{"id":48543,"date":"2018-07-09T17:41:34","date_gmt":"2018-07-09T14:41:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wall\/wall-1030\/"},"modified":"2022-09-02T10:24:55","modified_gmt":"2022-09-02T07:24:55","slug":"wall-1030","status":"publish","type":"wall","link":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wall\/wall-1030\/","title":{"rendered":"weekend-from-20220828-to-20220903"},"parent":0,"template":"","acf":{"type":"weekend","wall_id":"1030","date_from":"20220828","date_to":"20220903","book":"Numbers","books_group":"Torah","posts":[{"order":1,"id":"107668","color":"#f8ebe3","size":"2","name":"Shoftim: On the Spiritual Tension of Shmita ","post_title":"Shoftim: On the Spiritual Tension of Shmita","slug":"shoftim-on-the-spiritual-tension-of-shmita","old_id":"107668","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":107666,"post_title":"Tamar R. Marvin","slug":"tamar-r-marvin","old_id":"107666","first_name":"Tamar R. ","last_name":"Marvin ","description":"Dr. Tamar R. Marvin is a scholar, writer, and educator currently based in Los Angeles. Her passion is facilitating access to the core texts and ideas of the Jewish tradition for all who wish to engage with them. She is a student at Yeshivat Maharat and holds a doctorate in Medieval and Early Modern Jewish Studies and a B.A. in Literature and Journalism. \r\n","short_description":"Dr. Tamar R. Marvin is a scholar, writer, and educator currently based in Los Angeles. ","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":107667,"alt":"","title":"-6310a63c8f177--6310a63c8f178Tamar R. Marvin.jpg","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/09\/6310a63c8f177-6310a63c8f178Tamar-R.-Marvin.jpg.jpg","width":1771,"height":2247,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/09\/6310a63c8f177-6310a63c8f178Tamar-R.-Marvin.jpg-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/09\/6310a63c8f177-6310a63c8f178Tamar-R.-Marvin.jpg-236x300.jpg","medium-width":236,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/09\/6310a63c8f177-6310a63c8f178Tamar-R.-Marvin.jpg-768x974.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":974,"large":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/09\/6310a63c8f177-6310a63c8f178Tamar-R.-Marvin.jpg-807x1024.jpg","large-width":807,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/09\/6310a63c8f177-6310a63c8f178Tamar-R.-Marvin.jpg.jpg","1536x1536-width":1211,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/09\/6310a63c8f177-6310a63c8f178Tamar-R.-Marvin.jpg.jpg","2048x2048-width":1614,"2048x2048-height":2048,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/09\/6310a63c8f177-6310a63c8f178Tamar-R.-Marvin.jpg-946x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":946,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/09\/6310a63c8f177-6310a63c8f178Tamar-R.-Marvin.jpg-331x420.jpg","home_baner-width":331,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"1030","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"We let the earth rest even as we struggle to let go of a year\u2019s worth of potential sustenance.\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

Shmita is riven with tension. On the one hand, it is introduced to us in Parashat Behar as a Shabbat of the land: <\/span>ve-shavta ha-aretz Shabbat la-Shem<\/span><\/em>\u2014\u201cthe land shall abstain in a Shabbat of God\u201d (Lev. 25:2). This brings to mind a deliberate, restorative pause. What we presently know about agriculture accords beautifully with this ancient wisdom, confirming that regular periods of fallowness enhance the production of nutritious food.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

And yet there is a traditional counterpoint to this rarified mood in the form of the principle of <\/span>bal tashchit<\/span><\/em>, the imperative to steward resources respectfully, not allowing them to go to waste. What about the wasted potential of all the food that could be grown to feed people but will not be? This charge became all the more poignant in modernity, when Jewish farmers faced again the very real problem of sustaining themselves and their community while observing shmita. Rabbis were tasked with finding a solution, which they did, albeit messily: it entails legal fictions and wasteful importation.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

This week\u2019s parasha, Shoftim, includes an intriguing statement that acknowledges this dualistic tension of shmita. We\u2019re now in the midst of Moses\u2019 final speech, and he continues with instructions of how we are to govern the Land of Israel. Among the laws of conduct during war, the Torah tells us that when besieging an enemy city, we are forbidden to cut down fruit trees. It gives as the reason for this prohibition a perplexing explanation: <\/span>ki ha-adam etz ha-sadeh<\/span><\/em> (Deut. 20:19).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The commentators are divided on the meaning of this grammatically tricky phrase. Some understand it as a question, \u201cFor is the tree of the field like a human?\u201d On this reading, it is pointing out the <\/span>difference<\/span><\/em> between a human being, who might be an adversary, and a tree, which provides sustenance. Other commentators suggest the opposite. They read the phrase as a declarative, emphasizing the closeness, dependence or <\/span>similarity<\/span><\/em> between humans and trees: \u201cFor the tree of the field is like a human.\u201d As developed in Jewish thought, <\/span>ki ha-adam etz ha-sadeh<\/em> <\/span>functions according to both views: rabbinic authorities ruled that fruit trees may be cut down (as in first reading), but it also serves as support for <\/span>bal tashchit<\/span><\/em> (as in the second reading).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

So is a tree spared in wartime because it is separate from the human realm\u2014or the opposite, because of its life-sustaining qualities? The ambiguity does not allow us to say. Both meanings inhere in the Torah text, just as both meanings coexist within the context of shmita: we let the earth rest even as we struggle to let go of a year\u2019s worth of potential sustenance.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

This is the last month of\u00a0 the shmita year: Shmita means a sabbatical year for the Earth but also for ourselves, our communities, and our world. Each week we continue to share thoughts on how the weekly parsha can help guide our thinking around shmita themes of work and rest, wealth and debt, responsible land use, fair labor practices, private and public property ownership, and physical and spiritual revitalization.<\/em><\/p>\r\n

See here for more information on the Hazon Shmita project, and its blogs.<\/a><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":81608,"alt":"","title":"shmita","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/shmita.jpg","width":711,"height":708,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/shmita-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/shmita-300x300.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/shmita.jpg","medium_large-width":711,"medium_large-height":708,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/shmita.jpg","large-width":711,"large-height":708,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/shmita.jpg","1536x1536-width":711,"1536x1536-height":708,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/shmita.jpg","2048x2048-width":711,"2048x2048-height":708,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/shmita.jpg","post_full_size-width":711,"post_full_size-height":708,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/shmita-422x420.jpg","home_baner-width":422,"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":"A Weekly Series: The \"Shmitah Parasha\" Blog","tile_main_caption":"Shoftim: On the Spiritual Tension of Shmita","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"in conjunction with Hazon.org","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":81608,"alt":"","title":"shmita","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/shmita.jpg","width":711,"height":708,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/shmita-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/shmita-300x300.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/shmita.jpg","medium_large-width":711,"medium_large-height":708,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/shmita.jpg","large-width":711,"large-height":708,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/shmita.jpg","1536x1536-width":711,"1536x1536-height":708,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/shmita.jpg","2048x2048-width":711,"2048x2048-height":708,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/shmita.jpg","post_full_size-width":711,"post_full_size-height":708,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/shmita-422x420.jpg","home_baner-width":422,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_link_for_pay":"0","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"send_noty":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Torah","book":"Numbers","chapter":false,"chapter_main_number":false,"date":false,"wall_id":"1030"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"368","name":"Parasha","old_id":"768"},{"term_id":"494","name":"Shmita","old_id":"894"}]},{"order":2,"id":"48610","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"The Happiness of the Holidays \u2013 Then and Now ","post_title":"The Happiness Of The Holidays \u2013 Then And Now","slug":"the-happiness-of-the-holidays-then-and-now","old_id":"48610","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":33877,"post_title":"Marc Bregman","slug":"marc-bregman","old_id":"33877","first_name":"Marc","last_name":"Bregman","description":"Marc Bregman received his Ph.D. from The Hebrew University in Jerusalem in 1991. He taught at the Hebrew Union College (Jerusalem), The Hebrew University in Jerusalem, the Schechter Institute for Judaic Studies in Jerusalem, and at the Ben-Gurion University in Beer Sheba, Israel. During 1993 he was Visiting Associate Professor at Yale University, and during 1996 he was the Stroum Professor of Jewish Studies and Visiting Research Fellow at the University of Washington in Seattle. During 2005, Bregman served as the Harry Starr Fellow in Judaica at Harvard University and was awarded a Teaching Fellowship at the Center for Advanced Judaic Studies at the University of Pennsylvania. He also has served as Forchheimer Visiting Professor in the Faculty of Humanities at The Hebrew University in Jerusalem. He is the author of The Tanhuma-Yelammedenu Literature: Studies in the Evolution of the Versions (Gorgias Press, 2003). In 2006, Bregman was appointed the Herman and Zelda Bernard Distinguished Professor of Jewish Studies at the University of North Carolina in Greensboro, where he also headed the program in Jewish Studies, until 2013. Bregman retired from UNCG as of July 31, 2017. He has now returned to Jerusalem where he is continuing his research and teaching activities.","credit":"","image_url":"","short_description":"Marc Bregman is the Herman and Zelda Bernard Distinguished Professor of Jewish Studies emeritus, at the University of North Carolina in Greensboro.","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":33878,"alt":"Marc Bregman","title":"Marc Bregman","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman.jpg","width":361,"height":488,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman-222x300.jpg","medium-width":222,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman.jpg","medium_large-width":361,"medium_large-height":488,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman.jpg","large-width":361,"large-height":488,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman.jpg","1536x1536-width":361,"1536x1536-height":488,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman.jpg","2048x2048-width":361,"2048x2048-height":488,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman.jpg","post_full_size-width":361,"post_full_size-height":488,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman-311x420.jpg","home_baner-width":311,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"146","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Joyous occasions forever and ever","post_main_content_content":"

