{"id":40947,"date":"2018-07-09T18:50:31","date_gmt":"2018-07-09T15:50:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wall\/wall-59\/"},"modified":"2022-04-27T07:09:53","modified_gmt":"2022-04-27T04:09:53","slug":"wall-59","status":"publish","type":"wall","link":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wall\/wall-59\/","title":{"rendered":"chapter-Torah-Exodus-9"},"parent":0,"template":"","acf":{"type":"chapter","wall_id":"59","date":"20251119","book":"Exodus","chapter":"9","chapter_main_number":"59","books_group":"Torah","posts":[{"order":1,"id":"41205","color":"#f8ebe3","size":"1","name":"Exodus 9- Judy Hammond ","post_title":"Exodus 9- Judy Hammond","slug":"exodus-9-judy-hammond","old_id":"41205","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":"59","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 9","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-9-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":"9","chapter_main_number":"59","date":"20251119","wall_id":"59"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":2,"id":"104339","color":"#f7e9e9","size":"1","name":"How Shall I Plague Thee? ","post_title":"How Shall I Plague Thee?","slug":"how-shall-i-plague-thee","old_id":"104339","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. He and his daughter studied the Tanach again for her bat mitzvah. Josh has taught many classes on Tanach throughout the years and currently in the New Rochelle 929 group. When not studying for 929, Josh works as an in-house lawyer in New Jersey.","short_description":"Josh has taught many classes on Tanach throughout the years and currently in the New Rochelle 929 group, and is an in-house attorney in New Jersey. 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Commentators have offered myriad reasons for the plagues. A few examples are:\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    \r\n\t
  1. Direct punishment in kind<\/span><\/em>. The Nile turning to blood is a direct punishment for Pharaoh's decree that the Israelite male babies be thrown into the Nile. Frogs were a punishment for the Egyptians making the Israelites capture reptiles for food. It is also why the end of the plague included the frogs rotting everywhere. Lice was a punishment for not allowing the Israelites to have proper hygiene. Wild animals were because the Egyptians sent the Israelites to hunt wild animals without proper protection. Sick animals were to punish the Egyptians for forcing the Israelites to tend their own flocks away from their families. Boils was punishment for the Egyptians forcing the Israelites to bathe them. Hail is for requiring the Israelites to work in the fields during all types of weather. Locusts are for forcing the Israelites to work their fields. Darkness is for requiring the Israelite to work at night. Death of the first born comes full circle and is a punishment for Pharaoh's edict to throw the Israelite male babies in the Nile.
    \r\n
    \r\n<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t
  2. An attack by a general on a city<\/span><\/em>. Blood- at first the attacking party cuts of the water supply to the besieged city. Frogs- then the attacking party blows loud trumpets or makes loud noises in order to harass the enemy. Lice- the attacking army shoots arrows into the city. Wild Animals- the attacking army sends mercenaries into the city to wreak havoc. Plague- the flocks are captured cutting off another food source. Boils- soldiers then attack the enemy army with swords causing bodily wounds. Hail- large catapults with stones and fiery bombs are lobbed into the city. Locusts- any remaining food source and stores are captured. Darkness- the attacking army cuts off the supply of oil limiting light, or throws prisoners into dark dungeons, or in modern times, destroys the power supplies. Death of the first born- finally the army enters the city and takes out the leaders.
    \r\n
    \r\n<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t
  3. An attack on the Gods of the Egyptians<\/span><\/em>. The Egyptians were known to have over 1,400 different gods. In the ancient world, when one nation subjugated another it was said that the gods of the victorious power had vanquished those of the subservient power. Each of the plagues therefore, was an attack on a specific god of the Egyptians. From the Nile to the frog goddess of fertility, to the animal headed gods to Pharaoh himself.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n

