Looking for materials to read, watch or listen to give your Yom Kippur experience some depth? Flight? Roots and wings? 929 has you covered.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n
Click on the following links to access a wealth of materials on the relevant Biblical selections:<\/p>\r\n
Chapter 20 details the various laws of war. After detailing the individuals that are exempt and the rules of engagement, the Torah commands:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n When in your war against a city you have to besiege it a long time in order to capture it, you must not destroy its trees, wielding the ax against them. You may eat of them, but you must not cut them down. Are trees of the field human to withdraw before you into the besieged city? (Alternatively: \u201cFor the tree of the field is [like] the human\u2026) \u201d (verse 19).\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n The verse ends with a statement or question. There are two schools of thought on this. Some commentators believe that the verse is a rhetorical question: \u201cAre trees of the field human to withdraw before you into the besieged city?\u201d Trees are helpless and not part of the battle. Can they fight? Of course not. So therefore, they must be protected. This argument centers on environmental protection, for the sake of the trees. The war is between humans, so leave the trees out of it.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n The other school of thought is that the end of the verse translates as follows: \u201cfor man is a fruit tree in the field to go before you in a siege.\u201d In this understanding the fruit trees are important for people because they provide sustenance. Destroying them will cause further harm to those around it. This understanding is more about caring for humans beyond the battle. Taking this understanding one step further, perhaps by keeping the trees intact, it is also a sign that the army believes that God will lead them to victory. In the future the Israelites will be able to partake of the fruit of these trees and there is no need to destroy them to punish the army inside the besieged town.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n This verse is also the source for the tradition of <\/span>upsherin<\/span><\/em>-<\/span><\/i> waiting to cut a boy\u2019s hair until he is 3 years-old. This verse compares a person to a fruit tree and Lev. 19:23 commands that: \u201cAnd when you shall come into the land, and plant all manner of trees for food, then you shall count the fruit there as forbidden; three years shall it be as forbidden unto you; it shall not be eaten.\u201d\u00a0 Just like a tree should not have its fruits cut before three years, so too a young boy should not have his hair cut for three years.<\/span><\/p>\r\n <\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":102662,"alt":"","title":"-6224a66c1c241--6224a66c1c242gen22-hand tree heart roots.jpg","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/03\/6224a66c1c241-6224a66c1c242gen22-hand-tree-heart-roots.jpg.jpg","width":647,"height":860,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/03\/6224a66c1c241-6224a66c1c242gen22-hand-tree-heart-roots.jpg-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/03\/6224a66c1c241-6224a66c1c242gen22-hand-tree-heart-roots.jpg-226x300.jpg","medium-width":226,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/03\/6224a66c1c241-6224a66c1c242gen22-hand-tree-heart-roots.jpg.jpg","medium_large-width":647,"medium_large-height":860,"large":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/03\/6224a66c1c241-6224a66c1c242gen22-hand-tree-heart-roots.jpg.jpg","large-width":647,"large-height":860,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/03\/6224a66c1c241-6224a66c1c242gen22-hand-tree-heart-roots.jpg.jpg","1536x1536-width":647,"1536x1536-height":860,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/03\/6224a66c1c241-6224a66c1c242gen22-hand-tree-heart-roots.jpg.jpg","2048x2048-width":647,"2048x2048-height":860,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/03\/6224a66c1c241-6224a66c1c242gen22-hand-tree-heart-roots.jpg.jpg","post_full_size-width":647,"post_full_size-height":860,"home_baner":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/03\/6224a66c1c241-6224a66c1c242gen22-hand-tree-heart-roots.jpg-316x420.jpg","home_baner-width":316,"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":"Trees And People And Trees","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"On (dis)similarity - 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","post_title":"No Scorched Earth!","slug":"no-scorched-earth","old_id":"51134","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":"173","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Don't destroy the land you are fighting for","post_main_content_content":" Shortening a war means saving lives and reducing suffering. Given the supreme value of human life in the Jewish tradition, one would think that nearly anything that would lead to the end of the conflict would therefore be justifiable. Thus it is surprising to find a strong restriction on permissible military tactics, and in particular, how to treat the trees.<\/span><\/p>\r\n Verses 19-20 forbid the chopping down of fruit trees in order to construct siegeworks, however necessary for the campaign. Given the potential suffering an extended siege may cause, and the need for construction material to get through the city's defenses, limiting the use of trees was a serious restriction. With Napoleon's scorched-earth policy, the devastating American chemical defoliation of Vietnam, or the tactics of Saddam Hussein in Kuwait, the issue of destroying nature in order to wage war is widespread, and horrific.<\/span><\/p>\r\n But while the prohibition is clear, the reason for it is not. There is an intriguing textual ambiguity that invites two very different interpretations, as revealed by two translations. The King James version translates the crucial passage (20:19): \"... thou shalt not cut them down (for the tree of the field is man's life) to employ them in the siege.\" As medieval commentator Ibn Ezra explains, we are not to cut down the fruit trees because our lives are dependent on them and the food they produce. Simply put, destroying fruit-bearing trees is forbidden because it harms human beings.