Our chapter details the sacrifices to be offered from Rosh HaShanah through the Eighth Day of Sukkot, Shemini Atzeret, (29:1-39). The Rabbinic Sages wondered why it should be that the number of bullocks offered on each of the seven days of the Sukkot Holiday should decrease from thirteen to seven, ending with one bullock sacrificed on the additional eighth day. <\/span><\/p>\r\n

The Midrash (Numbers Rabbah 29:25 and parallels) addresses this question in a typically creative way: What was His reason for reducing the number of sacrifices each day? [God here is behaving like a human host of an overnight guest since His children are dwelling outside of their homes during the Sukkot holiday]. The Torah teaches you normal human behavior (derekh eretz) from the sacrifices. When a man stays overnight, on the first evening his host entertains him generously and gives him fatted foul to eat, on the second evening meat, on the third fish, on the fourth vegetables, and so he continually reduces the quality of what he offers until, when he wishes his guest to leave, he gives him beans. <\/span><\/p>\r\n

What is the meaning of the word \u201cyou\u201d in the verse \u201cOn the eighth day, you shall have a solemn assembly\u2026\u201d (29:35)? God meant to suggest that the holidays are happy events for you. A star-worshipper asked Rabbi Akiba: Why do you celebrate holidays? Did not the Holy One, blessed be He, say to you: \u201cYour new moons and your festive seasons My soul hates\u201d (Isaiah I:14)? Rabbi Akiba answered: If God had said: My new moons and My festive seasons My soul hates, you might have had a point. But God specifically said to us: \u00a0Your new moons and your festive seasons. This refers only to those few festivals that some evil kings of Israel have declared on their own recognizance (see for example I Kings 12:32-33). But the New Moons and Festivals that you ask about will never be abolished, because they have been declared for us by the Holy One, blessed be He, as it says: \u201cThese are the festive seasons of the Lord\u201d (Leviticus 23:4). And God Himself says: \u201cThese are My festive seasons\u201d (Leviticus 23:2). And so it was that \u201cMoses declared unto the children of Israel the festive seasons of the Lord\u201d (Leviticus 23:44). And it is these festive seasons that will never be abolished, of which it is said: \u201cThey are established for ever and ever. They are done in truth and uprightness\u201d (Psalms 111:8).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Image: The Water Drawing Festivity, watercolor by Daphna Levanon - https:\/\/he.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?curid=386824<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":48611,"alt":"","title":"Num29-Beithashoeva","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Num29-Beithashoeva.jpg","width":326,"height":400,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Num29-Beithashoeva-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Num29-Beithashoeva-245x300.jpg","medium-width":245,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Num29-Beithashoeva.jpg","medium_large-width":326,"medium_large-height":400,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Num29-Beithashoeva.jpg","large-width":326,"large-height":400,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Num29-Beithashoeva.jpg","1536x1536-width":326,"1536x1536-height":400,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Num29-Beithashoeva.jpg","2048x2048-width":326,"2048x2048-height":400,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Num29-Beithashoeva.jpg","post_full_size-width":326,"post_full_size-height":400,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Num29-Beithashoeva.jpg","home_baner-width":326,"home_baner-height":400}},"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 Happiness Of The Holidays \u2013 Then And Now","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Joyous occasions forever and ever","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":48611,"alt":"","title":"Num29-Beithashoeva","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Num29-Beithashoeva.jpg","width":326,"height":400,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Num29-Beithashoeva-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Num29-Beithashoeva-245x300.jpg","medium-width":245,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Num29-Beithashoeva.jpg","medium_large-width":326,"medium_large-height":400,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Num29-Beithashoeva.jpg","large-width":326,"large-height":400,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Num29-Beithashoeva.jpg","1536x1536-width":326,"1536x1536-height":400,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Num29-Beithashoeva.jpg","2048x2048-width":326,"2048x2048-height":400,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Num29-Beithashoeva.jpg","post_full_size-width":326,"post_full_size-height":400,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Num29-Beithashoeva.jpg","home_baner-width":326,"home_baner-height":400}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"tile_link_for_pay":"0","send_noty":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Torah","book":"Numbers","chapter":"29","chapter_main_number":"146","date":"20260322","wall_id":"146"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"363","name":"Midrash","old_id":"763"},{"term_id":"516","name":"Holidays","old_id":"916"},{"term_id":"696","name":"Celebration","old_id":"1096"},{"term_id":"743","name":"Joy","old_id":"1143"}]},{"order":3,"id":"48569","color":"#f6f5de","size":"1","name":"The 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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":"146","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Is it a cry from earth, or a wake-up call from heaven?","post_main_content_content":"

On the meaning of the shofar of Rosh HaShana there are two radically different interpretations. The first is that of Rabbi Abahu in the Talmud: \u201cThe Holy One, blessed be He, said: Blow before Me a ram\u2019s horn that I may remember for you the binding of Isaac, son of Abraham, and I shall account it to you as if you had bound yourself before Me\u201d (<\/span>Rosh HaShana<\/span><\/i> 16a). The shofar recalls the ram, caught in a thicket by its horns, sacrificed in Isaac\u2019s place. <\/span><\/p>\r\n

In this view the shofar is a cry from earth to heaven, from us to God. It represents Jewish faithfulness and sacrifice. For millennia Jews suffered for their faith yet, for the most part, they did not abandon it. The shofar, Rabbi Abahu is suggesting, is a way of saying, \u201cMaster of the Universe, we may have faults and failings, but we stayed true to You and to our covenant with You. We come before You with a history that began with Abraham and Isaac\u2019s <\/span>
\r\n<\/span>lonely ordeal. Forgive us for the sake of our ancestors\u2019 suffering, loyally and willingly endured.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Maimonides gives the opposite interpretation: \u201cEven though the blowing of the shofar on Rosh HaShana is a scriptural decree, nonetheless it contains an allusion, as if to say: Wake, sleepers, from your sleep, and slumberers wake from your slumbers. Examine your deeds and turn in <\/span>teshuva<\/span><\/i>. Remember your Creator, you who forget the truth in the vanities of time, spending the year in vanity and emptiness that neither helps nor saves. Look to your souls and improve your ways and deeds\u201d (Maimonides, Laws of Repentance 3:4). <\/span><\/p>\r\n

In this alternate view the shofar is not a cry from earth to heaven, but a call from heaven to earth, God\u2019s call to us to return to Him. Both views are true. In the tekia<\/em>, the powerful clarion, we hear God\u2019s call to us. In the <\/span>terua<\/span><\/em>, the broken tones of weeping, we hear our ancestors\u2019 tears.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

On Rosh HaShana the primary sound is the <\/span>terua<\/span><\/em>, for that is how the Torah names the day. It is \u201cthe day of the <\/span>terua<\/span><\/em>\u201d (Num. 29:1) or \u201cthe remembrance of the <\/span>terua<\/span><\/em>\u201d (Lev. 23:24). On the basis of Judges 5:28, the sages understood terua <\/em>to be the sound of weeping, as the mother of Sisera wept when her son failed to return from battle.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Excerpted from the Koren Rosh Hashanah Mahzor<\/em><\/p>\r\n

