{"id":40843,"date":"2018-07-09T18:50:29","date_gmt":"2018-07-09T15:50:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wall\/wall-57\/"},"modified":"2022-04-25T09:30:05","modified_gmt":"2022-04-25T06:30:05","slug":"wall-57","status":"publish","type":"wall","link":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wall\/wall-57\/","title":{"rendered":"chapter-Torah-Exodus-7"},"parent":0,"template":"","acf":{"type":"chapter","wall_id":"57","date":"20251117","book":"Exodus","chapter":"7","chapter_main_number":"57","books_group":"Torah","posts":[{"order":1,"id":"41201","color":"#f8ebe3","size":"1","name":"Exodus 7- Judy Hammond ","post_title":"Exodus 7- Judy Hammond","slug":"exodus-7-judy-hammond","old_id":"41201","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":"57","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":"Exodus 7","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\/exodus-chapter-7-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":"Exodus","chapter":"7","chapter_main_number":"57","date":"20251117","wall_id":"57"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":2,"id":"104291","color":"#f7e9e9","size":"2","name":"Heavy Is The Heart That Wears The Crown ","post_title":"Heavy Is The Heart That Wears The Crown","slug":"heavy-is-the-heart-that-wears-the-crown","old_id":"104291","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":78133,"post_title":"Josh Blechner","slug":"josh-blechner","old_id":"78133","first_name":"Josh ","last_name":"Blechner ","description":"Josh first finished the Tanach during Yeshiva in Mevaseret Zion. 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","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":"57","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"To understand a heavy heart, we must turn to Egyptian culture\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

After God\u2019s reintroduction, Moses is finally ready to return to Pharaoh and continue with his task. But God throws another wrench in Moses\u2019s plans. God tells Moses that despite all of Moses\u2019s best efforts, Pharaoh will not listen to Moses. Instead, God will harden Pharaoh\u2019s heart and make it heavy.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

How could God take away someone\u2019s free will? The concept of free will is an essential tenet of Judaism. I once heard a lecturer on this issue use the following analogy. If someone decides to jump out of a plane, that is their free will. Once they leave the plane, however, they lose an element of free will. No matter how much the person wills it, they cannot go back up to the plane- nature takes over. Here, Pharaoh had free will when he made the decision to enslave the Israelites and not let them leave. This is why in verse 13 Pharaoh hardened his own heart. After that, he had jumped out of the plane and could not turn back. Nature took over, much like gravity does for the skydiver.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

This analogy is interesting in that God\u2019s hardening of Pharaoh\u2019s heart is simply God\u2019s mastery of nature similar to the plagues overall. The Koren Tanach series provides a very interesting take. In Egyptian mythology in the Book of the Dead when someone dies they are brought before the god of the underworld. Before entering the underworld, the person\u2019s heart is weighed on a scale. The scale is weighed against <\/span>maat<\/span><\/em>, the Egyptian concept of natural order. If the heart is heavier than the <\/span>maat<\/span><\/em>, usually depicted by a feather, then the person is unable to enter the land of the dead and the heart would be devoured by a monster(see the cover image).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Taken in context, God\u2019s pronouncement that he will make Pharaoh's heart heavy in verse 14 is apt. Moses and the Egyptians would understand what it meant that Pharaoh\u2019s heart would become heavy. In essence, God was proclaiming that Pharaoh would be condemned both by the Israelite God and within his own religious beliefs.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The use of heavy\/<\/span>kaved<\/span><\/em> here by God could also be meant as a retort to Moses. In chapter 4 verse 10, Moses uses the same word kaved<\/em>\u00a0to complain about his speech impediment. God responds \u2018\u201dWho gives humans speech? Who makes them dumb or deaf, seeing or blind?\u2019\u201d Perhaps by making Pharaoh\u2019s heart heavy, God is making a point to Moses. Moses complained to God about his heavy lips, so in return God punishes Moses by making Pharaoh's heart heavy, thereby making Moses\u2019s job harder.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

image:\u00a0Judgment scene from the\u00a0Book of the Dead<\/a><\/i>. In the three scenes from the Book of the Dead (version from ~1275 BCE) the dead man (Hunefer) is taken into the judgment hall by the jackal-headed\u00a0Anubis. The next scene is the weighing of his heart, with\u00a0Ammut\u00a0awaiting the result and\u00a0Thoth\u00a0recording. Next, the triumphant Hunefer, having passed the test, is presented by the falcon-headed\u00a0Horus\u00a0to\u00a0Osiris \/ wikipedia<\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":104292,"alt":"","title":"-626562eee9661--626562eee9662ex7-The_judgement_of_the_dead_in_the_presence_of_Osiris.jpg","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/04\/626562eee9661-626562eee9662ex7-The_judgement_of_the_dead_in_the_presence_of_Osiris.jpg.jpg","width":1920,"height":873,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/04\/626562eee9661-626562eee9662ex7-The_judgement_of_the_dead_in_the_presence_of_Osiris.jpg-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/04\/626562eee9661-626562eee9662ex7-The_judgement_of_the_dead_in_the_presence_of_Osiris.jpg-300x136.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":136,"medium_large":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/04\/626562eee9661-626562eee9662ex7-The_judgement_of_the_dead_in_the_presence_of_Osiris.jpg-768x349.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":349,"large":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/04\/626562eee9661-626562eee9662ex7-The_judgement_of_the_dead_in_the_presence_of_Osiris.jpg-1024x466.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":466,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/04\/626562eee9661-626562eee9662ex7-The_judgement_of_the_dead_in_the_presence_of_Osiris.jpg.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":698,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/04\/626562eee9661-626562eee9662ex7-The_judgement_of_the_dead_in_the_presence_of_Osiris.jpg.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":873,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/04\/626562eee9661-626562eee9662ex7-The_judgement_of_the_dead_in_the_presence_of_Osiris.jpg-1200x546.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":546,"home_baner":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/04\/626562eee9661-626562eee9662ex7-The_judgement_of_the_dead_in_the_presence_of_Osiris.jpg-924x420.jpg","home_baner-width":924,"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":"Heavy 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God with<\/span><\/h3>\r\n

- swarms of children, birthed a litter at a time<\/span><\/p>\r\n

- rebel mothers, midwives, sisters, daughters<\/span><\/p>\r\n

- flowing blood: the source of life<\/span><\/p>\r\n

- swarms of frogs, lice, locusts: life<\/span><\/p>\r\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

God\u2019s fertility<\/span><\/p>\r\n

defeats a wicked kingdom<\/span><\/p>\r\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

_____<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n

Exodus Chapter 1, 7:14-10:19<\/span><\/em><\/p>\r\n

Inspired by Mary Douglas<\/span><\/em><\/p>\r\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

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Our<\/span> chapter<\/span><\/a> includes the dramatic scene in which Moses and Aaron appear before Pharaoh and compete with Pharoah\u2019s courtiers by turning staffs into serpents. In the preceding two chapters, the earlier appearance of Moses and Aaron before Pharaoh led only to an increase in the suffering of the Israelite slaves at the hand of their Egyptian taskmasters.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Jewish legend<\/span><\/a> has much to add to these two Scriptural episodes. According to<\/span> Sefer HaYashar<\/span><\/a>, Pharaoh\u2019s enormous palace was protected by many guards including two lions. However, Moses and Aaron managed to enter Pharaoh\u2019s palace unscathed, followed by the lions gamboling joyfully like friendly dogs.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