<\/span><\/p>\r\n The New JPS translation (which we use here) offers a very different rendering of the same verse: \"... but you must not cut them down. Are trees of the field human to withdraw before you under siege?\" The verse is parsed as a question, and a rhetorical one at that. As Rashi reads the verse: Are trees like people, that they can run away from an advancing army, and take refuge in the town? Of course not, they are innocent bystanders. Therefore, don't involve them in your conflicts, and don't cut them down. This approach makes no reference to human needs. The trees have a life of their own; they are not (only) a means to our human ends.<\/span><\/p>\r\n The half-dozen words of the original encapsulate in their ambiguity the two main schools of current environmental thinking on issues of preservation and development. The view that nature has value in and of itself, that it exists apart from us and our needs, that we should refrain from destroying what we cannot create, has a deep spiritual power that speaks to many of us. It is complemented by the equally legitimate anthropocentric approach, which is often tactically more effective: It speaks to \"the bottom line,\" what we get out of the deal. It also implies a generational perspective: we harm not only ourselves but generations to come when we selfishly exploit resources for our short-term gain.<\/span><\/p>\r\n After all, we and our children have to live in this land when the fighting stops.<\/span><\/p>\r\n photo: \"Ki Ha-Adam Etz Ha-Sadeh\" (see possible translations above) - Shira Hescht-Koller<\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":51135,"alt":"","title":"dt20-ki haadam","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt20-ki-haadam.jpg","width":960,"height":640,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt20-ki-haadam-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt20-ki-haadam-300x200.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":200,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt20-ki-haadam-768x512.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":512,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt20-ki-haadam.jpg","large-width":960,"large-height":640,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt20-ki-haadam.jpg","1536x1536-width":960,"1536x1536-height":640,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt20-ki-haadam.jpg","2048x2048-width":960,"2048x2048-height":640,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt20-ki-haadam.jpg","post_full_size-width":960,"post_full_size-height":640,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt20-ki-haadam-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":"No Scorched Earth!","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Don't destroy the land you are fighting for","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":51135,"alt":"","title":"dt20-ki haadam","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt20-ki-haadam.jpg","width":960,"height":640,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt20-ki-haadam-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt20-ki-haadam-300x200.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":200,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt20-ki-haadam-768x512.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":512,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt20-ki-haadam.jpg","large-width":960,"large-height":640,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt20-ki-haadam.jpg","1536x1536-width":960,"1536x1536-height":640,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt20-ki-haadam.jpg","2048x2048-width":960,"2048x2048-height":640,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt20-ki-haadam.jpg","post_full_size-width":960,"post_full_size-height":640,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt20-ki-haadam-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":"20","chapter_main_number":"173","date":"20260428","wall_id":"173"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"360","name":"Nature\/Environment","old_id":"760"},{"term_id":"434","name":"War","old_id":"834"},{"term_id":"436","name":"Morality","old_id":"836"},{"term_id":"553","name":"Trees","old_id":"953"}]},{"order":5,"id":"51204","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"Fighting Words ","post_title":"Fighting Words","slug":"fighting-words","old_id":"51204","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":45274,"post_title":"Erika Dreifus","slug":"erika-dreifus","old_id":"45274","first_name":"Erika ","last_name":"Dreifus ","description":"Erika Dreifus, a Fellow in the Sami Rohr Jewish Literary Institute, is the author of Birthright: Poems (Kelsay Books, 2019) and Quiet Americans: Stories (2011). Please visit Erika online at www.ErikaDreifus.com and follow her on Twitter @ErikaDreifus, where she tweets \u201con matters bookish and\/or Jewish.\u201d Photo credit: Jody Christopherson.\r\n","short_description":"Erika Dreifus, a Fellow in the Sami Rohr Jewish Literary Institute, is the author of Birthright: Poems (Kelsay Books, 2019) and Quiet Americans: Stories (2011). ","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":72309,"alt":"","title":"Erika Dreifus photo by Jody Christopherson-1","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Erika-Dreifus-photo-by-Jody-Christopherson-1.jpg","width":5184,"height":3456,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Erika-Dreifus-photo-by-Jody-Christopherson-1-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Erika-Dreifus-photo-by-Jody-Christopherson-1-300x200.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":200,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Erika-Dreifus-photo-by-Jody-Christopherson-1-768x512.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":512,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Erika-Dreifus-photo-by-Jody-Christopherson-1-1024x683.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":683,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Erika-Dreifus-photo-by-Jody-Christopherson-1.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1024,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Erika-Dreifus-photo-by-Jody-Christopherson-1.jpg","2048x2048-width":2048,"2048x2048-height":1365,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Erika-Dreifus-photo-by-Jody-Christopherson-1-1200x800.