    image:\u00a0The Phillip Medhurst Picture Torah 341. The plague of hail and fire. Exodus cap 9 vv 23-25. Mortier \/ wikipedia<\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":104341,"alt":"","title":"-6267b66fa8aa6--6267b66fa8aa8ex9-Phillip_Medhurst_Picture_Torah_341._The_plague_of_hail_and_fire..jpg","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/04\/6267b66fa8aa6-6267b66fa8aa8ex9-Phillip_Medhurst_Picture_Torah_341._The_plague_of_hail_and_fire..jpg.jpg","width":1200,"height":807,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/04\/6267b66fa8aa6-6267b66fa8aa8ex9-Phillip_Medhurst_Picture_Torah_341._The_plague_of_hail_and_fire..jpg-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/04\/6267b66fa8aa6-6267b66fa8aa8ex9-Phillip_Medhurst_Picture_Torah_341._The_plague_of_hail_and_fire..jpg-300x202.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":202,"medium_large":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/04\/6267b66fa8aa6-6267b66fa8aa8ex9-Phillip_Medhurst_Picture_Torah_341._The_plague_of_hail_and_fire..jpg-768x516.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":516,"large":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/04\/6267b66fa8aa6-6267b66fa8aa8ex9-Phillip_Medhurst_Picture_Torah_341._The_plague_of_hail_and_fire..jpg-1024x689.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":689,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/04\/6267b66fa8aa6-6267b66fa8aa8ex9-Phillip_Medhurst_Picture_Torah_341._The_plague_of_hail_and_fire..jpg.jpg","1536x1536-width":1200,"1536x1536-height":807,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/04\/6267b66fa8aa6-6267b66fa8aa8ex9-Phillip_Medhurst_Picture_Torah_341._The_plague_of_hail_and_fire..jpg.jpg","2048x2048-width":1200,"2048x2048-height":807,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/04\/6267b66fa8aa6-6267b66fa8aa8ex9-Phillip_Medhurst_Picture_Torah_341._The_plague_of_hail_and_fire..jpg-1200x807.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":807,"home_baner":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/04\/6267b66fa8aa6-6267b66fa8aa8ex9-Phillip_Medhurst_Picture_Torah_341._The_plague_of_hail_and_fire..jpg-625x420.jpg","home_baner-width":625,"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":"How 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hail stopped. When it did the king declined \/ To let them go. \u201cI think I\u2019ve changed my mind\u201d","post_main_content_content":"

    The plagues continued. All the livestock died
    \r\nExcept in Goshen, where God\u2019s people dwelled.
    \r\nIn every place where Egypt\u2019s men reside
    \r\nThe horses, asses, camels \u2013 all were felled.<\/p>\r\n

    Next God said: \u201cMoses, Aaron, take some soot
    \r\nAnd throw it to the sky.\u201d It turned to dust
    \r\nWhich then caused boils, both on hoof and foot
    \r\nIn all of Egypt. They thought this unjust.<\/p>\r\n

    The seventh plague was fire-flashing hail
    \r\nWhich rained down from the sky on man and beast
    \r\nThe grasses and the trees, too, were assailed
    \r\nSaid Pharaoh: \u201cTell your God, make this storm cease!\u201d<\/p>\r\n

    The hail stopped. When it did the king declined<\/span>
    \r\n<\/span>To let them go. \u201cI think I\u2019ve changed my mind.\u201d<\/span><\/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 9","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"The hail stopped. When it did the king declined \/ To let them go. \u201cI think I\u2019ve changed my mind\u201d","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":"9","chapter_main_number":"59","date":"20251119","wall_id":"59"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"362","name":"Poetry","old_id":"762"},{"term_id":"618","name":"Plagues","old_id":"1018"}]},{"order":4,"id":"41042","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"The Plagues: A Twofold Confrontation ","post_title":"The Plagues: A Twofold Confrontation","slug":"the-plagues-a-twofold-confrontation","old_id":"41042","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":33923,"post_title":"Jonathan Sacks","slug":"rabbi-lord-jonathan-sacks","old_id":"33923","first_name":"Jonathan ","last_name":"Sacks","description":"An international religious leader, philosopher, and award-winning author of over 35 books, Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks served as the International President of 929.\r\nRabbi Sacks served as the Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth years between 1991 and 2013, and was knighted by Her Majesty The Queen in 2005 and made a Life Peer. Rabbi Sacks passed away on 7th November 2020, aged 72. He was one of the greatest Jewish thinkers of the 20th century, who bridged the religious and secular world through his ground-breaking canon of work.","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"short_description":"Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks z\"k (1948-2020) was the former Chief Rabbi of the Commonwealth, and the International 929 president.","link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":36222,"alt":"","title":"JSacks","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/JSacks-e1532858712594.jpg","width":437,"height":548,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/JSacks-e1532858712594-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/JSacks-e1532858712594-239x300.jpg","medium-width":239,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/JSacks-768x448.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":448,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/JSacks-1024x597.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":597,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/JSacks-e1532858712594.jpg","1536x1536-width":437,"1536x1536-height":548,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/JSacks-e1532858712594.jpg","2048x2048-width":437,"2048x2048-height":548,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/JSacks-e1532858712594.jpg","post_full_size-width":437,"post_full_size-height":548,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/JSacks-e1532858712594-335x420.jpg","home_baner-width":335,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"59","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"God vs. a man who believed himself to be a god","post_main_content_content":"

