{"id":51769,"date":"2018-07-09T17:42:14","date_gmt":"2018-07-09T14:42:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wall\/wall-1038\/"},"modified":"2022-10-28T13:22:03","modified_gmt":"2022-10-28T10:22:03","slug":"wall-1038","status":"publish","type":"wall","link":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wall\/wall-1038\/","title":{"rendered":"weekend-from-20221023-to-20221029"},"parent":0,"template":"","acf":{"type":"weekend","wall_id":"1038","date_from":"20221023","date_to":"20221029","book":"Joshua","books_group":"Prophets","posts":[{"order":1,"id":"64999","color":"#f8ebe3","size":"2","name":"Environmental Teachings For Parashat Noach ","post_title":"Environmental Teachings For Parashat Noach","slug":"environmental-teachings-for-parashat-noach","old_id":"64999","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":"1068","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Will we be b\u2019nei Noach\u2013 righteous people in our generation, showing compassion, and foresight, and preserving Creation?","post_main_content_content":"

After the Flood, God promises never to destroy the world again: \u201cSo long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night shall not cease\u201d (Gen 8:21-22).<\/p>\r\n

But what is the moral of the story for us? Human behavior doomed the entire world. God orders Noah to build an ark to save not only himself and his family, but significantly, exemplars of all the animals. And then, the covenant itself is with all of creation: \u201cAnd God said to Noah and to his sons with him, \u2018I now establish My covenant with you and your offspring to come, and with every living thing that is with you\u2014birds, cattle and every wild beast as well\u2014every living thing on earth\u2019\u201d (Gen 9:8-10).<\/p>\r\n

Now we are the ones altering basic earth systems: from global warming that threatens \u201ccold and heat, summer and winter\u201d as we know them, to chemicals such as endocrine disrupters that blur the distinctions between the sexes in animals, upsetting the procreation of species.<\/p>\r\n

Regarding biodiversity and species extinction, we are in the midst of an era of mass extinction the likes of which the world has not seen since the disappearance of the dinosaurs. A challenge worthy of Noah, but here we cannot apply Noah\u2019s solution: there is no ark that we can build in order to save species that are disappearing due to destructive human activities. The whole world must be our ark, and the fate of all its passengers is one fate. Will we be b\u2019nei Noach<\/em>\u2013 righteous people in our generation, showing compassion, and foresight, and preserving Creation?<\/p>\r\n

See these other teachings in 929 from some of our great writers:<\/p>\r\n

Is The Climate Crisis Our Flood? A Post-Modern Interpretation of Humans and Nature<\/em> - \"God did not break His promise not to destroy the world. It is we who have become like God, with the ability to create and destroy. We need to wake up to these capabilities, and work together to choose life.\"
\r\nBy 929 editor Jeremy Benstein \u2013 https:\/\/www.929.org.il\/lang\/en\/page\/6\/post\/64948<\/a><\/p>\r\n

Let Justice Well Up Like Water<\/em> - \u201cLet justice well up like water, and righteousness like an unfailing stream.\u201d I believe that these words refer to the Flood: righteousness will come like the Flood to sweep away the wickedness of the world. It will not be fine and dandy, dandy. God promises that there will never be another Flood, but this story is a warning not to be complacent about how we treat the earth. We are filling it with bloodshed and are bringing the waters upon ourselves.\"
\r\nby Rabbi Lawrence Troster, z\"l - https:\/\/www.929.org.il\/lang\/en\/page\/8\/post\/35089<\/a><\/p>\r\n

A two- part series by Tzvi Novick, entitled: Reading Deuteronomy in the Anthropocene: Lessons For The End Time On The Fragility Of Existence, 1 & 2 - <\/em>\"The book of Deuteronomy should speak to people, inhabitants of the Anthropocene. To live in this era is to appreciate that, in the most profound way, \u201cHe has given the earth to human beings\u201d (Ps 115:16). We are the makers of this world, and its biggest threat.\"<\/p>\r\n

https:\/\/www.929.org.il\/lang\/en\/page\/154\/post\/49323<\/a>
\r\nhttps:\/\/www.929.org.il\/lang\/en\/page\/158\/post\/49634<\/a><\/p>\r\n