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":800,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Erika-Dreifus-photo-by-Jody-Christopherson-1-630x420.jpg","home_baner-width":630,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"173","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Is this the match that lights the eternal fire? \u00a0","post_main_content_content":" There comes a point, in Deuteronomy,<\/span> The injunctions to <\/span>cast them out<\/span><\/i>,<\/span> The commands to<\/span> And just a little later,<\/span> And if it will make no peace with thee,<\/span><\/i> How much more I prefer those other sacred words<\/span> How much more easily, then,<\/span> How vigorously I cling<\/span> <\/p>\r\n An earlier version of this poem appeared in <\/span>The Hollins Critic<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\r\n Image<\/span> by: AngelaL_17 on Pixabay<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":51206,"alt":"","title":"match-3267506_1280","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/match-3267506_1280.jpg","width":1280,"height":960,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/match-3267506_1280-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/match-3267506_1280-300x225.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":225,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/match-3267506_1280-768x576.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":576,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/match-3267506_1280-1024x768.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":768,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/match-3267506_1280.jpg","1536x1536-width":1280,"1536x1536-height":960,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/match-3267506_1280.jpg","2048x2048-width":1280,"2048x2048-height":960,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/match-3267506_1280-1200x900.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":900,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/match-3267506_1280-560x420.jpg","home_baner-width":560,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"929 Poetry Corner","tile_main_caption":"Fighting Words","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Is this the match that lights the eternal fire? 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If it responds in kind, it is to be spared; however, if it chooses to do battle, it should be besieged and its inhabitants slain (verses 11-13).<\/span><\/p>\r\n The value of peace is such that the Psalmist enjoined us to \u201cseek out peace and pursue it\u201d (Psalm 34:15), which the Sages interpreted as follows:<\/span><\/p>\r\n All other mitzvot are [introduced by] \u201cif you see,\u201d \u201cif you encounter,\u201d or \u201cif it occurs.\u201d If a mitzvah comes your way, you are obliged to perform it; otherwise, you are not so obligated. Here, however, \u201cseek peace and pursue it\u201d; seek it wherever you may be, and [if necessary] pursue it wherever it may be (Leviticus Rabbah 9:9).<\/span><\/p>\r\n The Talmud Yerushalmi elaborated further on this principle, declaring:<\/span><\/p>\r\n Joshua issued three declarations prior to his arrival in the land. Whoever wishes to depart, may do so; whoever wishes to surrender, may do so; and whoever wishes to fight, should do so (Shevi`it 6).<\/span><\/p>\r\n According to this passage, the Girgsahi\u2014one of the seven indigenous Canaanite tribes\u2014chose to depart, the Gibeonites surrendered, and, as enumerated in Joshua 12, thirty one kings elected to go to war and were defeated.<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":51202,"alt":"","title":"dt20-peace-war","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt20-peace-war.png","width":1280,"height":640,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt20-peace-war-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt20-peace-war-300x150.png","medium-width":300,"medium-height":150,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt20-peace-war-768x384.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":384,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt20-peace-war-1024x512.png","large-width":1024,"large-height":512,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt20-peace-war.png","1536x1536-width":1280,"1536x1536-height":640,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt20-peace-war.png","2048x2048-width":1280,"2048x2048-height":640,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt20-peace-war-1200x600.png","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":600,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt20-peace-war-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":"Between Peace And War","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Pursuing peace - but also willingness to go to war","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":51202,"alt":"","title":"dt20-peace-war","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt20-peace-war.png","width":1280,"height":640,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt20-peace-war-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt20-peace-war-300x150.png","medium-width":300,"medium-height":150,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt20-peace-war-768x384.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":384,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt20-peace-war-1024x512.png","large-width":1024,"large-height":512,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt20-peace-war.png","1536x1536-width":1280,"1536x1536-height":640,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt20-peace-war.png","2048x2048-width":1280,"2048x2048-height":640,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt20-peace-war-1200x600.png","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":600,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt20-peace-war-840x420.png","home_baner-width":840,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"tile_link_for_pay":"0","send_noty":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Torah","book":"Deuteronomy","chapter":"20","chapter_main_number":"173","date":"20260428","wall_id":"173"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"409","name":"Peace","old_id":"809"},{"term_id":"434","name":"War","old_id":"834"}]},{"order":7,"id":"51139","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"Trees of War ","post_title":"Trees Of War","slug":"trees-of-war","old_id":"51139","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. 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\r\n<\/span>when I can\u2019t help wondering\u2014<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>is this the match that lights the eternal fire? <\/span><\/p>\r\n