According to<\/span> Midrash Shemot Rabbah<\/span><\/a> and parallels, Moses and Aaron appeared before Pharaoh on his birthday. All the ambassadors of the nations were coming with their idols to pay homage to Pharaoh by offering golden crowns to acknowledge him as the Ruler of the World. Meanwhile, Moses and Aaron were left waiting to enter Pharaoh's throne room. When they finally entered, Pharaoh expected them to honor him as the other ambassadors had done, or at least to present their ambassadorial credentials. When Moses and Aaron did not do so, Pharaoh demanded angrily, Who are you?! To which they replied, We are the ambassadors of the Lord, blessed be He. So, what do you want? asked Pharaoh. They replied:<\/span> Let My people go...<\/span><\/a>Shalach 'et 'Ami<\/span><\/i>! Pharaoh became even angrier and shouted:<\/span> Who is the \u2018Lord\u2019 that I should heed him and let Israel go<\/span><\/a>?! Whoever he is, does he not know to offer me a crown, but only sends you to come before me with nothing but words?! \u201c<\/span>I know not the 'Lord', so I will not let Israel go<\/span><\/a>.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

However, I will go and search my palace records where the names of all known gods are recorded. When he returned, he said to Moses and Aaron, My archives do not include the name of your \u2018Lord\u2019, nor is there any mention of his deeds. Whereupon they said to Pharaoh: You fool! Is the Living One to be sought among the dead?! The gods you mention are dead. But our God is a Living God and an eternal king!<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The<\/span> miracle of the staffs<\/span><\/a> is recorded in Scripture in considerable detail. But the Rabbinic Sages, as is their wont, elaborate even on such well documented Biblical miracles. Further on in<\/span> Midrash Shemot Rabbah<\/span><\/a>, despite the apparent victory of Moses and Aaron in the<\/span> contest of the staffs and serpents<\/span><\/a>, Pharaoh merely jested, cackling like a hen after Moses and Aaron. He said: Don\u2019t you not know that I have dominion over all sorcery? He then had his wife and children turn staffs into serpents. Nevertheless, it was a \u201cmiracle within a miracle \u2013<\/span> nes be-tokh nes<\/span><\/i><\/a> that Aaron\u2019s staff not only turned into a serpent, but that it turned back into a staff and only then it swallowed the serpents of the Egyptian sorcerers. Thus, Aaron's staff became a sign for all the miracles performed for Israel throughout the generations.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

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Shabbat With a Schmear: Va'era - Recreating the Drama of the Plagues<\/p>","post_main_content_image":"","post_main_content_embedded_video":"https:\/\/youtu.be\/cfTZ1XHi7_g","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"Shabbat With a Schmear","tile_main_caption":"Va'era - Recreating the Drama of the Plagues","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Adam Mintz with Meredith Berkman (ShabbatMom)","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":"","tile_preview_video":"https:\/\/youtu.be\/cfTZ1XHi7_g","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":"","links":false,"tile_link_for_pay":"0","send_noty":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Torah","book":"Numbers","chapter":false,"chapter_main_number":false,"date":false,"wall_id":"1025"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"368","name":"Parasha","old_id":"768"},{"term_id":"369","name":"Visual Arts","old_id":"769"}]},{"order":6,"id":"40891","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"Pharaoh\u2019s Confirmation Bias ","post_title":"Pharaoh\u2019s Confirmation Bias","slug":"pharaohs-confirmation-bias","old_id":"40891","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":38439,"post_title":"Yael Shahar","slug":"yael-shahar","old_id":"38439","first_name":"Yael ","last_name":"Shahar","description":"Yael Shahar has spent most of her career in counter-terrorism and intelligence, with brief forays into teaching physics and astronomy. She now divides her time between researching trends in terrorism and learning Talmud with anyone who will sit still long enough.","short_description":"Yael Shahar divides her time between researching trends in terrorism and learning Talmud ","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":38455,"alt":"","title":"YaelShahar","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/YaelShahar-e1534967871366.png","width":634,"height":590,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/YaelShahar-e1534967871366-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/YaelShahar-e1534967871366-300x279.png","medium-width":300,"medium-height":279,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/YaelShahar-768x796.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":796,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/YaelShahar-e1534967871366.png","large-width":634,"large-height":590,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/YaelShahar-e1534967871366.png","1536x1536-width":634,"1536x1536-height":590,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/YaelShahar-e1534967871366.png","2048x2048-width":634,"2048x2048-height":590,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/YaelShahar-e1534967871366.png","post_full_size-width":634,"post_full_size-height":590,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/YaelShahar-e1534967871366-451x420.png","home_baner-width":451,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"57","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Each time we resist change, we further lose our ability to see contradictory facts ","post_main_content_content":"

Despite Moses and Aaron\u2019s signs and wonders, Pharaoh repeatedly \u201chardens his heart\u201d and refuses to release his Israelite slaves.<\/p>\r\n

What does it mean to \u201charden one\u2019s heart\u201d and why does the Torah first say that Pharaoh hardened his own heart and later say that God hardened Pharaoh\u2019s heart?<\/p>\r\n

A close reading of the text shows how those in power may rationalize their decisions\u2014even disastrous decisions\u2014in order to avoid acknowledging past mistakes. Pharaoh compounds his initial mistakes by becoming further entrenched in his determination not to let the slaves go free.<\/p>\r\n

There is an important lesson in how mindsets become prisons. This phenomenon is called \u201cconfirmation bias\u201d: when presented with a diversity of information, we selectively filter out anything that does not corroborate past experience.<\/p>\r\n

In Pharaoh\u2019s case, this is made much easier by the fact that Aaron and Moses start out with easily replicated tricks. Once assured that his own magicians can reproduce their \u201csigns and wonders\u201d, Pharaoh has no reason to see that anything unusual is afoot. The challenge to the status quo can be reasoned away.<\/p>\r\n

Even when things escalate to a plague of lice, which Pharaoh\u2019s court wizards are unable to reproduce, Pharaoh continues to \u201cstrengthen his heart.\u201d Habits of thought are hard to break. Only when a plague strikes which the court wizards not only can\u2019t reproduce, but from which they can\u2019t even save themselves, does the text say, \u201cGod<\/em> strengthened Pharaoh\u2019s heart.\u201d<\/p>\r\n

Pharaoh\u2019s problem is well-known to psychologists. Once a way of thinking becomes habituated, each time we resist change, we further lose our ability to see contradictory facts. Pharaoh\u2019s dismissal of the evidence at hand was at first a conscious act, but by this point, it\u2019s out of his hands; he has become a slave of his own \u201cconcept\u201d and can no longer see what is obvious to everyone else.<\/p>\r\n

