{"id":49879,"date":"2018-07-09T17:41:49","date_gmt":"2018-07-09T14:41:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wall\/wall-1033\/"},"modified":"2022-09-23T14:13:51","modified_gmt":"2022-09-23T11:13:51","slug":"wall-1033","status":"publish","type":"wall","link":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wall\/wall-1033\/","title":{"rendered":"weekend-from-20220918-to-20220924"},"parent":0,"template":"","acf":{"type":"weekend","wall_id":"1033","date_from":"20220918","date_to":"20220924","book":"Deuteronomy","books_group":"Torah","posts":[{"order":1,"id":"107983","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"On Repentance: Teshuva, Forgiveness And Strategic Planning ","post_title":"On Repentance: Teshuva, Forgiveness And Strategic Planning","slug":"on-repentance-teshuva-forgiveness-and-strategic-planning","old_id":"107983","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":46656,"post_title":"Molly Morris","slug":"molly-morris","old_id":"46656","first_name":"Molly ","last_name":"Morris ","description":"Molly Morris holds a Masters degree in Leadership and Community Engagement. Her particular area of interest is biblical leadership. Molly participates in the 929 initiative with a dedicated group from the Beth Avraham Yoseph of Toronto congregation. \r\n\r\n","short_description":"Molly Morris holds a Masters degree in Leadership and Community Engagement. Molly participates in the 929 initiative with a dedicated group from the Beth Avraham Yoseph of Toronto congregation. \r\n\r\n","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":92561,"alt":"","title":"molly morris","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/molly-morris.jpg","width":2192,"height":2488,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/molly-morris-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/molly-morris-264x300.jpg","medium-width":264,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/molly-morris-768x872.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":872,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/molly-morris-902x1024.jpg","large-width":902,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/molly-morris.jpg","1536x1536-width":1353,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/molly-morris.jpg","2048x2048-width":1804,"2048x2048-height":2048,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/molly-morris-1057x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":1057,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/molly-morris-370x420.jpg","home_baner-width":370,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"161","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Where are we now? What are our goals? How do we achieve them?\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

We are in the month of Elul, a month for taking stock \u2013 looking back on our past year\u2019s spiritual journey and considering what\u2019s next. One autumn, when I was involved in some exhaustive (and exhausting) strategic planning initiatives while also struggling with mentally preparing for Yom Kippur, I had a lightbulb moment. \u201cIsn\u2019t doing <\/span>teshuva<\/span><\/i> (repentance) basically spiritual strategic planning?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

There are three key elements to strategic planning and they align with the work required of us from Elul through Yom Kippur and continuing until the next cycle. First, we evaluate where we stand now. Have we met our goals? What worked and where did we fall short? What were our impediments, pain points and wins? Then, we pinpoint our goals for the next cycle. Are there goals we failed to reach that are still relevant? Are there new goals? And finally, we determine our path to goal-reaching. This is where we roll up our sleeves, and articulate and commit to how we will achieve our goals for the coming cycle. Our pathway, as in any good program design, includes check-in points and opportunities for recalibration. Personally or organizationally, we won\u2019t get from 0 to 100 immediately. We\u2019ll need smaller incremental goals to get us to the finish line - where we will start all over with a new plan for continued growth.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Regarding Elul, one of the most important steps in our strategic path to teshuva is asking forgiveness from those we have wronged. We can\u2019t do teshuva in isolation \u2013 it involves three parties. I can regret my behavior and declare my intent to change, but I then need to admit my wrongdoing to, and beg forgiveness from, the victim. Likewise, there are sins that only hurt ourselves, and self-forgiveness is even harder to obtain. We also are required to forgive those who ask us, and forgiving can be even harder than asking for forgiveness.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

We also need to ask God for forgiveness, which is often easier than asking for human forgiveness, because God has shown us His predilection for large-scale forgiveness. When the Israelites sinned with the golden calf, God first gave them a chance to repent, and then, on the tenth of Tishrei, Yom Kippur, \u201cbecame reconciled with Israel in joy and perfect affections and said to Moses, \u201cI have forgiven\u201d (<\/span>Rashi on Ex 33:11<\/span><\/a>). God\u2019s model of forgiveness in joy and wholeheartedness informs my own teshuva. I need to include improving how I forgive in my strategic plan.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The final step is what comes after Yom Kippur, and God has shown us the road for that as well. In the same Rashi source, we are told that immediately after granting forgiveness, God commands the building of the <\/span>Mishkan<\/span><\/i> (Tabernacle). We repented, God forgave us, and now we don\u2019t waste any time navel-gazing or congratulating ourselves. We jump right into executing the plan. We begin building the Mishkan, ourselves and our nation, always looking forward.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

 <\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":73121,"alt":"","title":"ez3-repentance","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez3-repentance.jpg","width":1024,"height":568,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez3-repentance-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez3-repentance-300x166.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":166,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez3-repentance-768x426.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":426,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez3-repentance-1024x568.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":568,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez3-repentance.jpg","1536x1536-width":1024,"1536x1536-height":568,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez3-repentance.jpg","2048x2048-width":1024,"2048x2048-height":568,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez3-repentance.jpg","post_full_size-width":1024,"post_full_size-height":568,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez3-repentance-757x420.jpg","home_baner-width":757,"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":"Elul\/High Holiday Special","tile_main_caption":"On Repentance: Teshuva, Forgiveness And Strategic Planning","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Where are we now? What are our goals? How do we achieve them?","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":73121,"alt":"","title":"ez3-repentance","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez3-repentance.jpg","width":1024,"height":568,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez3-repentance-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez3-repentance-300x166.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":166,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez3-repentance-768x426.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":426,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez3-repentance-1024x568.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":568,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez3-repentance.jpg","1536x1536-width":1024,"1536x1536-height":568,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez3-repentance.jpg","2048x2048-width":1024,"2048x2048-height":568,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez3-repentance.jpg","post_full_size-width":1024,"post_full_size-height":568,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez3-repentance-757x420.jpg","home_baner-width":757,"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":"Deuteronomy","chapter":"8","chapter_main_number":"161","date":"20260412","wall_id":"161"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"459","name":"Forgiveness","old_id":"859"},{"term_id":"571","name":"Repentance","old_id":"971"},{"term_id":"699","name":"Teshuvah","old_id":"1099"}]},{"order":2,"id":"108146","color":"#f8ebe3","size":"2","name":"Parashat Nitzavim: Keep It Real - Don\u2019t Overthink It! ","post_title":"Parashat Nitzavim: Keep It Real - Don\u2019t Overthink It!","slug":"parashat-nitzavim-keep-it-real-dont-overthink-it","old_id":"108146","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":108131,"post_title":"Benjamin Shalva","slug":"benjamin-shalva","old_id":"108131","first_name":"Benjamin ","last_name":"Shalva ","description":"Benjamin Shalva serves as a freelance rabbi throughout Greater Baltimore and D.C., specializing in hospice chaplaincy, meditation and mindfulness instruction, and Jewish music. He is the author of Spiritual Cross-Training and Ambition Addiction, both published by Grand Harbor Press, and has written poetry, stories, and articles. Most recently, his short story, \"The Thistle,\" won first prize in Hazon's Creative Arts Awards, judged by Anita Diamant.\r\n","short_description":"Benjamin Shalva serves as a freelance rabbi throughout Greater Baltimore and D.C., specializing in hospice chaplaincy, meditation and mindfulness instruction, and Jewish music. ","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":108132,"alt":"","title":"-632adb7f68b07--632adb7f68b08benjamin shalva.jpg","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/09\/632adb7f68b07-632adb7f68b08benjamin-shalva.jpg.jpg","width":1000,"height":739,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/09\/632adb7f68b07-632adb7f68b08benjamin-shalva.jpg-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/09\/632adb7f68b07-632adb7f68b08benjamin-shalva.jpg-300x222.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":222,"medium_large":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/09\/632adb7f68b07-632adb7f68b08benjamin-shalva.jpg-768x568.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":568,"large":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/09\/632adb7f68b07-632adb7f68b08benjamin-shalva.jpg.jpg","large-width":1000,"large-height":739,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/09\/632adb7f68b07-632adb7f68b08benjamin-shalva.jpg.jpg","1536x1536-width":1000,"1536x1536-height":739,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/09\/632adb7f68b07-632adb7f68b08benjamin-shalva.jpg.jpg","2048x2048-width":1000,"2048x2048-height":739,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/09\/632adb7f68b07-632adb7f68b08benjamin-shalva.jpg.jpg","post_full_size-width":1000,"post_full_size-height":739,"home_baner":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/09\/632adb7f68b07-632adb7f68b08benjamin-shalva.jpg-568x420.jpg","home_baner-width":568,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"1033","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"The shmita year is nearly ended, but not quite. There is still time. Time to pause. Time to pray.\u00a0\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