    The drama of the plagues is a twofold confrontation. At one level, it is a battle between Pharaoh and Moses, two human beings. At another it is a contest between the man who believes he is a god and God Himself. The Egyptians worshipped nature \u2013 the combination of sun and water that made the Nile delta at that time one of the most fertile places on earth. Each of the first nine plagues is designed to show both the Israelites and the Egyptians that nature is not the ultimate reality. It can be a blessing; it can also be a curse. One by one the familiar features of the Egyptian ecology are overturned \u2013 to teach the Egyptians that one cannot worship nature at the cost of subjugating Man.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    It was essential for both the Israelites and the Egyptians to understand that this was the work not of man, but of God. Hence the emphasis throughout the [Passover] seder on the intervention of God Himself, as if to say Moses was not a Jewish equivalent of Pharaoh, a man-god, a doer of mighty deeds with the forces of nature at his command. <\/span><\/p>\r\n

    The active agent throughout the redemption process was God Himself.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    From: <\/span>The Jonathan Sacks Haggada<\/span><\/i><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":93908,"alt":"","title":"job9-foot punishment","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/job9-foot-punishment.jpg","width":1920,"height":1086,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/job9-foot-punishment-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/job9-foot-punishment-300x170.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":170,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/job9-foot-punishment-768x434.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":434,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/job9-foot-punishment-1024x579.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":579,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/job9-foot-punishment.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":869,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/job9-foot-punishment.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":1086,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/job9-foot-punishment-1200x679.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":679,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/job9-foot-punishment-743x420.jpg","home_baner-width":743,"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 Plagues: A Twofold Confrontation","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"God vs. a man who believed himself to be a god","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":93908,"alt":"","title":"job9-foot punishment","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/job9-foot-punishment.jpg","width":1920,"height":1086,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/job9-foot-punishment-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/job9-foot-punishment-300x170.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":170,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/job9-foot-punishment-768x434.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":434,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/job9-foot-punishment-1024x579.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":579,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/job9-foot-punishment.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":869,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/job9-foot-punishment.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":1086,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/job9-foot-punishment-1200x679.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":679,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/job9-foot-punishment-743x420.jpg","home_baner-width":743,"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":"9","chapter_main_number":"59","date":"20251119","wall_id":"59"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"354","name":"Rabbi Sacks","old_id":"754"},{"term_id":"360","name":"Nature\/Environment","old_id":"760"}]},{"order":5,"id":"41189","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"Pharaoh\u2019s Blindness, and Our Own ","post_title":"Pharaoh\u2019s Blindness, and Our Own","slug":"pharaohs-blindness-and-our-own","old_id":"41189","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":34257,"post_title":"Shmuly Yanklowitz","slug":"shmuly-yanklowitz","old_id":"34257","first_name":"Shmuly ","last_name":"Yanklowitz ","description":"Rabbi Dr. Shmuly Yanklowitz is the President & Dean of the Valley Beit Midrash, the Founder & President of Uri L\u2019Tzedek, the Founder and CEO of The Shamayim V\u2019Aretz Institute, the Founder and President of YATOM, and the author of thirteen books on Jewish ethics. Newsweek named Rav Shmuly one of the top 50 rabbis in America and the Forward named him one of the 50 most influential Jews. \r\n\r\n","short_description":"Rabbi Dr. Shmuly Yanklowitz is the President & Dean of the Valley Beit Midrash, the Founder & President of Uri L\u2019Tzedek","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":34258,"alt":"","title":"sHMULY","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sHMULY.jpg","width":580,"height":580,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sHMULY-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sHMULY-300x300.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sHMULY.jpg","medium_large-width":580,"medium_large-height":580,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sHMULY.jpg","large-width":580,"large-height":580,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sHMULY.jpg","1536x1536-width":580,"1536x1536-height":580,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sHMULY.jpg","2048x2048-width":580,"2048x2048-height":580,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sHMULY.jpg","post_full_size-width":580,"post_full_size-height":580,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sHMULY-420x420.jpg","home_baner-width":420,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"59","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Do we need ten plagues in our lives for our hearts to change?","post_main_content_content":"

    \"Pharaoh saw the rain, the hail, and the thunder ceased, and he continued to sin; and he made his heart stubborn, he and his servants (Exodus 9:34). <\/span><\/p>\r\n