\r\n<\/span>smite them,<\/span><\/i>
\r\n<\/span><\/i>and <\/span>utterly destroy them<\/span><\/i>. <\/span><\/p>\r\n
\r\n<\/span>make no covenants<\/span><\/i>
\r\n<\/span><\/i>and <\/span>show no mer<\/span><\/i>cy. <\/span><\/p>\r\n
\r\n<\/span>the permission, if not<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>a direct order: <\/span><\/p>\r\n
\r\n<\/span><\/i>but will make war against thee,<\/span><\/i>
\r\n<\/span><\/i>then thou shalt besiege it.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n
\r\n<\/span>replete with possibility, and hope:<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>Turn from evil and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n
\r\n<\/span>the word <\/span>Amen<\/span><\/i> springs from my soul<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>to my mouth. <\/span><\/p>\r\n
\r\n<\/span>to the belief that everyone<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>shares this preference.<\/span><\/p>\r\n
![Evil Mothers<\/a>, 1894, <\/span>The Belvedere Museum Vienna<\/span><\/i> (detail)<\/span>\r\n<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":51179,"alt":"","title":"dt20-secunda","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt20-secunda.jpg","width":620,"height":614,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt20-secunda-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt20-secunda-300x297.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":297,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt20-secunda.jpg","medium_large-width":620,"medium_large-height":614,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt20-secunda.jpg","large-width":620,"large-height":614,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt20-secunda.jpg","1536x1536-width":620,"1536x1536-height":614,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt20-secunda.jpg","2048x2048-width":620,"2048x2048-height":614,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt20-secunda.jpg","post_full_size-width":620,"post_full_size-height":614,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt20-secunda-424x420.jpg","home_baner-width":424,"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":"Trees Of War","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Agnon with a surprising interpretation of trees and people","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":51179,"alt":"","title":"dt20-secunda","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt20-secunda.jpg","width":620,"height":614,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt20-secunda-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt20-secunda-300x297.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":297,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt20-secunda.jpg","medium_large-width":620,"medium_large-height":614,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt20-secunda.jpg","large-width":620,"large-height":614,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt20-secunda.jpg","1536x1536-width":620,"1536x1536-height":614,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt20-secunda.jpg","2048x2048-width":620,"2048x2048-height":614,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt20-secunda.jpg","post_full_size-width":620,"post_full_size-height":614,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt20-secunda-424x420.jpg","home_baner-width":424,"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":"20","chapter_main_number":"173","date":"20260428","wall_id":"173"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"363","name":"Midrash","old_id":"763"},{"term_id":"373","name":"Literature","old_id":"773"},{"term_id":"553","name":"Trees","old_id":"953"},{"term_id":"841","name":"Agnon","old_id":"1241"}]},{"order":8,"id":"51218","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"Biblical Draft Exemptions ","post_title":"Biblical Draft Exemptions","slug":"biblical-draft-exemptions","old_id":"51218","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":"173","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Who is not allowed to go to war - and why?","post_main_content_content":"I have written a few times in the past about the revolutionary ideas that the book of Deuteronomy expresses. Chapter 20 is also revolutionary in the sense that it puts boundaries on human behavior in wartime. The laws of war in this chapter, as well as in chapter 21 verses 10-14, remind us that war is not an excuse to be inhumane. <\/span><\/p>\r\nThere needs to be sensitivity even in recruitment to the fighting force. In verses 5-7 we have a list of people who are exempt from participating in war: A person who built a house but did not dedicate it; a person who planted a vineyard but has never harvested it; and a person who got engaged, but did not get married yet. Verse 8 adds another person that is exempt from war - whoever is afraid or disheartened. While the first three are limited in the number of soldiers that will be removed from the battlefield, it seems like the last one - the person that is afraid of war - can lead to the whole army disbanding. Who is not afraid of going into battle?! <\/span><\/p>\r\nThe biggest difference between the first three and the last one is that the first three are not allowed to go to war, while the last one can choose not to. The house-builder, the vineyard planter and the engaged may not participate in the war. Why these three?<\/span><\/p>\r\nThese three kinds of people echo a different text from the book of Deuteronomy. Chapter 28 lays out the blessings and curses that will come upon the people of Israel if they follow or don\u2019t follow God\u2019s rules. As part of the curses, in verse 30 we read: \u201cIf you pay the bride-price for a wife, another man shall enjoy her. If you build a house, you shall not live in it. If you plant a vineyard, you shall not harvest it.