And in the night<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>My father came to me<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>And held me to his chest<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>He said there's not much more that you can do<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>Go on and get some rest.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\r\n

- \"Think Too Much (b)\", Paul Simon<\/span><\/p>\r\n

 <\/p>\r\n

Moses is soon to die. He gathers his tribe to him and says: <\/span>All that I've taught you, it's not too hard, it's not beyond your reach<\/span><\/em>(Deut. 30:11).<\/span>But, of course, we know that's not true. The Torah is too hard for us. It has always been too hard for us. We never get it right, this life. The very existence of the High Holy Days, of an entire season devoted to repentance, testifies to our forever missing the mark.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

It must be that Moses means something else. That, or he's playing the part of the underdog coach, offering a pep talk to his hapless team. But that doesn't seem right; Moses is a tough love prophet. Moses does not do so much \u201cpep.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Then what does he mean: <\/span>All that I've taught you, it's not too hard, it's not beyond your reach?<\/span><\/em><\/p>\r\n

Ibn Ezra, the Spanish commentator and sage, reminds us that the word <\/span>nifleit<\/span><\/em> in Hebrew - <\/span>too hard <\/span><\/em>- <\/span><\/i>comes from the Hebrew root <\/span>fele -<\/span> wonder<\/span><\/em>. Wonder, Ibn Ezra adds, in the sense of something esoteric, out there, complicated, beyond understanding. Moses, then, could be saying: <\/span>All that I've taught you, don't complicate it, don't overthink it - keep it real, within your reach.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\r\n

Of course, we can only know we've been overthinking things, overcomplicating our lives, when we have simplicity with which to compare. Shmita is that simplicity - that pause - that provides us a kind of baseline of sanity. The quiet of the shmita year, the stillness and peace of a year without planting, harvesting, striving, seeking, returns us to the real, to what has always been - without our overthinking things - within reach.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The shmita year is nearly ended, <\/span>but not quite<\/span><\/em>. <\/span><\/i>There is still time. Time to pause. Time to pray. Time to sit quietly someplace wonderful and enjoy some simple peace. But, in truth, there is time, plenty of time, beyond this shmita year. Every seven years has its shmita, every week has its Shabbat, and every day has, at the very least, a moment or two - time enough each day, in peace, to reach the real.<\/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":"Parashat Nitzavim: Keep It Real - Don\u2019t Overthink It!","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":"Deuteronomy","chapter":false,"chapter_main_number":false,"date":false,"wall_id":"1033"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"368","name":"Parasha","old_id":"768"},{"term_id":"494","name":"Shmita","old_id":"894"}]},{"order":3,"id":"50012","color":"#f7f7f5","size":"1","name":"Seven Spectacular Species ","post_title":"Seven Spectacular Species","slug":"seven-spectacular-species","old_id":"50012","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":46249,"post_title":"Gil Troy","slug":"gil-troy","old_id":"46249","first_name":"Gil ","last_name":"Troy ","description":"Gil Troy is a Distinguished Scholar of North American History at McGill University, has written ten books on the American presidency. A Jerusalem resident, Gil's latest book The Zionist Ideas, updates Arthur Hertzberg\u2019s classic The Zionist Idea. He was recently designated an Algemeiner J-100, one of the top 100 people \"positively influencing Jewish life.\" ","short_description":"Gil Troy is a Distinguished Scholar of North American History at McGill University, and is the author of The Zionist Ideas.\r\n","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":46250,"alt":"","title":"Gil Troy","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Gil-Troy-e1545566714317.jpg","width":2083,"height":1968,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Gil-Troy-e1545566714317-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Gil-Troy-e1545566714317-300x283.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":283,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Gil-Troy-e1545566714317-768x726.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":726,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Gil-Troy-e1545566714317-1024x967.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":967,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Gil-Troy-e1545566714317.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1451,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Gil-Troy-e1545566714317.jpg","2048x2048-width":2048,"2048x2048-height":1935,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Gil-Troy-e1545566714317-1200x1134.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":1134,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Gil-Troy-e1545566714317-445x420.jpg","home_baner-width":445,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"161","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"To signify and symbolize a spiritual system of sustenance and satisfaction","post_main_content_content":"

Deuteronomy 8:8 produces one of the most potent images of the Land of Israel\u2019s bounty, this fertile \u201cland of wheat and barley, vines and figs and pomegranates, a land of oil producing olives and honey.\u201d These are the Seven Species that have launched many an art project, many a spiritual teaching, even seven iconic Israeli stamps. The spiritual power of those seven species is tapped two verses later: ve-achalta, ve-savata, u-verachta<\/em>: \u201cAnd you will eat and be sated, and you shall bless the Lord, your God, for the good land God has given you\u2026.\u201d That pitch-perfect phrase is so resonant, it appears in Birkat HaMazon, the grace-after-meals.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Warning, warning. This could be a great point of disconnect between some modern Western rationalists and the Bible. Waxing poetic about seven species! Reading spiritual power into vines or barley! Deifying a land that a little less than half the Jewish people inhabit \u2013 and which others lay claim to! Tree-huggers are one thing \u2013 but fig-worshippers? That\u2019s not my delightfully reasonable, ever-so-suburban, ready-for-prime-time liberal American Judaism!<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Precisely.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Rather than being editorial Jews, always judging how our 3,500-year-old tradition might prop up our modern liberal sensibilities, let\u2019s be humble readers, trying to understand the verse in its cultural and spiritual context \u2013 to tap into its countercultural power today. Modern believers often view religions as two-dimensional \u2013 facilitating spiritual interactions between me and my Maker, muting the communal resonance. Non-Orthodox American Jews often emphasize Judaism\u2019s ethnic, cultural, familial dimensions spiced up with some quaint rituals to charm the kids -- draining true spirituality from it. <\/span><\/p>\r\n

Bringing land into the mix brings Judaism alive \u2013 in 3-D. This isn\u2019t \u201cjust\u201d a religion \u2013 it\u2019s a way of life. This isn\u2019t \u201cjust\u201d a culture or ethnic group \u2013 it\u2019s a spiritual system. Judaism\u2019s full-time, full-service, all-purpose. It\u2019s alive, it\u2019s sensual, and it thrives best in the land of Israel, Judaism\u2019s natural habit. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Ve-Achalta<\/em> \u2013 \u201cand you will eat\u201d \u2013Eretz Yisrael, the Land of Israel, literally sustains us; it\u2019s our lifeline.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Ve-Savata<\/em> \u2013 \u201cand you will be sated\u201d \u2013 Eretz Yisrael, the Land of Israel, nourishes, satisfies, fulfills us \u2013 physically then spiritually.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

U-Verachta<\/em> \u2013 \u201cyou shall bless\u201d - and then, how can you not be grateful? And why not consider the Prime Mover in all this, the deeper power, transcending the human, which Jews call \u201cGod.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The Seven Species then become seven allies, seven props, seven ways into this Holy Trinity of eating, being satisfied, being grateful. <\/span><\/p>\r\n

And let us say \u201camen.\u201d<\/span>
\r\n<\/span><\/p>\r\n

artwork by: Linda Adams, courtesy of the artist<\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":50013,"alt":"","title":"dt8-Linda Adams-7 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of Israel","old_id":"830"},{"term_id":"667","name":"Judaism","old_id":"1067"}]},{"order":4,"id":"50020","color":"#e8ecf6","size":"1","name":"Freedom and Forgetfulness ","post_title":"Freedom And Forgetfulness","slug":"freedom-and-forgetfulness","old_id":"50020","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":33923,"post_title":"Jonathan Sacks","slug":"rabbi-lord-jonathan-sacks","old_id":"33923","first_name":"Jonathan ","last_name":"Sacks","description":"An international religious leader, philosopher, and award-winning author of over 35 books, Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks served as the International President of 929.\r\nRabbi Sacks served as the Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth years between 1991 and 2013, and was knighted by Her Majesty The Queen in 2005 and made a Life Peer. Rabbi Sacks passed away on 7th November 2020, aged 72. He was one of the greatest Jewish thinkers of the 20th century, who bridged the religious and secular world through his ground-breaking canon of work.","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"short_description":"Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks z\"k (1948-2020) was the former Chief Rabbi of the Commonwealth, and the International 929 president.","link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":36222,"alt":"","title":"JSacks","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/JSacks-e1532858712594.jpg","width":437,"height":548,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/JSacks-e1532858712594-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/JSacks-e1532858712594-239x300.jpg","medium-width":239,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/JSacks-768x448.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":448,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/JSacks-1024x597.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":597,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/JSacks-e1532858712594.jpg","1536x1536-width":437,"1536x1536-height":548,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/JSacks-e1532858712594.jpg","2048x2048-width":437,"2048x2048-height":548,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/JSacks-e1532858712594.jpg","post_full_size-width":437,"post_full_size-height":548,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/JSacks-e1532858712594-335x420.jpg","home_baner-width":335,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"161","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Affluence, no less than slavery, can be a threat to continued existence","post_main_content_content":"