    The plagues are the ultimate expression of God\u2019s physical power. Seeing them with one\u2019s own eyes would count towards irrefutable proof of the extent of God\u2019s infinite capacity to alter the reality of the universe. And surely, witnessing a plague would be enough to cause instant humility. Yet here in this passage, plain as a day, an individual looks upon the works of Divinity and rejects what he sees. Pharaoh, the paragon of despotism, sees firsthand the miracles of God and rejects their effect on his people. And himself.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    God does not perform the plagues out of barbarity. They are wake up calls to recognize the dignity of the Hebrew slaves and to free them from their oppressive servitude. But as soon as a plague ends, Pharaoh forgets it. In the end, it doesn't take seven, eight, or nine plagues to sway Pharaoh\u2019s heart, but the irrevocability of the tenth plague that finally pushes him towards what is right and just. \u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    Change is difficult. How many of us have had near-death experiences or experienced our mortality acutely and pledged to live differently? Yet, only moments later, we find ourselves back in our routine. Typically, it requires strong negative interventions in one's life to remove oneself from harmful practices. But, even that doesn't always work. Do we really need ten plagues in our lives for our hearts to change? <\/span><\/p>\r\n

    The Torah comes to teach that self-transformation is indeed a challenge but always possible. One of the great Jewish insights is that human essence is not evil but good and that we need not reinvent ourselves. Rather, we engage in <\/span>teshuvah<\/span><\/em>: <\/span><\/i>acts of returning to our purest essence. This optimistic vision of freedom and human potential is one that we must seek to actualize each day.<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":53737,"alt":"","title":"jo11-hard-heart","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo11-hard-heart.png","width":330,"height":190,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo11-hard-heart-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo11-hard-heart-300x173.png","medium-width":300,"medium-height":173,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo11-hard-heart.png","medium_large-width":330,"medium_large-height":190,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo11-hard-heart.png","large-width":330,"large-height":190,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo11-hard-heart.png","1536x1536-width":330,"1536x1536-height":190,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo11-hard-heart.png","2048x2048-width":330,"2048x2048-height":190,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo11-hard-heart.png","post_full_size-width":330,"post_full_size-height":190,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo11-hard-heart.png","home_baner-width":330,"home_baner-height":190}},"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\u2019s Blindness, and Our Own","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Do we need ten plagues in our lives for our hearts to change?","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":53737,"alt":"","title":"jo11-hard-heart","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo11-hard-heart.png","width":330,"height":190,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo11-hard-heart-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo11-hard-heart-300x173.png","medium-width":300,"medium-height":173,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo11-hard-heart.png","medium_large-width":330,"medium_large-height":190,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo11-hard-heart.png","large-width":330,"large-height":190,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo11-hard-heart.png","1536x1536-width":330,"1536x1536-height":190,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo11-hard-heart.png","2048x2048-width":330,"2048x2048-height":190,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo11-hard-heart.png","post_full_size-width":330,"post_full_size-height":190,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo11-hard-heart.png","home_baner-width":330,"home_baner-height":190}},"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":"9","chapter_main_number":"59","date":"20251119","wall_id":"59"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"384","name":"God","old_id":"784"},{"term_id":"386","name":"Psychology","old_id":"786"},{"term_id":"552","name":"Change","old_id":"952"},{"term_id":"618","name":"Plagues","old_id":"1018"}]},{"order":6,"id":"41040","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"The Law of Preservation of Personalities ","post_title":"The Law of Preservation of Personalities","slug":"the-law-of-preservation-of-personalities","old_id":"41040","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":34243,"post_title":"Moshe Sokolow","slug":"moshe-sokolow","old_id":"34243","first_name":"Moshe","last_name":"Sokolow","description":"Dr. Moshe Sokolow is Associate Dean of the Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education and Administration, Yeshiva University, and teaches a weekly class in parashat hashavu`a at Lincoln Square Synagogue. He is the author of TANAKH: An Owner\u2019s Manual (Jerusalem: Urim\/Ktav, 2015).\r\n\r\n","short_description":"Dr. Moshe Sokolow is Associate Dean of the Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education and Administration, Yeshiva University","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":34244,"alt":"","title":"sokolow","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow.jpg","width":302,"height":300,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow-300x298.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":298,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow.jpg","medium_large-width":302,"medium_large-height":300,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow.jpg","large-width":302,"large-height":300,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow.jpg","1536x1536-width":302,"1536x1536-height":300,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow.jpg","2048x2048-width":302,"2048x2048-height":300,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow.jpg","post_full_size-width":302,"post_full_size-height":300,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow.jpg","home_baner-width":302,"home_baner-height":300}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"59","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Balaam, Job, Jethro - and Pharaoh","post_main_content_content":"