And of course, what happened to Pharaoh in the realm of the mind had happened to Egyptian society in a more concrete sense. They had institutionalized slavery. It had become a habit, a permanent feature of their economy, which they could not leave behind of their own free will. The hardening of Pharaoh\u2019s heart is a sign that what happens next is a miracle. It is a lesson in seeing God in the improbable and seemingly impossible.<\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":104303,"alt":"","title":"-62656af8f39ed--62656af8f39eeex7-brain gears bias 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Sign of the Serpent in Art ","post_title":"The Sign of the Serpent in Art","slug":"the-sign-of-the-serpent-in-art","old_id":"41210","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":37927,"post_title":"Adapted from ALHATORAH.ORG","slug":"alhatorah-org","old_id":"37927","first_name":"Adapted from","last_name":"ALHATORAH.ORG","description":"ALHATORAH.ORG is a one-stop Tanakh study resource, providing the texts, tools, techniques, and technology to help scholars, educators, and laypersons make Torah come alive in the home, classroom, and synagogue. Enter the site to explore 2,500 years of Biblical interpretation and enjoy a rich, multi-dimensional, learning experience.\r\n","short_description":"ALHATORAH.ORG Re-envisioning the way Torah can be studied and taught","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":37929,"alt":"","title":"shutterstock_473208484","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/shutterstock_473208484.jpg","width":10000,"height":10000,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/shutterstock_473208484-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/shutterstock_473208484-300x300.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/shutterstock_473208484-768x768.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":768,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/shutterstock_473208484-1024x1024.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/shutterstock_473208484.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/shutterstock_473208484.jpg","2048x2048-width":2048,"2048x2048-height":2048,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/shutterstock_473208484-1200x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/shutterstock_473208484-420x420.jpg","home_baner-width":420,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"57","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"","post_main_content_content":"

An \u00a0image from the Sarajevo Haggadah, a tapestry based on an oil painting by Nicolas Poussin, and the illustration from the LaHaye Bible, all depict the miracle of Aaron's staff turning into a serpent. The artists differ widely in how they envision the serpent and in the way they understand the miracle as a whole.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The most fundamental difference between the portrayals is each artist's depiction of the \u201ctanin,\u201d usually translated as \u201cserpent.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\r\n

\"\"<\/p>\r\n

Poussin renders it as a serpent.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

\"\"<\/p>\r\n

In contrast, the LaHaye Bible depicts it as a dragon.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

\"\"<\/p>\r\n

The Sarajevo Haggadah illustrates it as a lizard. <\/span><\/p>\r\n

 <\/p>\r\n

Which is correct? The Biblical text is unclear, and although the word appears in several places, the various contexts can sustain a broad range of possible meanings, from crocodile to serpent. <\/span><\/p>\r\n

 <\/p>\r\n

Adapted from: ALHATORAH.ORG<\/span><\/p>\r\n

For fuller analysis, see: <\/span>http:\/\/alhatorah.org\/Sign_of_the_%D7%AA%D7%A0%D7%99%D7%9F_in_Art<\/span><\/a><\/p>","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":"Three Views","tile_main_caption":"The Sign of the Serpent in Art","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Snake, dragon, crocodile, lizard?","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":41211,"alt":"","title":"ex7-poussin","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/ex7-poussin.jpg","width":755,"height":600,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/ex7-poussin-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/ex7-poussin-300x238.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":238,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/ex7-poussin.jpg","medium_large-width":755,"medium_large-height":600,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/ex7-poussin.jpg","large-width":755,"large-height":600,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/ex7-poussin.jpg","1536x1536-width":755,"1536x1536-height":600,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/ex7-poussin.jpg","2048x2048-width":755,"2048x2048-height":600,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/ex7-poussin.jpg","post_full_size-width":755,"post_full_size-height":600,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/ex7-poussin-529x420.jpg","home_baner-width":529,"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":"Exodus","chapter":"7","chapter_main_number":"57","date":"20251117","wall_id":"57"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"363","name":"Midrash","old_id":"763"},{"term_id":"369","name":"Visual Arts","old_id":"769"},{"term_id":"621","name":"Snake","old_id":"1021"}]},{"order":8,"id":"40895","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"Contradictions Resolved? ","post_title":"Contradictions Resolved?","slug":"contradictions-resolved","old_id":"40895","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":40005,"post_title":"Marc Brettler","slug":"marc-brettler","old_id":"40005","first_name":"Marc ","last_name":"Brettler ","description":"Marc Brettler is the Bernice and Morton Lerner Professor of Jewish Studies in the Department of Religious Studies at Duke University. His books include: God is King, The Creation of History in Ancient Israel, The Book of Judges, and Biblical Hebrew for Students of Modern Israeli Hebrew, The Bible and the Believer (co-author), and co-editor of the New Oxford Annotated Bible, The Jewish Study Bible, and The Jewish Annotated New Testament. He is a cofounder and co-editor of TheTorah.com, which reflects critical and traditional perspectives to the Jewish Bible.","short_description":"Marc Brettler is the Bernice and Morton Lerner Professor of Jewish Studies in the Department of Religious Studies at Duke University. ","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":40006,"alt":"","title":"marc brettler","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/marc-brettler-e1536933601769.jpg","width":1012,"height":924,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/marc-brettler-e1536933601769-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/marc-brettler-e1536933601769-300x274.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":274,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/marc-brettler-e1536933601769-768x701.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":701,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/marc-brettler-819x1024.jpg","large-width":819,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/marc-brettler-e1536933601769.jpg","1536x1536-width":1012,"1536x1536-height":924,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/marc-brettler-e1536933601769.jpg","2048x2048-width":1012,"2048x2048-height":924,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/marc-brettler-960x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":960,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/marc-brettler-e1536933601769-460x420.jpg","home_baner-width":460,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"57","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"The pluralism of source criticism is a model of inclusivity that is inspiring for us today","post_main_content_content":"

In describing the blood plague, the end of Exodus 7 observes: \u201cAnd all the Egyptians had to dig round about the Nile for drinking water, because they could not drink the water of the Nile\u201d (Exodus 7:24). This suggests that the Egyptians\u2019 thirst was slaked by drinking this non-Nile water. \u00a0But how can this be, for Exodus 7:21 states, \u201cthere was blood throughout the land of Egypt\u201d! Similarly, vv. 17b-18 suggests a localized plague, affecting the Nile only (\u201c\u2026the Nile \u2026 will be turned into blood and the fish in the Nile will die. The Nile will stink so that the Egyptians will find it impossible to drink the water of the Nile\u201d), while v. 19 implies that blood will plague all of Egypt (\u201cthe waters of Egypt\u2014its rivers, its canals [Hebrew: Niles], its ponds, all its bodies of water\u201d).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

A closer reading brings out other contradictions in this unit: <\/span><\/p>\r\n

1. Is the Nile, singular, afflicted (e.g. v. 18) or the Niles (v. 19)?
\r\n<\/span>2. Who initiates the plague\u2014Moses (e.g. v. 17) or Aaron (e.g. v. 19)?
\r\n3. Is the staff used for striking (e.g. v. 17) or is it merely held, while the outstretched hand initiates the plague (v. 19)?
\r\n<\/span>4. And what is the plague\u2014blood (e.g. v. 19) or stinking fish caused by the bloody Nile (e.g. v. 18)?<\/p>\r\n

Taken together, these problems suggest that two stories have been combined here: in one, Aaron stretches out his hand, causing blood throughout the land, while in the other Moses\u2019s staff causes dead fish to contaminate the Nile only. \u00a0(For more details see: https:\/\/thetorah.com\/source-criticism-its-in-the-plague-of-blood\/<\/a>.) \u00a0These stories have been redacted or compiled together by a conservative editor. \u00a0As readers, we naturally gloss over these differences, making the story cohere, though once pointed out, this chapter\u2019s duplications and contradictions become blatant. \u00a0By preserving both stories, the Torah\u2019s redactor offers a pre-rabbinic example of the famous dictum elu ve-elu divrei elohim chayyim<\/em>\u2014both opinions are the word of the powerful God (b. Eruvin<\/i> 13b).<\/p>\r\n