Early on in the Pesach Haggada, we read: \u201cGo and learn what Laban the Aramean sought to do to our father Jacob: Pharaoh condemned only the boys to death, but Laban sought to uproot everything.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Pharaoh and his people afflicted the Israelites, but \u201cThe more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and spread\u201d (Ex. 1:12). Laban did not afflict Jacob. To the contrary, while he was with Laban, Jacob grew rich. The danger was that he would remain with Laban and forget who he was. So it has been throughout Jewish history. The more Jews suffered, the more they prayed, studied, and kept the commands. The paradox is that the danger to Jewish continuity has been not slavery and suffering, but affluence and freedom.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

So Moses warned at the end of his life: \u201cBe careful that you do not forget the Lord your God\u2026. Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down, and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied, then your heart will become proud and you will forget the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery\u201d (Deut. 8:11-14).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Interpreted this way the passage contains a powerful message: Do not think that the story of Pesach ends with the Exodus. It only begins there. It is one thing to believe in God when you need His help. It is another when you have already received it. Affluence, no less than slavery, can make us forget who we are and why.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Excerpted from The Jonathan Sacks Haggada<\/span>, p.46<\/span><\/em><\/p>","post_main_content_image":"","post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"Freedom And Forgetfulness","tile_main_caption":"It is one thing to believe in God when you need His help. It is another when you have already received it. Affluence, no less than slavery, can make us forget who we are and why","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":"","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":"Deuteronomy","chapter":"8","chapter_main_number":"161","date":"20260412","wall_id":"161"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"354","name":"Rabbi Sacks","old_id":"754"},{"term_id":"413","name":"Freedom","old_id":"813"},{"term_id":"440","name":"Wealth\/money","old_id":"840"},{"term_id":"534","name":"Assimilation","old_id":"934"}]},{"order":5,"id":"50022","color":"#f7e9e9","size":"1","name":"One Of The Biggest Weaknesses of Human Behavior ","post_title":"One Of The Biggest Weaknesses Of Human Behavior","slug":"one-of-the-biggest-weaknesses-of-human-behavior","old_id":"50022","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":48616,"post_title":"Yair Bernstein","slug":"yair-bernstein","old_id":"48616","first_name":"Yair ","last_name":"Bernstein ","description":"Yair Bernstein currently serves as a Shaliach of the World Zionist Organization to a school in Chicago, where he teaches, together with his wife, Hebrew and Jewish Studies. He holds an M.A. in Bible Studies from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem","short_description":"Yair Bernstein currently serves as a Shaliach of the World Zionist Organization to a school in Chicago.","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":48617,"alt":"","title":"Yair Bernstein","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Yair-Bernstein-e1549021062921.jpg","width":248,"height":256,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Yair-Bernstein-e1549021062921-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Yair-Bernstein-240x300.jpg","medium-width":240,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Yair-Bernstein-e1549021062921.jpg","medium_large-width":248,"medium_large-height":256,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Yair-Bernstein-e1549021062921.jpg","large-width":248,"large-height":256,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Yair-Bernstein-e1549021062921.jpg","1536x1536-width":248,"1536x1536-height":256,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Yair-Bernstein-e1549021062921.jpg","2048x2048-width":248,"2048x2048-height":256,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Yair-Bernstein-e1549021062921.jpg","post_full_size-width":248,"post_full_size-height":256,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Yair-Bernstein-e1549021062921.jpg","home_baner-width":248,"home_baner-height":256}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"161","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"We need to remember that there is always something to be thankful for in our successes","post_main_content_content":"

It seems like chapter 8 in the book of Deuteronomy has only one purpose: to address one of the biggest weaknesses of human behavior. The writer of this text knows what happens when people get too comfortable. They, or shall I say <\/span>we<\/span><\/i>, forget and we take for granted.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Verse 7 starts a lengthy description of how amazing this new land is going to be. A land with streams of water coming out of mountains, a land of wheat, vines, and figs \u00a0(verse 8), a land with natural resources (verse 9). In this land, the people of Israel will grow and be successful. They will build great houses (verse 12) and their livestock will increase (verse 13). But with all these, the writer knows that the people of Israel will \u201dforget the LORD\u201d (verse 14) and will say to themselves: \u201cMy own power and the might of my own hand have won this wealth for me.\u201d (Verse 17). What a beautifully phrased statement - \u201cMy own power and my own might.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Studies show that many times when people experience failure, they find all the headwinds that were working against them. And when people experience success, they don\u2019t always talk about all the tailwinds that pushed them to where they are. It is easy to forget where we came from when we are in a better place.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

So in a sense, chapter 8 is less about God and his threat to those who forget where they came from and why they have all this good. Chapter 8 is more about human beings. It is asking us to always remember that our success is dependent on others. That there is always something to be thankful for in our successes. Something that helped us through the \u201cdesert\u201d and brought us to the \u201cpromised land.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

image:\u00a0Gustavo Frazao \/ Shutterstock.com<\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":50046,"alt":"","title":"dt8-gratitude","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/dt8-gratitude.jpg","width":1000,"height":726,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/dt8-gratitude-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/dt8-gratitude-300x218.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":218,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/dt8-gratitude-768x558.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":558,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/dt8-gratitude.jpg","large-width":1000,"large-height":726,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/dt8-gratitude.jpg","1536x1536-width":1000,"1536x1536-height":726,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/dt8-gratitude.jpg","2048x2048-width":1000,"2048x2048-height":726,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/dt8-gratitude.jpg","post_full_size-width":1000,"post_full_size-height":726,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/dt8-gratitude-579x420.jpg","home_baner-width":579,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"One Of The Biggest Weaknesses Of Human Behavior","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"We need to remember that there is always something to be thankful for in our successes","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":50046,"alt":"","title":"dt8-gratitude","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/dt8-gratitude.jpg","width":1000,"height":726,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/dt8-gratitude-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/dt8-gratitude-300x218.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":218,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/dt8-gratitude-768x558.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":558,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/dt8-gratitude.jpg","large-width":1000,"large-height":726,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/dt8-gratitude.jpg","1536x1536-width":1000,"1536x1536-height":726,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/dt8-gratitude.jpg","2048x2048-width":1000,"2048x2048-height":726,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/dt8-gratitude.jpg","post_full_size-width":1000,"post_full_size-height":726,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/dt8-gratitude-579x420.jpg","home_baner-width":579,"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":"Deuteronomy","chapter":"8","chapter_main_number":"161","date":"20260412","wall_id":"161"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"520","name":"Gratitude","old_id":"920"}]},{"order":6,"id":"50163","color":"#effaea","size":"1","name":"The Beginning of Wisdom is the Breaking of the Tablets ","post_title":"The Beginning of Wisdom Is The Breaking Of The Tablets","slug":"the-beginning-of-wisdom-is-the-breaking-of-the-tablets","old_id":"50163","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":36149,"post_title":"Shai Secunda","slug":"shai-secunda","old_id":"36149","first_name":"Shai ","last_name":"Secunda","description":"Shai Secunda occupies the Jacob Neusner chair in Judaism at Bard College, where he directs the Interdisciplinary Study of Religions program. He is the author of The Iranian Talmud: Reading the Bavli in Sasanian Iran (Philadelphia, 2014), and The Talmud\u2019s Red Fence: Menstruation and Difference in Babylonian Judaism and its Sasanian Context (Oxford, 2020), and writes regularly for the Jewish Review of Books on Jewish scholarship and culture.","short_description":"Shai Secunda is a professor of Jewish studies at Bard College, and writes regularly for the Jewish Review of Books on Jewish scholarship and culture. ","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":36150,"alt":"","title":"Shai Secunda","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Shai-Secunda-e1532842797599.jpg","width":1202,"height":1287,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Shai-Secunda-e1532842797599-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Shai-Secunda-e1532842797599-280x300.jpg","medium-width":280,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Shai-Secunda-e1532842797599-768x822.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":822,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Shai-Secunda-e1532842797599-956x1024.jpg","large-width":956,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Shai-Secunda-e1532842797599.jpg","1536x1536-width":1202,"1536x1536-height":1287,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Shai-Secunda-e1532842797599.jpg","2048x2048-width":1202,"2048x2048-height":1287,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Shai-Secunda-e1532842797599-1121x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":1121,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Shai-Secunda-e1532842797599-392x420.jpg","home_baner-width":392,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"162","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Knowledge isn\u2019t of a piece, and even revelation is fragmented","post_main_content_content":"

