":1069,"2048x2048-height":1576,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Benjamin-Morse-by-Lenka-Opalena-814x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":814,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Benjamin-Morse-by-Lenka-Opalena-285x420.jpg","home_baner-width":285,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"11","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Or: How the liberal arts gave way to Babel\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":" Despite my thirteen years in higher education between 1989 and 2008, I did not clock until recently the distinction between critical thinking and critical theory. The purpose of a liberal arts degree, the course catalogues informed me when I applied to college, was to learn to think critically\u2014to question assumptions including one\u2019s own, to examine issues from multiple perspectives. There is hope in holding the totality of world views in balanced tension.<\/span><\/p>\r\n Doing a master\u2019s at Oxford, I thus felt lost being expected to hold firm <\/span>opinions<\/span><\/em> when I was still learning the ropes. I found my outsider way in the years that followed by applying feminist, psychoanalytic, and other critical theory to Hebrew texts. Though I employed words like \u201cproblematize\u201d and spoke of \u201cdismantling\u201d preconceptions, my comparative projects intended to establish consonance between ancient and modern practices. I was building bridges, not razing the whole Western edifice to the ground.<\/span><\/p>\r\n The Babel story in Genesis 11 is about what happens when hubris and difference get the better of us. We degenerate into chaos and cannot hear one another across borders and online platforms. The babble today is more ideological than linguistic, even within our respective echo chambers. We use \u201cthe same language and the same words (v. 1)\u201d but file our dictionaries in different wings of the library.<\/span><\/p>\r\n Critical theory\u2019s aversion to analytic philosophy has done much to topple the liberal ivory towers. A hegemony that fetishizes otherness, claims language is oppressive, and calls reason terror, it reduces everything to a power dynamic. With the Socratic method canceled by subjectivity, some students choose silence over openly challenging today\u2019s orthodoxies. Meanwhile their peers slay professors for their \u201cnormative\u201d identities, casting their CVs to the realm of irrelevance. Think critically and criticize critical theory? Be the real radical and ask it to deconstruct itself? We\u2019re sorry, but you are out.<\/span><\/p>\r\n Babel lies between Noah and Abraham. It explains why a rainbowed universal covenant was not enough but is a warning to why tribalism is not enough either. It sets into motion an ideal: a father of the many who will need to hold their own under empires that will enslave them and try to tell them what to think. This pyramid here, those idols there. The ones who in a few generations are named \u201cwrestlers with God\u201d don\u2019t cave to monolithic thinking. They move. Their rabbis will write in the margins a totality of views to negotiate change.<\/span><\/p>\r\n \u201cWhy is Abraham the first Jew?\u201d my friend\u2019s childhood rabbi asked. \u201cBecause he questioned God.\u201d Noah just took the shopping list and did what he was told, whereas Abraham cross-examined, \u201cWill You sweep away the innocent along with the guilty (Gen. 18.23)?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n Educators, take courage. Stop making bricks and burning them hard (11.3). Acknowledge that critical theory has created a pandemonium of identity politics. Think critically when what\u2019s spoken in the name of justice apportions guilt without distinction. Build bridges, not silos. Be always an Abraham, never a know-it-all.<\/span><\/p>\r\n Image: courtesy of the author<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":102157,"alt":"","title":"-6211285f82c57--6211285f82c58Gen11-Babel - BMorse.jpg","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/02\/6211285f82c57-6211285f82c58Gen11-Babel-BMorse.jpg.jpg","width":2048,"height":2868,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/02\/6211285f82c57-6211285f82c58Gen11-Babel-BMorse.jpg-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/02\/6211285f82c57-6211285f82c58Gen11-Babel-BMorse.jpg-214x300.jpg","medium-width":214,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/02\/6211285f82c57-6211285f82c58Gen11-Babel-BMorse.jpg-731x1024.jpg","medium_large-width":731,"medium_large-height":1024,"large":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/02\/6211285f82c57-6211285f82c58Gen11-Babel-BMorse.jpg-731x1024.jpg","large-width":731,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/02\/6211285f82c57-6211285f82c58Gen11-Babel-BMorse.jpg.jpg","1536x1536-width":1097,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/02\/6211285f82c57-6211285f82c58Gen11-Babel-BMorse.jpg.jpg","2048x2048-width":1462,"2048x2048-height":2048,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/02\/6211285f82c57-6211285f82c58Gen11-Babel-BMorse.jpg-857x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":857,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/02\/6211285f82c57-6211285f82c58Gen11-Babel-BMorse.jpg-300x420.jpg","home_baner-width":300,"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":"Reconstructing