image: ram's horn (Ashkenaz) and kudu horn (Yemen),<\/a> by Olve Utne, CC BY-SA 2.5,\u00a0<\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":48588,"alt":"","title":"num29-shofarot","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/num29-shofarot.jpg","width":776,"height":635,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/num29-shofarot-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/num29-shofarot-300x245.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":245,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/num29-shofarot-768x628.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":628,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/num29-shofarot.jpg","large-width":776,"large-height":635,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/num29-shofarot.jpg","1536x1536-width":776,"1536x1536-height":635,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/num29-shofarot.jpg","2048x2048-width":776,"2048x2048-height":635,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/num29-shofarot.jpg","post_full_size-width":776,"post_full_size-height":635,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/num29-shofarot-513x420.jpg","home_baner-width":513,"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 Two Shofars","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Is it a cry from earth, or a wake-up call from heaven?","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":48588,"alt":"","title":"num29-shofarot","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/num29-shofarot.jpg","width":776,"height":635,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/num29-shofarot-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/num29-shofarot-300x245.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":245,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/num29-shofarot-768x628.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":628,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/num29-shofarot.jpg","large-width":776,"large-height":635,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/num29-shofarot.jpg","1536x1536-width":776,"1536x1536-height":635,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/num29-shofarot.jpg","2048x2048-width":776,"2048x2048-height":635,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/num29-shofarot.jpg","post_full_size-width":776,"post_full_size-height":635,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/num29-shofarot-513x420.jpg","home_baner-width":513,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"tile_link_for_pay":"0","send_noty":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Torah","book":"Numbers","chapter":"29","chapter_main_number":"146","date":"20260322","wall_id":"146"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"354","name":"Rabbi Sacks","old_id":"754"},{"term_id":"650","name":"Shofar","old_id":"1050"}]},{"order":4,"id":"48593","color":"#efefef","size":"1","name":"Relativism is a Biblical Thing ","post_title":"Relativism Is A Biblical Thing","slug":"relativism-is-a-biblical-thing","old_id":"48593","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":33992,"post_title":"Bradley Shavit Artson","slug":"rabbi-dr-bradley-shavit-artson","old_id":"33992","first_name":"Bradley Shavit ","last_name":"Artson","description":"Rabbi Dr Bradley Shavit Artson holds the Abner and Roslyn Goldstine Dean's Chair of the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies and is Vice President of American Jewish University in Los Angeles, and is professor of philosophy there. Artson is married to Elana Shavit Artson, and they are the parents of twins, Shira and Jacob.\r\n","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"short_description":"Rabbi Dr Bradley Shavit Artson is the Dean of the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies and is Vice President of American Jewish University in Los Angeles.","link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":33993,"alt":"","title":"Rabbi Dr Bradley Shavit Artson","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Rabbi-Dr-Bradley-Shavit-Artson-e1532029361140.png","width":204,"height":199,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Rabbi-Dr-Bradley-Shavit-Artson-e1532029361140-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Rabbi-Dr-Bradley-Shavit-Artson-256x300.png","medium-width":256,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Rabbi-Dr-Bradley-Shavit-Artson-e1532029361140.png","medium_large-width":204,"medium_large-height":199,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Rabbi-Dr-Bradley-Shavit-Artson-e1532029361140.png","large-width":204,"large-height":199,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Rabbi-Dr-Bradley-Shavit-Artson-e1532029361140.png","1536x1536-width":204,"1536x1536-height":199,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Rabbi-Dr-Bradley-Shavit-Artson-e1532029361140.png","2048x2048-width":204,"2048x2048-height":199,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Rabbi-Dr-Bradley-Shavit-Artson-e1532029361140.png","post_full_size-width":204,"post_full_size-height":199,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Rabbi-Dr-Bradley-Shavit-Artson-e1532029361140.png","home_baner-width":204,"home_baner-height":199}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"146","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Experiencing the world in Jewish time","post_main_content_content":"

Can we start by admitting that it is simply weird to launch a new year in the middle of the year? New Years, as the name implies, should mark the start of a new year, the conclusion of an old one. That\u2019s why in the Western Calendar, new year comes at the end of December and is celebrated on the first of January. A New Year celebration should rightfully come when the new year launches.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

But not in the Torah it doesn\u2019t. In fact, the Torah explicitly states that the new year begins in the middle of the year: \u201cIn the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall observe a sacred occasion \u2026 You shall observe it as a day when the horn is sounded (Num29:1).\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

That can\u2019t be an oversight or a mistake, so what deeper truth is the Torah trying to tell us?<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Some realities are such because they correspond to facts in the objective world: hot and cold, temperatures and distances, these measure things outside of our opinions or subjective takes. But calendars generally institutionalize social convention. The duration of a year corresponds (roughly) to the time it takes our planet to circle the Sun. But when that cycle should be considered finished and when it starts anew is a designation that every society gets to determine on its own. It is a socially-established convention, not a reality outside of us.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

So perhaps the Torah is asking us to attend to when we establish practices based on objective truth, and when we impose a sense of order and predictability by our social designations and conventions. It\u2019s not that one is good and the other bad; both are needed in their own settings. But recalling that the calendar is the social construct of the Jewish people, a way of marking covenantal moments that lend significance and meaning to our meanderings through time is what converts the empty tic-toc of chronos into the meaning generating process of mo\u2019adim and chagim, set times and festivals. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

We construct the meaning of times passage, we and God. New Year in the seventh month? As good a time as any! And perfect to remind us of our active role in fixing the significance of our lives, our people, our choices.<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":48596,"alt":"","title":"Spiraltime","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Spiral20time.jpg","width":300,"height":299,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Spiral20time-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Spiral20time-300x299.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":299,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Spiral20time.jpg","medium_large-width":300,"medium_large-height":299,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Spiral20time.jpg","large-width":300,"large-height":299,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Spiral20time.jpg","1536x1536-width":300,"1536x1536-height":299,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Spiral20time.jpg","2048x2048-width":300,"2048x2048-height":299,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Spiral20time.jpg","post_full_size-width":300,"post_full_size-height":299,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Spiral20time.jpg","home_baner-width":300,"home_baner-height":299}},"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":"Relativism Is A Biblical Thing","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Experiencing the world in Jewish time","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":48596,"alt":"","title":"Spiraltime","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Spiral20time.jpg","width":300,"height":299,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Spiral20time-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Spiral20time-300x299.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":299,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Spiral20time.jpg","medium_large-width":300,"medium_large-height":299,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Spiral20time.jpg","large-width":300,"large-height":299,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Spiral20time.jpg","1536x1536-width":300,"1536x1536-height":299,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Spiral20time.jpg","2048x2048-width":300,"2048x2048-height":299,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Spiral20time.jpg","post_full_size-width":300,"post_full_size-height":299,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Spiral20time.jpg","home_baner-width":300,"home_baner-height":299}},"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,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Torah","book":"Numbers","chapter":"29","chapter_main_number":"146","date":"20260322","wall_id":"146"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"420","name":"Time","old_id":"820"},{"term_id":"516","name":"Holidays","old_id":"916"},{"term_id":"632","name":"Calendar","old_id":"1032"}]},{"order":5,"id":"48712","color":"#f2e9df","size":"1","name":"Necessary Silences ","post_title":"Necessary Silences","slug":"necessary-silences","old_id":"48712","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":47016,"post_title":"Ilana Blumberg","slug":"ilana-blumberg","old_id":"47016","first_name":"Ilana ","last_name":"Blumberg ","description":"Ilana Blumberg is a prize-winning author and teacher. Her most recent book is the memoir, \"Open Your Hand: Teaching as a Jew, Teaching as an American\" (Rutgers UP, 2018). She directs the Shaindy Rudoff Graduate Program in Creative Writing at Bar Ilan University and lives in Jerusalem with her family.","short_description":"Ilana Blumberg is a prize-winning author and teacher.","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":47017,"alt":"","title":"ilana blumberg","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/ilana-blumberg-e1546807007295.jpg","width":188,"height":249,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/ilana-blumberg-e1546807007295-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/ilana-blumberg-300x300.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/ilana-blumberg-e1546807007295.jpg","medium_large-width":188,"medium_large-height":249,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/ilana-blumberg-e1546807007295.jpg","large-width":188,"large-height":249,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/ilana-blumberg-e1546807007295.jpg","1536x1536-width":188,"1536x1536-height":249,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/ilana-blumberg-e1546807007295.jpg","2048x2048-width":188,"2048x2048-height":249,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/ilana-blumberg-e1546807007295.jpg","post_full_size-width":188,"post_full_size-height":249,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/ilana-blumberg-e1546807007295.jpg","home_baner-width":188,"home_baner-height":249}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"147","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Not every act nor every speech act that a child practices needs parental commentary","post_main_content_content":"

\u201cV\u2019heherish lah<\/em>\u201d: if a woman makes an oath in her father or her husband\u2019s house (under his authority) and he is silent in relation to her, the oath stands. <\/span><\/p>\r\n

Silence is tacit compliance. It is the absence of opposition. It may not be enthusiastic, but it \u00a0accepts because it does not need to deny. Silence gives the woman authority to make a binding obligation between herself and God.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

In ancient times, a woman usually lived under the authority of her husband or father. Today, \u00a0when I look for an analogue, I think of the way our children live under parental authority. There is an important difference in these two scenarios of authority: children are always on a path to adulthood, whereas in ancient times, women might find themselves in situations of autonomy, but only under certain circumstances, not as a matter of course.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Nevertheless, the analogy allows us to consider when silence is called for as we take care of those entrusted to us, in a God-given universe. When adults care for and protect children, it is with the presumption that as children grow, increasingly more decisions will be theirs to make. The obligations they take upon themselves will bind them, not us. Their messes will be their own to clean up; their achievements, their own as well. When a child reaches the age of mitzvot, the \u201c'ol mitzvot,\u201d<\/em> the yoke of commandments, is now theirs alone.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Each human being has a voice. A child has a voice.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Each human being has a will. And ideas. A religious person will have that voice, will, and ideas, in relation to God, as well as to other human beings.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Sometimes, when I hear my child\u2019s voice, then my voice \u2013 as a parent -- is called for in order to oppose, to limit, to deny my child\u2019s desires and impulses, to countermand their speech. When I must intervene to prevent, then I speak.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