One of the world\u2019s greatest halls of learning is the main reading room of the New York Public Library. Since the 1940\u2019s a set of four sizable murals, painted by a Depression era artist named Edward Laning, have framed the reading room. The striking panels appropriately tell \u201cThe Story of the Recorded Word\u201d \u2013 the title of the work. One mural portrays a medieval scribe painstakingly copying a manuscript by hand, another shows a later moment in history and portrays the inventor of the printing press, Johann Gutenberg, holding one of the proofs to his monumental Gutenberg Bible. Moving ahead further in time is Ottmar Mergenthaler, whose linotype machine further revolutionized printing. <\/span><\/p>\r\n

The first mural of the series, towards the left of the room, depicts Moses with the two Tablets. This would initially seem to be an appropriate, religious, way to begin the story of the recorded word. Yet on closer view, something is amiss. Rather than the triumphant, generative moment of God revealing his message for humankind, we have the very opposite \u2013 the breaking of the Tablets after the Israelites worshiped idols: In the panel, Moses holds only one Tablet \u2013 the other is smashed on the ground; there is a golden calf, with a pagan wreath, off to the side. And the Israelites cover their eyes in shame.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

It is hard to know why the artist, Edward Laning, would choose to begin a series of murals adorning a temple of knowledge on such a negative note. There is a Christian tradition which sees the breaking of the Tablets as prefiguring God\u2019s break with Jews \u2013 a central argument of Christian theology. On the other hand, maybe Laning was tapping into a curious Midrashic tradition, later developed in Kabbalistic and Hassidic writings, in which the breaking of the Tablets was part of the plan all along, and symbolized the necessarily fractured nature of understanding in our world.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

This is a fascinating message to great library-goers: Go on, dive into the books! But know that your path to knowledge is always secondary and broken, and you will never reach the absolute truth. It is a sobering idea, but also comforting as well. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Image: New York Public Library Main Building: McGraw Rotunda - The Story of the Recorded Word - Moses with the Tablets of Law, by Edward Laning, c. 1940, WPA project. Photo: Wally Gobetz, 2007<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":50164,"alt":"","title":"Dt9-Moses-NYPL","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Dt9-Moses-NYPL.jpg","width":1276,"height":1916,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Dt9-Moses-NYPL-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Dt9-Moses-NYPL-200x300.jpg","medium-width":200,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Dt9-Moses-NYPL-682x1024.jpg","medium_large-width":682,"medium_large-height":1024,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Dt9-Moses-NYPL-682x1024.jpg","large-width":682,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Dt9-Moses-NYPL.jpg","1536x1536-width":1023,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Dt9-Moses-NYPL.jpg","2048x2048-width":1276,"2048x2048-height":1916,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Dt9-Moses-NYPL-799x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":799,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Dt9-Moses-NYPL-280x420.jpg","home_baner-width":280,"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 Beginning Of Wisdom Is The Breaking Of The Tablets","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Knowledge isn\u2019t of a piece, and even revelation is fragmented","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":50164,"alt":"","title":"Dt9-Moses-NYPL","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Dt9-Moses-NYPL.jpg","width":1276,"height":1916,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Dt9-Moses-NYPL-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Dt9-Moses-NYPL-200x300.jpg","medium-width":200,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Dt9-Moses-NYPL-682x1024.jpg","medium_large-width":682,"medium_large-height":1024,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Dt9-Moses-NYPL-682x1024.jpg","large-width":682,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Dt9-Moses-NYPL.jpg","1536x1536-width":1023,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Dt9-Moses-NYPL.jpg","2048x2048-width":1276,"2048x2048-height":1916,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Dt9-Moses-NYPL-799x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":799,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Dt9-Moses-NYPL-280x420.jpg","home_baner-width":280,"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":"Deuteronomy","chapter":"9","chapter_main_number":"162","date":"20260413","wall_id":"162"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"393","name":"Crisis","old_id":"793"},{"term_id":"652","name":"Commandments","old_id":"1052"}]},{"order":7,"id":"50155","color":"#eceffa","size":"1","name":"Are We Seeing The Big Picture? ","post_title":"Are We Seeing The Big Picture?","slug":"are-we-seeing-the-big-picture","old_id":"50155","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":46656,"post_title":"Molly Morris","slug":"molly-morris","old_id":"46656","first_name":"Molly ","last_name":"Morris ","description":"Molly Morris holds a Masters degree in Leadership and Community Engagement. Her particular area of interest is biblical leadership. Molly participates in the 929 initiative with a dedicated group from the Beth Avraham Yoseph of Toronto congregation. \r\n\r\n","short_description":"Molly Morris holds a Masters degree in Leadership and Community Engagement. Molly participates in the 929 initiative with a dedicated group from the Beth Avraham Yoseph of Toronto congregation. \r\n\r\n","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":92561,"alt":"","title":"molly morris","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/molly-morris.jpg","width":2192,"height":2488,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/molly-morris-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/molly-morris-264x300.jpg","medium-width":264,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/molly-morris-768x872.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":872,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/molly-morris-902x1024.jpg","large-width":902,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/molly-morris.jpg","1536x1536-width":1353,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/molly-morris.jpg","2048x2048-width":1804,"2048x2048-height":2048,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/molly-morris-1057x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":1057,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/molly-morris-370x420.jpg","home_baner-width":370,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"162","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Stiff-neckedness: depends what you\u2019re being stubborn about\u2026.","post_main_content_content":"

Chapter 9 opens with Moses admonishing the Israelites to not think that their inheritance of the land of Israel has much, if anything, to do with their own righteousness, and in more than one instance in this chapter reminds them that God has acknowledged that they are a \u201cstiff-necked\u201d people. Moses then proceeds to remind them of all the occasions on which they demonstrated this trait, beginning with the episode of the golden calf. In these contexts \u201cstiff-necked\u201d is applied as a negative characteristic, worthy on many occasions of God\u2019s wrath. Sforno equates being stiff-necked with stubbornness, people who follow their hearts and personal opinions first and foremost, while rejecting perspectives that, despite their worthiness, stand in conflict to their own preconceived ideas of what\u2019s true for themselves.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Rashi provides a physical description of a stiff-necked person - one who cannot turn their head to the right or left - as a metaphor for someone who is incapable of considering others\u2019 opinions and unable to see the big picture.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