The (Ivory) Tower","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Or: How the liberal arts gave way to Babel","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":102157,"alt":"","title":"-6211285f82c57--6211285f82c58Gen11-Babel - BMorse.jpg","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/02\/6211285f82c57-6211285f82c58Gen11-Babel-BMorse.jpg.jpg","width":2048,"height":2868,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/02\/6211285f82c57-6211285f82c58Gen11-Babel-BMorse.jpg-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/02\/6211285f82c57-6211285f82c58Gen11-Babel-BMorse.jpg-214x300.jpg","medium-width":214,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/02\/6211285f82c57-6211285f82c58Gen11-Babel-BMorse.jpg-731x1024.jpg","medium_large-width":731,"medium_large-height":1024,"large":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/02\/6211285f82c57-6211285f82c58Gen11-Babel-BMorse.jpg-731x1024.jpg","large-width":731,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/02\/6211285f82c57-6211285f82c58Gen11-Babel-BMorse.jpg.jpg","1536x1536-width":1097,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/02\/6211285f82c57-6211285f82c58Gen11-Babel-BMorse.jpg.jpg","2048x2048-width":1462,"2048x2048-height":2048,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/02\/6211285f82c57-6211285f82c58Gen11-Babel-BMorse.jpg-857x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":857,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/02\/6211285f82c57-6211285f82c58Gen11-Babel-BMorse.jpg-300x420.jpg","home_baner-width":300,"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":"11","chapter_main_number":"11","date":"20250914","wall_id":"11"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"369","name":"Visual Arts","old_id":"769"},{"term_id":"399","name":"Education","old_id":"799"}]},{"order":4,"id":"102160","color":"#f7e9e9","size":"1","name":"Regarding Lifespans: The Long And The Short Of It ","post_title":"Regarding Lifespans: The Long And The Short Of It","slug":"regarding-lifespans-the-long-and-the-short-of-it","old_id":"102160","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":"11","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"With some insights about the aging gene, telomeres, and some very challenging ethical dilemmas\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":" Just before the story of the flood, the Torah provides the first genealogical tree \u2013 from Adam to Noah. Following the flood, in Genesis 11, the tree continues with the next ten generations, from Noah\u2019s son, Shem to the father of the Jewish people, Abraham.<\/span><\/p>\r\n The first ten generations averaged a lifespan close to 900, except for Enoch. We know something unnatural happened to Enoch because for the other nine members of this genetic branch the Torah tells us \u201cand he died,\u201d but with Enoch we are told \u201cGod had taken him.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n Immediately after the flood lifespans began a steady decline, from Shem who reached the age of 600 to Abraham, who we later find out, lived to 175. The decline continued through to Moses, who, though he lived to 120, was unusually old for his time. Moses is presented as declaring, \u201cThe days of our lives are seventy years, and if we\u2019re strong, eighty years (Psalm 90:10).\u201d And that seems to be about where human lifespans leveled off.<\/span><\/p>\r\n A 1995 study on aging (Ricklefs and Finch, Scientific American Library) concluded that in the absence of genes for aging, an average lifespan could reach 1,300 years. Something would kill people eventually, but it wouldn\u2019t be aging. Scientific explanations for the post-flood decline in lifespan range from fossil records that describe a quite different earthly environment, to the genetic bottleneck that occurred after the flood, when the human population was reduced to eight people, resulting in a limited gene pool and less dilution of gene mutations.