\u201d These are exactly the same characters we see in the law in chapter 20! What is this similarity trying to tell us?<\/span><\/p>\r\nThe three kinds of people that are mentioned in both texts began an important life event that was not yet realized. I believe that the psychological impact of not completing these life events is huge on that person\u2019s surroundings. There is losing a life, and there is losing a life that was about to start a new life. These three kinds of people are important to society as they are taking care of the future. And losing that means there is no future. This is what makes this such an effective curse. <\/span><\/p>\r\nThis is also the reason they are not allowed to participate in war. The laws of war in chapter 20 remind us that war is a last resort, but when one is necessary, we need to remember that there is life after the war, and that life needs to be taken care of.<\/span><\/p>\r\nimage by: Michal Ben Hamu<\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":51219,"alt":"","title":"dt20--mbenhamu","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt20-mbenhamu.jpg","width":900,"height":386,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt20-mbenhamu-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt20-mbenhamu-300x129.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":129,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt20-mbenhamu-768x329.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":329,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt20-mbenhamu.jpg","large-width":900,"large-height":386,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt20-mbenhamu.jpg","1536x1536-width":900,"1536x1536-height":386,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt20-mbenhamu.jpg","2048x2048-width":900,"2048x2048-height":386,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt20-mbenhamu.jpg","post_full_size-width":900,"post_full_size-height":386,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt20-mbenhamu.jpg","home_baner-width":900,"home_baner-height":386}},"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":"Biblical Draft Exemptions","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Who is not allowed to go to war - and why?","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":51219,"alt":"","title":"dt20--mbenhamu","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt20-mbenhamu.jpg","width":900,"height":386,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt20-mbenhamu-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt20-mbenhamu-300x129.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":129,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt20-mbenhamu-768x329.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":329,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt20-mbenhamu.jpg","large-width":900,"large-height":386,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt20-mbenhamu.jpg","1536x1536-width":900,"1536x1536-height":386,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt20-mbenhamu.jpg","2048x2048-width":900,"2048x2048-height":386,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt20-mbenhamu.jpg","post_full_size-width":900,"post_full_size-height":386,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt20-mbenhamu.jpg","home_baner-width":900,"home_baner-height":386}},"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":"20","chapter_main_number":"173","date":"20260428","wall_id":"173"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"374","name":"Humanity","old_id":"774"},{"term_id":"434","name":"War","old_id":"834"}]},{"order":9,"id":"51174","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"2","name":"Shofetim - Trees and People ","post_title":"Shoftim - Trees and People","slug":"shofetim-trees-and-people","old_id":"51174","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":46171,"post_title":"Avner Moriah","slug":"avner-moriah","old_id":"46171","first_name":"Avner ","last_name":"Moriah ","description":"Avner Moriah is a prolific Israel artist who has addressed a wide range of Jewish and Israeli themes during the four decades of his artistic journey. Currently, Avner is completing a singular artistic and spiritual feat of illuminating the entire Chumash. The unique illuminated books contain hundreds of original drawings that offer a profound, provocative and humorous perspective. \r\nFor the entire weekly portion series, visit: https:\/\/avnermoriahprints.com\/collections\/parasha\r\nFor more of his work visit: https:\/\/avnermoriah.com\/\r\n","short_description":"Avner Moriah is a prolific Israel artist who is illuminating the entire Chumash.","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":46173,"alt":"","title":"avner moriah","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/avner-moriah-e1545511134679.jpg","width":1387,"height":1425,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/avner-moriah-e1545511134679-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/avner-moriah-e1545511134679-292x300.jpg","medium-width":292,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/avner-moriah-e1545511134679-768x789.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":789,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/avner-moriah-e1545511134679-997x1024.jpg","large-width":997,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/avner-moriah-e1545511134679.jpg","1536x1536-width":1387,"1536x1536-height":1425,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/avner-moriah-e1545511134679.jpg","2048x2048-width":1387,"2048x2048-height":1425,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/avner-moriah-e1545511134679-1168x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":1168,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/avner-moriah-e1545511134679-409x420.jpg","home_baner-width":409,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"173","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"","post_main_content_content":"\u201cWhen in your war against a city you have to besiege a long time in order to capture it, you must not destroy its trees\u2026. Are trees of the field human to withdraw before you into the besieged city?