{"id":51371,"date":"2018-07-09T17:42:02","date_gmt":"2018-07-09T14:42:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wall\/wall-179\/"},"modified":"2022-10-12T11:21:22","modified_gmt":"2022-10-12T08:21:22","slug":"wall-179","status":"publish","type":"wall","link":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wall\/wall-179\/","title":{"rendered":"chapter-Torah-Deuteronomy-26"},"parent":0,"template":"","acf":{"type":"chapter","wall_id":"179","date":"20260506","book":"Deuteronomy","chapter":"26","chapter_main_number":"179","books_group":"Torah","posts":[{"order":1,"id":"51639","color":"#f8ebe3","size":"1","name":"Deuteronomy 26 - Judy Hammond ","post_title":"Deuteronomy 26 - Judy Hammond","slug":"deuteronomy-26-judy-hammond","old_id":"51639","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":34686,"post_title":"Soundcloud","slug":"soundcloud","old_id":"34686","first_name":"","last_name":"","description":"","short_description":"","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":34656,"alt":"","title":"491","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","width":300,"height":300,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","medium_large-width":300,"medium_large-height":300,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","large-width":300,"large-height":300,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","1536x1536-width":300,"1536x1536-height":300,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","2048x2048-width":300,"2048x2048-height":300,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","post_full_size-width":300,"post_full_size-height":300,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","home_baner-width":300,"home_baner-height":300}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"179","type_929":"4","show_author_image":true,"old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"","post_main_content_content":"","post_main_content_image":"","post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"The Audio Bible","tile_main_caption":"Deuteronomy 26","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"read by Judy Hammond","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":"","tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"https:\/\/soundcloud.com\/929-bible\/deuteronomy-chapter-26-read-by-judy-hammond","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","old_create_date":"","links":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Torah","book":"Deuteronomy","chapter":"26","chapter_main_number":"179","date":"20260506","wall_id":"179"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":2,"id":"108506","color":"#f6edf6","size":"1","name":"What Does The Ara-mean? ","post_title":"What Does The Ara-mean?","slug":"what-does-the-ara-mean","old_id":"108506","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":78133,"post_title":"Josh Blechner","slug":"josh-blechner","old_id":"78133","first_name":"Josh ","last_name":"Blechner ","description":"Josh first finished the Tanach during Yeshiva in Mevaseret Zion. He and his daughter studied the Tanach again for her bat mitzvah. Josh has taught many classes on Tanach throughout the years and currently in the New Rochelle 929 group. When not studying for 929, Josh works as an in-house lawyer in New Jersey.","short_description":"Josh has taught many classes on Tanach throughout the years and currently in the New Rochelle 929 group, and is an in-house attorney in New Jersey. ","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":78134,"alt":"","title":"josh blechner","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","width":276,"height":351,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner-236x300.jpg","medium-width":236,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","medium_large-width":276,"medium_large-height":351,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","large-width":276,"large-height":351,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","1536x1536-width":276,"1536x1536-height":351,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","2048x2048-width":276,"2048x2048-height":351,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","post_full_size-width":276,"post_full_size-height":351,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","home_baner-width":276,"home_baner-height":351}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"179","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Musings on the identity of the Aramean here and in the haggadah\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

The chapter begins with the commandment to bring the first fruits, but it also contains a passage that is a significant part of the Pesach Haggadah.\u00a0 The passage is a mini-history of the Israelites. It describes them going down to Egypt, then God saving them from the Egyptians with signs and wonders. Next, God brings the people to the land of milk and honey and now the people bring the first fruits to God.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The passage opens with the phrase \u201c<\/span>Arami oved avi<\/span><\/em>.\u201d What does this phrase mean? Rashi translates it as \u201can Aramean destroyed my father.\u201d The Aramean, according to Rashi, is Laban. This is also how the Targum translates it. Some commentators say the word <\/span>oved<\/span><\/em> should be with an <\/span>ayin<\/span><\/em>- meaning worked. As in: Laban \u2018worked\u2019 Jacob. The Pesach Haggadah also follows this interpretation.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Go out and learn what Laban the Aramean sought to do to Jacob our father; since Pharaoh only decreed [the death sentence] on the males but Laban sought to uproot the whole [people]. As it is stated (Deut. 26:5), \u2018An Aramean was destroying my father and he went down to Egypt, and he resided there with a small number and he became there a nation, great, powerful and numerous.\u2019<\/span><\/p>\r\n

There are many questions about this opinion. Why start this passage with Laban without naming him? Going down to Egypt was not directly after the Laban story, so why connect the two? Ibn Ezra asks many of these questions. He prefers to translate the phrase as \"my father was a lost Aramean.\" <\/span>Oved<\/em> <\/span>is not used as a transitive verb here, but as an adjective. The Aramean is Jacob, and he was lost because he was poor. This sets up a nice, mirrored structure. Jacob was poor, he went down to Egypt with a small group of people as one side. The mirror to that is that God intervened and a large nation came out of Egypt. The people then entered the land flowing with milk and honey. This sets up the ultimate contrast between the humble beginnings of the people and the eventual wealth that leads the farmer to bring his first fruits to the Temple.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Rashbam goes further back and explains that the Aramean here is Abraham who was a wanderer. Abraham is a stand-in for all three of the forefathers who did not have a set land of their own and wandered about. Rashbam\u2019s interpretation also maintains the mirrored structure. One can ask though: what did Rashbam and Ibn Ezra say on Pesach? Did they have a different version of the haggadah?<\/span><\/p>\r\n

 <\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":53867,"alt":"","title":"jo13a-seder","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo13a-seder.jpg","width":590,"height":384,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo13a-seder-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo13a-seder-300x195.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":195,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo13a-seder.jpg","medium_large-width":590,"medium_large-height":384,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo13a-seder.jpg","large-width":590,"large-height":384,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo13a-seder.jpg","1536x1536-width":590,"1536x1536-height":384,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo13a-seder.jpg","2048x2048-width":590,"2048x2048-height":384,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo13a-seder.jpg","post_full_size-width":590,"post_full_size-height":384,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo13a-seder.jpg","home_baner-width":590,"home_baner-height":384}},"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":"What Does The Ara-mean?","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Musings on the identity of the Aramean here and in the haggadah","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":53867,"alt":"","title":"jo13a-seder","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo13a-seder.jpg","width":590,"height":384,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo13a-seder-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo13a-seder-300x195.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":195,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo13a-seder.jpg","medium_large-width":590,"medium_large-height":384,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo13a-seder.jpg","large-width":590,"large-height":384,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo13a-seder.jpg","1536x1536-width":590,"1536x1536-height":384,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo13a-seder.jpg","2048x2048-width":590,"2048x2048-height":384,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo13a-seder.jpg","post_full_size-width":590,"post_full_size-height":384,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo13a-seder.jpg","home_baner-width":590,"home_baner-height":384}},"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":"26","chapter_main_number":"179","date":"20260506","wall_id":"179"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"366","name":"Commentators","old_id":"766"},{"term_id":"464","name":"Agriculture","old_id":"864"},{"term_id":"481","name":"Laban","old_id":"881"},{"term_id":"597","name":"Pesach","old_id":"997"}]},{"order":3,"id":"51689","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"Transcending Covenantal Community ","post_title":"Transcending Covenantal Community","slug":"transcending-covenantal-community","old_id":"51689","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":51422,"post_title":"Ellie Schainker","slug":"ellie-schainker","old_id":"51422","first_name":"Ellie ","last_name":"Schainker ","description":"Ellie Schainker is the Arthur Blank Family Foundation Associate Professor of History and Jewish Studies at Emory University. She is the author of Confessions of the Shtetl: Converts from Judaism in Imperial Russia, 1817-1906, winner of a 2017 National Jewish Book Award. She is currently leading a 929 study group in Atlanta, Georgia.","short_description":"Ellie Schainker is the Arthur Blank Family Foundation Associate Professor of History and Jewish Studies at Emory University.","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":51423,"alt":"","title":"Ellie-Schainker","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Ellie-Schainker.jpg","width":240,"height":402,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Ellie-Schainker-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Ellie-Schainker-179x300.jpg","medium-width":179,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Ellie-Schainker.jpg","medium_large-width":240,"medium_large-height":402,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Ellie-Schainker.jpg","large-width":240,"large-height":402,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Ellie-Schainker.jpg","1536x1536-width":240,"1536x1536-height":402,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Ellie-Schainker.jpg","2048x2048-width":240,"2048x2048-height":402,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Ellie-Schainker.jpg","post_full_size-width":240,"post_full_size-height":402,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Ellie-Schainker.jpg","home_baner-width":240,"home_baner-height":402}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"179","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Including native and foreign, landed and landless","post_main_content_content":"