<\/span><\/p>\r\n The Torah tells us that this shortening of lifespan happened by design. God\u2019s statement to Adam and Eve that, \u201con that day that you eat of the tree of knowledge you will die (Genesis 2:17)\u201d, referred not to immediate death, for they did not die on that day, but was a declaration of mortality. The Jewish blessing of living to 120 years, originated by God in Genesis 6:3, is understood by many biblical commentaries as a necessity for us to value our lives more intensely on earth and strive toward our ultimate encounter with God.<\/span><\/p>\r\n Though God made the pronouncement of human mortality in the first generation of humankind, it seems that \u201cthe aging gene\u201d was not introduced until the reboot of the world at the time of the flood. And given the small gene pool that survived the flood, it would take another 16 generations for that gene to propagate and decrease lifespan from Noah\u2019s 959 years to Moses\u2019 120.<\/span><\/p>\r\n Recent science out of Tel Aviv University<\/span><\/a> has purported to reverse aging by manipulating telomeres, the part of our chromosomes that are involved with age-related disabilities and some disease. Imagine a world without age-related dementia or cancer! One probable extension of this discovery, says the lead researcher, is a lengthening of life span. Should that transpire, as with all science, we\u2019ll need to carefully tread that line between our work of <\/span>tikkun olam<\/span><\/em> \u2013 repairing the world \u2013 and encroaching on God\u2019s work of designing the world.<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":102161,"alt":"","title":"-62114e7c46d20--62114e7c46d21gen11-aging elderly.jpg","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/02\/62114e7c46d20-62114e7c46d21gen11-aging-elderly.jpg.jpg","width":1920,"height":1078,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/02\/62114e7c46d20-62114e7c46d21gen11-aging-elderly.jpg-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/02\/62114e7c46d20-62114e7c46d21gen11-aging-elderly.jpg-300x168.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":168,"medium_large":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/02\/62114e7c46d20-62114e7c46d21gen11-aging-elderly.jpg-768x431.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":431,"large":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/02\/62114e7c46d20-62114e7c46d21gen11-aging-elderly.jpg-1024x575.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":575,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/02\/62114e7c46d20-62114e7c46d21gen11-aging-elderly.jpg.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":862,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/02\/62114e7c46d20-62114e7c46d21gen11-aging-elderly.jpg.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":1078,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/02\/62114e7c46d20-62114e7c46d21gen11-aging-elderly.jpg-1200x674.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":674,"home_baner":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/02\/62114e7c46d20-62114e7c46d21gen11-aging-elderly.jpg-748x420.jpg","home_baner-width":748,"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":"Regarding Lifespans: The Long And The Short Of It","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"With some insights about the aging gene, telomeres, and some very challenging ethical dilemmas","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":102161,"alt":"","title":"-62114e7c46d20--62114e7c46d21gen11-aging 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Universal Torah - Why Stop Here? ","post_title":"The Universal Torah - Why Stop Here?","slug":"the-universal-torah-why-stop-here","old_id":"102154","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":96657,"post_title":"Jeff Jaffe","slug":"jeff-jaffe","old_id":"96657","first_name":"Jeff ","last_name":"Jaffe ","description":"Jeff Jaffe is the CEO of the World Wide Web Consortium at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. 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":"11","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Abraham will begin a new chapter\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":" Chapter 11 begins with the Tower of Babel and the dispersion. The biblical commentator <\/span>Kli Yakar<\/em> <\/span>interprets verse 1 (one language and few words, or the same language and the same words) to mean that initially there was to be unity of purpose toward bringing peace in the world. As I already <\/span>discussed in chapter 10<\/span><\/a>, the focus of the seventy nations was to unite for the forces of good. The initial motivation to build a tower was so that unified mankind could be together in one place, worshiping God.