    Occasionally, rabbinic folklore (<\/span>aggadah<\/span><\/em>) will offer an identification of a character who remains anonymous in the Torah. A well-known instance is when Og the giant is identified as \u201cthe survivor\u201d (<\/span>hapalit<\/span><\/em>, Gen. 14:13) who notified Abraham of Lot\u2019s capture. This literary device, which I call \u201cthe law of preservation of personalities,\u201d is also illustrated in today\u2019s chapter.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    Hail (<\/span>barad<\/span><\/em>), the seventh of the ten plagues, produced an unprecedented reaction. Unlike the previous plagues that appear to have afflicted all Egyptians equally, this time we are told that \u201cWhoever of Pharaoh\u2019s servants feared the word of the Lord chased his cattle indoors\u201d (9:20) and escaped the hail\u2019s consequences. Small wonder, then, that the Sages found this aberration significant enough to speculate on the identity of that God-fearing Egyptian.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    Rabbi Yishmael taught: Job was one of Pharaoh\u2019s servants; an esteemed member of his retinue. Our verse states \u201cWhoever of Pharaoh\u2019s servants <\/span>feared the word of the Lord<\/span><\/em>,\u201d and of Job it states \u201cAn upright man, <\/span>who feared the Lord<\/span><\/em> and avoided evil\u201d (Job 1:8). (Yerushalmi Sotah 5:6)<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    A related aggadah, basing itself on Pharaoh\u2019s declaration \u201cLet us take counsel against [the Israelites] lest they multiply\u201d (Exodus 1:10), named Job and two other notable non-Jews of biblical fame\u2014or infamy\u2013as the counselors whose advice was sought prior to the oppression and enslavement.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    Three participated in that counsel: Balaam, Job, and Jethro. Balaam offered [wicked] counsel and was killed. Job demurred and suffered privations. Jethro absconded and his descendants merited seats in the Chamber of Hewn Stone [home of the Sanhedrin]. (BT Sotah 11a)<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":104350,"alt":"","title":"-6267c79aab1cf--6267c79aab1d1ex9-meeting consult conversation.jpg","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2018\/09\/6267c79aab1cf-6267c79aab1d1ex9-meeting-consult-conversation.jpg.jpg","width":1920,"height":768,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2018\/09\/6267c79aab1cf-6267c79aab1d1ex9-meeting-consult-conversation.jpg-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2018\/09\/6267c79aab1cf-6267c79aab1d1ex9-meeting-consult-conversation.jpg-300x120.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":120,"medium_large":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2018\/09\/6267c79aab1cf-6267c79aab1d1ex9-meeting-consult-conversation.jpg-768x307.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":307,"large":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2018\/09\/6267c79aab1cf-6267c79aab1d1ex9-meeting-consult-conversation.jpg-1024x410.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":410,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2018\/09\/6267c79aab1cf-6267c79aab1d1ex9-meeting-consult-conversation.jpg.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":614,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2018\/09\/6267c79aab1cf-6267c79aab1d1ex9-meeting-consult-conversation.jpg.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":768,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2018\/09\/6267c79aab1cf-6267c79aab1d1ex9-meeting-consult-conversation.jpg-1200x480.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":480,"home_baner":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2018\/09\/6267c79aab1cf-6267c79aab1d1ex9-meeting-consult-conversation.jpg-1050x420.jpg","home_baner-width":1050,"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 Law Of Preservation Of Personalities","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Balaam, Job, Jethro - and Pharaoh","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":104350,"alt":"","title":"-6267c79aab1cf--6267c79aab1d1ex9-meeting consult conversation.jpg","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2018\/09\/6267c79aab1cf-6267c79aab1d1ex9-meeting-consult-conversation.jpg.jpg","width":1920,"height":768,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2018\/09\/6267c79aab1cf-6267c79aab1d1ex9-meeting-consult-conversation.jpg-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2018\/09\/6267c79aab1cf-6267c79aab1d1ex9-meeting-consult-conversation.jpg-300x120.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":120,"medium_large":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2018\/09\/6267c79aab1cf-6267c79aab1d1ex9-meeting-consult-conversation.jpg-768x307.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":307,"large":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2018\/09\/6267c79aab1cf-6267c79aab1d1ex9-meeting-consult-conversation.jpg-1024x410.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":410,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2018\/09\/6267c79aab1cf-6267c79aab1d1ex9-meeting-consult-conversation.jpg.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":614,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2018\/09\/6267c79aab1cf-6267c79aab1d1ex9-meeting-consult-conversation.jpg.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":768,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2018\/09\/6267c79aab1cf-6267c79aab1d1ex9-meeting-consult-conversation.jpg-1200x480.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":480,"home_baner":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2018\/09\/6267c79aab1cf-6267c79aab1d1ex9-meeting-consult-conversation.jpg-1050x420.jpg","home_baner-width":1050,"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":"9","chapter_main_number":"59","date":"20251119","wall_id":"59"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"363","name":"Midrash","old_id":"763"},{"term_id":"626","name":"Gentiles","old_id":"1026"}]},{"order":7,"id":"41036","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"Belief ","post_title":"Belief","slug":"belief","old_id":"41036","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":"59","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"More than opening a book of ancient incantations in undecipherable script to be uttered in an inexpressible language","post_main_content_content":"