When It Becomes Very Good<\/em> \u00a0- \"We are tasked with seeing the invisible miracles that daily grace this earth\u2026how all creatures are to take from the earth, and give back to the earth, so that all can thrive the only way we can. Together.\"
\r\nby Rabbi Nina Beth Cardin - https:\/\/www.929.org.il\/lang\/en\/page\/1\/post\/33932<\/a><\/p>\r\n

God's Creatures are Our Responsibility<\/em>: \"To live in a redeemed world, we must prioritize care for the most vulnerable sentient beings on our planet,\"
\r\nby Rabby Shmuly Yanklowitz - https:\/\/www.929.org.il\/lang\/en\/page\/9\/post\/35818<\/a><\/p>\r\n

Guardin' The Garden<\/em> \u2013 \"In our struggle for the earth's fruits, we sow the seeds of our own, and the world's, destruction -- unless we temper our toil with responsibility and concern for posterity. We can use the fruit, but we must take care to preserve the fruitfulness.\"
\r\nby 929 editor Jeremy Benstein - https:\/\/www.929.org.il\/lang\/en\/page\/2\/post\/34040<\/a><\/p>\r\n

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Eight Ramah campers from the Machon\/Nivonim stop motion animation Kishroniyah with BimBam answer the question, What really happened on Noah's Ark? with the help of stories from the Jewish midrash, in stop-motion animation!<\/p>","post_main_content_image":"","post_main_content_embedded_video":"https:\/\/youtu.be\/PXxo9DWC2LA","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"Made by kids at Camp Ramah!","tile_main_caption":"What Really Happened on Noah's Ark?","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"A Bimbam Video","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":"","tile_preview_video":"https:\/\/youtu.be\/PXxo9DWC2LA","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":"Prophets","book":"Isaiah","chapter":false,"chapter_main_number":false,"date":false,"wall_id":"1068"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"371","name":"Video","old_id":"771"},{"term_id":"406","name":"Youth","old_id":"806"}]},{"order":3,"id":"53057","color":"#f6edf6","size":"2","name":"The End Of The Beginning: Jews\/Verses\/Tanakh ","post_title":"The End Of The Beginning: Jews\/Verses\/Tanakh","slug":"the-end-of-the-beginning-jews-verses-tanakh","old_id":"53057","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":"1038","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"In honor of the end of Deuteronomy, we asked our writers to choose their \"favorite\" verse in the Torah. \r\nThe fascinating posts on the Deuteronomy Book Summary page are the results.\r\nClick below to see them.\r\nWhat's your favorite?","post_main_content_content":"

Jews\/Verses\/Tanakh - Special End of Torah Project<\/a><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":52573,"alt":"","title":"favs-1844","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/favs-1844.jpg","width":806,"height":396,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/favs-1844-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/favs-1844-300x147.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":147,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/favs-1844-768x377.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":377,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/favs-1844.jpg","large-width":806,"large-height":396,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/favs-1844.jpg","1536x1536-width":806,"1536x1536-height":396,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/favs-1844.jpg","2048x2048-width":806,"2048x2048-height":396,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/favs-1844.jpg","post_full_size-width":806,"post_full_size-height":396,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/favs-1844.jpg","home_baner-width":806,"home_baner-height":396}},"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 Special Project","tile_main_caption":"The End Of The Beginning: Jews\/Verses\/Tanakh","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"In honor of the end of Deuteronomy, we asked our writers to choose their \"favorite\" verse in the Torah. The fascinating posts on the Deuteronomy Book Summary page are the results. What's your favorite?","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":52573,"alt":"","title":"favs-1844","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/favs-1844.jpg","width":806,"height":396,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/favs-1844-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/favs-1844-300x147.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":147,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/favs-1844-768x377.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":377,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/favs-1844.jpg","large-width":806,"large-height":396,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/favs-1844.jpg","1536x1536-width":806,"1536x1536-height":396,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/favs-1844.jpg","2048x2048-width":806,"2048x2048-height":396,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/favs-1844.jpg","post_full_size-width":806,"post_full_size-height":396,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/favs-1844.jpg","home_baner-width":806,"home_baner-height":396}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"Joshua","chapter":false,"chapter_main_number":false,"date":false,"wall_id":"1038"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":4,"id":"52542","color":"#e0e9ef","size":"1","name":"Mobius Endings\/Beginnings ","post_title":"Mobius Endings\/Beginnings","slug":"mobius-endings-beginnings","old_id":"52542","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":38634,"post_title":"Rachel Barenblat","slug":"rachel-barenblat","old_id":"38634","first_name":"Rachel ","last_name":"Barenblat ","description":"Rabbi Rachel Barenblat has blogged since 2003 as the Velveteen Rabbi. 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","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":38635,"alt":"","title":"rachel barenblat","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/rachel-barenblat-e1535268212237.png","width":328,"height":424,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/rachel-barenblat-e1535268212237-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/rachel-barenblat-e1535268212237-232x300.png","medium-width":232,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/rachel-barenblat-e1535268212237.png","medium_large-width":328,"medium_large-height":424,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/rachel-barenblat-e1535268212237.png","large-width":328,"large-height":424,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/rachel-barenblat-e1535268212237.png","1536x1536-width":328,"1536x1536-height":424,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/rachel-barenblat-e1535268212237.png","2048x2048-width":328,"2048x2048-height":424,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/rachel-barenblat-e1535268212237.png","post_full_size-width":328,"post_full_size-height":424,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/rachel-barenblat-e1535268212237-325x420.png","home_baner-width":325,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"187","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"The original never-ending story, continually spiraling onward","post_main_content_content":"