<\/span><\/p>\r\n It didn\u2019t turn out that way. Among the tower builders were those who hijacked the mission and tried to use the unity to do battle with God. Quoting <\/span>Sanhedrin<\/span><\/i> 71a, \u201ccoming together of evil-doers is bad for them and bad for the world; dispersal of evil-doers is good for them and good for the world, and the reverse is true for the righteous.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n This posting concludes a series of postings that summarize forty-two messages from the first eleven chapters of Genesis, as described in the book<\/span> Genesis: A Torah for All Nations<\/span><\/i><\/a>. One might ask why stop here \u2013 perhaps the messages continue throughout Genesis?<\/span><\/p>\r\n The simplest and most obvious explanation is that starting with chapter 12, the Torah focuses on the story of Abraham, the everlasting covenants between God and the descendants of Abraham, and the narrative leading into the Israelite exile to Egypt, redemption, and receiving the mitzvot.<\/span><\/p>\r\n There are two other indications that a major theme and section of the Torah ends with the conclusion of chapter 11.<\/span><\/p>\r\n Many commentators point out that although the final verse (verse 32) concludes with the death of Terach, he actually lived many years after the events of chapter 11, after Isaac was born, until two years prior to Sarah\u2019s death. Commentaries provide various reasons for his death being reported out of sequence.<\/span><\/p>\r\n But one very logical reason is that the Torah is trying to signal that the first eleven chapters are a unit, with a specific purpose \u2013 namely, to instruct all people about universal ethical behaviors. The Torah caps it off by finishing the major genealogies that lead up to Abraham, and then starting in chapter 12, there is an entirely new purpose.<\/span><\/p>\r\n There is an additional surprising demarcation that separates these eleven chapters from the rest of the Torah. Rashi has a text for the Torah in which the final letter of verse 32 is a backwards Hebrew letter <\/span>nun<\/span><\/em>. In <\/span>Shabbat<\/span><\/i> 116a, the Talmud states that a backwards <\/span>nun<\/span><\/em> can be used to separate portions of the Torah into different books. What clearer indication could there be that the first eleven chapters of Genesis represent an entity unto themselves with their own mission?<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":101406,"alt":"","title":"-61fbf071d2dad--61fbf071d2daegen1-nations flags people.jpg","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/02\/61fbf071d2dad-61fbf071d2daegen1-nations-flags-people.jpg.jpg","width":1920,"height":615,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/02\/61fbf071d2dad-61fbf071d2daegen1-nations-flags-people.jpg-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/02\/61fbf071d2dad-61fbf071d2daegen1-nations-flags-people.jpg-300x96.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":96,"medium_large":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/02\/61fbf071d2dad-61fbf071d2daegen1-nations-flags-people.jpg-768x246.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":246,"large":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/02\/61fbf071d2dad-61fbf071d2daegen1-nations-flags-people.jpg-1024x328.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":328,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/02\/61fbf071d2dad-61fbf071d2daegen1-nations-flags-people.jpg.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":492,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/02\/61fbf071d2dad-61fbf071d2daegen1-nations-flags-people.jpg.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":615,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/02\/61fbf071d2dad-61fbf071d2daegen1-nations-flags-people.jpg-1200x384.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":384,"home_baner":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/02\/61fbf071d2dad-61fbf071d2daegen1-nations-flags-people.jpg-1311x420.jpg","home_baner-width":1311,"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 Universal Torah - Why Stop Here?","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Abraham will begin a new chapter","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":101406,"alt":"","title":"-61fbf071d2dad--61fbf071d2daegen1-nations flags people.jpg","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/02\/61fbf071d2dad-61fbf071d2daegen1-nations-flags-people.jpg.jpg","width":1920,"height":615,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/02\/61fbf071d2dad-61fbf071d2daegen1-nations-flags-people.jpg-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/02\/61fbf071d2dad-61fbf071d2daegen1-nations-flags-people.jpg-300x96.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":96,"medium_large":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/02\/61fbf071d2dad-61fbf071d2daegen1-nations-flags-people.jpg-768x246.