This is one of many such cases in the Torah where source criticism, the theory that the Torah was composed from distinct pre-existing documents (\u201csources\u201d), powerfully explains some basic problems in the Torah text. Genesis 1-3 similarly preserves two contradictory creation stories, though these are presented sequentially rather than intertwined. Such inclusive compromises offer an important model for us today.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

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The question is ancient. If God hardened Pharaoh\u2019s heart, then it was God who made Pharaoh refuse to let the Israelites go, not Pharaoh himself. How can this be just? How could it be right to punish Pharaoh and his people for a decision \u2013 a series of decisions \u2013 that were not made freely by Pharaoh himself? Punishment presupposes guilt. Guilt presupposes responsibility. Responsibility presupposes freedom. We do not blame weights for falling or the sun for shining. Natural forces are not choices made by reflecting on alternatives. Homo sapiens alone is free. Take away that freedom and you take away our humanity. How then can it say, as it does in Ex. 7: 3, that God hardened Pharaoh\u2019s heart?<\/span><\/p>\r\n

It seems to me, that the Torah is telling a deeper story and one that never loses its relevance. Philosophers and scientists have tended to think in terms of abstractions and universals. Some have concluded that we have freewill, others that we don\u2019t. There is no conceptual space in between.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

In life, however, that is not the way freedom works at all. Consider addiction. The first few times you smoke a cigarette or drink alcohol or take drugs, you do so freely. You know the risks but you ignore them. As time goes on, your dependency increases until the craving is so intense that you are almost powerless to resist it. At that point you may have to go into rehabilitation. You no longer, on your own, have the ability to stop. As the Talmud says, \u201cA prisoner cannot release himself from prison.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Addiction is a physical phenomenon. But there are moral equivalents. <\/span><\/p>\r\n

We lose our freedom gradually, often without noticing it.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

That is what the Torah means when it says that God hardened Pharaoh\u2019s heart. Enslaving others, Pharaoh himself became enslaved. He became a prisoner of the values he himself had espoused. Freedom in the deepest sense, the freedom to do the right and the good, is not a given. We acquire it, or lose it, gradually. In the end tyrants bring about their own destruction, whereas those with willpower, courage and the willingness to go against the consensus, acquire a monumental freedom. That is what Judaism is: an invitation to freedom by resisting the idols and siren calls of the age.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

From: <\/span>Freewill (Covenant & Conversation, Vaera 5775)<\/span><\/i><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":68448,"alt":"","title":"is58-break free","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/is58-break-free.jpg","width":1920,"height":1280,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/is58-break-free-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/is58-break-free-300x200.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":200,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/is58-break-free-768x512.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":512,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/is58-break-free-1024x683.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":683,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/is58-break-free.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1024,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/is58-break-free.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":1280,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/is58-break-free-1200x800.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":800,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/is58-break-free-630x420.jpg","home_baner-width":630,"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":"Pharaoh Himself Became Enslaved","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"We lose our freedom gradually, often without noticing it","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":68448,"alt":"","title":"is58-break free","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/is58-break-free.jpg","width":1920,"height":1280,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/is58-break-free-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/is58-break-free-300x200.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":200,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/is58-break-free-768x512.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":512,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/is58-break-free-1024x683.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":683,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/is58-break-free.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1024,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/is58-break-free.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":1280,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/is58-break-free-1200x800.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":800,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/is58-break-free-630x420.jpg","home_baner-width":630,"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":"Exodus","chapter":"7","chapter_main_number":"57","date":"20251117","wall_id":"57"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"354","name":"Rabbi Sacks","old_id":"754"},{"term_id":"438","name":"Slavery","old_id":"838"},{"term_id":"619","name":"Free Will","old_id":"1019"}]},{"order":11,"id":"41215","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"2","name":"Bible on The Bench: The Plagues as Lessons - But For Whom? ","post_title":"Bible on The Bench: The Plagues as Lessons - But For Whom?","slug":"bible-on-the-bench-the-plagues-as-lessons-but-for-whom","old_id":"41215","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":"57","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"","post_main_content_content":"

https:\/\/youtu.be\/hV4gN3XqJNY<\/p>","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":"Bible on the Bench","tile_main_caption":"Chapter 7: The Plagues as Lessons - But For Whom?","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"with Adam Mintz and Shira Hecht-Koller","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":"","tile_preview_video":"https:\/\/youtu.be\/hV4gN3XqJNY","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":"Exodus","chapter":"7","chapter_main_number":"57","date":"20251117","wall_id":"57"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"369","name":"Visual Arts","old_id":"769"},{"term_id":"618","name":"Plagues","old_id":"1018"}]},{"order":12,"id":"40901","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"The Responsibility of Life and Death ","post_title":"The Responsibility of Life and Death","slug":"the-responsibility-of-life-and-death","old_id":"40901","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":37561,"post_title":"Deena Cowans","slug":"deena-cowans","old_id":"37561","first_name":"Deena ","last_name":"Cowans","description":"Deena Cowans is a rabbinical student at JTS and alumnus of the Master's in Public Administration- Development Practice at Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA). \r\nDeena is the Director of Education (Rosh Chinuch) at Camp Ramah in the Rockies since January 2016, and was the Youth and Family Programs at Congregation Ansche Chesed in 2016-2017.","short_description":"Deena Cowans is a rabbinical student at JTS, and the Director of Education at Camp Ramah in the Rockies","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":37562,"alt":"","title":"deena cowans","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/deena-cowans-e1534076835642.jpg","width":181,"height":207,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/deena-cowans-e1534076835642-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/deena-cowans-e1534076835642.jpg","medium-width":181,"medium-height":207,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/deena-cowans-e1534076835642.jpg","medium_large-width":181,"medium_large-height":207,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/deena-cowans-e1534076835642.jpg","large-width":181,"large-height":207,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/deena-cowans-e1534076835642.jpg","1536x1536-width":181,"1536x1536-height":207,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/deena-cowans-e1534076835642.jpg","2048x2048-width":181,"2048x2048-height":207,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/deena-cowans-e1534076835642.jpg","post_full_size-width":181,"post_full_size-height":207,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/deena-cowans-e1534076835642.jpg","home_baner-width":181,"home_baner-height":207}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"57","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"How can one person be a god to another person?","post_main_content_content":"

This chapter opens with a most unusual verse: \u201cThen God said to Moses, \u2018Behold, I have placed you as [a] God (Elohim) to Pharaoh, and Aaron your brother as your prophet.\u2019\u201d Even for God, this is a bold claim. How can a person be \u201cas a god\u201d to another person, or even more surprising,\u00a0<\/span>b<\/span>e<\/span><\/em> a god to another person? Can we learn from this verse what it means to be God?<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Elsewhere in the Torah, what most distinguishes God from humanity is God\u2019s control over life and death. The God of the Torah has some human attributes, but cannot be born and can never die. God\u2019s power in the Torah comes from God\u2019s ability to control fertility, birth, and death for the people of the Torah. Yet in this brief interaction, God is sharing God\u2019s most distinguishing characteristic with Moses, and granting Moses the power to control Pharaoh\u2019s, and the Egyptians\u2019, life through his speech. Moses is burdened with an awesome and tremendous responsibility\u2014should he fail to convince Pharaoh to release the Israelites (and he will surely fail, for God will continually harden Pharaoh\u2019s heart), Moses will personally be responsible for the death of thousands of Egyptians. Hardly a balm to Moses\u2019s nerves, God\u2019s statement that Moses will be \u201cas God to Pharaoh\u201d teaches us what a tremendous breach of the human-Divine partnership it is to take another human life. <\/span><\/p>\r\n