But, although God points to the stiff-necked characteristic specifically, He nevertheless does not hold it as an obstacle to our inheritance. Instead, in close literary proximity to the accusation of stiff-neckedness, Moses reminds the Israelites that they are receiving the land in the merit of their forefathers to whom God promised it. Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, were, in their own right, stiff-necked, but in a positive way, refusing to divert their gaze from the big picture of acceptance of and service to God in the face of innumerable obstacles and prevailing social norms.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Perhaps this juxtaposition of two kinds of stubbornness is best explained by the 14th century commentator, Ralbag, who summarized \u201cstiff-necked\u201d by positing that \u201ca stubborn people may be slow to acquire faith, but once they do they never relinquish it.\u201d Was Moses possibly reminding the Israelites that their predominant character trait could serve them well in the long run if they harness it for the right purposes? If so, it\u2019s a lesson that persists in all generations, and is particularly applicable to today\u2019s society of polarization and stiff-necked attitudes, when a failure to consider other opinions and see the big picture seems to have become the norm.<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":108011,"alt":"","title":"-6321ca8eba13c--6321ca8eba13edeut8-life-jacket.png","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2019\/02\/6321ca8eba13c-6321ca8eba13edeut8-life-jacket.png.png","width":1920,"height":960,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2019\/02\/6321ca8eba13c-6321ca8eba13edeut8-life-jacket.png-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2019\/02\/6321ca8eba13c-6321ca8eba13edeut8-life-jacket.png-300x150.png","medium-width":300,"medium-height":150,"medium_large":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2019\/02\/6321ca8eba13c-6321ca8eba13edeut8-life-jacket.png-768x384.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":384,"large":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2019\/02\/6321ca8eba13c-6321ca8eba13edeut8-life-jacket.png-1024x512.png","large-width":1024,"large-height":512,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2019\/02\/6321ca8eba13c-6321ca8eba13edeut8-life-jacket.png.png","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":768,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2019\/02\/6321ca8eba13c-6321ca8eba13edeut8-life-jacket.png.png","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":960,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2019\/02\/6321ca8eba13c-6321ca8eba13edeut8-life-jacket.png-1200x600.png","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":600,"home_baner":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2019\/02\/6321ca8eba13c-6321ca8eba13edeut8-life-jacket.png-840x420.png","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":"Are 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Our Necks, Circumcising Our Hearts ","post_title":"Softening Our Necks, Circumcising Our Hearts","slug":"softening-our-necks-circumcising-our-hearts","old_id":"50177","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":48078,"post_title":"Viktoria Bedo","slug":"viktoria-bedo","old_id":"48078","first_name":"Viktoria ","last_name":"Bedo","description":"Viktoria Bedo is in her third year as a rabbinical student at the Jewish Theological Seminary, and is pursuing an MA in Rabbinics. This year she is building Jewish community in Upper Manhattan based out of her home, as a JTS Millenial Engagement Fellow in collaboration with Hillel's Office of Innovation. Viki graduated summa cum laude from Brandeis University with a B.A. in Judaic Studies and Globalization Studies. Viki was born in Gothenburg, Sweden, and grew up in Budapest, Hungary. ","short_description":"Viktoria Bedo is in her third year as a rabbinical student at the Jewish Theological Seminary, and is pursuing an MA in Rabbinics. ","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":48079,"alt":"","title":"viki bedo","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/viki-bedo-e1548270154897.jpg","width":1871,"height":2145,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/viki-bedo-e1548270154897-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/viki-bedo-e1548270154897-262x300.jpg","medium-width":262,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/viki-bedo-e1548270154897-768x880.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":880,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/viki-bedo-e1548270154897-893x1024.jpg","large-width":893,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/viki-bedo-e1548270154897.jpg","1536x1536-width":1340,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/viki-bedo-e1548270154897.jpg","2048x2048-width":1786,"2048x2048-height":2048,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/viki-bedo-e1548270154897-1047x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":1047,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/viki-bedo-e1548270154897-366x420.jpg","home_baner-width":366,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"162","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"The paradox of the yoke of heaven","post_main_content_content":"

Though the expression appears a few times in Tanakh, it is in this chapter that \u201cstiff-necked people\u201d becomes Moshe\u2019s central chiding term to describe the people of Israel.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

A metaphor for stubbornness, <\/span>stiff-neckedness<\/span><\/i> is an allusion to an ox used for plowing or harrowing, one which does not allow itself to be led. Like the analogy of the \u201cyoke of heaven,\u201d <\/span>stiff-necked<\/span><\/i> is derived from the biblical ideal of a master-servant relationship between God and the Israelites, where the Israelites\u2019 stubbornness is referring to their unwillingness to follow God\u2019s commandments.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Yet, the yoke of heaven is not just any yoke\u2014and thus, the ox, though a familiar agricultural trope for the biblical Jew, is not a true depiction of our relationship with God. In fact, God broke the yoke that Israelites carried like animals under Pharaoh: <\/span>\u201cI am the Lord your God who brought you out from the Land of Egypt to be their slaves no more, who broke the bars of your yoke and made you walk upright\u201d (Lev 26:13). The yoke of heaven is one under which a Jew can stand straight, and perhaps ironically, independent.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Being upright and stiff-necked, however, does not allow us to be in relationship with God. <\/span>Sforno comments (Deut. 9:6) that stiff-neckedness results in one\u2019s inability to see other opinions, or one's own wrong: one cannot, will not, move her head. Unlike an ox, which is required to faithfully plow away, unable to turn its head under the yoke, rarely seeing its master, we need to be able to turn our heads, and thus ourselves, toward God. This turning\u2014teshuvah\u2014requires vulnerability and admission of weakness.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

In tomorrow\u2019s chapter, parallel to relaxing our stiff necks, we are required to circumcise our hearts. The rawness of the heart, together with the softness of the neck, guides us in carrying the yoke while standing upright.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

 <\/p>\r\n

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","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":78134,"alt":"","title":"josh blechner","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","width":276,"height":351,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner-236x300.jpg","medium-width":236,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","medium_large-width":276,"medium_large-height":351,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","large-width":276,"large-height":351,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","1536x1536-width":276,"1536x1536-height":351,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","2048x2048-width":276,"2048x2048-height":351,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","post_full_size-width":276,"post_full_size-height":351,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","home_baner-width":276,"home_baner-height":351}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"162","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Or, more accurately - you\u2019re not worthy\u2026\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

Imagine the excitement as the people are about to enter the land, finally, after 40 years of wandering. Moses seems to throw some cold water on this excitement:<\/span><\/p>\r\n

And when your God has thrust them from your path, say not to yourselves, \u2018God has enabled us to possess this land because of our virtues\u2019; it is rather because of the wickedness of those nations that God is dispossessing them before you\u201d (verse 4).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

If virtue plays a part, it is only due to the virtue of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob that the people can enter the land. Ramban explains that God is not trying to shame the people. Instead, this is a positive message. The seven nations were kicked out of the land because they were not worthy, but they had no safety net. The Israelites will also the virtue of their forefathers as a reason for them to be in the land.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

This could also be seen as a warning. At this moment in time, the people are not worthy of entering the land. They get to enter because of the promise made by God to the forefathers. But moving forward, they have to be mindful of the fact that the current inhabitants got kicked out for bad behavior. If the people do not shape up, they too can be expelled.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The Or HaChaim explains that Moses is trying to send two messages to the people. The first is that the current situation is a result of two conditions: the evilness of the seven nations and the virtue of the forefathers. If either of those were missing, then the people would not be able to enter the land. The second is a more hopeful message. The people may not be worthy now, but they have something on their side, the virtue of the forefathers. Their familial history shows that they have the ability to rise to that level, and be worthy of staying in the land.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

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

 <\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":58007,"alt":"","title":"isam15-small","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam15-small.jpg","width":300,"height":214,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam15-small-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam15-small-300x214.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":214,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam15-small.jpg","medium_large-width":300,"medium_large-height":214,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam15-small.jpg","large-width":300,"large-height":214,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam15-small.jpg","1536x1536-width":300,"1536x1536-height":214,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam15-small.jpg","2048x2048-width":300,"2048x2048-height":214,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam15-small.jpg","post_full_size-width":300,"post_full_size-height":214,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam15-small.jpg","home_baner-width":300,"home_baner-height":214}},"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":"We\u2019re Not Worthy! 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Tali is a musmekhet of Yeshivat Maharat and a Wexner Graduate Fellow. During her time at Yeshivat Maharat, Tali served as the clergy intern at Kehilat Rayim Ahuvim and Harvard Hillel. \r\n","short_description":"Rabbi Tali Adler is a faculty member at Yeshivat Hadar, an egalitarian yeshiva on the Upper West Side","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":49865,"alt":"","title":"tali adler","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/tali-adler-1.jpg","width":165,"height":159,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/tali-adler-1-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/tali-adler-1.jpg","medium-width":165,"medium-height":159,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/tali-adler-1.jpg","medium_large-width":165,"medium_large-height":159,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/tali-adler-1.jpg","large-width":165,"large-height":159,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/tali-adler-1.jpg","1536x1536-width":165,"1536x1536-height":159,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/tali-adler-1.jpg","2048x2048-width":165,"2048x2048-height":159,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/tali-adler-1.jpg","post_full_size-width":165,"post_full_size-height":159,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/tali-adler-1.jpg","home_baner-width":165,"home_baner-height":159}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"163","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Less divine than the first, but built to last","post_main_content_content":"

The unspoken truth of Deuteronomy is that this generation is the second set of tablets.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The first generation, like the first set of tablets, was carved by God the moment they heard the voice at the foot of the mountain, surrounded by fire and thunder and great sounds. And, like the first set of tablets, forty days later, at the foot of that same mountain, they shattered.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