\u201cAnd you shall enjoy, together with the Levite and the stranger in your midst, all the bounty that the Lord your God has bestowed upon you and your household.\u201d (Deut 26:11)<\/span><\/p>\r\n

In his parting words to the Israelites, Moses repeatedly invokes the <\/span>ger<\/span><\/i>, or stranger, as an object of the Israelites\u2019 empathy and as a reminder of the need to look out for society\u2019s vulnerable since they too were once strangers in a strange land. \u00a0In the bikkurim<\/em>, first fruits offering discussed in today\u2019s chapter, the stranger emerges not as an object of the Israelites\u2019 social justice but as a subject and participant in the rite of gratitude and rejoicing in the first fruits of the harvest. \u00a0According to Rashi, Israelites, strangers and Levites (Israelites without tribal lands) are all on an even playing field in bringing the first fruits of the harvest and recognizing the good bestowed upon them by God when entering the Land of Israel. (Rashi specifies that this is for Levites who planted in their designated cities.) \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

This inclusivity is in contrast to the mitzvah of <\/span>ma\u2019aser<\/em> <\/span>(tithing) in our chapter, in which the <\/span>ger<\/em> <\/span>is once again an object of charity through which the Israelite farmer fulfills his mitzvah to tithe and share his produce with the needy and landless (widow, orphan, stranger, and Levite). \u00a0After faithfully fulfilling God\u2019s commandments regarding the laws of tithing, the farmer then asks God to rain down His blessing to nourish the earth. While the community of tithers is a covenantal community bound by Torah, the community of celebrants in the bikkurim<\/em> ritual is broader\u2014it is for all households who reach the promised land and embark on independent lives grounded in material concerns and labor but cognizant of the source of all blessing. <\/span><\/p>\r\n

The inclusive participation in the bikkurim<\/em> ritual, of the landed and landless, is mirrored in the farmer\u2019s prayer recited before the priest in which the farmer reflects on the miraculous historical trajectory of going from slavery to freedom in the promised land. \u00a0Significantly, the farmer narrates the exodus history but skips over revelation and the covenant at Sinai. In pairing this prayer of gratitude to the bikkurim<\/em> rite, the Torah is speaking to a broader community here bound up in the fate of the Israelites but not necessarily in its laws. <\/span><\/p>\r\n

This bikkurim<\/em> community can enjoy and rejoice in land, labor, and first fruits which transcend tribe and ancestry. \u00a0Rashi does delimit the stranger\u2019s participation, though, stating that a <\/span>ger <\/span><\/i>can bring first fruits but cannot recite the prayer which refers to the God of \u201cour forefathers.\u201d\u00a0 That being said, the farmer\u2019s prayer seems to purposely transcend covenantal community and focus on the blessing of free labor and the ability to reap the fruits of one\u2019s labor, a message with universal resonance.<\/span>
\r\n
\r\n<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Image: http:\/\/clipart-library.com\/clipart\/kTKopBnBc.htm<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":51690,"alt":"","title":"dt26-cornucopia","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt26-cornucopia.jpg","width":1600,"height":1200,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt26-cornucopia-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt26-cornucopia-300x225.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":225,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt26-cornucopia-768x576.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":576,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt26-cornucopia-1024x768.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":768,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt26-cornucopia.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1152,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt26-cornucopia.jpg","2048x2048-width":1600,"2048x2048-height":1200,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt26-cornucopia-1200x900.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":900,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt26-cornucopia-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":"","tile_main_caption":"Transcending Covenantal Community","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Including native and foreign, landed and landless","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":51690,"alt":"","title":"dt26-cornucopia","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt26-cornucopia.jpg","width":1600,"height":1200,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt26-cornucopia-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt26-cornucopia-300x225.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":225,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt26-cornucopia-768x576.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":576,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt26-cornucopia-1024x768.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":768,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt26-cornucopia.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1152,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt26-cornucopia.jpg","2048x2048-width":1600,"2048x2048-height":1200,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt26-cornucopia-1200x900.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":900,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt26-cornucopia-560x420.jpg","home_baner-width":560,"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":"26","chapter_main_number":"179","date":"20260506","wall_id":"179"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"395","name":"Covenant","old_id":"795"},{"term_id":"415","name":"food","old_id":"815"},{"term_id":"453","name":"Stranger","old_id":"853"},{"term_id":"464","name":"Agriculture","old_id":"864"},{"term_id":"712","name":"Inclusion","old_id":"1112"}]},{"order":4,"id":"51666","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"They Tried to Kill Us, God Saved Us, \u00a0Let's...Share! ","post_title":"They Tried to Kill Us, God Saved Us, \u00a0Let's...Share!","slug":"they-tried-to-kill-us-god-saved-us-lets-share","old_id":"51666","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":33859,"post_title":"Avidan Freedman","slug":"avidan-freedman","old_id":"33859","first_name":"Avidan","last_name":"Freedman","description":"Rabbi Avidan Freedman is the Rabbi of Hevruta, the Shalom Hartman Institute's post high school program for Israelis and North Americans, and an educator in the institute's high school. He is an activist advocating for moral limits on Israeli arms exports, and on behalf of African refugees, and a proud husband and father of 5. He received his rabbinical ordination from Yeshivat Chovevei Torah in New York, and from the Israeli chief rabbinate.","credit":"","image_url":"","short_description":"Rabbi Avidan Freedman is the Rabbi of Hevruta, the Shalom Hartman Institute's post high school program for Israelis and North Americans, and an educator in the institute's high school. ","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":33860,"alt":"Avidan Freedman","title":"Avidan Freedman","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Avidan-Freedman-e1532029306365.jpg","width":856,"height":1024,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Avidan-Freedman-e1532029306365-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Avidan-Freedman-e1532029306365-251x300.jpg","medium-width":251,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Avidan-Freedman-e1532029306365-768x919.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":919,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Avidan-Freedman-e1532029306365-856x1024.jpg","large-width":856,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Avidan-Freedman-e1532029306365.jpg","1536x1536-width":856,"1536x1536-height":1024,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Avidan-Freedman-e1532029306365.jpg","2048x2048-width":856,"2048x2048-height":1024,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Avidan-Freedman-800x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":800,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Avidan-Freedman-e1532029306365-351x420.jpg","home_baner-width":351,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"179","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Happiness and holiness multiply when they are divided","post_main_content_content":"

A well-known joke sums up every Jewish holiday with a three part formula: They tried to kill us, God saved us, let's eat. It's a narrative arc which is expressed quite explicitly in chapter 26, in the declaration made upon bringing the first fruits on the holiday of Shavuot. This same declaration later becomes the core of our Pesach reading at the <\/span>seder<\/span><\/i>, so that it figures prominently in 2\/3 of the major Biblical festivals. Not bad. It's just missing one critical element.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

It's true that the most appropriate way to express our gratitude to God for our salvation is by enjoying all the good given to us. But if only <\/span>we<\/em> have enjoyed it, we've missed the whole point. The section about the bringing of first fruits concludes \"And you shall rejoice in all the good that God has given you and your family, you, the Levite, and the stranger in your midst.\" The joy of the holidays is only properly expressed when it is shared with the less fortunate.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Maimonides codifies this idea in his laws of the holidays (<\/span>Shevitat Yom Tov \u00a06:18):<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n

When he eats and drinks, he is obligated to feed the stranger, the orphan, and the widow, along with other poor and downtrodden people. But one who locks the doors of his courtyard, and eats with his children and wife, but doesn't feed the poor and embittered- this is not the joy of mitzva, but gluttonous joy.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

This isn't the Torah's formula for charity, it's the formula for happiness. We define the abundance of our happiness by how we treat it. When we share it, it grows. When we hoard it, it constricts.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

And this is also the formula for holiness. \u00a0Following the presentation of the declaration of the first fruits, the Torah discusses another declaration, <\/span>viduy maasrot<\/span><\/em>, the 'confession of tithes.' The parts of our produce deemed holy cannot be hoarded. Holiness finds its expression only in giving to 'the Levite, the stranger, the orphan, the widow.'<\/span><\/p>\r\n

And when we have acted properly towards what is holy in our midst, we can turn to God and ask that He, in return, turn to us from his holy abode. \"We have done what you decreed upon us, now you must do what you promised us\". \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