Ordinarily, only God is allowed to decide when a person will be born and when they will die\u2014a common sentiment to anyone familiar with the High Holiday liturgy. Perhaps by granting Moses a limited access to this power, God is reminding us of this most Godly attribute. Even God\u2019s prophets can only communicate God\u2019s will. Ultimately, only Godself can make the decision to bring a person into the world or take them out of it, and it is our role as humans to respect God\u2019s decisions and relish the time we are given.<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":66240,"alt":"","title":"is25-death","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is25-death.jpg","width":1920,"height":1280,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is25-death-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is25-death-300x200.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":200,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is25-death-768x512.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":512,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is25-death-1024x683.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":683,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is25-death.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1024,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is25-death.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":1280,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is25-death-1200x800.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":800,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is25-death-630x420.jpg","home_baner-width":630,"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 Responsibility of Life and Death","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"How can one person be a god to another person?","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":66240,"alt":"","title":"is25-death","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is25-death.jpg","width":1920,"height":1280,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is25-death-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is25-death-300x200.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":200,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is25-death-768x512.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":512,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is25-death-1024x683.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":683,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is25-death.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1024,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is25-death.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":1280,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is25-death-1200x800.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":800,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is25-death-630x420.jpg","home_baner-width":630,"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":"Exodus","chapter":"7","chapter_main_number":"57","date":"20251117","wall_id":"57"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"383","name":"Death","old_id":"783"},{"term_id":"384","name":"God","old_id":"784"},{"term_id":"401","name":"Life","old_id":"801"}]},{"order":13,"id":"40899","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"Sonnet: Exodus 7 ","post_title":"Sonnet: Exodus 7","slug":"sonnet-exodus-7","old_id":"40899","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":39523,"post_title":"Ilana Kurshan","slug":"ilana-kurshan","old_id":"39523","first_name":"Ilana ","last_name":"Kurshan ","description":"Ilana Kurshan is the author of If All the Seas Were Ink, winner of the Sami Rohr Prize for Jewish Literature.","short_description":"","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":39524,"alt":"","title":"ilana kurshan","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/ilana-kurshan-e1536180264919.jpg","width":652,"height":715,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/ilana-kurshan-e1536180264919-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/ilana-kurshan-e1536180264919-274x300.jpg","medium-width":274,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/ilana-kurshan-768x679.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":679,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/ilana-kurshan-1024x905.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":905,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/ilana-kurshan-e1536180264919.jpg","1536x1536-width":652,"1536x1536-height":715,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/ilana-kurshan-e1536180264919.jpg","2048x2048-width":652,"2048x2048-height":715,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/ilana-kurshan-e1536180264919.jpg","post_full_size-width":652,"post_full_size-height":715,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/ilana-kurshan-e1536180264919-383x420.jpg","home_baner-width":383,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"57","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Though through bloody mud you slog \/ The next plague will be worse. Beware of frogs","post_main_content_content":"

Moses was then eighty when God said:
\r\n\u201cGo now to Pharaoh. Stand and hold your ground
\r\nFor though I\u2019ll make his heart turn hard as lead
\r\nEventually, you\u2019ll see, he\u2019ll come around.\u201d<\/p>\r\n

Then God said: \u201cStrike the water with a rod
\r\nWhile standing on the shore, your feet in mud
\r\nTell Pharaoh: \u2018Do you not believe in God?
\r\nThen watch Him turn this river into blood!\u2019\u201d<\/p>\r\n

The river, its canals, and ponds turned red
\r\nThe water all through Egypt was defiled
\r\nThe fish could not survive and washed up dead
\r\nA stench rose from the whole land of the Nile.<\/p>\r\n

Said Moses: \u201cThough through bloody mud you slog
\r\nThe next plague will be worse. Beware of frogs.\u201d<\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":104046,"alt":"","title":"-625839483a25f--625839483a261Ex-Kurshans sonnet series.jpg","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2018\/09\/625839483a25f-625839483a261Ex-Kurshans-sonnet-series.jpg.jpg","width":1278,"height":535,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2018\/09\/625839483a25f-625839483a261Ex-Kurshans-sonnet-series.jpg-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2018\/09\/625839483a25f-625839483a261Ex-Kurshans-sonnet-series.jpg-300x126.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":126,"medium_large":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2018\/09\/625839483a25f-625839483a261Ex-Kurshans-sonnet-series.jpg-768x322.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":322,"large":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2018\/09\/625839483a25f-625839483a261Ex-Kurshans-sonnet-series.jpg-1024x429.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":429,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2018\/09\/625839483a25f-625839483a261Ex-Kurshans-sonnet-series.jpg.jpg","1536x1536-width":1278,"1536x1536-height":535,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2018\/09\/625839483a25f-625839483a261Ex-Kurshans-sonnet-series.jpg.jpg","2048x2048-width":1278,"2048x2048-height":535,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2018\/09\/625839483a25f-625839483a261Ex-Kurshans-sonnet-series.jpg-1200x502.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":502,"home_baner":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2018\/09\/625839483a25f-625839483a261Ex-Kurshans-sonnet-series.jpg-1003x420.jpg","home_baner-width":1003,"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":"Sonnet: Exodus 7","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Though through bloody mud you slog \/ The next plague will be worse. Beware of frogs","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":104046,"alt":"","title":"-625839483a25f--625839483a261Ex-Kurshans sonnet series.jpg","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2018\/09\/625839483a25f-625839483a261Ex-Kurshans-sonnet-series.jpg.jpg","width":1278,"height":535,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2018\/09\/625839483a25f-625839483a261Ex-Kurshans-sonnet-series.jpg-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2018\/09\/625839483a25f-625839483a261Ex-Kurshans-sonnet-series.jpg-300x126.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":126,"medium_large":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2018\/09\/625839483a25f-625839483a261Ex-Kurshans-sonnet-series.jpg-768x322.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":322,"large":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2018\/09\/625839483a25f-625839483a261Ex-Kurshans-sonnet-series.jpg-1024x429.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":429,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2018\/09\/625839483a25f-625839483a261Ex-Kurshans-sonnet-series.jpg.jpg","1536x1536-width":1278,"1536x1536-height":535,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2018\/09\/625839483a25f-625839483a261Ex-Kurshans-sonnet-series.jpg.jpg","2048x2048-width":1278,"2048x2048-height":535,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2018\/09\/625839483a25f-625839483a261Ex-Kurshans-sonnet-series.jpg-1200x502.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":502,"home_baner":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2018\/09\/625839483a25f-625839483a261Ex-Kurshans-sonnet-series.jpg-1003x420.jpg","home_baner-width":1003,"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":"Exodus","chapter":"7","chapter_main_number":"57","date":"20251117","wall_id":"57"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"362","name":"Poetry","old_id":"762"},{"term_id":"618","name":"Plagues","old_id":"1018"}]},{"order":14,"id":"41221","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"Brooklyn Museum: Snakes and Spells ","post_title":"Brooklyn Museum: Snakes and Spells","slug":"brooklyn-museum-snakes-and-spells","old_id":"41221","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":40024,"post_title":"Edward Bleiberg","slug":"edward-bleiberg","old_id":"40024","first_name":"Edward ","last_name":"Bleiberg ","description":"Dr. Edward Bleiberg is Senior Curator of Egyptian, Classical, and Ancient Near Eastern Art at the Brooklyn Museum. A Pittsburgh native, he graduated from Haverford College in Pennsylvania. Dr. Bleiberg received an M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Toronto. He is the author of several books and articles on ancient Egyptian economy, Egyptian coffins, and the Jewish minority in ancient Egypt and ancient Rome.","short_description":"Dr. Edward Bleiberg is Senior Curator of Egyptian, Classical, and Ancient Near Eastern Art at the Brooklyn Museum.","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":40025,"alt":"","title":"Edward_Bleiberg_335W","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/Edward_Bleiberg_335W-e1537039197728.jpg","width":182,"height":204,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/Edward_Bleiberg_335W-e1537039197728-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/Edward_Bleiberg_335W-300x280.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":280,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/Edward_Bleiberg_335W-e1537039197728.jpg","medium_large-width":182,"medium_large-height":204,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/Edward_Bleiberg_335W-e1537039197728.jpg","large-width":182,"large-height":204,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/Edward_Bleiberg_335W-e1537039197728.jpg","1536x1536-width":182,"1536x1536-height":204,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/Edward_Bleiberg_335W-e1537039197728.jpg","2048x2048-width":182,"2048x2048-height":204,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/Edward_Bleiberg_335W-e1537039197728.jpg","post_full_size-width":182,"post_full_size-height":204,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/Edward_Bleiberg_335W-e1537039197728.jpg","home_baner-width":182,"home_baner-height":204}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"57","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"","post_main_content_content":"