    \u201c\u2026 so that you may know that there is none like Me in all the world.\u201d (Exodus 9:14)<\/span>
    \r\n<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    no; \u00a0\u00a0<\/span> Belief is more
    \r\n<\/span>than listening to the echo of the unicorn\u2019s voice<\/span><\/p>\r\n

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

    as it leaps \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span> from mesa \u00a0\u00a0<\/span> to mesa<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    above deep chasms in a steep desert valley,<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    in search of the griffin<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    that guards the egg of the phoenix<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    waiting to hatch and emerge<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    in flames.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    no; \u00a0\u00a0<\/span> Belief is more
    \r\n<\/span>than opening a book<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span> of ancient incantations<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    written in an undecipherable script<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    to be uttered in an inexpressible language<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    that only the moon understands and speaks<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    as she elucidates her wisdom to the stars<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    on nights<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    of the lunar eclipse.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    no; \u00a0\u00a0<\/span> Belief is more
    \r\n<\/span>than cooking<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    a broth<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    that brews in a cauldron,<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    a potion of olive leaves whispering their oracles in autumn<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    of soft moss praying under snow in winter
    \r\n<\/span>of clover conversing with angels in spring<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    and mushrooms seeking portents<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    in summer.<\/span>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    no; \u00a0\u00a0<\/span> Belief is, deep-down,<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    the dry Bones<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    stripped of unnecessary sinews and flesh;<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    the brittle, bared, sun-bleached skeleton<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    scraped of extraneous skin and muscle,<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    exposed;<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    and Belief is that Wind,<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    which touches, like the hand of prophecy, the son of man<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    standing head-bowed in the midst<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    of a desert valley of dry Bones;<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    that Wind enabling him to lift his eyes,<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    to breathe and justly answer,<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    \u201cYes;<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    these Bones <\/span>can<\/span><\/i> live.\u201d <\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":97773,"alt":"","title":"dan6-prayer book","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan6-prayer-book.jpg","width":1920,"height":1280,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan6-prayer-book-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan6-prayer-book-300x200.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":200,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan6-prayer-book-768x512.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":512,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan6-prayer-book-1024x683.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":683,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan6-prayer-book.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1024,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan6-prayer-book.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":1280,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan6-prayer-book-1200x800.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":800,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan6-prayer-book-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":"929 Poetry Corner","tile_main_caption":"Belief","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"More than opening a book of ancient incantations in undecipherable script to be uttered in an inexpressible language","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":97773,"alt":"","title":"dan6-prayer book","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan6-prayer-book.jpg","width":1920,"height":1280,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan6-prayer-book-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan6-prayer-book-300x200.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":200,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan6-prayer-book-768x512.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":512,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan6-prayer-book-1024x683.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":683,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan6-prayer-book.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1024,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan6-prayer-book.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":1280,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan6-prayer-book-1200x800.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":800,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan6-prayer-book-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":"9","chapter_main_number":"59","date":"20251119","wall_id":"59"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"362","name":"Poetry","old_id":"762"},{"term_id":"612","name":"Belief","old_id":"1012"}]},{"order":8,"id":"41391","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"MiliMiliM - The Hebrew Corner - Exodus 9 ","post_title":"MiliMiliM - The Hebrew Corner - Exodus 9","slug":"milimilim-the-hebrew-corner-exodus-9","old_id":"41391","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":34011,"post_title":"Jeremy Benstein","slug":"dr-jeremy-benstein","old_id":"34011","first_name":"Jeremy","last_name":"Benstein","description":"Dr. Jeremy Benstein is the managing editor of 929-English. He is one of the founders of the Heschel Center for Sustainability. He writes the MiliMiliM - Hebrew Corner on the site, and is the author of a book about the Hebrew language, \"Hebrew Roots, Jewish Routes: A Tribal Language in a Global World\" (Behrman House, 2019). ","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"short_description":"Dr. Jeremy Benstein is the managing editor of 929-English, and is the author of a book about the Hebrew language, \"Hebrew Roots, Jewish Routes: A Tribal Language in a Global World\" (Behrman House, 2019). ","link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":34232,"alt":"","title":"Jeremy Benstein","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Presentation1.jpg","width":1280,"height":720,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Presentation1-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Presentation1-300x169.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":169,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Presentation1-768x432.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":432,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Presentation1-1024x576.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":576,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Presentation1.jpg","1536x1536-width":1280,"1536x1536-height":720,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Presentation1.jpg","2048x2048-width":1280,"2048x2048-height":720,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Presentation1-1200x675.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":675,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Presentation1-747x420.jpg","home_baner-width":747,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"59","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"\u05de\u05d5\u05e2\u05d3 - Mo'ed - Fixed Time\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