 <\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":51667,"alt":"","title":"dt26-mealsharing","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt26-mealsharing.jpg","width":640,"height":427,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt26-mealsharing-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt26-mealsharing-300x200.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":200,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt26-mealsharing.jpg","medium_large-width":640,"medium_large-height":427,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt26-mealsharing.jpg","large-width":640,"large-height":427,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt26-mealsharing.jpg","1536x1536-width":640,"1536x1536-height":427,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt26-mealsharing.jpg","2048x2048-width":640,"2048x2048-height":427,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt26-mealsharing.jpg","post_full_size-width":640,"post_full_size-height":427,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt26-mealsharing-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":"They Tried to Kill Us, God Saved Us, \u00a0Let's...Share!","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Happiness and holiness multiply when they are divided","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":51667,"alt":"","title":"dt26-mealsharing","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt26-mealsharing.jpg","width":640,"height":427,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt26-mealsharing-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt26-mealsharing-300x200.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":200,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt26-mealsharing.jpg","medium_large-width":640,"medium_large-height":427,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt26-mealsharing.jpg","large-width":640,"large-height":427,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt26-mealsharing.jpg","1536x1536-width":640,"1536x1536-height":427,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt26-mealsharing.jpg","2048x2048-width":640,"2048x2048-height":427,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt26-mealsharing.jpg","post_full_size-width":640,"post_full_size-height":427,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt26-mealsharing-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":"26","chapter_main_number":"179","date":"20260506","wall_id":"179"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"516","name":"Holidays","old_id":"916"},{"term_id":"696","name":"Celebration","old_id":"1096"},{"term_id":"849","name":"Sharing","old_id":"1249"}]},{"order":5,"id":"51663","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"How To Face Uncertainty and Chaos? ","post_title":"How To Face Uncertainty And Chaos?","slug":"how-to-face-uncertainty-and-chaos","old_id":"51663","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":49857,"post_title":"Tali Adler","slug":"tali-adler","old_id":"49857","first_name":"Tali ","last_name":"Adler","description":"Rabbi Tali Adler is a faculty member at Yeshivat Hadar, an egalitarian yeshiva on the Upper West Side. 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":"179","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Celebrate the fruits of our labors, and open our hands in joy and gratitude","post_main_content_content":"

We\u2019ve made it.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

That seems to be the promise of bikkurim<\/em>, the bringing of the first fruits.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

When you arrive in the land--when you have made it--you will bring your first fruits to the temple, where you will offer them to God, alongside a recitation of the story of your people. You will recount how you once wandered, how you suffered, how God redeemed you and brought you to this land. You will share your abundance in joy, and give gratitude to God.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The story seems clear: you once suffered, and then you were saved. In remembering our former suffering we are reminded of our current abundance and security. Reading the mitzvah of bikkurim<\/em> in this chapter, one might expect the final verse to read \u201cand you will all live happily ever after.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

But we know that that is not how the story ends.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The chapter itself reminds us that that apparent promise of security is unsure: we are told, in no uncertain terms, that the story is not over. A few chapters later, we encounter the kelala<\/em>, the curse, \u00a0some of the most painful verses in the Torah. We are told that there are curses, more terrible than anything we experienced before, that we will experience if we sin--which, the Torah tells us, we certainly will.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Suddenly, only a few chapters later, the bikkurim<\/em> transform into something darker: no longer a symbol of a story ended, they become a momentary pause, a respite between periods of unrest. The land shifts under our feet.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

We are left wondering: what meaning can the bikkurim<\/em> possibly have in a world so fraught with chaos? What meaning there be in thanking God for salvation, thanking God for the land, thanking God for what we have right now when there is no promise that it will last--when we are almost sure, in fact, that it won\u2019t?<\/span><\/p>\r\n

And I think, strangely enough, that the answer lies in the very place the question started. In the face of chaos, in the face of an uncertain world, we bring bikkurim<\/em>.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

In the face of an uncertain world, we watch our trees for first fruits and promises of new beginnings.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

In the face of an uncertain world, we mark those first fruits and we watch them grow.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

In the face of an uncertain world, we tell the story of what we have faced before; of who we have been; of where we are now, and thank God for every step of that journey. We celebrate what we have now in joy--not alone, but with those around us who are in need.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

In the face of an uncertain world, when all our instincts might tell us to hunker down, to save every scrap we have, we open our hands and hearts in joy and gratitude.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

image: Thank offering unto the Lord, offering of first fruits, as in Deuteronomy 26:1-11, illustration from a Bible card published by the Providence Lithograph Company between 1896 and 1913 \/ wikimedia<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":51664,"alt":"","title":"dt26-bikkurim","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt26-bikkurim.jpg","width":416,"height":500,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt26-bikkurim-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt26-bikkurim-250x300.jpg","medium-width":250,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt26-bikkurim.jpg","medium_large-width":416,"medium_large-height":500,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt26-bikkurim.jpg","large-width":416,"large-height":500,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt26-bikkurim.jpg","1536x1536-width":416,"1536x1536-height":500,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt26-bikkurim.jpg","2048x2048-width":416,"2048x2048-height":500,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt26-bikkurim.jpg","post_full_size-width":416,"post_full_size-height":500,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt26-bikkurim-349x420.jpg","home_baner-width":349,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"How To Face Uncertainty And Chaos?","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Celebrate the fruits of our labors, and open our hands in joy and gratitude","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":51664,"alt":"","title":"dt26-bikkurim","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt26-bikkurim.jpg","width":416,"height":500,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt26-bikkurim-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt26-bikkurim-250x300.jpg","medium-width":250,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt26-bikkurim.jpg","medium_large-width":416,"medium_large-height":500,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt26-bikkurim.jpg","large-width":416,"large-height":500,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt26-bikkurim.jpg","1536x1536-width":416,"1536x1536-height":500,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt26-bikkurim.jpg","2048x2048-width":416,"2048x2048-height":500,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt26-bikkurim.jpg","post_full_size-width":416,"post_full_size-height":500,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt26-bikkurim-349x420.jpg","home_baner-width":349,"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":"26","chapter_main_number":"179","date":"20260506","wall_id":"179"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"444","name":"History","old_id":"844"},{"term_id":"470","name":"Thanks","old_id":"870"},{"term_id":"520","name":"Gratitude","old_id":"920"},{"term_id":"636","name":"Uncertainty\/Doubt","old_id":"1036"},{"term_id":"753","name":"Meaning","old_id":"1153"}]},{"order":6,"id":"51660","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"A Cure For Affluenza ","post_title":"A Cure For Affluenza","slug":"a-cure-for-affluenza","old_id":"51660","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":37918,"post_title":"Shai Held","slug":"shai-held","old_id":"37918","first_name":" Shai ","last_name":"Held","description":"Rabbi Shai Held, theologian, scholar, and educator, is President, Dean, and Chair in Jewish Thought at Hadar, where he also directs the Center for Jewish Leadership and Ideas. A 2011 recipient of the prestigious Covenant Award for excellence in Jewish education, Rabbi Held has been named multiple times to Newsweek\u2019s list of the 50 most influential rabbis in America. He holds a doctorate in religion from Harvard; Rabbi Held's first book, Abraham Joshua Heschel: The Call of Transcendence, was published by Indiana University Press in 2013; The Heart of Torah, a collection of essays on the Torah in two volumes, was published by JPS in 2017.","short_description":"Rabbi Shai Held is President, Dean, and Chair in Jewish Thought at Hadar,","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":37919,"alt":"","title":"shai held","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/shai-held.jpg","width":150,"height":186,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/shai-held-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/shai-held.jpg","medium-width":150,"medium-height":186,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/shai-held.jpg","medium_large-width":150,"medium_large-height":186,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/shai-held.jpg","large-width":150,"large-height":186,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/shai-held.jpg","1536x1536-width":150,"1536x1536-height":186,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/shai-held.jpg","2048x2048-width":150,"2048x2048-height":186,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/shai-held.jpg","post_full_size-width":150,"post_full_size-height":186,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/shai-held.jpg","home_baner-width":150,"home_baner-height":186}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"179","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Preserving gratitude perpetuates generosity","post_main_content_content":"

Deuteronomy portrays God as a gracious giver of gifts. Yet Deuteronomy worries that these gifts<\/span> could easily become snares, that the people will feel entitled to God\u2019s bounty instead of being grateful for it and that they will come to forget the God who has given them so much. The first-fruits ceremony prescribed in chapter 26 is a liturgical attempt to keep gratitude from dissipating in the face of affluence and abundance.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The Israelite farmer bringing his first fruits to the Temple is also instructed to recite a liturgical formula situating the bounty before him the context of God\u2019s long history of gracious involvement with the people, from<\/span> 26:5-10.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The biblical memory deliberately blurs the line between past and present. The ritual conflates the farmer\u2019s ancestors, the contemporary community, and the individual farmer himself. The pilgrim starts out talking about his ancestors (\u201cMy father was a fugitive Aramean, etc.\u201d) but soon shifts, almost imperceptibly, to the first person plural: \u201cThe Egyptians dealt harshly with us and oppressed us, etc.\u201d). This subtly transforms the distant memory of the salvation of the farmer\u2019s forebears into his own generation\u2019s story. <\/span><\/p>\r\n