https:\/\/youtu.be\/0yJksvKAbPw<\/p>\r\n

Dr. Edward Bleiberg, Senior Curator of Egyptian, Classical, and Ancient Near Eastern Art at the Brooklyn Museum<\/p>\r\n

Dr. Aaron Koller, Associate Professor of Near Eastern and Jewish Studies, Yeshiva University<\/p>","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":"929 At The Museum","tile_main_caption":"Brooklyn Museum: Snakes and Spells","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Aaron Koller with Edward Bleiberg","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":"","tile_preview_video":"https:\/\/youtu.be\/0yJksvKAbPw","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":"Exodus","chapter":"7","chapter_main_number":"57","date":"20251117","wall_id":"57"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"555","name":"Archaeology","old_id":"955"}]},{"order":15,"id":"68933","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"2","name":"Va'era: The Rod Of God ","post_title":"Va'era: The Rod Of God","slug":"vaera-the-rod-of-god","old_id":"68933","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. Currently, Avner is completing a singular artistic and spiritual feat of illuminating the entire Chumash. The unique illuminated books contain hundreds of original drawings that offer a profound, provocative and humorous perspective. \r\nFor the entire weekly portion series, visit: https:\/\/avnermoriahprints.com\/collections\/parasha\r\nFor more of his work visit: https:\/\/avnermoriah.com\/\r\n","short_description":"Avner Moriah is a prolific Israel artist who is illuminating the entire Chumash.","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":46173,"alt":"","title":"avner moriah","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/avner-moriah-e1545511134679.jpg","width":1387,"height":1425,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/avner-moriah-e1545511134679-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/avner-moriah-e1545511134679-292x300.jpg","medium-width":292,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/avner-moriah-e1545511134679-768x789.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":789,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/avner-moriah-e1545511134679-997x1024.jpg","large-width":997,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/avner-moriah-e1545511134679.jpg","1536x1536-width":1387,"1536x1536-height":1425,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/avner-moriah-e1545511134679.jpg","2048x2048-width":1387,"2048x2048-height":1425,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/avner-moriah-e1545511134679-1168x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":1168,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/avner-moriah-e1545511134679-409x420.jpg","home_baner-width":409,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"1080","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"The time has come to talk of many things: Of crocodiles, and kings\u2026","post_main_content_content":"

When Moses and Aaron confronted Pharaoh, Aaron cast down his rod, which turned into a serpent, and Pharaoh\u2019s magicians did the same: \u201cBut Aaron\u2019s rod swallowed their rods\u201d (Exod. 7:12). It is this episode that is visualized in the center of Avner Moriah\u2019s painting. Why does the artist choose this particular scene to illustrate this parasha<\/em>? What is the connection between the central image and the six small vignettes?<\/p>\r\n

Against the background of the pyramids in the central scene, we see sandy ground and the blue water of the Nile. Moses, Aaron, and Pharaoh and his magicians are figured in a particularly Egyptian style of painting, showing a perspective that combines profiles of the head, the legs, and the arms with frontal views of the eyes and the shoulders. As the biblical text uses a singular form when referring to Aaron and Moses the artist portrays them as one figure standing on the right holding onto the tail of a green crocodile. On the left Pharaoh is with his magicians, who are holding the tails of brown crocodiles as they are being swallowed by the large reptile that came from Aaron\u2019s rod. The devouring crocodile is shaped very much like an Egyptian barque, the sailing vessel associated with the journey to the afterlife.\u00a0Thus what appears to be a battle between the serpents of Moses and Pharaoh might also presage an event in the distant future.<\/p>\r\n

The six images framing the central picture all relate to the rod in the hand of Aaron or Moses, which represented God\u2019s might. The three on the right visualize miracles done through the rod in Egypt. At the top the rod has turned into a crocodile, which is devouring the magicians\u2019 reptiles; the middle scene shows the rod turning the waters of the Nile into blood, killing the fish and essentially destroying the Nile as a source of food; and the bottom square depicts the plague of the frogs.<\/p>\r\n

The three scenes on the left visualize the rod being used to call forth God\u2019s miracles for the Israelites. The top square shows Moses splitting the Sea (Exod. 14); in the middle we have a reverse parallel to turning the water to blood, with Moses hitting the rock and the water gushing out to provide living water for Israel (Exod. 17); and the bottom image depicts the struggle with Amalek, with Moses standing on a hill with the rod in his upraised arm (Exod. 17).<\/p>\r\n