\u201d (Deut. 20:19). Trees are not to be \u201cpunished\u201d in a battle to conquer a city. Moreover, the Israelites were not to destroy the natural resources in a besieged country, but were to refrain from hewing trees and desolating the land. <\/span><\/p>\r\nWhy does this chapter create a link between trees and humans? What is the meaning of the words quoted above: \u201cAre trees of the field human\u201d? Or as some translate it, a statement: \u201cfor the human being is like the tree in the fields,\u201d <\/span><\/p>\r\nAvner Moriah\u2019s painting, which was clearly influenced by the ancient relief sculptures of Near Eastern warfare scenes that were carved on the walls of early Assyrian palaces, help us understand this suggested link between humans and nature. The right-hand side of the painting figures a hill topped with five rows of trees, of which the bottom two rows are fruit trees. The scene is devoid of people, perhaps to take us back to Third Day of Creation: \u201c\u2026from the ground the Lord God caused to grow every tree that was pleasing to the sight and good for food\u201d (Gen. 2:9). To the left, paralleling the tree-lined hill, we see two men, standing among stumps of felled trees, about to fell the rest of the grove. Seeing the trees covering the hill and the men cutting them down juxtaposes the notions of whether trees are to serve people\u2019s destructive needs or whether it is our responsibility to \u201c till and tend\u201d them?<\/span><\/p>\r\nTo the left of this scene we see an image of a besieged city. One man is carrying a ladder. Several more ladders are leaning against the city wall and men are climbing them to reach the top; above the wall we see the defenders wielding stones to throw at the attackers. The need for trees for such a battle is obvious, but the Israelites are cautioned to remember the importance of trees, especially fruit trees: \u201cOnly trees that you know do not yield food may be destroyed\u201d (Deut. 20:20).<\/span><\/p>\r\nThe laws concerning the besieging of a city clearly echo the importance ascribed to trees, beginning with Creation and moving on to Leviticus 19:23, where the Israelites are told to plant fruit trees when they come into Canaan. The fruits of these new trees are not to be eaten for the first three years, as they are considered \u201c<\/span>orlah<\/span><\/i>.\u201d As the <\/span>orlah<\/span><\/i> is also the foreskin removed in a circumcision, we have here an association between the laws regarding the fruit of a new tree and the Jewish covenantal ceremony of circumcision, which augments the idea, introduced in this chapter, of a parallel between humans and trees.<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":51176,"alt":"","title":"48 Shoftim","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/48-Shoftim.jpg","width":2500,"height":1597,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/48-Shoftim-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/48-Shoftim-300x192.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":192,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/48-Shoftim-768x491.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":491,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/48-Shoftim-1024x654.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":654,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/48-Shoftim.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":981,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/48-Shoftim.jpg","2048x2048-width":2048,"2048x2048-height":1308,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/48-Shoftim-1200x767.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":767,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/48-Shoftim-657x420.jpg","home_baner-width":657,"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":"Shoftim - 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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":"173","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"All creatures are servants in the household of creation","post_main_content_content":"On the face of it, the prohibition against destroying fruit-bearing trees, known as the rule of bal tashchit<\/em>, \u201cDo not destroy,\u201d is highly limited in scope. It does no more than forbid a \u201cscorched earth\u201d policy in the conduct of war. It seems to have no peacetime application. However, the sages understood it to include any act of needless destruction. Maimonides states: \u201cNot only does this apply to trees, but also whoever breaks vessels or tears garments, destroys a building, blocks a wellspring of water or destructively wastes food transgresses the command of bal tashchit<\/em>.\u201d This is the halakhic basis of an ethic of environmental responsibility.<\/span><\/p>\r\nThe Torah is concerned with what we would call \u2018sustainability.\u2019 This is particularly true of the three commands ordaining periodic rest: the Sabbath, the sabbatical year and the jubilee year. Another group of commands is directed against over-interference with nature. The Torah forbids crossbreeding livestock, planting a field with mixed seeds, and wearing a garment of mixed wool and linen. These rules are called <\/span>chukkim <\/span><\/em>or \u2018statutes\u2019. Nachmanides understood this term to mean laws that respect the integrity of nature. <\/span><\/p>\r\nDeuteronomy also contains a law forbidding taking a young bird together with its mother. Nachmanides sees this as having the same underlying concern, namely of protecting species. Though the Bible permits us to use some animals for food, we must not cull them to extinction.<\/span><\/p>\r\nSamson Raphael Hirsch in the nineteenth century gave the most forcible interpretation of biblical law. The statutes relating to environmental protection, he said, represent the principle that \u2018the same regard which you show to man you must also demonstrate to every lower creature, to the earth which bears and sustains all, and to the world of plants and animals.\u2019 They are a kind of social justice applied to the natural world: \u2018They ask you to regard all living things as God\u2019s property. Destroy none; abuse none; waste nothing; employ all things wisely \u2026 Look upon all creatures as servants in the household of creation.