But at other moments, holy moments, when a child asserts his or her deepest self in a form that bears no harm, then maybe we need to be silent \u2013 \u201cv\u2019heherish lah<\/em>.\u201d Let their words stand. Recognize their autonomy, their intention, their selfhood, a selfhood that comes into being through speech, but also through adult silence.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Not every act nor every speech act that a child practices needs parental commentary, not even approval or confirmation. The world is vast and its silences need to be a comfort, too.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

If I can find the right silence, my child can begin to hear and speak.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Another ear is listening.<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":76501,"alt":"","title":"hos11-parent child","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/hos11-parent-child.jpg","width":1920,"height":960,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/hos11-parent-child-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/hos11-parent-child-300x150.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":150,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/hos11-parent-child-768x384.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":384,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/hos11-parent-child-1024x512.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":512,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/hos11-parent-child.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":768,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/hos11-parent-child.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":960,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/hos11-parent-child-1200x600.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":600,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/hos11-parent-child-840x420.jpg","home_baner-width":840,"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":"Necessary Silences","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Not every act nor every speech act that a child practices needs parental commentary","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":76501,"alt":"","title":"hos11-parent child","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/hos11-parent-child.jpg","width":1920,"height":960,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/hos11-parent-child-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/hos11-parent-child-300x150.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":150,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/hos11-parent-child-768x384.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":384,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/hos11-parent-child-1024x512.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":512,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/hos11-parent-child.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":768,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/hos11-parent-child.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":960,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/hos11-parent-child-1200x600.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":600,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/hos11-parent-child-840x420.jpg","home_baner-width":840,"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,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Torah","book":"Numbers","chapter":"30","chapter_main_number":"147","date":"20260323","wall_id":"147"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"377","name":"Speech\/words","old_id":"777"},{"term_id":"428","name":"Parent","old_id":"828"},{"term_id":"473","name":"Child","old_id":"873"},{"term_id":"548","name":"Silence","old_id":"948"},{"term_id":"649","name":"Independence","old_id":"1049"}]},{"order":6,"id":"48702","color":"#f6edf6","size":"2","name":"My Night-time Struggle With Chapter 31 ","post_title":"My Night-time Struggle With Chapter 31","slug":"my-night-time-struggle-with-chapter-31","old_id":"48702","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":33859,"post_title":"Avidan Freedman","slug":"avidan-freedman","old_id":"33859","first_name":"Avidan","last_name":"Freedman","description":"Rabbi Avidan Freedman is the Rabbi of Hevruta, the Shalom Hartman Institute's post high school program for Israelis and North Americans, and an educator in the institute's high school. He is an activist advocating for moral limits on Israeli arms exports, and on behalf of African refugees, and a proud husband and father of 5. He received his rabbinical ordination from Yeshivat Chovevei Torah in New York, and from the Israeli chief rabbinate.","credit":"","image_url":"","short_description":"Rabbi Avidan Freedman is the Rabbi of Hevruta, the Shalom Hartman Institute's post high school program for Israelis and North Americans, and an educator in the institute's high school. ","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":33860,"alt":"Avidan Freedman","title":"Avidan Freedman","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Avidan-Freedman-e1532029306365.jpg","width":856,"height":1024,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Avidan-Freedman-e1532029306365-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Avidan-Freedman-e1532029306365-251x300.jpg","medium-width":251,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Avidan-Freedman-e1532029306365-768x919.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":919,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Avidan-Freedman-e1532029306365-856x1024.jpg","large-width":856,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Avidan-Freedman-e1532029306365.jpg","1536x1536-width":856,"1536x1536-height":1024,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Avidan-Freedman-e1532029306365.jpg","2048x2048-width":856,"2048x2048-height":1024,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Avidan-Freedman-800x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":800,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Avidan-Freedman-e1532029306365-351x420.jpg","home_baner-width":351,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"148","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Are we up to the moral challenges?","post_main_content_content":"

I'm not afraid to struggle with the Torah. To be \"Yisrael\" means to have enough faith in yourself that you can be straight (<\/span>yashar<\/span><\/i>) with God, and enough faith in God that He can handle you wrestling with Him a bit.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Like Jacob with the angel, I find myself locked in a struggle with chapter 31 that essentially ends in a deadlock. On the one hand, I won't let go of my moral intuitions. I won't accept that there's no moral issue with slaughtering man, woman, and child, leaving only young girls, and those as captives, while we get rich on the spoils of war. I can't see anyone in the moral world I inhabit seriously endorsing these practices as moral nowadays. That's a fact. <\/span>But, on the other hand, I know this is a Good Book from a Good God, and I'm not ready to reject it.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Are you calling the Torah immoral, I begin to argue with myself?<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Hem. Haw.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The Ramban says that Moshe didn't tell them what to do, they decided on their own...<\/span><\/p>\r\n

...but then Moshe himself chastises them for not killing the women.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

...but God didn't tell them what to do, only to oppress the Midianites, to take revenge on them.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

...but since when does God endorse revenge?<\/span><\/p>\r\n

...but Moshe refuses to accept it as Israel's revenge, and reframes it as God's revenge, according to the Midrash, sending only those who were not directly involved in the sin with the Midianite women. He distances this war from himself, a Midianite expatriate, as well as from Joshua, the future leader of Israel. There is something in him that is conflicted about this war as well.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

...and anyways, that's what the standards of war were back then.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

...but does that mean I need to think it's moral now? And couldn't the Torah demand more of us than the ethics of the time, as it often does?<\/span><\/p>\r\n

...perhaps it does, by declaring the people who killed impure, by exiling them from the camp, by demanding they undergo a purification process...<\/span><\/p>\r\n

...and so it goes, until morning, when one side says, leave me go, it's time for the morning prayers, and the other side says- not until you bless me. The blessing? \"Jacob will no longer be your name, but rather Israel, for you have struggled with God and man, and you can do it.\" <\/span><\/p>\r\n

Don't be afraid, my servant Jacob. Struggle is the name of the game. And we're up to the challenge.<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":48708,"alt":"","title":"Num31-jacob-wrestling-the-angel-of-god","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Num31-jacob-wrestling-the-angel-of-god.jpg","width":900,"height":717,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Num31-jacob-wrestling-the-angel-of-god-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Num31-jacob-wrestling-the-angel-of-god-300x239.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":239,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Num31-jacob-wrestling-the-angel-of-god-768x612.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":612,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Num31-jacob-wrestling-the-angel-of-god.jpg","large-width":900,"large-height":717,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Num31-jacob-wrestling-the-angel-of-god.jpg","1536x1536-width":900,"1536x1536-height":717,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Num31-jacob-wrestling-the-angel-of-god.jpg","2048x2048-width":900,"2048x2048-height":717,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Num31-jacob-wrestling-the-angel-of-god.jpg","post_full_size-width":900,"post_full_size-height":717,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Num31-jacob-wrestling-the-angel-of-god-527x420.jpg","home_baner-width":527,"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":"My Night-time Struggle With Chapter 31","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Are we up to the moral challenges?","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":48708,"alt":"","title":"Num31-jacob-wrestling-the-angel-of-god","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Num31-jacob-wrestling-the-angel-of-god.jpg","width":900,"height":717,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Num31-jacob-wrestling-the-angel-of-god-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Num31-jacob-wrestling-the-angel-of-god-300x239.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":239,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Num31-jacob-wrestling-the-angel-of-god-768x612.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":612,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Num31-jacob-wrestling-the-angel-of-god.jpg","large-width":900,"large-height":717,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Num31-jacob-wrestling-the-angel-of-god.jpg","1536x1536-width":900,"1536x1536-height":717,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Num31-jacob-wrestling-the-angel-of-god.jpg","2048x2048-width":900,"2048x2048-height":717,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Num31-jacob-wrestling-the-angel-of-god.jpg","post_full_size-width":900,"post_full_size-height":717,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Num31-jacob-wrestling-the-angel-of-god-527x420.jpg","home_baner-width":527,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"tile_link_for_pay":"0","send_noty":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Torah","book":"Numbers","chapter":"31","chapter_main_number":"148","date":"20260324","wall_id":"148"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"384","name":"God","old_id":"784"},{"term_id":"400","name":"Sin","old_id":"800"},{"term_id":"436","name":"Morality","old_id":"836"},{"term_id":"544","name":"Struggle","old_id":"944"}]},{"order":7,"id":"48710","color":"#e0e9ef","size":"1","name":"Presence and Absence ","post_title":"Presence And Absence","slug":"presence-and-absence","old_id":"48710","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":34004,"post_title":"Avivah Gottlieb Zornberg","slug":"avivah-gottlieb-zornberg","old_id":"34004","first_name":"Avivah Gottlieb","last_name":"Zornberg","description":"Avivah Gottlieb Zornberg lives in Jerusalem where she has been lecturing on Torah since 1980. She reads biblical narratives through the prism of midrash, literature, philosophy and particularly psychoanalysis.\r\nShe was born in London and grew up in Glasgow, where her father was a Rabbi and the head of the Rabbinical Court. She studied Torah with him from childhood. Her PhD in English Literature is from Cambridge University, England. She taught English literature at the Hebrew University before turning to teaching Torah. She now teaches throughout the Jewish world, at synagogues, universities, and psychoanalytic institutes.\r\nShe is the author of five critically acclaimed books. Her latest book, Moses: A Human Life, was published by Yale University Press.\r\n","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"short_description":"Avivah Gottlieb Zornberg lives and lectures on Torah in Jerusalem. She is the author of five critically acclaimed books. ","link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":34006,"alt":"","title":"Avivah Gottlieb Zornberg","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Avivah-Gottlieb-Zornberg.jpg","width":454,"height":359,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Avivah-Gottlieb-Zornberg-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Avivah-Gottlieb-Zornberg-300x237.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":237,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Avivah-Gottlieb-Zornberg.jpg","medium_large-width":454,"medium_large-height":359,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Avivah-Gottlieb-Zornberg.jpg","large-width":454,"large-height":359,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Avivah-Gottlieb-Zornberg.jpg","1536x1536-width":454,"1536x1536-height":359,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Avivah-Gottlieb-Zornberg.jpg","2048x2048-width":454,"2048x2048-height":359,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Avivah-Gottlieb-Zornberg.jpg","post_full_size-width":454,"post_full_size-height":359,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Avivah-Gottlieb-Zornberg.jpg","home_baner-width":454,"home_baner-height":359}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"148","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"This expression for counting lends itself to a double meaning","post_main_content_content":"