The formula goes further, this time shifting from the plural to the singular: \u201cWherefore I now bring the first fruits of the soil which you, O Lord, have given me.\u201d Now, the experience of those who came before him becomes the pilgrim\u2019s own life-story. Not only has the farmer\u2019s own generation gone through that transformation; but so also has he personally.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The first eleven verses of the chapter emphasize that the land is a gift, repeating the verb <\/span>n-t-n<\/span><\/i>(give) no fewer than seven times (26:1,2,3, 6, 9,10,11). In a book that wants to instill an enduring sense of gratitude, the Israelite is charged to acknowledge again and again just how much has been given <\/span>to<\/em> <\/span>him rather than (just) accomplished <\/span>by<\/em> <\/span>him.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Deuteronomy instructs the pilgrim to enjoy the bounty God has given him \u201ctogether with the Levite and the stranger in your midst\u201d (26:11). Deuteronomy\u2019s teaching is clear: If you remember how much has been given to you, you will be receptive both to God\u2019s command and to the needs of the downtrodden. But if you assume that you have single-handedly earned every last thing you have, you will forget both God and your neighbor. <\/span><\/p>\r\n

So Deuteronomy repeatedly bids us: Remember how much you have been given, and never forget to be grateful.<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":51661,"alt":"","title":"dt26-grateful","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt26-grateful.jpg","width":1920,"height":1438,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt26-grateful-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt26-grateful-300x225.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":225,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt26-grateful-768x575.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":575,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt26-grateful-1024x767.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":767,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt26-grateful.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1150,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt26-grateful.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":1438,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt26-grateful-1200x899.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":899,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt26-grateful-561x420.jpg","home_baner-width":561,"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":"A Cure For Affluenza","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Preserving gratitude perpetuates generosity","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":51661,"alt":"","title":"dt26-grateful","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt26-grateful.jpg","width":1920,"height":1438,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt26-grateful-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt26-grateful-300x225.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":225,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt26-grateful-768x575.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":575,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt26-grateful-1024x767.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":767,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt26-grateful.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1150,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt26-grateful.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":1438,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt26-grateful-1200x899.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":899,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt26-grateful-561x420.jpg","home_baner-width":561,"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":"26","chapter_main_number":"179","date":"20260506","wall_id":"179"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"448","name":"Ritual","old_id":"848"},{"term_id":"520","name":"Gratitude","old_id":"920"},{"term_id":"542","name":"Generosity","old_id":"942"}]},{"order":7,"id":"51681","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"Community of Faith vs Community of Fate ","post_title":"Community Of Faith vs Community Of Fate","slug":"community-of-faith-vs-community-of-fate","old_id":"51681","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":"179","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"A nation linked by history and destiny","post_main_content_content":"

The Exodus is normally seen as the birth of Israel as a nation. But was it? To this the Bible gives two conflicting answers. The first occurs in a passage we read on Passover at the seder table:<\/span><\/p>\r\n

A wandering Aramean was my father,<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>And he went down to Egypt<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>And sojourned there, few in number;<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>And there he became a nation [<\/span>vayehi sham le-goi<\/span><\/em>] . . . (<\/span>Deuteronomy 26:5)<\/span>
\r\n<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The other occurs in the wilderness of Sinai immediately prior to the revelation of the Ten Commandments and Israel\u2019s acceptance of the covenant with God:<\/span>
\r\n<\/span><\/p>\r\n

You have seen what I did to Egypt<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>And how I carried you with eagles\u2019 wings<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>And brought you to Myself.<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>Now if You obey Me fully<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>And keep My covenant,<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>Then out of all the nations<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>You will be My treasured possession,<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>For all the earth is Mine.<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>You will be for Me a kingdom of priests<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>And a holy nation [<\/span>goi kadosh<\/span><\/em>] . . . (Exodus 19: 4-6) <\/span>
\r\n<\/span><\/p>\r\n

There is an evident contradiction between these two passages. The first says that the Israelites became a nation in Egypt. The second says that they became a nation only after they left Egypt and had begun their journey through the desert. There at Mount Sinai God offered them the covenant, they accepted and only then did they become a nation. <\/span><\/p>\r\n

How do we to reconcile these two accounts? <\/span><\/p>\r\n

The answer is that there are two ways in which individuals coalesce into a group with its own distinctive identity. The first is the way of history. Individuals feel bound to one another because they share the same ancestry, the same ethnic origins, the sense of a shared past. When they look back they find ties of collective memory. They are what they are because of where they came from and what has happened to them. This is the unifying bond of peoples and ethnic groups. They are a community of fate, an \u2018<\/em><\/span>am<\/span><\/em>, a people. <\/span><\/p>\r\n

The second is based on the future. Individuals can be bound together as a group not just because of where they came from but where they are going to; not just because of what happened to them but because of what they are called on to achieve. They share ideals, a common vision. They participate in a collective life with a distinctive set of rules, values and virtues. They are linked not by history but by destiny \u2013 by the journey that lies ahead and the task they have undertaken to fulfill. Such a group is not a community of fate but a community of faith. <\/span><\/p>\r\n

The Bible calls this an edah<\/em>, a word which political scientist Daniel Elazar translates as \u201cthe assembly of all the people constituted as a body politic.\u201d \u00a0<\/span>
\r\n<\/span><\/p>\r\n

 <\/p>\r\n

A Letter in the Scroll, p.110-111<\/em><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":47353,"alt":"","title":"shutterstock_521443675","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/shutterstock_521443675.jpg","width":5001,"height":5001,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/shutterstock_521443675-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/shutterstock_521443675-300x300.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/shutterstock_521443675-768x768.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":768,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/shutterstock_521443675-1024x1024.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/shutterstock_521443675.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/shutterstock_521443675.jpg","2048x2048-width":2048,"2048x2048-height":2048,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/shutterstock_521443675-1200x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/shutterstock_521443675-420x420.jpg","home_baner-width":420,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"Community of Faith vs Community of Fate","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"A nation linked by history and destiny","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":47353,"alt":"","title":"shutterstock_521443675","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/shutterstock_521443675.jpg","width":5001,"height":5001,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/shutterstock_521443675-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/shutterstock_521443675-300x300.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/shutterstock_521443675-768x768.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":768,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/shutterstock_521443675-1024x1024.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/shutterstock_521443675.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/shutterstock_521443675.jpg","2048x2048-width":2048,"2048x2048-height":2048,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/shutterstock_521443675-1200x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/shutterstock_521443675-420x420.jpg","home_baner-width":420,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"tile_link_for_pay":"0","send_noty":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Torah","book":"Deuteronomy","chapter":"26","chapter_main_number":"179","date":"20260506","wall_id":"179"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"354","name":"Rabbi Sacks","old_id":"754"},{"term_id":"444","name":"History","old_id":"844"},{"term_id":"539","name":"Israel","old_id":"939"},{"term_id":"783","name":"Destiny","old_id":"1183"}]},{"order":8,"id":"51669","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"Liberation, Gratitude, Empowerment ","post_title":"Liberation, Gratitude, Empowerment","slug":"liberation-gratitude-empowerment","old_id":"51669","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":33992,"post_title":"Bradley Shavit Artson","slug":"rabbi-dr-bradley-shavit-artson","old_id":"33992","first_name":"Bradley Shavit ","last_name":"Artson","description":"Rabbi Dr Bradley Shavit Artson holds the Abner and Roslyn Goldstine Dean's Chair of the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies and is Vice President of American Jewish University in Los Angeles, and is professor of philosophy there. Artson is married to Elana Shavit Artson, and they are the parents of twins, Shira and Jacob.\r\n","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"short_description":"Rabbi Dr Bradley Shavit Artson is the Dean of the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies and is Vice President of American Jewish University in Los Angeles.","link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":33993,"alt":"","title":"Rabbi Dr Bradley Shavit Artson","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Rabbi-Dr-Bradley-Shavit-Artson-e1532029361140.png","width":204,"height":199,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Rabbi-Dr-Bradley-Shavit-Artson-e1532029361140-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Rabbi-Dr-Bradley-Shavit-Artson-256x300.png","medium-width":256,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Rabbi-Dr-Bradley-Shavit-Artson-e1532029361140.png","medium_large-width":204,"medium_large-height":199,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Rabbi-Dr-Bradley-Shavit-Artson-e1532029361140.png","large-width":204,"large-height":199,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Rabbi-Dr-Bradley-Shavit-Artson-e1532029361140.png","1536x1536-width":204,"1536x1536-height":199,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Rabbi-Dr-Bradley-Shavit-Artson-e1532029361140.png","2048x2048-width":204,"2048x2048-height":199,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Rabbi-Dr-Bradley-Shavit-Artson-e1532029361140.png","post_full_size-width":204,"post_full_size-height":199,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Rabbi-Dr-Bradley-Shavit-Artson-e1532029361140.png","home_baner-width":204,"home_baner-height":199}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"179","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Give flight, give thanks, give back","post_main_content_content":"