\u2019<\/span><\/p>\r\nIn this context, a phrase in Genesis 2 is decisive. Man was set in the Garden of Eden \u2018to work it and take care of it\u2019 (Gen. 2:15). The two Hebrew verbs are significant. The first \u2013 <\/span>l<\/span><\/i>e\u2019ovdah<\/em> <\/span>\u2013 literally means \u2018to serve it\u2019. Man is not just a master but also a servant of nature. The second \u2013 <\/span>leshomrah<\/em> <\/span>\u2013 means \u2018to guard it\u2019. This is the verb used in later Torah legislation to describe the responsibilities of a guardian of property that does not belong to him. He must exercise vigilance in its protection and is liable for loss through negligence. This is perhaps the best short definition of man\u2019s responsibility for nature as the Bible conceives it.<\/span><\/p>\r\nFrom:\u00a0<\/span>Environmental Responsibility (Covenant & Conversation, Shoftim 5775)<\/span><\/em><\/p>\r\nImage<\/span> by: annca on Pixabay<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":51209,"alt":"","title":"dt20-sustainability","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt20-sustainability.jpg","width":1920,"height":1279,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt20-sustainability-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt20-sustainability-300x200.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":200,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt20-sustainability-768x512.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":512,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt20-sustainability-1024x682.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":682,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt20-sustainability.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1023,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt20-sustainability.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":1279,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt20-sustainability-1200x799.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":799,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt20-sustainability-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":"Biblical 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Sacks","old_id":"754"},{"term_id":"360","name":"Nature\/Environment","old_id":"760"},{"term_id":"662","name":"Halacha","old_id":"1062"}]},{"order":11,"id":"51215","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"The Few Against the Many \u2013 Then and Now ","post_title":"The Few Against the Many \u2013 Then and Now","slug":"the-few-against-the-many-then-and-now","old_id":"51215","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":33877,"post_title":"Marc Bregman","slug":"marc-bregman","old_id":"33877","first_name":"Marc","last_name":"Bregman","description":"Marc Bregman received his Ph.D. from The Hebrew University in Jerusalem in 1991. He taught at the Hebrew Union College (Jerusalem), The Hebrew University in Jerusalem, the Schechter Institute for Judaic Studies in Jerusalem, and at the Ben-Gurion University in Beer Sheba, Israel. During 1993 he was Visiting Associate Professor at Yale University, and during 1996 he was the Stroum Professor of Jewish Studies and Visiting Research Fellow at the University of Washington in Seattle. During 2005, Bregman served as the Harry Starr Fellow in Judaica at Harvard University and was awarded a Teaching Fellowship at the Center for Advanced Judaic Studies at the University of Pennsylvania. He also has served as Forchheimer Visiting Professor in the Faculty of Humanities at The Hebrew University in Jerusalem. He is the author of The Tanhuma-Yelammedenu Literature: Studies in the Evolution of the Versions (Gorgias Press, 2003). In 2006, Bregman was appointed the Herman and Zelda Bernard Distinguished Professor of Jewish Studies at the University of North Carolina in Greensboro, where he also headed the program in Jewish Studies, until 2013. Bregman retired from UNCG as of July 31, 2017. He has now returned to Jerusalem where he is continuing his research and teaching activities.","credit":"","image_url":"","short_description":"Marc Bregman is the Herman and Zelda Bernard Distinguished Professor of Jewish Studies emeritus, at the University of North Carolina in Greensboro.","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":33878,"alt":"Marc Bregman","title":"Marc Bregman","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman.jpg","width":361,"height":488,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman-222x300.jpg","medium-width":222,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman.jpg","medium_large-width":361,"medium_large-height":488,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman.jpg","large-width":361,"large-height":488,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman.jpg","1536x1536-width":361,"1536x1536-height":488,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman.jpg","2048x2048-width":361,"2048x2048-height":488,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman.jpg","post_full_size-width":361,"post_full_size-height":488,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman-311x420.jpg","home_baner-width":311,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"173","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"A midrashic view of waging Biblical military campaigns","post_main_content_content":"Our chapter deals with the Israelite armies about to take the field against enemies that vastly outnumber them. How might it be possible to instill in them sufficient courage to do battle against such odds? \u201cWhen you take the field against your enemies and see horses and chariots\u2014forces larger than yours\u2014have no fear of them, for the Lord your God, who brought you from the land of Egypt, is with you\u201d (Deut. 20:1). <\/span><\/p>\r\nThe Midrash (Tanhuma Shoftim 16) elaborates on this verse by opening with a verse that also speaks of successfully facing myriads of horse-drawn chariots: \u201cFor the horse of Pharaoh, with his chariot and horsemen, came into the sea; and the Lord turned back on them the waters of the sea; but the Israelites marched on dry ground in the midst of the sea\u201d (Exodus 15:19). The Midrash asks: Why does Scripture not refer to Pharaoh\u2019s chariots and horses in the plural? Because all Pharaoh\u2019s many chariots and horses were considered as just one before the Holy One, blessed be