Telling and counting are, of course, related; indeed, both involve relating, recounting, tallying, attending to loss and gain. Whenever God commands a count of His people, says Rashi, this becomes an expression of His love. After historical crises, like the Exodus and sin of the Golden Calf, He counts in order to find out how many have survived; and when He comes to dwell among them, He likewise numbers them. God's love, it seems, is at its keenest in two opposite situations\u2014in celebration and after catastrophe. <\/span><\/p>\r\n

Counting punctuates both presence and absence. It is a way of paying attention\u2014for Rashi, loving attention\u2014to the individual within society. It is striking that the word pakad<\/em>, which is used some twenty times to refer to the act of registering in the census, generates a larger field of meaning that includes paying attention, appointing, visiting, seeking, desiring, being interested, as well as depositing, committing, entrusting. At the same time, pakad<\/em> refers to absence; it attends to a loss. For example, after the battle against the Midianites at the end of the book, the pekudim<\/em>\u2014those appointed to make the count of the survivors\u2014report to Moses: \"Your servants have made a check of the warriors in our charge, and not one of us is missing [nifkad<\/em>]\" (Num. 31:49). The paradoxical meanings of pakad<\/em> play off one another. This is Rashi's reading: <\/span><\/p>\r\n

Lo nifkad<\/em>: no one is missing, as in Aramaic translation\u2014lo shaga<\/em>, which also means \"not missing.\" So we find (I Sam. 20:18): \"if your seat is empty [yipaked<\/em>]\" \u2014which means, if its usual occupant is missing. <\/span><\/p>\r\n

A space has been left empty and the one who pays attention notices a gap. Rashi cites the story of Saul and David, where David's absence is remarked by Saul. To count, then, is to tally, to tell, to recount those who are present and\/or those who are absent, so that taking a head count may have its sinister as well as its gratifying significance. In celebrating what is present, one may encounter or even generate absence. Those who are counted in the first census are precisely those who are doomed to die in the wilderness. On the words \"Take a census of the whole Israelite community\" (lit., \"lift up the heads ...\"), the midrash comments: <\/span><\/p>\r\n

Why does it say this at the beginning of the book? Why precisely this expression, se'u et rosh<\/em>\u2014\"Lift up the heads\" (Num. 1:2) Like a man who tells the executioner, \"Take off his head\"\u2014that is, kill him, God speaks in ambiguous language: If they are worthy, let them rise higher\u2014as we see [as Joseph told the butler], \"Pharaoh will lift up your head and restore you to your position.\" But if they are unworthy, they will all die, as we see in the same story, \"Pharaoh will lift your head from off you and hang you upon the gallows\" (Gen. 40:13,19). <\/span><\/p>\r\n

This expression for counting lends itself to a double meaning: promotion or death. The proof texts point to the most striking example of this ambiguity, in the story of the butler and the baker, Joseph's prison companions, whose opposite fates are both indicated by this expression.<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":61285,"alt":"","title":"2sam24-census","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/2sam24-census.jpg","width":800,"height":549,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/2sam24-census-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/2sam24-census-300x206.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":206,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/2sam24-census-768x527.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":527,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/2sam24-census.jpg","large-width":800,"large-height":549,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/2sam24-census.jpg","1536x1536-width":800,"1536x1536-height":549,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/2sam24-census.jpg","2048x2048-width":800,"2048x2048-height":549,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/2sam24-census.jpg","post_full_size-width":800,"post_full_size-height":549,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/2sam24-census-612x420.jpg","home_baner-width":612,"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":"Presence And Absence","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"This expression for counting lends itself to a double meaning","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":61285,"alt":"","title":"2sam24-census","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/2sam24-census.jpg","width":800,"height":549,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/2sam24-census-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/2sam24-census-300x206.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":206,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/2sam24-census-768x527.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":527,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/2sam24-census.jpg","large-width":800,"large-height":549,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/2sam24-census.jpg","1536x1536-width":800,"1536x1536-height":549,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/2sam24-census.jpg","2048x2048-width":800,"2048x2048-height":549,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/2sam24-census.jpg","post_full_size-width":800,"post_full_size-height":549,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/2sam24-census-612x420.jpg","home_baner-width":612,"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,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Torah","book":"Numbers","chapter":"31","chapter_main_number":"148","date":"20260324","wall_id":"148"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"383","name":"Death","old_id":"783"},{"term_id":"401","name":"Life","old_id":"801"},{"term_id":"689","name":"Census","old_id":"1089"}]},{"order":8,"id":"48767","color":"#faeed8","size":"1","name":"Fighting Together and Living Together Are Not The Same ","post_title":"Fighting Together And Living Together Are Not The Same","slug":"fighting-together-and-living-together-are-not-the-same","old_id":"48767","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":39525,"post_title":"Erica Brown","slug":"erica-brown","old_id":"39525","first_name":"Erica ","last_name":"Brown","description":"Dr. Erica Brown is associate professor at the Graduate School of Education and Human Development at The George Washington University and director of its Mayberg Center for Jewish Education and Leadership. She is the author of 12 books. Her forthcoming book is The Book of Esther: Power, Fate and Fragility in Exile (Maggid\/OU).","short_description":"Dr. Erica Brown is Director of the Mayberg Center for Jewish Education and Leadership at The George Washington University.","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":39526,"alt":"","title":"erica brown","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/erica-brown-e1536180373903.jpg","width":154,"height":186,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/erica-brown-e1536180373903-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/erica-brown-e1536180373903.jpg","medium-width":154,"medium-height":186,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/erica-brown-e1536180373903.jpg","medium_large-width":154,"medium_large-height":186,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/erica-brown-e1536180373903.jpg","large-width":154,"large-height":186,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/erica-brown-e1536180373903.jpg","1536x1536-width":154,"1536x1536-height":186,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/erica-brown-e1536180373903.jpg","2048x2048-width":154,"2048x2048-height":186,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/erica-brown-e1536180373903.jpg","post_full_size-width":154,"post_full_size-height":186,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/erica-brown-e1536180373903.jpg","home_baner-width":154,"home_baner-height":186}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"149","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Being part of a community of a shared vision can never be episodic if it is to be authentic","post_main_content_content":"

A modern midrash: It is the night before the Gadites and Reubenites were approaching the priests and judges to request they stay on the other side of the Jordan River. They planned for weeks, unsure and anxious how their new plan would be received. Their real struggle was facing Moses. Their leader for all these decades, Moses was banned from entering the Promised Land. How could they tell him so close to the land itself that they <\/span>could<\/span><\/em> enter the land but did not want to, and all for a lot of cows, what Moses might consider a bovine misdemeanor?<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Having amassed cattle in a scrimmage in Jazer and Gilead, these tribes knew that a financial boon on four legs was hard to move; the grazing land on this side of the Jordan was excellent. They knew little about Canaan, but rumors flooded the camp. The land would never be as good. They were sure of it, even willing to give up on the community altogether for their recent good fortune. In the Gadite leadership tent, the Reubenites, ancestors of the firstborn spurned son of Jacob, and Gadites discussed their strategy. <\/span><\/p>\r\n

The time came for the fateful meeting. Moses did not mention his personal or emotional stake in the matter. He did not chastise them for putting their immediate, material gains above their joint spiritual dream. As a leader, his concern was always for the impact every decision would have on the rest of the wilderness community: \u201cAre your brothers to go to war while you stay here?\u201d The repercussions for the others were obvious.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The tribes assured Moses that they would fight; indeed, they would settle their families and cattle and go out to the front line. Moses, perhaps tired of fighting or aware that they were going to act on this plan regardless of his warnings, hesitatingly and shockingly agreed. But fighting together and living together are not the same. <\/span><\/p>\r\n