In the entire Torah, there are two pieces of mandated liturgy: words of prayer required at a specific occasion. One of them, Birkat Kohanim<\/em>, are the words the priests would use to bless the people Israel. Those words are still used on holidays and by parents to their children on Friday nights as Shabbat begins. A second piece of fixed liturgy is found in Deuteronomy 26, and it is known today because it forms the core of the Passover Haggadah. In antiquity, it was required to be recited when farmers would bring their first fruit offerings to the Temple as a gift.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Because this is the only fixed liturgy demanded of the average Israelite, we would expect that it would tell our core narrative, and also tell us the consequences of our central story. And indeed it does.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The passage begins by recounting that our ancestors were wanderers, refugees who wandered down to Egypt and were enslaved and oppressed there. When we cried out to God, God responded as a force of liberation, striking down Pharaoh and setting us free. Then God brought us to the Land of Israel and we are able to be in the position to give back by bringing these first harvests to the place God has selected for service.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Noteworthy in this recitation is that we begin not with our storied and powerful past (as so many national stories do), but instead with our own perilous fragility, our own forced wanderings and suffering. Rather than finding welcome in Egypt, we were enslaved brutally.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

But we are told not to dwell on the slavery to cultivate a grievance or to nurse rage. Instead, we tell it as a story of liberation \u2013 that indeed our faith teaches us that God is always bringing Pharaohs down. And our confidence in the triumph of liberation makes us identify liberation with God directly, and to respond with gratitude. But gratitude isn\u2019t the end of the story either. Instead, we recognize that real gratitude finds expression in empowerment and generosity. Knowing that we have been freed and blessed inspires us to give back, to pass the gratitude along in the form of donations so that others may be free and fed.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Liberation, gratitude, empowerment: that is the arc of the Jewish story, and of our responsibility to our fellow human beings to this day. Show gratitude by caring for others; only when we share with those who lack do we merit the gratitude at all: \u201cYou shall enjoy, together with the Levite and the stranger in your midst, all the bounty that the Lord your God has bestowed upon you and your household (26:11).\u201d<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":51670,"alt":"","title":"dt26-liberation","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt26-liberation.jpg","width":1920,"height":1280,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt26-liberation-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt26-liberation-300x200.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":200,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt26-liberation-768x512.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":512,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt26-liberation-1024x683.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":683,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt26-liberation.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1024,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt26-liberation.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":1280,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt26-liberation-1200x800.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":800,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt26-liberation-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":"Liberation, Gratitude, Empowerment","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Give flight, give thanks, give back","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":51670,"alt":"","title":"dt26-liberation","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt26-liberation.jpg","width":1920,"height":1280,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt26-liberation-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt26-liberation-300x200.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":200,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt26-liberation-768x512.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":512,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt26-liberation-1024x683.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":683,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt26-liberation.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1024,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt26-liberation.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":1280,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt26-liberation-1200x800.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":800,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt26-liberation-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":"26","chapter_main_number":"179","date":"20260506","wall_id":"179"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"437","name":"Prayer","old_id":"837"},{"term_id":"444","name":"History","old_id":"844"},{"term_id":"520","name":"Gratitude","old_id":"920"}]},{"order":9,"id":"51672","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"Ki Tavo\u2019 - First Fruits: Where, What, Why? ","post_title":"Ki Tavo\u2019 - First Fruits: Where, What, Why?","slug":"ki-tavo-first-fruits-where-what-why","old_id":"51672","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":"179","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"My father was a fugitive, and I have entered the Land","post_main_content_content":"

\u201cWhen you enter the land that the Lord your God is giving you as a heritage, and you possess it and settle in it, you shall take some of every first fruit of the soil, which you harvest from the land that the Lord your God is giving you, put it in a basket and go to the place where the Lord your God will choose to establish His name. You shall go to the priest in charge at that time and say to him: I acknowledge this day before the Lord your God that I have entered the land that the Lord swore to our fathers to assign us\u201d (Deut. 26:1\u20133). The word \u201cyou\u201d here is in the second person singular for all the verbs, implying that each man, as an individual, had to bring the first fruits of his produce to the priest. The priest then took the basket, the symbol of gratitude to God, and laid it down on the altar of the Lord.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Why did each farmer individually have to bring his first fruits to the Temple to be distributed among the priests in Jerusalem rather than giving them directly to the priest in his own community? Which kinds of produce were brought as <\/span>bikurim<\/span><\/i>? What was the real purpose of having the farmers repeat the ceremony each year?<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Avner Moriah visualizes the <\/span>bikurim<\/span><\/i> ritual in a minimalistic manner, figuring the farmer and the priest on one side of the picture and the first fruits on the altar on the other. <\/span><\/p>\r\n

The artist\u2019s depictions of the first fruits<\/span> reflect the tradition of the <\/span>bikurim <\/span><\/i>being selected from the seven unique kinds of produce named in the promise we read in <\/span>Parashat Ekev<\/span><\/i> in connection with God bringing the Israelites to the Promised Land: \u201ca land of wheat and barley, of vines, figs and pomegranates, a land of olive trees and honey\u201d (Deut. 8:8). <\/span><\/p>\r\n

Under the altar we see jugs of olive oil amid clusters of grapes, and on the top there are three baskets, one each of pomegranates, figs, and dates, as well as a sheaf of wheat and another of barley. <\/span><\/p>\r\n

Repeating the <\/span>bikurim<\/span><\/i> ritual every year in the Temple, \u201cwhere the Lord your God will choose to establish His name,\u201d rather than giving their first fruits to their community priests helped the farmers to see themselves as part of the generation that God brought to the Promised Land. Moreover, it was an opportunity to worship the one God in a way that differed markedly from the Canaanite rituals in which the first fruits were offered to please their many local gods. Each year the Israelite farmer recited the following words: \u201cMy father was a fugitive Aramean. He went down to Egypt\u2026\u201d (Deut. 26:5), after which he declared his faith in the God of Israel: \u201cWherefore I now bring the first fruits of the soil which You O Lord have given me\u201d (Deut. 26:10). <\/span><\/p>\r\n

Artwork by: Avner Moriah, by courtesy of the artist<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Text by: Dr. Shulamit Laderman, PhD in Art History, publications on Jewish and Christian influences on biblical interpretive illustration.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

For the entire weekly portion series, please visit:<\/span> https:\/\/avnermoriahprints.com\/collections\/parasha<\/span><\/a><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":51673,"alt":"","title":"50 Ki tavo","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/50-Ki-tavo.jpg","width":2001,"height":2500,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/50-Ki-tavo-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/50-Ki-tavo-240x300.jpg","medium-width":240,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/50-Ki-tavo-768x960.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":960,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/50-Ki-tavo-820x1024.jpg","large-width":820,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/50-Ki-tavo.jpg","1536x1536-width":1229,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/50-Ki-tavo.jpg","2048x2048-width":1639,"2048x2048-height":2048,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/50-Ki-tavo-960x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":960,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/50-Ki-tavo-336x420.jpg","home_baner-width":336,"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":"Ki Tavo' - ","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"My father was a fugitive, and I have entered the Land","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":51673,"alt":"","title":"50 Ki tavo","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/50-Ki-tavo.jpg","width":2001,"height":2500,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/50-Ki-tavo-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/50-Ki-tavo-240x300.jpg","medium-width":240,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/50-Ki-tavo-768x960.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":960,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/50-Ki-tavo-820x1024.jpg","large-width":820,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/50-Ki-tavo.jpg","1536x1536-width":1229,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/50-Ki-tavo.jpg","2048x2048-width":1639,"2048x2048-height":2048,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/50-Ki-tavo-960x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":960,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/50-Ki-tavo-336x420.jpg","home_baner-width":336,"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":"26","chapter_main_number":"179","date":"20260506","wall_id":"179"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"368","name":"Parasha","old_id":"768"},{"term_id":"369","name":"Visual Arts","old_id":"769"}]},{"order":10,"id":"51686","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"Reciprocal Chosenness ","post_title":"Reciprocal Chosenness","slug":"reciprocal-chosenness","old_id":"51686","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":50215,"post_title":"Daniel Reifman","slug":"daniel-reifman","old_id":"50215","first_name":"Daniel ","last_name":"Reifman ","description":"Daniel Reifman teaches at the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies and at the Institute for Advanced Torah Studies at Bar-Ilan University, and he is the director of the Drisha Summer Kollel at NYU. He holds a B.A. in biology from Columbia University, rabbinic ordination and an M.A. in Tanakh from Yeshiva University, and a Ph.D in hermeneutics from Bar-Ilan. He and his family live in Yad Binyamin, Israel. \r\n\r\n","short_description":"Daniel Reifman teaches at the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies and at the Institute for Advanced Torah Studies at Bar-Ilan University","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":50216,"alt":"","title":"daniel reifman","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/daniel-reifman.jpg","width":1728,"height":2601,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/daniel-reifman-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/daniel-reifman-199x300.jpg","medium-width":199,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/daniel-reifman-680x1024.jpg","medium_large-width":680,"medium_large-height":1024,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/daniel-reifman-680x1024.jpg","large-width":680,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/daniel-reifman.jpg","1536x1536-width":1020,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/daniel-reifman.jpg","2048x2048-width":1361,"2048x2048-height":2048,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/daniel-reifman-797x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":797,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/daniel-reifman-279x420.jpg","home_baner-width":279,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"179","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"How is this covenant different from the others?","post_main_content_content":"