He. \u201cForces larger than you\u201d (Deuteronomy 20:1) \u2013 The Holy One, blessed be He, says: Before you they are many, but before Me they are considered as just one. From where do we know this? From when the Holy One, blessed be He, said to Gideon: \u201c\u201cI will be with you, and you shall smite the Midianites as one man\u201d (Judges 6:16). <\/span><\/p>\r\nAnd from where do we know that Israel\u2019s enemies were many? \u201cAh, the roar of many peoples that roar as roars the sea\u201d (Isaiah 17:12). And though you are outnumbered twenty to one, you will still overcome them: \u201cFive of you shall give chase to a hundred, and a hundred of you shall give chase to ten thousand; your enemies shall fall before you by the sword\u201d (Leviticus 26:8). And so, it is written: \u201cForces larger than you\u201d (Deuteronomy 20:1). You shall not fear being outnumbered, for your forefathers had no fear of their many enemies and so defeated them. <\/span><\/p>\r\nAbout Abraham\u2019s battle against four kings, it is written: \u201cAt night, he and his servants divided their forces against them and defeated them\u201d (Genesis 14:15). Abraham had no fear, for I said to him: \u201cFear not, Abram, I am a shield to you\u201d (Genesis 15:1). As I shielded Abraham, so too will I shield you. What God promises, He fulfills, as it says \u201cAs I have designed, so shall it happen. What I have planned, that shall come to pass\u201d (Isaiah 14:24). What I, God, designed for Abraham, so too I shall do for you, Israel!\u201d <\/span><\/p>\r\nIndeed, since before its inception as a modern state, Israel has been consistently outnumbered in multiple conflicts, and yet has not only survived but has prospered. <\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":51216,"alt":"","title":"dt20-chariots","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt20-chariots.jpg","width":1920,"height":806,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt20-chariots-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt20-chariots-300x126.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":126,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt20-chariots-768x322.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":322,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt20-chariots-1024x430.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":430,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt20-chariots.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":645,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt20-chariots.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":806,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt20-chariots-1200x504.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":504,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt20-chariots-1000x420.jpg","home_baner-width":1000,"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 Few Against The Many \u2013 Then And Now","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"A midrashic view of waging Biblical military campaigns","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":51216,"alt":"","title":"dt20-chariots","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt20-chariots.jpg","width":1920,"height":806,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt20-chariots-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt20-chariots-300x126.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":126,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt20-chariots-768x322.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":322,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt20-chariots-1024x430.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":430,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt20-chariots.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":645,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt20-chariots.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":806,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt20-chariots-1200x504.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":504,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt20-chariots-1000x420.jpg","home_baner-width":1000,"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":"20","chapter_main_number":"173","date":"20260428","wall_id":"173"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"363","name":"Midrash","old_id":"763"},{"term_id":"434","name":"War","old_id":"834"}]},{"order":12,"id":"51181","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"The Shibboleth of War ","post_title":"The Shibboleth Of War","slug":"the-shibboleth-of-war","old_id":"51181","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":36669,"post_title":"Yakov Azriel","slug":"yakov-azriel","old_id":"36669","first_name":"Yakov ","last_name":"Azriel","description":"Yakov Azriel, who lives in Israel, has published five books of poetry in the USA and hundreds of poems in journals and magazines. 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You are about to join battle with your enemy. Let not your courage falter, no not fear or be in panic or dread of them\" (Deuteronomy 20:2-4)<\/span><\/p>\r\nIn memory of Lieutenant Danny Cohen, killed in battle at the age of 22<\/span><\/i> \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\nWe cannot sleep, for dreams are filled with dread<\/span>\r\n<\/span>Of what we fear the most \u2014 the shibboleth<\/span>\r\n<\/span>Of war, the eightieth, the ninetieth,<\/span>\r\n<\/span>The hundredth time we dream our sons are dead.<\/span>\r\n<\/span>Each night we dream the monster lifts her head<\/span>\r\n<\/span>Above our soldiers' open graves; each breath<\/span>\r\n<\/span>She breathes is rank with death \u2014 our children's death;<\/span>\r\n<\/span>Her mouth is red with blood our sons have bled. <\/span><\/p>\r\nWe shudder as we cry for help, O Lord,<\/span>\r\n<\/span>Against the monster's fangs, without a shred<\/span>\r\n<\/span>Of hope our children can survive her claws,<\/span>\r\n<\/span>Unless You beat her polished, two-edged sword<\/span>\r\n<\/span>Into a ploughshare's tarnished blade instead;<\/span>\r\n<\/span>For she is War, the mother of all wars.<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":89628,"alt":"","title":"ps120-war 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