Being part of a community of a shared vision can never be episodic if it is to be authentic.<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":61778,"alt":"","title":"1kings5-unity","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings5-unity.png","width":1920,"height":1916,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings5-unity-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings5-unity-300x300.png","medium-width":300,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings5-unity-768x766.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":766,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings5-unity-1024x1022.png","large-width":1024,"large-height":1022,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings5-unity.png","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1533,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings5-unity.png","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":1916,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings5-unity-1200x1198.png","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":1198,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings5-unity-421x420.png","home_baner-width":421,"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":"Fighting Together And Living Together Are Not The Same","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Being part of a community of a shared vision can never be episodic if it is to be authentic","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":61778,"alt":"","title":"1kings5-unity","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings5-unity.png","width":1920,"height":1916,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings5-unity-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings5-unity-300x300.png","medium-width":300,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings5-unity-768x766.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":766,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings5-unity-1024x1022.png","large-width":1024,"large-height":1022,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings5-unity.png","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1533,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings5-unity.png","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":1916,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings5-unity-1200x1198.png","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":1198,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings5-unity-421x420.png","home_baner-width":421,"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,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Torah","book":"Numbers","chapter":"32","chapter_main_number":"149","date":"20260325","wall_id":"149"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"363","name":"Midrash","old_id":"763"},{"term_id":"422","name":"Diaspora","old_id":"822"},{"term_id":"434","name":"War","old_id":"834"},{"term_id":"792","name":"Tribes","old_id":"1192"}]},{"order":9,"id":"48771","color":"#e6f5f3","size":"1","name":"Are We Too Reuben and Gad? ","post_title":"Are We Too Reuben and Gad?","slug":"are-we-too-reuben-and-gad","old_id":"48771","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":37918,"post_title":"Shai Held","slug":"shai-held","old_id":"37918","first_name":" Shai ","last_name":"Held","description":"Rabbi Shai Held, theologian, scholar, and educator, is President, Dean, and Chair in Jewish Thought at Hadar, where he also directs the Center for Jewish Leadership and Ideas. A 2011 recipient of the prestigious Covenant Award for excellence in Jewish education, Rabbi Held has been named multiple times to Newsweek\u2019s list of the 50 most influential rabbis in America. He holds a doctorate in religion from Harvard; Rabbi Held's first book, Abraham Joshua Heschel: The Call of Transcendence, was published by Indiana University Press in 2013; The Heart of Torah, a collection of essays on the Torah in two volumes, was published by JPS in 2017.","short_description":"Rabbi Shai Held is President, Dean, and Chair in Jewish Thought at Hadar,","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":37919,"alt":"","title":"shai held","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/shai-held.jpg","width":150,"height":186,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/shai-held-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/shai-held.jpg","medium-width":150,"medium-height":186,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/shai-held.jpg","medium_large-width":150,"medium_large-height":186,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/shai-held.jpg","large-width":150,"large-height":186,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/shai-held.jpg","1536x1536-width":150,"1536x1536-height":186,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/shai-held.jpg","2048x2048-width":150,"2048x2048-height":186,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/shai-held.jpg","post_full_size-width":150,"post_full_size-height":186,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/shai-held.jpg","home_baner-width":150,"home_baner-height":186}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"149","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"When desire for goods keep us from the good","post_main_content_content":"

As the Israelites inch closer to the Promised Land, the tribes of Reuben and Gad approach Moses with a request. \u201c\u2018If we have found favor in your eyes,\u2019 they say, \u2018let this land be given to your servants as a holding; do not make us cross the Jordan\u201d (Numbers 32:5). Appalled by the request, Moses unleashes a torrent of anger, finally condemning the Reubenites and Gadites as \u201ca brood of sinners\u201d (32:14). <\/span><\/p>\r\n

Why is Moses so angry?<\/span><\/p>\r\n

A midrash asks: Given that the Transjordan had just been conquered by the whole people, how did Reuben and Gad end up with so much more cattle than the others? \u201cThis teaches,\u201d the midrash answers, \u201cthat the two tribes were quick to despoil what had been conquered (Midrash HaGadol to Numbers 32:1). <\/span><\/p>\r\n

In light of all this, the two tribes\u2019 lack of desire to enter the Promised Land takes on powerful symbolic weight. If the Torah makes one core assumption about land, it is surely that the earth belongs to God alone (Leviticus 25:23). For the Torah, \u201cdivine ownership means that all property is ultimately received as a gift.\u201d The Land of Israel is not a commodity but a covenantal gift (cf. Deut. 6:10-11 and 8:7-10). Reuben and Gad, so committed to acquiring (<\/span>liknot<\/span><\/em>) cattle (<\/span>mikneh<\/span><\/em>)<\/span>\u2014<\/span>two versions of the same word<\/span>\u2014<\/span>cannot allow themselves to live in a land that is so manifestly about receiving rather than grabbing.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Reading of the two tribes and their struggle with Moses, we are challenged to ask: Are we, too, Reuben and Gad? How often does our preoccupation with possessions (<\/span>mikneh<\/span><\/em>) lead us to forget God and other people? In our consumerist society, can we still reclaim the Torah\u2019s message that what we have is ultimately a gift from God? If we receive rather than grab, we open the door to genuine kindness and generosity of spirit. We open the door, in other words, to genuine service of God. <\/span><\/p>\r\n

In telling the story of Reuben and Gad in such detail, the Torah reminds us of the grave damage materialism can do to our relationship with God. In our consumerist society, it is a message we can ill afford to ignore.<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":48772,"alt":"","title":"Num32-consumerism","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Num32-consumerism.jpg","width":300,"height":216,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Num32-consumerism-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Num32-consumerism-300x216.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":216,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Num32-consumerism.jpg","medium_large-width":300,"medium_large-height":216,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Num32-consumerism.jpg","large-width":300,"large-height":216,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Num32-consumerism.jpg","1536x1536-width":300,"1536x1536-height":216,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Num32-consumerism.jpg","2048x2048-width":300,"2048x2048-height":216,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Num32-consumerism.jpg","post_full_size-width":300,"post_full_size-height":216,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Num32-consumerism.jpg","home_baner-width":300,"home_baner-height":216}},"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":"Are We Too Reuben and Gad?","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"When desire for goods keep us from the good","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":48772,"alt":"","title":"Num32-consumerism","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Num32-consumerism.jpg","width":300,"height":216,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Num32-consumerism-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Num32-consumerism-300x216.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":216,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Num32-consumerism.jpg","medium_large-width":300,"medium_large-height":216,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Num32-consumerism.jpg","large-width":300,"large-height":216,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Num32-consumerism.jpg","1536x1536-width":300,"1536x1536-height":216,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Num32-consumerism.jpg","2048x2048-width":300,"2048x2048-height":216,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Num32-consumerism.jpg","post_full_size-width":300,"post_full_size-height":216,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Num32-consumerism.jpg","home_baner-width":300,"home_baner-height":216}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"tile_link_for_pay":"0","send_noty":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Torah","book":"Numbers","chapter":"32","chapter_main_number":"149","date":"20260325","wall_id":"149"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"395","name":"Covenant","old_id":"795"},{"term_id":"430","name":"Land of Israel","old_id":"830"},{"term_id":"440","name":"Wealth\/money","old_id":"840"},{"term_id":"676","name":"Material","old_id":"1076"},{"term_id":"685","name":"Values","old_id":"1085"}]},{"order":10,"id":"48762","color":"#f7e9e9","size":"2","name":"East Side, West Side, All Around the Jordan ","post_title":"East Side, West Side, All Around The Jordan","slug":"east-side-west-side-all-around-the-jordan","old_id":"48762","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":34255,"post_title":"Shira Hecht-Koller","slug":"shira-hecht-koller","old_id":"34255","first_name":"Shira","last_name":"Hecht-Koller ","description":"Shira Hecht-Koller is the Director of Education for 929 English. She received her J.D. from the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law and is a graduate of the Bruriah Scholars Program in Advanced Talmud Studies at Midreshet Lindenbaum. \r\n","short_description":"Shira Hecht-Koller is the Director of Education for 929 English. ","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":34256,"alt":"","title":"Shira head shot","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Shira-head-shot.jpg","width":3456,"height":5184,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Shira-head-shot-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Shira-head-shot-200x300.jpg","medium-width":200,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Shira-head-shot-683x1024.jpg","medium_large-width":683,"medium_large-height":1024,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Shira-head-shot-683x1024.jpg","large-width":683,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Shira-head-shot.jpg","1536x1536-width":1024,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Shira-head-shot.jpg","2048x2048-width":1365,"2048x2048-height":2048,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Shira-head-shot-800x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":800,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Shira-head-shot-280x420.jpg","home_baner-width":280,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"149","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"What was so wrong with the tribes\u2019 request?","post_main_content_content":"

When the grass is greener on the other side, requests to stay on that side seem reasonable. Such is the petition put forth by the tribes Reuben, Gad and \u00bd Menashe as the Israelites plan for settlement in the promised land. They approach Moses with what is a seemingly legitimate request: Israel has recently conquered the land of Sihon in the central Transjordan; it is excellent grazing land; they have a large number of livestock; therefore, it makes sense for them to settle here.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Though the request is sensible, Moses reacts surprisingly harshly. Their request had consisted of three verses; Moses\u2019s response takes up ten. He not only criticizes them explicitly and directly, but claims that their actions are comparable to those of the spies, who had condemned an entire generation to death in the desert. For an innocent request, this seems to be entirely unwarranted. What exactly was wrong with their request that brought such censure upon their heads?<\/span><\/p>\r\n