By figuring the rod in the performance of God\u2019s commands, the artist visualizes it as having a role in God\u2019s deeds, as the magicians told Pharaoh: \u201cThis is the finger of God\u201d (Exod. 8: 15) and as evidenced in the ten plagues, in the Exodus from Egypt, and in the miracles in the wilderness.<\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":68940,"alt":"","title":"14 Va-era","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/14-Va-era.jpg","width":2500,"height":1614,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/14-Va-era-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/14-Va-era-300x194.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":194,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/14-Va-era-768x496.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":496,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/14-Va-era-1024x661.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":661,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/14-Va-era.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":992,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/14-Va-era.jpg","2048x2048-width":2048,"2048x2048-height":1322,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/14-Va-era-1200x775.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":775,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/14-Va-era-651x420.jpg","home_baner-width":651,"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":"Va'era: The Rod Of God","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"The time has come to talk of many things: Of crocodiles, and kings\u2026","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":68940,"alt":"","title":"14 Va-era","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/14-Va-era.jpg","width":2500,"height":1614,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/14-Va-era-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/14-Va-era-300x194.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":194,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/14-Va-era-768x496.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":496,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/14-Va-era-1024x661.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":661,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/14-Va-era.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":992,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/14-Va-era.jpg","2048x2048-width":2048,"2048x2048-height":1322,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/14-Va-era-1200x775.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":775,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/14-Va-era-651x420.jpg","home_baner-width":651,"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":"1080"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"368","name":"Parasha","old_id":"768"},{"term_id":"397","name":"Moses","old_id":"797"},{"term_id":"618","name":"Plagues","old_id":"1018"}]},{"order":16,"id":"40893","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"The First Plague ","post_title":"The First Plague","slug":"the-first-plague","old_id":"40893","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":"57","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"The Nile remembers when she had been reddened before \/ By Jewish babies\u2019 blood ","post_main_content_content":"

\u201cAnd the Lord said unto Moses: \u2018Say unto Aaron: Take your rod and stretch out your hand over the waters of Egypt, over their rivers, over their streams, and over their pools, and over their ponds of water, that they may become blood; and there shall be blood throughout all the land of Egypt\u2019.\u201d (Exodus 7:19)<\/p>\r\n

Tonight the Nile bleeds.
\r\nThe springs, streams, rivers, all bleed red tonight,
\r\nKetchup red, molasses thick.<\/p>\r\n

Tonight the crimsoned Nile flows
\r\nSlowly, like spilled honey stained with burgundy wine;
\r\nSlowly, like a baby\u2019s corpse sinking,
\r\nStinking.<\/p>\r\n

The Nile remembers when she had been reddened before
\r\nBy Jewish babies\u2019 blood.
\r\nWaves of mother-tears had then come to wash away,
\r\nDrench away,
\r\nThe stench and dye of baby-blood.
\r\nBut tonight you can See! Touch! Smell!
\r\nThe reek of morgues coming back
\r\nAs from every pipe, every faucet,
\r\nScarlet toothpaste oozes out;
\r\nAs from all the village wells
\r\nThe red blood
\r\nSwells.<\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":104301,"alt":"","title":"-62656957aedbb--62656957aedbdex7-river blood.jpg","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2018\/09\/62656957aedbb-62656957aedbdex7-river-blood.jpg.jpg","width":1920,"height":1440,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2018\/09\/62656957aedbb-62656957aedbdex7-river-blood.jpg-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2018\/09\/62656957aedbb-62656957aedbdex7-river-blood.jpg-300x225.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":225,"medium_large":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2018\/09\/62656957aedbb-62656957aedbdex7-river-blood.jpg-768x576.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":576,"large":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2018\/09\/62656957aedbb-62656957aedbdex7-river-blood.jpg-1024x768.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":768,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2018\/09\/62656957aedbb-62656957aedbdex7-river-blood.jpg.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1152,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2018\/09\/62656957aedbb-62656957aedbdex7-river-blood.jpg.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":1440,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2018\/09\/62656957aedbb-62656957aedbdex7-river-blood.jpg-1200x900.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":900,"home_baner":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2018\/09\/62656957aedbb-62656957aedbdex7-river-blood.jpg-560x420.jpg","home_baner-width":560,"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 Nile remembers when she had been reddened before \/ By Jewish babies\u2019 blood ","tile_main_caption":"The First Plague","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"The Nile remembers when she had been reddened before \/ By Jewish babies\u2019 blood ","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":104301,"alt":"","title":"-62656957aedbb--62656957aedbdex7-river 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- The Hebrew Corner - Exodus 7 ","post_title":"MiliMiliM - The Hebrew Corner - Exodus 7","slug":"milimilim-the-hebrew-corner-exodus-7","old_id":"41225","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":false,"related_cahpter":"57","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"\u05d3\u05dd - Dam - Blood\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

7:17- I shall strike the water in the Nile with the rod that is in my hand, and it will be turned into \u201cdam<\/em>,\u201d blood;<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>And the LORD said to Moses, \u201cSay to Aaron: Take your rod and hold out your arm over the waters of Egypt\u2014its rivers, its canals, its ponds, all its bodies of water\u2014that they may turn to \u201cdam<\/em>\u201d blood; there shall be \u201cdam<\/em>\u201d blood throughout the land of Egypt, even in vessels of wood and stone.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

What do you call a stupid frog? Answer (at least for a 6 year old at an American seder, just learning the basic terms): \u201cA dam tzfarde\u2019a<\/em>.\u201d Tzfarde\u2019a<\/em>, \u201cfrog,\u201d is the second plague, and of course the first plague is, famously, blood (pronounced more like \u201cdahm<\/em>,\u201d and therefore more \u201cdumb,\u201d than \u201cdamn\u201d). \u00a0The waters of the Nile (and apparently - all the water in Egypt) turned to blood for a few days. You know, to make a point. <\/span><\/p>\r\n

Blood has appeared before in the Exodus story in the rather bizarre story of Moses returning with his family from Midian to Egypt, and stopping at an inn. There Tzipora, under some divine threat, circumcises her son, saying: \u201cYou are truly a bridegroom of blood to me!\u201d (see Ex 4:26). Sounds like a sort of B-grade horror movie, but it does presage some of the bloody scenes to follow.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

One of those is during the actual Exodus itself, when in chapter 12, the Israelites are commanded to daub some of the \u00a0blood (of the paschal sacrifice) on the lintels to mark their houses. <\/span><\/p>\r\n

If you want to find out more about the significance of blood in various aspects of Jewish history and tradition (and of course about the scurrilous blood libels in ages past), there was a a fascinating exhibit on the subject - \"Blood: Uniting and Dividing\" -\u00a0 a few years ago in several European Jewish museums (watch a short film about it here<\/a>).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Linguistically, it seems there might not be much to say about blood. While not a three-letter root, the last letter does appear doubled in forms like dimum<\/em>, \"bleeding.\" Unlike English (that is unless you\u2019re a gang member fighting the Krips), it does have a plural, which we\u2019ve met in Gen chapter 4, when God accosts Cain after his killing of Abel: literally \u00a0\u201cyour brother\u2019s bloods,\" dmei achicha<\/em>\u00a0cry out to Me from the ground!\u201d (v. 10).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Also in Genesis (9:6) we encountered another grammatical form of blood, in the striking statement, both alliteratively and conceptually: S<\/em><\/span>hofech dam haadam, baadam damo yeschafech<\/em>\u00a0- \"Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