This generation, the generation of Deuteronomy that Moses is speaking to now, is the second set of tablets. Like the second set, they have never been touched directly by the Divine. Like the second set, they are made of earth-stuff instead of heavenly material. They have never been freed by God or stood at the edge of a splitting sea. Like the second set of tablets that Moses had to bring up the mountain himself, this generation has been shaped by human hands rather than Divine ones. The carving that God did for their parents when they stood at Sinai must now be done by Moses, a generation later, as he recounts God\u2019s words spoken so many years before.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Deuteronomy is the story of this carving, the final act of Moses\u2019s life: inscribing the word of God on the hearts of the Jewish people It is Moses\u2019s final act of faith, of hope, and of trust, that this generation, this set of tablets, so much less divine than the first, might be sturdy enough to last.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Image: Moses on Mount Sinai, by Daniele da Volterra, 1555<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":50242,"alt":"","title":"dt10-moses people","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/dt10-moses-people.jpg","width":299,"height":417,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/dt10-moses-people-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/dt10-moses-people-215x300.jpg","medium-width":215,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/dt10-moses-people.jpg","medium_large-width":299,"medium_large-height":417,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/dt10-moses-people.jpg","large-width":299,"large-height":417,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/dt10-moses-people.jpg","1536x1536-width":299,"1536x1536-height":417,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/dt10-moses-people.jpg","2048x2048-width":299,"2048x2048-height":417,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/dt10-moses-people.jpg","post_full_size-width":299,"post_full_size-height":417,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/dt10-moses-people.jpg","home_baner-width":299,"home_baner-height":417}},"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":"Second Edition Of The People Too","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Less divine than the first, but built to last","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":50242,"alt":"","title":"dt10-moses people","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/dt10-moses-people.jpg","width":299,"height":417,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/dt10-moses-people-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/dt10-moses-people-215x300.jpg","medium-width":215,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/dt10-moses-people.jpg","medium_large-width":299,"medium_large-height":417,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/dt10-moses-people.jpg","large-width":299,"large-height":417,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/dt10-moses-people.jpg","1536x1536-width":299,"1536x1536-height":417,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/dt10-moses-people.jpg","2048x2048-width":299,"2048x2048-height":417,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/dt10-moses-people.jpg","post_full_size-width":299,"post_full_size-height":417,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/dt10-moses-people.jpg","home_baner-width":299,"home_baner-height":417}},"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":"Deuteronomy","chapter":"10","chapter_main_number":"163","date":"20260414","wall_id":"163"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"370","name":"Divine\/human","old_id":"770"},{"term_id":"384","name":"God","old_id":"784"},{"term_id":"598","name":"Israelites","old_id":"998"}]},{"order":11,"id":"50236","color":"#f6edf6","size":"1","name":"Just Who Is \"The Ger\" We Are Supposed To Love? ","post_title":"Just Who Is \"The Ger\" We Are Supposed To Love?","slug":"just-who-is-the-ger-we-are-supposed-to-love","old_id":"50236","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":34243,"post_title":"Moshe Sokolow","slug":"moshe-sokolow","old_id":"34243","first_name":"Moshe","last_name":"Sokolow","description":"Dr. Moshe Sokolow is Associate Dean of the Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education and Administration, Yeshiva University, and teaches a weekly class in parashat hashavu`a at Lincoln Square Synagogue. He is the author of TANAKH: An Owner\u2019s Manual (Jerusalem: Urim\/Ktav, 2015).\r\n\r\n","short_description":"Dr. Moshe Sokolow is Associate Dean of the Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education and Administration, Yeshiva University","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":34244,"alt":"","title":"sokolow","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow.jpg","width":302,"height":300,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow-300x298.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":298,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow.jpg","medium_large-width":302,"medium_large-height":300,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow.jpg","large-width":302,"large-height":300,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow.jpg","1536x1536-width":302,"1536x1536-height":300,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow.jpg","2048x2048-width":302,"2048x2048-height":300,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow.jpg","post_full_size-width":302,"post_full_size-height":300,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow.jpg","home_baner-width":302,"home_baner-height":300}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"163","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Just as God loves all strangers, so must we","post_main_content_content":"

One particular verse in our chapter warrants special consideration: \u201cLove the <\/span>ger<\/span><\/em>, for you were <\/span>gerim<\/span><\/em> in the Land of Egypt\u201d (v. 19).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The Hebrew word <\/span>ger<\/span><\/em> has been translated in non-Jewish Bibles as: stranger (King James), sojourner (American Standard Version), foreigner (New International Version), and resident- alien (New American Revised Bible).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The history of Jewish translation is also uneven. The venerable Aramaic Targum Onkelos rendered the first <\/span>ger<\/span><\/em> as <\/span>giyora<\/span><\/em> (arguably, the selfsame word), while translating <\/span>gerim<\/span><\/em> as <\/span>dayyarin<\/span><\/em>, residents. Sa'adyah Gaon (882-942) translated it into Arabic as <\/span>gharib<\/span><\/em>, stranger in the sense of different. The Jewish Publication Society (Old and New) used stranger, Everett Fox and Robert Alter used sojourner, and ArtScroll (following the lead of Onkelos?) translated <\/span>ger<\/span><\/em> as proselyte and <\/span>gerim<\/span><\/em> as strangers. Note that Onkelos was himself a proselyte.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

This invites the question: Are we supposed to love all strangers, or only proselytes\u2014i.e., those who have converted to Judaism?<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Logic would dictate that if we are enjoined to \u201clove the <\/span>ger<\/span><\/em>\u201d specifically because we were, ourselves, <\/span>gerim<\/span><\/em> in Egypt, then a <\/span>ger<\/span><\/em> is someone with whom I have nothing in common save for a shared place of residence. It would clearly seem to exclude a convert with whom I share something as essential as my religion.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

There is textual proof as well from the appearance of <\/span>ger<\/span><\/em> in the previous verse: \u201c[God] executes justice on behalf of the orphan and widow, and loves the <\/span>ger<\/span><\/em>, providing him with food and clothing\u201d (v. 18). Just as the widow and the orphan need God\u2019s protection because they have no one of sufficient social standing to look out for them, so is the <\/span>ger<\/span><\/em> dependent on His grace because he, too, lacks adequate social status on his own.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Just as God loves <\/span>all<\/span><\/em> strangers, so must we.<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":50016,"alt":"","title":"dt8-question","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/dt8-question.png","width":771,"height":1280,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/dt8-question-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/dt8-question-181x300.png","medium-width":181,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/dt8-question-617x1024.png","medium_large-width":617,"medium_large-height":1024,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/dt8-question-617x1024.png","large-width":617,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/dt8-question.png","1536x1536-width":771,"1536x1536-height":1280,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/dt8-question.png","2048x2048-width":771,"2048x2048-height":1280,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/dt8-question-723x1200.png","post_full_size-width":723,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/dt8-question-253x420.png","home_baner-width":253,"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":"Just Who Is \"The Ger\" We Are Supposed To Love?","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Just as God loves all strangers, so must we","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":50016,"alt":"","title":"dt8-question","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/dt8-question.png","width":771,"height":1280,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/dt8-question-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/dt8-question-181x300.png","medium-width":181,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/dt8-question-617x1024.png","medium_large-width":617,"medium_large-height":1024,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/dt8-question-617x1024.png","large-width":617,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/dt8-question.png","1536x1536-width":771,"1536x1536-height":1280,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/dt8-question.png","2048x2048-width":771,"2048x2048-height":1280,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/dt8-question-723x1200.png","post_full_size-width":723,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/dt8-question-253x420.png","home_baner-width":253,"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":"Deuteronomy","chapter":"10","chapter_main_number":"163","date":"20260414","wall_id":"163"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"381","name":"love","old_id":"781"},{"term_id":"453","name":"Stranger","old_id":"853"}]},{"order":12,"id":"50267","color":"#efefef","size":"1","name":"The Perfect Year At A Glance ","post_title":"The Perfect Year At A Glance","slug":"the-perfect-year-at-a-glance","old_id":"50267","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":"164","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Four elements, four holidays, connecting people, animals, and land","post_main_content_content":"

\u201cI will grant the rain for your land in season, the early rain and the late. You shall gather in your new grain and wine and oil\u2014 I will also provide grass in the fields for your cattle\u2014and thus you shall eat your fill\u201d (11:14-15).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