Modern scholars often distinguish between two different types of covenant in the Bible: constitutive vs. conditional. A covenant is said to be constitutive if it simply formalizes the relationship between two parties. Such covenants are understood \u2013 or even explicitly stated \u2013 to be perpetual and unconditional. Examples of this type in the Torah are God's covenant with Noah after the Flood (Gen. 8:21-9:17) and His covenant with Abraham (Gen. 17). <\/span><\/p>\r\n

The Mosaic covenant, on the other hand, is often formulated in conditional terms: God has chosen Israel, but that chosenness is contingent upon Israel\u2019s observing God's commandments. Nowhere is the conditional nature of this covenant made clearer than in the <\/span>tokhahah<\/span><\/em> (Execration) of Deuteronomy chap. 28, which ends with a disobedient Israel being sold back into slavery in Egypt, the square one of Jewish history.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Yet in this chapter, the relationship between God and Israel is depicted in rather different terms:<\/span><\/p>\r\n

You have affirmed the Lord this day to be your God, and to walk in His ways, and to observe His laws and commandments and rules, and to obey Him. <\/span>
\r\n<\/span>And the Lord has affirmed you this day to be His treasured people, as He promised you, and to observe His commandments (26:17-18).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

In contrast to the very hierarchical relationship between God and Israel in chapter 28, this passage portrays the relationship as reciprocal: Israel chooses God just as God chooses Israel. Moreover, observance of the law is described here not in negative terms (\u201cobey, or else\u2026\u201d) but rather as a positive symbol of God and Israel\u2019s commitment to one another: not only does Israel designate God by observing His commandments, but God designates Israel by choosing them as the ones to observe them.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

This perspective on the Mosaic covenant makes it similar to the constitutive covenants we mentioned above, which also feature laws as symbols of the nature of the relationship that is being consecrated. God\u2019s covenant with Noah frames the antediluvian world order with a set of commandments relating to the treatment of human and animal life (Gen. 9:3-6): the laws requiring all life to be treated with respect is the flip-side of God\u2019s promise never again to destroy the world by flood. <\/span><\/p>\r\n

Likewise, the laws of circumcision express the nature of God\u2019s covenant with Abraham in that they create an irreversible sign that adheres to all of his male descendants. These examples demonstrate how the character of law \u2013 binding, perpetual, exceptionless \u2013 allows it to function not merely as a condition, but as an expression of the deep and durable bond that is the very essence of a covenantal relationship.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Image: photo by Ben Schumin: <\/span>Replica of the Ark of the Covenant in the Royal Arch Room of the George Washington Masonic National Memorial \/ <\/span>wikimedia<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":51687,"alt":"","title":"dt26-Ark_replica_1","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt26-Ark_replica_1.jpg","width":490,"height":473,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt26-Ark_replica_1-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt26-Ark_replica_1-300x290.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":290,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt26-Ark_replica_1.jpg","medium_large-width":490,"medium_large-height":473,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt26-Ark_replica_1.jpg","large-width":490,"large-height":473,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt26-Ark_replica_1.jpg","1536x1536-width":490,"1536x1536-height":473,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt26-Ark_replica_1.jpg","2048x2048-width":490,"2048x2048-height":473,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt26-Ark_replica_1.jpg","post_full_size-width":490,"post_full_size-height":473,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt26-Ark_replica_1-435x420.jpg","home_baner-width":435,"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":"Reciprocal Chosenness","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"How is this covenant different from the others?","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":51687,"alt":"","title":"dt26-Ark_replica_1","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt26-Ark_replica_1.jpg","width":490,"height":473,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt26-Ark_replica_1-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt26-Ark_replica_1-300x290.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":290,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt26-Ark_replica_1.jpg","medium_large-width":490,"medium_large-height":473,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt26-Ark_replica_1.jpg","large-width":490,"large-height":473,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt26-Ark_replica_1.jpg","1536x1536-width":490,"1536x1536-height":473,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt26-Ark_replica_1.jpg","2048x2048-width":490,"2048x2048-height":473,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt26-Ark_replica_1.jpg","post_full_size-width":490,"post_full_size-height":473,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt26-Ark_replica_1-435x420.jpg","home_baner-width":435,"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":"26","chapter_main_number":"179","date":"20260506","wall_id":"179"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"384","name":"God","old_id":"784"},{"term_id":"395","name":"Covenant","old_id":"795"},{"term_id":"539","name":"Israel","old_id":"939"}]},{"order":11,"id":"51683","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"Baskets of Silver and Gold ","post_title":"Baskets Of Silver And Gold","slug":"baskets-of-silver-and-gold","old_id":"51683","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":51365,"post_title":"Jamie Weisbach","slug":"jamie-weisbach","old_id":"51365","first_name":"Jamie ","last_name":"Weisbach ","description":"Jamie Weisbach is a Chicago native, and a current fellow at Yeshivat Hadar. In the past he has studied at the Conservative Yeshiva, SVARA, and Drisha. ","short_description":"Jamie Weisbach is a fellow at Yeshivat Hadar. ","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":51367,"alt":"","title":"Jamie Weisbach","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Jamie-Weisbach-1.jpg","width":316,"height":302,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Jamie-Weisbach-1-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Jamie-Weisbach-1-300x287.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":287,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Jamie-Weisbach-1.jpg","medium_large-width":316,"medium_large-height":302,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Jamie-Weisbach-1.jpg","large-width":316,"large-height":302,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Jamie-Weisbach-1.jpg","1536x1536-width":316,"1536x1536-height":302,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Jamie-Weisbach-1.jpg","2048x2048-width":316,"2048x2048-height":302,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Jamie-Weisbach-1.jpg","post_full_size-width":316,"post_full_size-height":302,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Jamie-Weisbach-1.jpg","home_baner-width":316,"home_baner-height":302}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"179","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"The need for ethical glorification","post_main_content_content":"

In Deuteronomy 26 we learn about the commandment of <\/span>bikkurim<\/span><\/em>, of bringing the first fruits of each harvest to the Temple. The Mishnah, Masechet Bikkurim (3:8) notes an interesting detail of this ritual, that the wealthy would bring their <\/span>bikkurim<\/em> <\/span>in fancy gold and silver baskets, and the poor would bring theirs in simple reed baskets. <\/span><\/p>\r\n

Tosafot Yom Tov asks why this would have been allowed. Surely the disparity would cause the poor shame, and lead them to neglect bringing <\/span>bikkurim<\/span><\/em>. He explains that perhaps given the honor of the Temple, this wouldn\u2019t be a concern. However, for me, his question still remains, not just about the ritual of <\/span>bikkurim<\/span><\/em>, but about any ritual where people are engaging in <\/span>hiddur mitzvah<\/span><\/em>, beautifying the performance of the commandment. Isn\u2019t there a risk that investing in making <\/span>mitzvot <\/span><\/i>beautiful will also inevitably push some people away? <\/span><\/p>\r\n

The value of performing commandments in ways that are beautiful dates back to the Talmud. \u00a0\u00a0Masechet Shabbat 133b teaches:<\/span><\/p>\r\n

\u201cThis is my God and I will glorify him\u201d (Exodus 15:2). \u00a0\u2013 Beautify before Him with commandments. Make before Him a beautiful <\/span>sukkah<\/span><\/i>, a beautiful <\/span>lulav<\/span><\/i>, a beautiful <\/span>shofar<\/span><\/i>, beautiful <\/span>tzitzit<\/span><\/i>, beautiful Torah scroll, write His name in beautiful ink, with a beautiful quill and an expert scribe, and wrap it in beautiful wrappings. <\/span><\/p>\r\n

This text shows how beautifying commandments fills them with a sense of love and respect. \u00a0However, immediately afterwards, a different reading is presented: Abba Saul says: \u201cAnd glorify him\u201d \u2014 be similar to Him. Just as He is compassionate and merciful, you should also be compassionate and merciful. <\/span><\/p>\r\n

One way to read Abba Saul would be to say that he disagrees with the previous interpretation. Don\u2019t glorify God, he would say, by wasting money making things beautiful! \u00a0Glorify God by walking in His ways! However, the Torah Temimah doesn\u2019t read Abba Saul this way: <\/span><\/p>\r\n