    9:5 - \u201cThe LORD has fixed the time, \u201cvayasem mo\u2019ed<\/em>\u201d tomorrow the LORD will do this thing in the land.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    The word \u201cmo\u2019ed<\/em>\u201d in Jewish tradition has several very significant meanings. We first meet this word in Genesis 1, verse 14: \u201cGod said, \u201cLet there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate day from night; they shall serve as signs for the \u201cmoadim<\/em>,\u201d set times\u2014the days and the years.\u201d In that context mo\u2019ed<\/em> seems to mean the entire idea of structured, cyclical time, the very possibility of days and years. Later on, this term will take on the sense of special set times, i.e., holidays, as in the name of the second of six orders of the Mishnah, Mo\u2019ed<\/em>, laws concerning sacred times and their observance. <\/span><\/p>\r\n

    The other different use of the word \u201cmo\u2019ed\u201d is actually something that existed more in space than in time, the structure that the Israelites used when confronting God\u2019s presence, the Tent of Meeting, in Hebrew: ohel mo\u2019ed<\/em>. The root of \u201cmo\u2019ed\u201d is \u05d9-\u05e2-\u05d3, y-\u2019ayin-d<\/em>, which also gives us the words for destiny (yi\u2019ud<\/em>), and destination (ya\u2019ad<\/em>), and has a broad sense of focusing on a given structure or purpose.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    (It is probably also related to the root \u05d5-\u05e2-\u05d3, v-\u2019ayin-d<\/em>, whence \u201cva\u2019ad<\/em>,\u201d \u201ccommittee,\u201d people who come together for a purpose.)<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    Here the word \u201cjust\u201d means that God set the time for the next plague, but given all these related words, has many portentous overtones. <\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":104336,"alt":"","title":"-626788e09d3ee--626788e09d3efex9-milim moed.jpg","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2018\/10\/626788e09d3ee-626788e09d3efex9-milim-moed.jpg.jpg","width":960,"height":720,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2018\/10\/626788e09d3ee-626788e09d3efex9-milim-moed.jpg-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2018\/10\/626788e09d3ee-626788e09d3efex9-milim-moed.jpg-300x225.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":225,"medium_large":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2018\/10\/626788e09d3ee-626788e09d3efex9-milim-moed.jpg-768x576.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":576,"large":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2018\/10\/626788e09d3ee-626788e09d3efex9-milim-moed.jpg.jpg","large-width":960,"large-height":720,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2018\/10\/626788e09d3ee-626788e09d3efex9-milim-moed.jpg.jpg","1536x1536-width":960,"1536x1536-height":720,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2018\/10\/626788e09d3ee-626788e09d3efex9-milim-moed.jpg.jpg","2048x2048-width":960,"2048x2048-height":720,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2018\/10\/626788e09d3ee-626788e09d3efex9-milim-moed.jpg.jpg","post_full_size-width":960,"post_full_size-height":720,"home_baner":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2018\/10\/626788e09d3ee-626788e09d3efex9-milim-moed.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":"\u05de\u05d5\u05e2\u05d3 - Mo'ed - Fixed Time","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"... a word from the daily chapter...","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":104336,"alt":"","title":"-626788e09d3ee--626788e09d3efex9-milim moed.jpg","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2018\/10\/626788e09d3ee-626788e09d3efex9-milim-moed.jpg.jpg","width":960,"height":720,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2018\/10\/626788e09d3ee-626788e09d3efex9-milim-moed.jpg-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2018\/10\/626788e09d3ee-626788e09d3efex9-milim-moed.jpg-300x225.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":225,"medium_large":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2018\/10\/626788e09d3ee-626788e09d3efex9-milim-moed.jpg-768x576.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":576,"large":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2018\/10\/626788e09d3ee-626788e09d3efex9-milim-moed.jpg.jpg","large-width":960,"large-height":720,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2018\/10\/626788e09d3ee-626788e09d3efex9-milim-moed.jpg.jpg","1536x1536-width":960,"1536x1536-height":720,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2018\/10\/626788e09d3ee-626788e09d3efex9-milim-moed.jpg.jpg","2048x2048-width":960,"2048x2048-height":720,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2018\/10\/626788e09d3ee-626788e09d3efex9-milim-moed.jpg.jpg","post_full_size-width":960,"post_full_size-height":720,"home_baner":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2018\/10\/626788e09d3ee-626788e09d3efex9-milim-moed.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":"9","chapter_main_number":"59","date":"20251119","wall_id":"59"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"361","name":"Hebrew language","old_id":"761"},{"term_id":"420","name":"Time","old_id":"820"}]},{"order":9,"id":"41197","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"A Lesson on the Daily Chapter- Exodus 9 ","post_title":"A Lesson on the Daily Chapter- Exodus 9","slug":"a-lesson-on-the-daily-chapter-exodus-9","old_id":"41197","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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Will he let the people go? ","post_title":"Exodus 9: And now? Will he let the people go?","slug":"exodus-9-and-now-will-he-let-the-people-go","old_id":"41038","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":false,"related_cahpter":"59","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"","post_main_content_content":"