What is a perfect annual cycle? Rain in its time, both early and late, and good produce to all throughout the year: <\/span>dagan<\/span><\/em> \u2013 grain; <\/span>tirosh<\/span><\/em> \u2013 sweet grape juice turning wine; <\/span>yitzhar<\/span><\/em> \u2013 olive oil, and <\/span>\u2018esev <\/span><\/em>- <\/span><\/i>grass in the field for the animals. The four correspond to four holidays and four agricultural seasons: grain to bake bread for Shavuot, which is a must for that holiday\u2019s sacrifice; grapes, ripening in the fall, along with Sukkot when we\u2019re commanded to be joyful; oil, at the time of olive harvest and oil production, for Hanukkah; and grass for the animals, for Pesach, when we sacrifice a lamb, and begin the barley harvest, of food suitable for our animals. <\/span><\/p>\r\n

Only then we too will be able to eat and feel satisfied. Here\u2019s to a great year!<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":50268,"alt":"","title":"dt11-calendar","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/dt11-calendar.jpg","width":226,"height":223,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/dt11-calendar-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/dt11-calendar.jpg","medium-width":226,"medium-height":223,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/dt11-calendar.jpg","medium_large-width":226,"medium_large-height":223,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/dt11-calendar.jpg","large-width":226,"large-height":223,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/dt11-calendar.jpg","1536x1536-width":226,"1536x1536-height":223,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/dt11-calendar.jpg","2048x2048-width":226,"2048x2048-height":223,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/dt11-calendar.jpg","post_full_size-width":226,"post_full_size-height":223,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/dt11-calendar.jpg","home_baner-width":226,"home_baner-height":223}},"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 Perfect Year At A Glance","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Four elements, four holidays, connecting people, animals, and land","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":50268,"alt":"","title":"dt11-calendar","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/dt11-calendar.jpg","width":226,"height":223,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/dt11-calendar-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/dt11-calendar.jpg","medium-width":226,"medium-height":223,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/dt11-calendar.jpg","medium_large-width":226,"medium_large-height":223,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/dt11-calendar.jpg","large-width":226,"large-height":223,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/dt11-calendar.jpg","1536x1536-width":226,"1536x1536-height":223,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/dt11-calendar.jpg","2048x2048-width":226,"2048x2048-height":223,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/dt11-calendar.jpg","post_full_size-width":226,"post_full_size-height":223,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/dt11-calendar.jpg","home_baner-width":226,"home_baner-height":223}},"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":"Deuteronomy","chapter":"11","chapter_main_number":"164","date":"20260415","wall_id":"164"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"360","name":"Nature\/Environment","old_id":"760"},{"term_id":"464","name":"Agriculture","old_id":"864"},{"term_id":"504","name":"Blessing","old_id":"904"}]},{"order":13,"id":"50326","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"The Culmination of One Journey - And the Beginning of the Next ","post_title":"The Culmination of One Journey - And the Beginning of the Next","slug":"the-culmination-of-one-journey-and-the-beginning-of-the-next","old_id":"50326","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":"164","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"How far they have come - and what a long way yet to go","post_main_content_content":"

The Torah is a book of journeys. From Haran to Canaan. From Canaan to Egypt. From Egypt to Sinai to the Land of Israel. By modern means of travel these places are not particularly far from each other, although in biblical times, they must have seemed unfathomably distant. Indeed, before automobiles and aeroplanes, travel was invariably a much slower experience. I have a copy of a letter from the early 1900s in which my great-grandfather explains that travelling from Jerusalem to Tiberias takes three days, because one must travel by donkey!<\/span><\/p>\r\n

In Genesis, the first book of the Torah, God tells Abram to \u2018Go forth from your native land and from you father\u2019s house to the land that I will show you\u2019 (12:1). Together with his wife Sarai, Abram leaves the familiarity of Haran for the unfamiliarity of Canaan. Their journey is deeply, cosmically significant: God promises Abram blessings of a great name and a great nation. To mark this creation of covenant, <\/span>brit<\/span><\/i> \u2013 a mutually incentivised agreement \u2013 God renames them Abraham and Sarah. A journey to a new land becomes a transformation of identity, leading to the emergence of the people of Israel, who continue the <\/span>brit<\/span><\/i> that God made with Abraham.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

In Deuteronomy, the final book of the Torah, the Israelites are poised to enter the land of Israel after forty years in the desert. Moses relays God\u2019s words to the people: \u2018See, this day I set before you blessing and curse: blessing, if you obey the commandments of your God, the Eternal, that I enjoin upon you this day: and curse, if you do not obey the commandments of your God the Eternal, but turn away from the path that I enjoin upon you this day\u2019 (11:26-28). God\u2019s promise here is more complicated than with Abraham. It contains a caveat: if you follow God\u2019s commandments, you will be blessed, but if you do not, you will be cursed. Here, blessing is not a promise, but a bonus. The threat of curse rankles ominously.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

We often tell ourselves, it\u2019s about the journey, not the destination. This is the culmination of a journey that began many generations ago. God is not speaking to just one person, as God was with Abraham. God is speaking to a nation, on the cusp of entering the land that will become their home. A nation who must work together to create a just and civil society. Perhaps the threat of a curse is to remind the people of Israel both how far they have come, and just what is at stake as they finally enter the land that God promised them.<\/span>
\r\n
\r\n<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Image by: ddzphoto on Pixabay<\/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":"The Culmination Of One Journey - And The Beginning Of The Next","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"How far they have come - and what a long way yet to go","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,"tile_link_for_pay":"0","send_noty":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Torah","book":"Deuteronomy","chapter":"11","chapter_main_number":"164","date":"20260415","wall_id":"164"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"442","name":"Journey","old_id":"842"},{"term_id":"504","name":"Blessing","old_id":"904"},{"term_id":"539","name":"Israel","old_id":"939"}]},{"order":14,"id":"50262","color":"#f8ebe3","size":"1","name":"A Weekly Romance ","post_title":"A Weekly Romance","slug":"a-weekly-romance","old_id":"50262","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":34011,"post_title":"Jeremy Benstein","slug":"dr-jeremy-benstein","old_id":"34011","first_name":"Jeremy","last_name":"Benstein","description":"Dr. Jeremy Benstein is the managing editor of 929-English. He is one of the founders of the Heschel Center for Sustainability. He writes the MiliMiliM - Hebrew Corner on the site, and is the author of a book about the Hebrew language, \"Hebrew Roots, Jewish Routes: A Tribal Language in a Global World\" (Behrman House, 2019). ","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"short_description":"Dr. Jeremy Benstein is the managing editor of 929-English, and is the author of a book about the Hebrew language, \"Hebrew Roots, Jewish Routes: A Tribal Language in a Global World\" (Behrman House, 2019). ","link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":34232,"alt":"","title":"Jeremy Benstein","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Presentation1.jpg","width":1280,"height":720,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Presentation1-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Presentation1-300x169.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":169,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Presentation1-768x432.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":432,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Presentation1-1024x576.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":576,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Presentation1.jpg","1536x1536-width":1280,"1536x1536-height":720,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Presentation1.jpg","2048x2048-width":1280,"2048x2048-height":720,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Presentation1-1200x675.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":675,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Presentation1-747x420.jpg","home_baner-width":747,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"164","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Taking a deeper look at the symbolism of the Shabbat rituals","post_main_content_content":"

How many people do you know who make it a point to have a candle-light dinner with wine and fresh baked bread on a weekly basis? Sounds romantic, no?<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Well, traditional Jews \u2013 and even many not-so-traditional ones \u2013 usher in the weekly Shabbat with a set of rituals that are exactly that. Friday night entails candle lighting, shared wine, and two loaves of challah, each with their own blessings, lending an air of sanctity to the very sensuous proceedings.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

But, besides the romance and the gustatory enjoyment, why these three? Interestingly, they represent the three states of matter: the bread is solid, the wine liquid, and the fire of the candles \u2013 gaseous. Looking more deeply, another connecting thread between them is: they're alive! Or at least \u2013 they breathe. The combustion of the candles, the rising of the challah dough, and the fermentation of the wine all involve a sort of metabolism.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

That connects to another symbolism: the challah is symbolic of the earth (indeed, the blessing is <\/span>hamotzi lechem min ha'aretz <\/span><\/em>- <\/span><\/i>\u00a0bread from the earth), the liquid wine is the water element, and the candles are of course fire. And the breathing they all share means they are joined together by life-giving air \u2013 making them all together a spiritual symbol of life, and the life-giving bounty of the natural world which we sanctify in their use.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