Rather, he meant that one should also beautify God with mitzvot between people, because without this, if a person is careful about mitzvot between himself and God, and is not careful about having good character in his dealings with other people, he will cause desecration of God and Torah and Mitzvot, when many people will say, \u201cHow disgusting are the acts of this God-fearing person!\u201d \u00a0But this will not happen if a person is careful about both. Rather, people will praise him and say, \u201cHow beautiful are the acts of this person!\u201d and through this he will cause honor to God and Torah and Mitzvot. <\/span><\/p>\r\n

According to the Torah Temimah, the risk of <\/span>hiddur mitzvah<\/span><\/em> without equal attention paid to ethical qualities is a desecration of God\u2019s name. But <\/span>hiddur mitzvah<\/span><\/em> accompanied by walking in God\u2019s ways leads to even greater honor to God and Torah. Perhaps this is the real reason why the rich were permitted to bring their <\/span>bikkurim<\/span><\/em> in fancy baskets: despite the risks presented by <\/span>hiddur mitzvah<\/span><\/em>,<\/span><\/i> the sanctification of God\u2019s name in having both beautiful <\/span>mitzvot<\/em> <\/span>and beautiful ethical qualities made the risk worth it. <\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":51684,"alt":"","title":"dt26-baskets","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt26-baskets.jpg","width":432,"height":427,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt26-baskets-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt26-baskets-300x297.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":297,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt26-baskets.jpg","medium_large-width":432,"medium_large-height":427,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt26-baskets.jpg","large-width":432,"large-height":427,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt26-baskets.jpg","1536x1536-width":432,"1536x1536-height":427,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt26-baskets.jpg","2048x2048-width":432,"2048x2048-height":427,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt26-baskets.jpg","post_full_size-width":432,"post_full_size-height":427,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt26-baskets-425x420.jpg","home_baner-width":425,"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":"Baskets Of Silver And Gold","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"The need for ethical glorification","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":51684,"alt":"","title":"dt26-baskets","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt26-baskets.jpg","width":432,"height":427,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt26-baskets-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt26-baskets-300x297.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":297,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt26-baskets.jpg","medium_large-width":432,"medium_large-height":427,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt26-baskets.jpg","large-width":432,"large-height":427,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt26-baskets.jpg","1536x1536-width":432,"1536x1536-height":427,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt26-baskets.jpg","2048x2048-width":432,"2048x2048-height":427,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt26-baskets.jpg","post_full_size-width":432,"post_full_size-height":427,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt26-baskets-425x420.jpg","home_baner-width":425,"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":"26","chapter_main_number":"179","date":"20260506","wall_id":"179"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"440","name":"Wealth\/money","old_id":"840"},{"term_id":"586","name":"Shame","old_id":"986"},{"term_id":"836","name":"poverty","old_id":"1236"}]},{"order":12,"id":"51677","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"The Voice ","post_title":"The Voice","slug":"the-voice","old_id":"51677","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":36669,"post_title":"Yakov Azriel","slug":"yakov-azriel","old_id":"36669","first_name":"Yakov ","last_name":"Azriel","description":"Yakov Azriel, who lives in Israel, has published five books of poetry in the USA and hundreds of poems in journals and magazines. His poems have won twenty-two prizes in international poetry competitions, and he has twice been awarded fellowships from the Memorial Foundation for Jewish Culture.","short_description":"Yakov Azriel is an English language poet who lives in Israel","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":36670,"alt":"","title":"Yakov.Azriel.Photo","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Yakov.Azriel.Photo_-e1533158407668.jpg","width":1099,"height":1519,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Yakov.Azriel.Photo_-e1533158407668-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Yakov.Azriel.Photo_-e1533158407668-217x300.jpg","medium-width":217,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Yakov.Azriel.Photo_-e1533158407668-741x1024.jpg","medium_large-width":741,"medium_large-height":1024,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Yakov.Azriel.Photo_-e1533158407668-741x1024.jpg","large-width":741,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Yakov.Azriel.Photo_-e1533158407668.jpg","1536x1536-width":1099,"1536x1536-height":1519,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Yakov.Azriel.Photo_-e1533158407668.jpg","2048x2048-width":1099,"2048x2048-height":1519,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Yakov.Azriel.Photo_-e1533158407668-868x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":868,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Yakov.Azriel.Photo_-e1533158407668-304x420.jpg","home_baner-width":304,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"179","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Find My voice in the rain \/ Turn your umbrella upside-down","post_main_content_content":"

\u201c\u2026 I have heard the voice of the Lord my God \u2026.\u201d (Deuteronomy 26:14)<\/span>
\r\n
\r\n<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Can you hear My voice?<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>A still, small voice<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>Whispers,<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>\u201cCome home<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>To Me.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\r\n

Buses honk their horns;<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>Train after train screeches by;<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>A dozen sonic booms reverberate \u2014 <\/span>
\r\n<\/span>But do you hear My voice<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>Repeating your name?<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>If you don\u2019t hear<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>My voice,<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>Close your newspaper,<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>Open the door,<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>Step outside, <\/span><\/p>\r\n

Enter My world:<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>Search for its echoes<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>In the ripples on ponds,<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>In the shadows of sunflowers,<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>In the scent of the honeysuckle.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Or enter My book:<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>As its pages rustle,<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>Catch letters that glow<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>Like fireflies in the dusk,<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>Like notes on a score of music. <\/span><\/p>\r\n

Or enter My people:<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>In the sound of their footsteps,<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>Listen<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>As My voice hums<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>The rhythm of their song. <\/span><\/p>\r\n

Or enter your soul;<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>In its silence,<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>An orchestra plays<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>An oratorio<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>That accompanies My voice. <\/span><\/p>\r\n

Find My voice in the rain;<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>Turn your umbrella upside-down<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>To collect the drops<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>That resound with My voice<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>Calling you<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Home.<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":102623,"alt":"","title":"-6223c504d45cd--6223c504d45cegen21-dog victrola master's voice.jpg","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/03\/6223c504d45cd-6223c504d45cegen21-dog-victrola-masters-voice.jpg.jpg","width":1024,"height":766,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/03\/6223c504d45cd-6223c504d45cegen21-dog-victrola-masters-voice.jpg-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/03\/6223c504d45cd-6223c504d45cegen21-dog-victrola-masters-voice.jpg-300x224.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":224,"medium_large":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/03\/6223c504d45cd-6223c504d45cegen21-dog-victrola-masters-voice.jpg-768x575.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":575,"large":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/03\/6223c504d45cd-6223c504d45cegen21-dog-victrola-masters-voice.jpg-1024x766.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":766,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/03\/6223c504d45cd-6223c504d45cegen21-dog-victrola-masters-voice.jpg.jpg","1536x1536-width":1024,"1536x1536-height":766,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/03\/6223c504d45cd-6223c504d45cegen21-dog-victrola-masters-voice.jpg.jpg","2048x2048-width":1024,"2048x2048-height":766,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/03\/6223c504d45cd-6223c504d45cegen21-dog-victrola-masters-voice.jpg.jpg","post_full_size-width":1024,"post_full_size-height":766,"home_baner":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/03\/6223c504d45cd-6223c504d45cegen21-dog-victrola-masters-voice.jpg-561x420.jpg","home_baner-width":561,"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":"The Voice","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Find My voice in the rain \/ Turn your umbrella upside-down","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":102623,"alt":"","title":"-6223c504d45cd--6223c504d45cegen21-dog victrola master's voice.jpg","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/03\/6223c504d45cd-6223c504d45cegen21-dog-victrola-masters-voice.jpg.jpg","width":1024,"height":766,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/03\/6223c504d45cd-6223c504d45cegen21-dog-victrola-masters-voice.jpg-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/03\/6223c504d45cd-6223c504d45cegen21-dog-victrola-masters-voice.jpg-300x224.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":224,"medium_large":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/03\/6223c504d45cd-6223c504d45cegen21-dog-victrola-masters-voice.jpg-768x575.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":575,"large":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/03\/6223c504d45cd-6223c504d45cegen21-dog-victrola-masters-voice.jpg-1024x766.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":766,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/03\/6223c504d45cd-6223c504d45cegen21-dog-victrola-masters-voice.jpg.jpg","1536x1536-width":1024,"1536x1536-height":766,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/03\/6223c504d45cd-6223c504d45cegen21-dog-victrola-masters-voice.jpg.jpg","2048x2048-width":1024,"2048x2048-height":766,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/03\/6223c504d45cd-6223c504d45cegen21-dog-victrola-masters-voice.jpg.jpg","post_full_size-width":1024,"post_full_size-height":766,"home_baner":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/03\/6223c504d45cd-6223c504d45cegen21-dog-victrola-masters-voice.jpg-561x420.jpg","home_baner-width":561,"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":"26","chapter_main_number":"179","date":"20260506","wall_id":"179"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":13,"id":"51635","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"2","name":"Bible In The Bar: Wandering Arameans? Who - Us? ","post_title":"Bible In The Bar: Wandering Arameans? Who - Us?","slug":"bible-in-the-bar-wandering-arameans-who-us","old_id":"51635","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":38102,"post_title":"929-English","slug":"929-english","old_id":"38102","first_name":"","last_name":"929-English","description":"","short_description":"","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":38333,"alt":"","title":"\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5.png","width":1513,"height":860,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5-300x171.png","medium-width":300,"medium-height":171,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5-768x437.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":437,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5-1024x582.png","large-width":1024,"large-height":582,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5.png","1536x1536-width":1513,"1536x1536-height":860,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5.png","2048x2048-width":1513,"2048x2048-height":860,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5-1200x682.png","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":682,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5-739x420.png","home_baner-width":739,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"179","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"","post_main_content_content":"","post_main_content_image":"","post_main_content_embedded_video":"https:\/\/youtu.be\/V2BP0q6zE-Y","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"Bible in the Bar","tile_main_caption":"Deuteronomy 26: Wandering Arameans? Who - Us?","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"with Adam Mintz and Ruby Namdar","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":"","tile_preview_video":"https:\/\/youtu.be\/V2BP0q6zE-Y","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","old_create_date":"","links":false,"tile_link_for_pay":"0","send_noty":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Torah","book":"Deuteronomy","chapter":"26","chapter_main_number":"179","date":"20260506","wall_id":"179"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"369","name":"Visual Arts","old_id":"769"}]},{"order":14,"id":"51636","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"Sefaria Source Sheets - Deuteronomy 26 ","post_title":"Sefaria Source Sheets - Deuteronomy 26","slug":"sefaria-source-sheets-deuteronomy-26","old_id":"51636","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":42228,"post_title":"Sefaria","slug":"sefaria","old_id":"42228","first_name":"","last_name":"Sefaria","description":"Sefaria is a non-profit organization dedicated to building the future of Jewish learning in an open and participatory way. We are assembling a free living library of Jewish texts and their interconnections, in Hebrew and in translation. With these digital texts, we can create new, interactive interfaces for Web, tablet and mobile, allowing more people to engage with the textual treasures of our tradition.","short_description":"Sefaria is a non-profit organization dedicated to building the future of Jewish learning in an open and participatory way. \r\n","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":42230,"alt":"","title":"Sefaria Logo2","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Sefaria-Logo2.png","width":1200,"height":1200,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Sefaria-Logo2-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Sefaria-Logo2-300x300.png","medium-width":300,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Sefaria-Logo2-768x768.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":768,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Sefaria-Logo2-1024x1024.png","large-width":1024,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Sefaria-Logo2.png","1536x1536-width":1200,"1536x1536-height":1200,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Sefaria-Logo2.png","2048x2048-width":1200,"2048x2048-height":1200,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Sefaria-Logo2.png","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Sefaria-Logo2-420x420.png","home_baner-width":420,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"179","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"","post_main_content_content":"