    Murrain. Boils. Hail.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    Murrain<\/b> (9:1-9 \u2013 cattle disease). An epidemic hits all the Egyptians' sheep and cattle. Despite the contagious nature of this plague, it makes a distinction... \"and all of the Egyptians' cattle died, but not one of the Israelites' cattle died\" (9:6). Pharaoh found this so hard to believe that he sent messengers to check (9:7). And still - \"And Pharaoh hardened his heart and he did not let the people go\" (9:7).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    Boils <\/b>(9:8-11). A horrible skin disease that ravages man and beast alike - \"<\/span>And the magicians could not stand before Moses because of the boils\" (9:11). And still Pharaoh doesn't give in (9:12).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    Hail<\/b> (9:13-35). The seventh plague, and the most impressive in this chapter (note the number of verses it takes to describe it!) \"And there was hail, and fire igniting within the hail, very grievous, such as had not been in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation\" (9:24). In this plague we meet the silent majority of Egypt for the first time. This time the Egyptians, (innocent or not), were given a choice to suffer or not: \"Those who feared the word of the Lord among the servants of Pharaoh made their servants and cattle flee into the houses; and those who disregarded the word of the Lord left their servants and cattle in the field<\/span>\" (9:20-21). Does this plague bring about the desired change? In V. 27 Pharaoh gives a heartfelt speech of contrition: \"<\/span>I have sinned this time; the Lord is the righteous one, and I and my people are the wicked ones\" - which is forgotten the minute the plague has passed.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

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

    1. Spot the differences<\/b>. We've been through seven plagues and if you want to delve deeper you can spot the differences: Who performs each plague and how? When is there a warning before the plague and when isn't there one? What does Pharaoh do (or not do) to make the plague cease?<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    2. Timing<\/strong>. What's the difference between a miracle and a natural phenomenon? It's a question of timing. See in Verse 5 how important the timing is (for those who remember the plague of frogs).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    3. Discrimination<\/b>. Discrimination is part of the miracle. The fact that the Egyptians are harmed while their neighbors the Israelites go unharmed shows that there's a guiding hand involved, and in whose favor.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    4. Moses is dubious<\/b>. At the end of the plague of hail, Pharaoh declares his faith - \"the Lord is the righteous one\" - but Moses doesn't buy it. \"<\/span>But as for you and your servants, I know that you still don't fear the Lord God\" (9:30).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    5. <\/span>Nature Feature<\/b>. In the middle of the miraculous drama is a testimony (which sounds something like a poem) to the nature of the various crops which determined how each crop was affected: \"And the flax and the barley were smitten for the barley was in the ear and the flax was in bloom. But the wheat and the spelt were not smitten for they ripen late\" (9:31-32).<\/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 9","tile_main_caption_size":"1","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":"9","chapter_main_number":"59","date":"20251119","wall_id":"59"},"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\/40947"}],"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=40947"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}