A careful analysis of Moses\u2019s words demonstrates that the threat to which he reacts is not a perceived lack of love for Israel, but rather a sense that these tribes are undermining the entire program. If they remain in Transjordan, Moses is concerned that the rest of the people will opt to not go to war and simply join their movement. He is worried that they are acting in a way that will cause not only themselves, but the entire nation, to give up the quest for the land at this stage. <\/span><\/p>\r\n

Moses\u2019s prime concern is that they are threatening to dissuade the rest of Israel from entering the promised land.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

His message seems to be clear: there are legitimate pragmatic considerations involved in a tribe\u2019s choice of territory, and these may trump the ideal of living in Israel. But this is only acceptable if the choice of other territory is accompanied by ardent support for those who do wish to live in Israel. \u00a0Reuben and Gad can live wherever they want \u2013 even in land that was not divinely intended to be Israelite land \u2013 if they do all they can to ensure that the other tribes are able to cross the Jordan and establish life there.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

When Reuben and Gad explain that they never meant to bow out at this stage, but would in fact lead the fight to conquer the land of Israel and not return home until it was settled, Moses assents, assured now that the national presence in Israel was not threatened by the Jewish presence outside of Israel. Perhaps, he may have thought, they will one day be mutually beneficial.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

photo: courtesy of the author<\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":48763,"alt":"","title":"Duet32-SHKalaniyot","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Duet32-SHKalaniyot.jpg","width":1280,"height":853,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Duet32-SHKalaniyot-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Duet32-SHKalaniyot-300x200.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":200,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Duet32-SHKalaniyot-768x512.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":512,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Duet32-SHKalaniyot-1024x682.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":682,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Duet32-SHKalaniyot.jpg","1536x1536-width":1280,"1536x1536-height":853,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Duet32-SHKalaniyot.jpg","2048x2048-width":1280,"2048x2048-height":853,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Duet32-SHKalaniyot-1200x800.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":800,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Duet32-SHKalaniyot-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":"East Side, West Side, All Around the Jordan","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"What was so wrong with the tribes\u2019 request?","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":48763,"alt":"","title":"Duet32-SHKalaniyot","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Duet32-SHKalaniyot.jpg","width":1280,"height":853,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Duet32-SHKalaniyot-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Duet32-SHKalaniyot-300x200.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":200,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Duet32-SHKalaniyot-768x512.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":512,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Duet32-SHKalaniyot-1024x682.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":682,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Duet32-SHKalaniyot.jpg","1536x1536-width":1280,"1536x1536-height":853,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Duet32-SHKalaniyot.jpg","2048x2048-width":1280,"2048x2048-height":853,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Duet32-SHKalaniyot-1200x800.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":800,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Duet32-SHKalaniyot-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":"","links":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Torah","book":"Numbers","chapter":"32","chapter_main_number":"149","date":"20260325","wall_id":"149"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"397","name":"Moses","old_id":"797"},{"term_id":"430","name":"Land of Israel","old_id":"830"},{"term_id":"792","name":"Tribes","old_id":"1192"}]},{"order":11,"id":"107610","color":"#f7f7f5","size":"1","name":"The First Gerrymander ","post_title":"The First Gerrymander","slug":"the-first-gerrymander","old_id":"107610","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. ","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":"149","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Moses divides a tribe and its territory. To weaken a political alliance?\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

Earlier, God decreed that each tribe would receive a proportional part of the Land. As the nation makes its way around the Jordan river to enter the land, they have been conquering the local peripheral populations. The tribes of Reuben and Gad see these fertile borderlands and decide that they do not want to enter the land. They approach Moses and ask if they can live in the trans-Jordan area because of their large flocks and the fertile land.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

This conversation is reminiscent of Lot\u2019s conversations with Abraham in Genesis. Compare:<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The Reubenites and the Gadites owned cattle in very great numbers. Noting that the lands of Jazer and Gilead were a region suitable for cattle (here, verse 1).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

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

Lot, who went with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents, so that the land could not support them staying together; for their possessions were so great that they could not remain together. Lot looked about him and saw how well watered was the whole plain of the Jordan, all of it\u2026\u201d (Gen. 13:8-10).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Moses is not happy with the request. Possibly, he had a sense of personal frustration considering he would not be able to enter the land and now these tribes are asking to stay outside the land. Moses makes the tribes promise that they will enter the land and help the rest of the tribes conquer it before then return across the Jordan river: \u201cThe Gadites and the Reubenites answered Moses, \u2018Your servants will do as my lord commands.\u2019\u201d (verse 25). The two tribes then promise two more times.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Satisfied with their promises \u201cMoses assigned to them\u2014to the Gadites, the Reubenites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh son of Joseph\u2014the kingdom of Sihon king of the Amorites and the kingdom of King Og of Bashan...\u201d (verse 33).\u00a0 Thirty-three verses into the chapter half the tribe of Manasseh appears out of nowhere. Only Gad and Reuben asked to relocate. Why does Moses split Manasseh? One answer is that Moses was concerned that having Gad and Reuben on the other side of the Jordan would separate them from their brethren. He therefore had the tribe of Manasseh split over the Jordan river in order to link the two tribes to those in the land.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

But why Manasseh? Were they the largest tribe? No, they only had around 53,000 men. Issachar, Zebulan and Judah were all larger. Judah had the most with 76,000. Why didn\u2019t Moses split Judah? Perhaps this was a political move. Judah by itself was the most, but Manasseh and Ephraim together were over 85,000. This would put the sons of Joseph as the largest block over Judah, the eventual ruling tribe. To mitigate this, Moses splits Manasseh. This allows Judah to be the largest tribe in Israel and connects Reuben and Gad to the tribes inside.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

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

 <\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":54665,"alt":"","title":"jo22-tribes","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jo22-tribes.jpg","width":650,"height":345,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jo22-tribes-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jo22-tribes-300x159.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":159,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jo22-tribes.jpg","medium_large-width":650,"medium_large-height":345,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jo22-tribes.jpg","large-width":650,"large-height":345,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jo22-tribes.jpg","1536x1536-width":650,"1536x1536-height":345,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jo22-tribes.jpg","2048x2048-width":650,"2048x2048-height":345,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jo22-tribes.jpg","post_full_size-width":650,"post_full_size-height":345,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jo22-tribes.jpg","home_baner-width":650,"home_baner-height":345}},"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 First Gerrymander","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Moses divides a tribe and its territory. To weaken a political alliance?","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":54665,"alt":"","title":"jo22-tribes","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jo22-tribes.jpg","width":650,"height":345,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jo22-tribes-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jo22-tribes-300x159.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":159,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jo22-tribes.jpg","medium_large-width":650,"medium_large-height":345,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jo22-tribes.jpg","large-width":650,"large-height":345,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jo22-tribes.jpg","1536x1536-width":650,"1536x1536-height":345,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jo22-tribes.jpg","2048x2048-width":650,"2048x2048-height":345,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jo22-tribes.jpg","post_full_size-width":650,"post_full_size-height":345,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jo22-tribes.jpg","home_baner-width":650,"home_baner-height":345}},"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,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Torah","book":"Numbers","chapter":"32","chapter_main_number":"149","date":"20260325","wall_id":"149"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"423","name":"Politics","old_id":"823"},{"term_id":"430","name":"Land of Israel","old_id":"830"},{"term_id":"792","name":"Tribes","old_id":"1192"}]},{"order":12,"id":"48869","color":"#effaea","size":"1","name":"Personal Journeys With Secret Destinations ","post_title":"Personal Journeys With Secret Destinations","slug":"personal-journeys-with-secret-destinations","old_id":"48869","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":42746,"post_title":"Michal Kohane","slug":"michal-kohane","old_id":"42746","first_name":"Michal ","last_name":"Kohane ","description":"Currently based in Israel, Rabbanit Michal Kohane is a graduate of Yeshivat Maharat, a writer, community leader and teacher of Talmud & Torah. She holds degrees in Israel studies , education and psychology, and has been a leader and educator in Northern California for over 25 years. Her first novel, Hachug (\"Extracurricular\") was published in Israel in 2016 and her weekly blog can be found at http:\/\/www.miko284.com\r\n\r\n\r\n","short_description":"Currently based in Israel, Rabbanit Michal Kohane is a graduate of Yeshivat Maharat, a writer, community leader and teacher of Talmud & Torah. ","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":42747,"alt":"","title":"michal kohane","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/michal-kohane-e1540448078529.jpg","width":214,"height":226,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/michal-kohane-e1540448078529-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/michal-kohane-e1540448078529.jpg","medium-width":214,"medium-height":226,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/michal-kohane-e1540448078529.jpg","medium_large-width":214,"medium_large-height":226,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/michal-kohane-e1540448078529.jpg","large-width":214,"large-height":226,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/michal-kohane-e1540448078529.jpg","1536x1536-width":214,"1536x1536-height":226,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/michal-kohane-e1540448078529.jpg","2048x2048-width":214,"2048x2048-height":226,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/michal-kohane-e1540448078529.jpg","post_full_size-width":214,"post_full_size-height":226,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/michal-kohane-e1540448078529.jpg","home_baner-width":214,"home_baner-height":226}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"150","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"We all leave narrow places and \u00a0journey forth","post_main_content_content":"