A third explanation is more historical \u2013 and connects us to our chapter. Verse 14: \"You shall gather in your new grain and wine and oil.\" These three crops are not only the sound foundation of a Mediterranean diet, but are the Biblical expressions of divine blessing and well-being. Those are the blessings of a good year in the Land of Israel. But how can we connect to that wherever, not just in the Land?<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The answer is: at the weekly Shabbat table. We make Kiddush over the wine and we make challah out of the grain. And the (olive) oil? Well, we can dip the challah into the oil (a venerable tradition) \u2013 but the real connection is, in fact, the candles, which were originally olive oil lamps. So the three elements of the home Shabbat ritual are also to connect us historically to the Land and its unique produce, and help make the observance portable to wherever you may be spending your Shabbat.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Photomontage by the author: wine \u2013 Stefan Kraus\/Schwappender Wein.jpg; challah \u2013 Aviv Hod\/ Challah Bread Six Braid 1.JPG; oil candles - \u00a0he.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?curid=489223<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":50263,"alt":"","title":"dt11-montage1","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/dt11-montage1.jpg","width":1280,"height":392,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/dt11-montage1-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/dt11-montage1-300x92.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":92,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/dt11-montage1-768x235.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":235,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/dt11-montage1-1024x314.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":314,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/dt11-montage1.jpg","1536x1536-width":1280,"1536x1536-height":392,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/dt11-montage1.jpg","2048x2048-width":1280,"2048x2048-height":392,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/dt11-montage1-1200x368.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":368,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/dt11-montage1.jpg","home_baner-width":1280,"home_baner-height":392}},"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":"A Weekly Romance","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Taking a deeper look at the symbolism of the Shabbat rituals","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":50263,"alt":"","title":"dt11-montage1","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/dt11-montage1.jpg","width":1280,"height":392,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/dt11-montage1-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/dt11-montage1-300x92.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":92,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/dt11-montage1-768x235.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":235,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/dt11-montage1-1024x314.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":314,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/dt11-montage1.jpg","1536x1536-width":1280,"1536x1536-height":392,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/dt11-montage1.jpg","2048x2048-width":1280,"2048x2048-height":392,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/dt11-montage1-1200x368.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":368,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/dt11-montage1.jpg","home_baner-width":1280,"home_baner-height":392}},"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":"Deuteronomy","chapter":"11","chapter_main_number":"164","date":"20260415","wall_id":"164"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"360","name":"Nature\/Environment","old_id":"760"},{"term_id":"378","name":"Shabbat","old_id":"778"},{"term_id":"430","name":"Land of Israel","old_id":"830"},{"term_id":"464","name":"Agriculture","old_id":"864"},{"term_id":"680","name":"Symbolism","old_id":"1080"}]},{"order":15,"id":"50455","color":"#e0e9ef","size":"1","name":"The Sacred is a Human-Divine Partnership ","post_title":"The Sacred is a Human-Divine Partnership","slug":"the-sacred-is-a-human-divine-partnership","old_id":"50455","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":34235,"post_title":"Marc Gitler","slug":"marc-gitler","old_id":"34235","first_name":"Marc","last_name":"Gitler","description":"Rabbi Marc Gitler, a recipient of the Wexner Fellowship, was ordained at Yeshivat Chovevei Torah, and earned an MPA from NYU . The founder of Fast for Feast, he lives in Denver, Colorado with his wife Sarah and their four children. He used to work for 929 North America.\r\n","short_description":"Rabbi Marc Gitler, founder of Fast for Feast, lives in Denver, Colorado with his wife Sarah and their four children. ","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":34236,"alt":"","title":"Marc Gitler","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Gitler.jpg","width":407,"height":407,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Gitler-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Gitler-300x300.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Gitler.jpg","medium_large-width":407,"medium_large-height":407,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Gitler.jpg","large-width":407,"large-height":407,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Gitler.jpg","1536x1536-width":407,"1536x1536-height":407,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Gitler.jpg","2048x2048-width":407,"2048x2048-height":407,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Gitler.jpg","post_full_size-width":407,"post_full_size-height":407,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Gitler.jpg","home_baner-width":407,"home_baner-height":407}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"165","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"The divine choice of sacred center is not revealed until David's time","post_main_content_content":"

In today\u2019s chapter Moses continues to look forward to Israel\u2019s life in the promised land, revealing how the relationship between meat and meet will be different than it is presently.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

In the desert, when all of Israel were neighbors (<\/span>shachen<\/span><\/i>) with the Tabernacle (<\/span>mishcan<\/span><\/i>) that housed God\u2019s presence (<\/span>Shechinah<\/span><\/i>), all meat was required to \"meet\" God. That is to say, all meat had to go through the ritual process of temple sacrifices. However, when God enlarges the territory of the Israelites, leaving them many days away from a central place of worship they are allowed to eat meat that doesn\u2019t need to be part of a sacrifice to God. God still demands that it be slaughtered as instructed, and that the blood not be consumed, but the distance allows those who want to eat meat to do so anywhere at any time.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

This discrepancy is of course predicated upon the other main idea of the chapter, a central place of worship where all sacrifices must be brought. Surprisingly this most important location is neither revealed (recalling Abraham who is told to leave his homeland but not of the destination), nor explicitly chosen: Moses repeatedly uses the future tense \u201cto the site that the Lord your God will choose.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

It remains hidden for many centuries and is only revealed towards the end of the life of King David when in a last ditch effort to contain a terrible plague from decimating the inhabitants of Jerusalem, David purchases land from Arvonah the Jebusite and builds an altar. In the retelling of the story, (Chronicles 1 chapters 21-22) after God stops the plague, David proclaims \u201cHere will be the house of the Lord and here is the altar of burnt offerings for Israel.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

God has finally chosen, but his choice is connected to David naming Jerusalem as his capital city, bringing the ark to Jerusalem, purchasing a specific plot and building an altar on the plot. It seems that what Moses describes as God\u2019s choice is not a solitary decision made by God alone, but rather one that is intertwined with his obedient servant David, who as king of Israel, represents the collective will of the nation.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

When Moses spoke of the place that God will choose, the location could not yet be known because the places where we will meet God are not solely determined by God: they are the product of a human-divine partnership.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

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Joy is not the first word that naturally comes to mind when we think of the severity of Judaism as a moral code or the tear-stained pages of Jewish history. As Jews we have degrees in misery, postgraduate qualifications in guilt, and gold-medal performances in wailing and lamentation. Someone once summed up the Jewish festivals in three sentences: \u201cThey tried to kill us. We survived. Let\u2019s eat.\u201d Yet in truth what shines through so many of the psalms is pure, radiant joy. And joy is one of the keywords of the book of Deuteronomy. The root s-m-kh appears once each in Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus and Numbers, but twelve times in Deuteronomy, seven of them in our parsha.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

What Moses says again and again is that joy is what we should feel in the land of Israel, the land given to us by God, the place to which the whole of Jewish life since the days of Abraham and Sarah has been a journey. The vast universe with its myriad galaxies and stars is God\u2019s work of art, but within it planet earth, and within that the land of Israel, and the sacred city of Jerusalem, is where He is closest, where His presence lingers in the air, where the sky is the blue of heaven and the stones are a golden throne. There, said Moses, in \u201cthe place the Lord your God will choose \u2026 to place His Name there for His dwelling\u201d (Deut. 12:5), you will celebrate the love between a small and otherwise insignificant people and the God who, taking them as His own, lifted them to greatness.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

It will be there, said Moses, that the entire tangled narrative of Jewish history would become lucid, where a whole people \u2013 \u201cyou, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, and the Levites from your towns, who have no hereditary portion with you\u201d \u2013 will sing together, worship together and celebrate the festivals together, knowing that history is not about empire or conquest, nor society about hierarchy and power, that commoner and king, Israelite and priest are all equal in the sight of God, all voices in his holy choir, all dancers in the circle at whose centre is the radiance of the Divine. This is what the covenant is about: the transformation of the human condition through what Wordsworth called \u201cthe deep power of joy.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

In Judaism joy is the supreme religious emotion. Here we are, in a world filled with beauty. Every breath we breathe is the spirit of God within us. Around us is the love that moves the sun and all the stars. We are here because someone wanted us to be. The soul that celebrates, sings.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

From:<\/span>The Deep Power of Joy (Covenant & Conversation, Re\u2019eh 5776)<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n

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