And finally, it is also phonetically very striking to see the following four words together: dam, adom, adam, adamah<\/em>\u00a0- \"blood, red, human, earth.\"<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":104286,"alt":"","title":"-62655101d76a1--62655101d76a2ex7-milim dam blood.jpg","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2018\/09\/62655101d76a1-62655101d76a2ex7-milim-dam-blood.jpg.jpg","width":960,"height":720,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2018\/09\/62655101d76a1-62655101d76a2ex7-milim-dam-blood.jpg-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2018\/09\/62655101d76a1-62655101d76a2ex7-milim-dam-blood.jpg-300x225.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":225,"medium_large":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2018\/09\/62655101d76a1-62655101d76a2ex7-milim-dam-blood.jpg-768x576.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":576,"large":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2018\/09\/62655101d76a1-62655101d76a2ex7-milim-dam-blood.jpg.jpg","large-width":960,"large-height":720,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2018\/09\/62655101d76a1-62655101d76a2ex7-milim-dam-blood.jpg.jpg","1536x1536-width":960,"1536x1536-height":720,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2018\/09\/62655101d76a1-62655101d76a2ex7-milim-dam-blood.jpg.jpg","2048x2048-width":960,"2048x2048-height":720,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2018\/09\/62655101d76a1-62655101d76a2ex7-milim-dam-blood.jpg.jpg","post_full_size-width":960,"post_full_size-height":720,"home_baner":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2018\/09\/62655101d76a1-62655101d76a2ex7-milim-dam-blood.jpg-560x420.jpg","home_baner-width":560,"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":"MiliMiliM - The Hebrew Corner","tile_main_caption":"\u05d3\u05dd - Dam - Blood","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"... a word from the daily chapter...","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":104286,"alt":"","title":"-62655101d76a1--62655101d76a2ex7-milim dam blood.jpg","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2018\/09\/62655101d76a1-62655101d76a2ex7-milim-dam-blood.jpg.jpg","width":960,"height":720,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2018\/09\/62655101d76a1-62655101d76a2ex7-milim-dam-blood.jpg-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2018\/09\/62655101d76a1-62655101d76a2ex7-milim-dam-blood.jpg-300x225.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":225,"medium_large":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2018\/09\/62655101d76a1-62655101d76a2ex7-milim-dam-blood.jpg-768x576.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":576,"large":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2018\/09\/62655101d76a1-62655101d76a2ex7-milim-dam-blood.jpg.jpg","large-width":960,"large-height":720,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2018\/09\/62655101d76a1-62655101d76a2ex7-milim-dam-blood.jpg.jpg","1536x1536-width":960,"1536x1536-height":720,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2018\/09\/62655101d76a1-62655101d76a2ex7-milim-dam-blood.jpg.jpg","2048x2048-width":960,"2048x2048-height":720,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2018\/09\/62655101d76a1-62655101d76a2ex7-milim-dam-blood.jpg.jpg","post_full_size-width":960,"post_full_size-height":720,"home_baner":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2018\/09\/62655101d76a1-62655101d76a2ex7-milim-dam-blood.jpg-560x420.jpg","home_baner-width":560,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"Robert Kneschke (shutterstock 161025986)","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":"Exodus","chapter":"7","chapter_main_number":"57","date":"20251117","wall_id":"57"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"361","name":"Hebrew language","old_id":"761"},{"term_id":"618","name":"Plagues","old_id":"1018"}]},{"order":18,"id":"41193","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"A Lesson on the Daily Chapter- Exodus 7 ","post_title":"A Lesson on the Daily Chapter- Exodus 7","slug":"a-lesson-on-the-daily-chapter-exodus-7","old_id":"41193","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":40936,"post_title":"David Silber","slug":"david-silber-2","old_id":"40936","first_name":"David ","last_name":"Silber ","description":"Rabbi David Silber is the Founder and Dean of Drisha Institute for Jewish Education. He received ordination from the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary. He received the Covenant Award in 2000. He is the author of APassover Haggadah: Go Forth and Learn, published by JPS in 2011, and the newly released For Such a Time as This: Biblical Reflections in the Book of Esther, published by Koren Publishing in 2017 (Hebrew). ","short_description":"Rabbi David Silber is the Founder and Dean of Drisha Institute for Jewish Education. 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","post_title":"Exodus Chapter 7- Summary: A Fight!","slug":"exodus-chapter-7-summary-a-fight","old_id":"40960","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":false,"related_cahpter":"57","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"","post_main_content_content":"

Exodus 7: A Fight!<\/span><\/p>\r\n

A chapter in three scenes and a bit more.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Scene 1 (V. 1-7):<\/b> God lays out his general plan for the exodus from Egypt: God will convey the message to Moses, Moses to Aaron, Aaron to Pharaoh. Pharaoh will refuse (he will \"harden his heart,\" first of his own accord, then at God's behest). God will strike the Egyptians and take the Israelites out by force - \"And Egypt will know that I am the Lord\" (7:5).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Scene 2 (V. 8-13): <\/b>Moses and Aaron give Pharaoh one last chance to submit to the demand \u00a0\"let my people go\" before the plagues begin. A magic staff performance proves to Pharaoh that God is stronger than his magicians. And still - \"And Pharaoh hardened his heart and did not heed them\" (7:13).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Scene 3 (V. 14-25): <\/b>The plagues. It's begun (and it won't end until the Israelites leave Egypt). <\/span>The first plague - blood<\/b>. After a detailed warning comes the plague in which all sources of water in Egypt turn to blood.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

And a bit more (V. 26-29):<\/b> The beginning of the plague of frogs, of which we'll hear much more in the next chapter.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Points to ponder:<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    \r\n\t
  1. Allocation of roles<\/b>. The roles of Moses and Aaron are defined as that of god and prophet. \"And the Lord said to Moses: Behold, I have made you a god to Pharaoh and your brother Aaron will be your prophet\" (7:1). By the way, this also defines what a prophet is - someone who delivers the goods to the recipient.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t
  2. Biographical collectors' item<\/b>. \"And Moses was eighty years old and Aaron was eighty-three years old when they spoke to Pharaoh\" (7:7).<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t
  3. The purpose of the plagues<\/b>. The Israelites didn't leave Egypt just like that. They left \"with great judgments\" upon Egypt (which may also be a sort of punishment for enslaving the Israelites) and they discover beyond doubt that \"I am the Lord.\"<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t
  4. Score: 2-1.<\/b> Both the magical signs and the plagues are perceived by Pharaoh's magicians as a sort of competition. They try to follow suit, and at this point they're in second place but still in the game (7:11-12, 7:22).<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n

    5. <\/span>Lousy ending<\/b>. Chapter 7 ends right in the middle of a sentence. Why? Ask Bishop Stephen Langton, who divided the Bible into chapters...<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":86314,"alt":"","title":"Points to ponder","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","width":1000,"height":1000,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-300x300.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-768x768.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":768,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","large-width":1000,"large-height":1000,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","1536x1536-width":1000,"1536x1536-height":1000,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","2048x2048-width":1000,"2048x2048-height":1000,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","post_full_size-width":1000,"post_full_size-height":1000,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-420x420.jpg","home_baner-width":420,"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 Daily Summary","tile_main_caption":"Points to Ponder: Exodus 7","tile_main_caption_size":"2","tile_sub_caption":"Insights and questions for personal reflection and group discussion","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":86314,"alt":"","title":"Points to ponder","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","width":1000,"height":1000,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-300x300.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-768x768.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":768,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","large-width":1000,"large-height":1000,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","1536x1536-width":1000,"1536x1536-height":1000,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","2048x2048-width":1000,"2048x2048-height":1000,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","post_full_size-width":1000,"post_full_size-height":1000,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-420x420.jpg","home_baner-width":420,"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":"Exodus","chapter":"7","chapter_main_number":"57","date":"20251117","wall_id":"57"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false}],"hide_acf":true,"home_image":false,"home_posts_title":"","posts_home":[],"home_posts":false,"static_cube_title":"","static_cube_brief":"","static_cube_color":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/wall\/40843"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/wall"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/wall"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=40843"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}