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":246,"large":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/02\/61fbf071d2dad-61fbf071d2daegen1-nations-flags-people.jpg-1024x328.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":328,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/02\/61fbf071d2dad-61fbf071d2daegen1-nations-flags-people.jpg.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":492,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/02\/61fbf071d2dad-61fbf071d2daegen1-nations-flags-people.jpg.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":615,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/02\/61fbf071d2dad-61fbf071d2daegen1-nations-flags-people.jpg-1200x384.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":384,"home_baner":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/02\/61fbf071d2dad-61fbf071d2daegen1-nations-flags-people.jpg-1311x420.jpg","home_baner-width":1311,"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":"11","chapter_main_number":"11","date":"20250914","wall_id":"11"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"374","name":"Humanity","old_id":"774"},{"term_id":"418","name":"Abraham","old_id":"818"}]},{"order":6,"id":"102165","color":"#f7e9e9","size":"1","name":"The Tower of Babel ","post_title":"The Tower of Babel","slug":"the-tower-of-babel","old_id":"102165","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":"11","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"The first sky-scraper sparked disputes\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":" Our<\/span> chapter<\/span><\/a> includes the famous story of the<\/span> Tower of Babel<\/span><\/a>, described as an enormous structure built in the land of Shinar (Babylonia) after the Flood. The story of its construction is meant to explain the diversity of human languages. The Babylonians wanted to make a name for themselves by building a mighty city and a huge tower<\/span> \"with its top in the heavens\"<\/span><\/a>. God disrupted the work by so confusing the language of the workers that they could no longer understand one another. The city was never completed, and the people were dispersed over the face of the earth.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n This Scriptural story may have been inspired by the Babylonian tower temple, called in Babylonian <\/span>Bab-ilu<\/span><\/em> (\u201cGate of God\u201d), reflected in the Hebrew name <\/span>Bavel<\/span><\/em> (\u201cBabel\u201d). The similarity of the place name <\/span>Bavel<\/span><\/em> to the verb <\/span>balal<\/span><\/em> (\u201cconfounded\u201d) led to the play on words \u201cTherefore its name was called Bavel<\/em>, because there the Lord confounded the language of all the earth.\u201d<\/span> To this day, we use the term \u201cbabble\u201d to indicate incomprehensible gibberish produced by a multitude of voices.<\/span><\/p>\r\n According to<\/span> Talmud Yerushalmi<\/span><\/a>,<\/span> \u00a0\"everyone spoke the same language\"<\/span><\/a> means that everyone understood all the<\/span> 70 various languages of the 70 nations of the world<\/span><\/a>. However, another view is that there was but one original language,<\/span> Hebrew, with which the world was created and in which the Torah was given<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\r\n According to<\/span> Sefer HaYashar<\/span><\/a> (see also<\/span> Legends of the Jews<\/span><\/a>)<\/span>, those who built the Tower of Babel were so obsessed with its construction that if a single brick fell from atop the Tower, they would \u200elament and weep over such a great loss. But if one of the workers would fall down and be killed, no one \u200ewould take the least notice of his death! They would not permit a pregnant woman to stop working even when she was giving birth. But she would be forced to wrap the newborn to her body with a sheet and continue molding bricks!<\/span><\/p>\r\n In contrast, according to<\/span> Avot de-Rabbi Natan<\/span><\/a>, the Biblical story of the Tower of Babel teaches that one should love all people and not hate anyone. For the people of Sodom, because they hated one another, God removed them both from this world and from the World to Come.<\/span> As it says<\/span><\/a>: \u201cAnd the people of Sodom were very wicked and sinful against God\u201d. \u201cSinful\u201d \u2013 this is sexual transgression; \u201cagainst God\u201d \u2013 this the desecration of God\u2019s name; \u201cvery\u201d \u2013 this means that they sinned intentionally. But, the people of the Generation of the Dispersion, mentioned in our chapter, loved one another. So, God did not wipe them off the face of the earth, but instead only scattered them to the four corners of the world.<\/span><\/p>\r\n