\u201c\u2018Pass the Water, Honey:\u2019 Torah and its Liquid Counterparts\u201d<\/span><\/a> by Leora Balinsky: Exploring metaphorical meanings. <\/span><\/p>\r\n

\u201cMyth and Ritual: Bringing the First Fruits\u201d<\/span><\/a> by Matt Shapiro: What is the function of this religious ceremony? <\/span><\/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":"Go deeper into the chapter....","tile_main_caption":"Sefaria Source Sheets - Deuteronomy 26","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Click to get links to learning resources","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":42232,"alt":"","title":"sefaria-words-sunburst","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst.png","width":608,"height":395,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst-300x195.png","medium-width":300,"medium-height":195,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst.png","medium_large-width":608,"medium_large-height":395,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst.png","large-width":608,"large-height":395,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst.png","1536x1536-width":608,"1536x1536-height":395,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst.png","2048x2048-width":608,"2048x2048-height":395,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst.png","post_full_size-width":608,"post_full_size-height":395,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst.png","home_baner-width":608,"home_baner-height":395}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"Sefaria word sunburst visualization","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","old_create_date":"","links":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Torah","book":"Deuteronomy","chapter":"26","chapter_main_number":"179","date":"20260506","wall_id":"179"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":15,"id":"51638","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"A Lesson on the Daily Chapter- Deuteronomy 26 ","post_title":"A Lesson on the Daily Chapter- Deuteronomy 26","slug":"a-lesson-on-the-daily-chapter-deuteronomy-26","old_id":"51638","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":40936,"post_title":"David Silber","slug":"david-silber-2","old_id":"40936","first_name":"David ","last_name":"Silber ","description":"Rabbi David Silber is the Founder and Dean of Drisha Institute for Jewish Education. He received ordination from the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary. He received the Covenant Award in 2000. He is the author of APassover Haggadah: Go Forth and Learn, published by JPS in 2011, and the newly released For Such a Time as This: Biblical Reflections in the Book of Esther, published by Koren Publishing in 2017 (Hebrew). ","short_description":"Rabbi David Silber is the Founder and Dean of Drisha Institute for Jewish Education. ","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":40937,"alt":"","title":"david-Silber-2","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/david-Silber-2.jpg","width":151,"height":175,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/david-Silber-2-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/david-Silber-2.jpg","medium-width":151,"medium-height":175,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/david-Silber-2.jpg","medium_large-width":151,"medium_large-height":175,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/david-Silber-2.jpg","large-width":151,"large-height":175,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/david-Silber-2.jpg","1536x1536-width":151,"1536x1536-height":175,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/david-Silber-2.jpg","2048x2048-width":151,"2048x2048-height":175,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/david-Silber-2.jpg","post_full_size-width":151,"post_full_size-height":175,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/david-Silber-2.jpg","home_baner-width":151,"home_baner-height":175}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"179","type_929":"4","show_author_image":true,"old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"","post_main_content_content":"","post_main_content_image":"","post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"929 Audio","tile_main_caption":"A Lesson on the Daily Chapter- Deuteronomy 26","tile_main_caption_size":"2","tile_sub_caption":"","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":"","tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"https:\/\/soundcloud.com\/929-bible\/rabbi-david-silber-a-lesson-on-deuteronomy-chapter-26","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"2","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","old_create_date":"","links":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Torah","book":"Deuteronomy","chapter":"26","chapter_main_number":"179","date":"20260506","wall_id":"179"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":16,"id":"108504","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"Points To Ponder: Deuteronomy 26 ","post_title":"Points To Ponder: Deuteronomy 26","slug":"points-to-ponder-deuteronomy-26","old_id":"108504","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":false,"related_cahpter":"179","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"","post_main_content_content":"

    \r\n\t
  1. Sound familiar?<\/em> It\u2019s not an accident. The reading connected to the bringing of the first fruits (verses 5-9) is the text at the heart of the haggadah of the Pesach seder.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t
  2. Giving, and bringing\u2026<\/em> Look at the verses of the first fruits (1-9) - who brings what, and who gives (and has been given) what? Try to keep them straight.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t
  3. A bright outlook.<\/em> Note the image in verse 15 - the gaze of God, and the divine blessing.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t
  4. Noblesse oblige?<\/em> Verse 19 describes Israel: \u201cHe will set you, in fame and renown and glory, high above all the nations that He has made; and that you shall be, as He promised, a holy people.\u201d That exalted status requires obedience to the laws, commandments and statutes.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>","post_main_content_image":{"id":86314,"alt":"","title":"Points to ponder","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","width":1000,"height":1000,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-300x300.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-768x768.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":768,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","large-width":1000,"large-height":1000,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","1536x1536-width":1000,"1536x1536-height":1000,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","2048x2048-width":1000,"2048x2048-height":1000,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","post_full_size-width":1000,"post_full_size-height":1000,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-420x420.jpg","home_baner-width":420,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"The Daily Summary","tile_main_caption":"Points to Ponder: Deuteronomy 26","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Insights and questions for personal reflection and group discussion","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":86314,"alt":"","title":"Points to ponder","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","width":1000,"height":1000,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-300x300.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-768x768.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":768,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","large-width":1000,"large-height":1000,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","1536x1536-width":1000,"1536x1536-height":1000,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","2048x2048-width":1000,"2048x2048-height":1000,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","post_full_size-width":1000,"post_full_size-height":1000,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-420x420.jpg","home_baner-width":420,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","old_create_date":"","tile_link_for_pay":"0","links":false,"send_noty":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Torah","book":"Deuteronomy","chapter":"26","chapter_main_number":"179","date":"20260506","wall_id":"179"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false}],"hide_acf":true,"home_image":false,"home_posts":false,"home_posts_title":"","posts_home":[],"static_cube_title":"","static_cube_brief":"","static_cube_color":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/wall\/51371"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/wall"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/wall"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=51371"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}