Martin Buber said, \u201call journeys have secret destinations of which the traveler is unaware\u201d. I first heard this while on a temporary job, which, in retrospect, maybe was all about me learning this saying\u2026<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The chapter which opens the last Torah portion of this book, is called \u201cjourneys of\u201d... Why is this word in the plural form? Wasn\u2019t it one journey, just going from Egypt to the Holy Land through the same desert? Actually, why did the Children of Israel have to schlep from one place to another, if they were given the same manna and same water everywhere anyway? Once the decree was made to stay in the desert for 40 years (38 and a half), why not just sit somewhere and wait for time to go by, play cards, watch TV, whatever, till the new generation is ready?<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The early Chasidic master, the Ba\u2019al Shem Tov, said, \u201cAll these 42 journeys are with each one of us, from the day we are born till the day we pass to the other world\u2026 just like the Exodus from Egypt\u201d: In the beginning, we are part of the Eternal, but then we\u2019re placed in a narrow place (Egypt\u2019s Hebrew name is Mitzrayim which comes from \u201cnarrow\u201d, \u201ctrouble\u201d). Our whole existence becomes tight \u2013 all we can focused on is \u2018me myself and I\u2019. Then slowly, we emerge into the world. At first, we are well-cared for, fed and sheltered, but that\u2019s not enough. Our goal is to get to the \u201cPromised Land.\u201d In some way, this is one journey, but in others, each stop along the way is critical, because on it hinges the next stop.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

This is also the reason why \u201ccamping\u201d in each location was important as opposed to just passing through, reminding us of the need to be mindful of where we are and what\u2019s going on around us, in each stop. Rabbi Yitzchak Meir of Gur said, \u201cIn every generation there is a new understanding of the Exodus from Egypt; and not just in each generation, but in each person, there is a point of freedom \/ redemption which is an explanation to the Exodus from Egypt. That point a person must find out between him and himself\u201d.<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":50329,"alt":"","title":"dt11-journey","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/dt11-journey.jpg","width":1920,"height":1280,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/dt11-journey-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/dt11-journey-300x200.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":200,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/dt11-journey-768x512.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":512,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/dt11-journey-1024x683.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":683,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/dt11-journey.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1024,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/dt11-journey.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":1280,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/dt11-journey-1200x800.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":800,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/dt11-journey-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":"Personal Journeys With Secret Destinations","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"We all leave narrow places and journey forth","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":50329,"alt":"","title":"dt11-journey","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/dt11-journey.jpg","width":1920,"height":1280,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/dt11-journey-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/dt11-journey-300x200.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":200,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/dt11-journey-768x512.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":512,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/dt11-journey-1024x683.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":683,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/dt11-journey.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1024,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/dt11-journey.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":1280,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/dt11-journey-1200x800.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":800,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/dt11-journey-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":"","links":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Torah","book":"Numbers","chapter":"33","chapter_main_number":"150","date":"20260326","wall_id":"150"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"431","name":"Personal\/memoir","old_id":"831"},{"term_id":"442","name":"Journey","old_id":"842"},{"term_id":"601","name":"Exodus","old_id":"1001"}]},{"order":13,"id":"48873","color":"#e8ecf6","size":"1","name":"An Experience Beyond Words ","post_title":"An Experience Beyond Words","slug":"an-experience-beyond-words","old_id":"48873","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":37333,"post_title":"Esther Jilovsky","slug":"esther-jilovsky","old_id":"37333","first_name":"Esther ","last_name":"Jilovsky","description":"Dr Esther Jilovsky is a rabbinical student at Hebrew Union College in Los Angeles. A native of Melbourne, Australia, she comes to the rabbinate with a PhD from the University of London in 2011. A granddaughter of Holocaust survivors, she is the author of Remembering the Holocaust: Generations, Witnessing and Place and co-editor of In the Shadows of Memory: The Holocaust and the Third Generation. \r\n\r\n\r\n","short_description":"Dr Esther Jilovsky is a rabbinical student at Hebrew Union College in Los Angeles.","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":52868,"alt":"","title":"esther jilovsky.jpeg","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/esther-jilovsky.jpeg-1.jpg","width":3581,"height":5371,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/esther-jilovsky.jpeg-1-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/esther-jilovsky.jpeg-1-200x300.jpg","medium-width":200,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/esther-jilovsky.jpeg-1-683x1024.jpg","medium_large-width":683,"medium_large-height":1024,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/esther-jilovsky.jpeg-1-683x1024.jpg","large-width":683,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/esther-jilovsky.jpeg-1.jpg","1536x1536-width":1024,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/esther-jilovsky.jpeg-1.jpg","2048x2048-width":1365,"2048x2048-height":2048,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/esther-jilovsky.jpeg-1-800x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":800,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/esther-jilovsky.jpeg-1-280x420.jpg","home_baner-width":280,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"150","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"The spaces between the letters hint at the details of the journey","post_main_content_content":"

It is difficult to capture a moment. Time may be fleeting, but it can also seem interminable. When we look forward in time, a year seems a lifetime away. But when we look back in time, a year ago feels like yesterday. A fifteen-hour flight can feel never-ending, a one-week holiday can pass like a day. Photography captures a place at a particular time. As philosopher Roland Barthes explains, \u201cWhat the Photograph reproduces to infinity has occurred only once: the Photograph mechanically repeats what could never be repeated existentially.\u201d A photograph freezes a moment, imbuing even the most fleeting of moments with a form of permanence.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

In the Torah, we find snapshots made of words rather than pictures. Moments that happened so very long ago are there for us, preserved in black and white. Midrash tells us that the Torah was written \u2018with letters of black fire on a surface of white fire\u2019, showing that the spaces between the Hebrew letters form a crucial part of the text (Midrash Tanchuma Breishit 1:1). <\/span><\/p>\r\n

Perhaps the unwritten tells us something beyond the written words.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The Torah tells us: \u2018These were the marches of the Israelites who started out from the land of Egypt, troop by troop, in the charge of Moses and Aaron\u2019 (Numbers 33:1). And here, in the long list of forty-two places where the people of Israel stopped, rested or passed through, we find the Torah\u2019s picture of the journey from Egypt to freedom. From Rameses to Succoth to Etham. From Marah to Elim to the Sea of Reeds. From Tahath to Terah to Mithkah. We can only imagine what it was really like: the oppressive desert heat, the instability of moving all the time, the constant work of setting up and dismantling camp. The spaces between the letters hint at the details of the journey.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Here, the Torah paints us a picture of an experience beyond words. The white fire, the space between the letters, communicates something more than the black fire of the letters themselves. A record of a transformational journey, a shift from slavery to autonomy, the beginning of peoplehood. The Torah\u2019s snapshot tells us so much more than we can see.<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":71620,"alt":"","title":"jer36-silver - letters","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/jer36-silver-letters.jpg","width":1000,"height":815,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/jer36-silver-letters-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/jer36-silver-letters-300x245.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":245,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/jer36-silver-letters-768x626.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":626,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/jer36-silver-letters.jpg","large-width":1000,"large-height":815,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/jer36-silver-letters.jpg","1536x1536-width":1000,"1536x1536-height":815,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/jer36-silver-letters.jpg","2048x2048-width":1000,"2048x2048-height":815,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/jer36-silver-letters.jpg","post_full_size-width":1000,"post_full_size-height":815,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/jer36-silver-letters-515x420.jpg","home_baner-width":515,"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":"An Experience Beyond Words","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"The spaces between the letters hint at the details of the journey","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":71620,"alt":"","title":"jer36-silver - letters","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/jer36-silver-letters.jpg","width":1000,"height":815,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/jer36-silver-letters-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/jer36-silver-letters-300x245.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":245,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/jer36-silver-letters-768x626.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":626,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/jer36-silver-letters.jpg","large-width":1000,"large-height":815,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/jer36-silver-letters.jpg","1536x1536-width":1000,"1536x1536-height":815,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/jer36-silver-letters.jpg","2048x2048-width":1000,"2048x2048-height":815,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/jer36-silver-letters.jpg","post_full_size-width":1000,"post_full_size-height":815,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/jer36-silver-letters-515x420.jpg","home_baner-width":515,"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,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Torah","book":"Numbers","chapter":"33","chapter_main_number":"150","date":"20260326","wall_id":"150"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"442","name":"Journey","old_id":"842"},{"term_id":"798","name":"language","old_id":"1198"}]}],"hide_acf":true,"home_image":false,"home_posts":false,"home_posts_title":"","posts_home":[],"static_cube_title":"","static_cube_brief":"","static_cube_color":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/wall\/48543"}],"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=48543"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}