I want to write the Torah <\/span>
\r\n<\/span>on a mobius strip of parchment<\/span><\/p>\r\n

so that the very last lines <\/span>
\r\n<\/span>(never again will there arise,<\/span><\/p>\r\n

arpeggio of signs and wonders<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>stout strength and subtle teaching)<\/span><\/p>\r\n

would lead seamlessly to<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>the beginning of heavens<\/span><\/p>\r\n

and earth, the waters<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>all wild and waste, and God<\/span><\/p>\r\n

hovering over the face of creation<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>like a mother bird.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

This is the strong sinew<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>that stitches our years together:<\/span><\/p>\r\n

that we never have to bear<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>the heartbreak of the story ending<\/span><\/p>\r\n

each year the words are the same<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>but something in us is different<\/span><\/p>\r\n

on a mobius strip of parchment<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>I want to write the Torah<\/span><\/p>\r\n

 <\/p>\r\n

One of my favorite moments in all the year comes when we read the solemn last lines of the Torah -- these last words from this chapter -- and immediately read the opening lines of the Torah. Sometimes we do it with two scrolls. Sometimes we unroll a single scroll all the way from end to end, holding it in gloved fingers carefully in a giant circle around the room so we can see it in all of its complex beauty. We read the ending, and then we read the beginning.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

It's the original never-ending story. Just as the story of human growth and potential never ends, only spirals onward, so our reading of the Torah never ends but we begin again. For me as a lover of <\/span>story<\/span><\/i>, this says something important about who we are and how we understand ourselves.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Every year offers us a chance to begin again. Every year that new beginning is informed by who we are and where we've been. One door closes and another one opens. The last words lead to the first words which will eventually, a year from now, lead us to the last words again. And then, again, the first words. One of my favorite moments in all the year.<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":52543,"alt":"","title":"dt34-mobius","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt34-mobius.jpg","width":2142,"height":998,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt34-mobius-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt34-mobius-300x140.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":140,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt34-mobius-768x358.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":358,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt34-mobius-1024x477.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":477,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt34-mobius.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":716,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt34-mobius.jpg","2048x2048-width":2048,"2048x2048-height":954,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt34-mobius-1200x559.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":559,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt34-mobius-901x420.jpg","home_baner-width":901,"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":"Mobius Endings\/Beginnings","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"The original never-ending story, continually spiraling onward","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":52543,"alt":"","title":"dt34-mobius","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt34-mobius.jpg","width":2142,"height":998,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt34-mobius-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt34-mobius-300x140.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":140,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt34-mobius-768x358.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":358,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt34-mobius-1024x477.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":477,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt34-mobius.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":716,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt34-mobius.jpg","2048x2048-width":2048,"2048x2048-height":954,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt34-mobius-1200x559.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":559,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt34-mobius-901x420.jpg","home_baner-width":901,"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":"34","chapter_main_number":"187","date":"20260518","wall_id":"187"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"410","name":"Torah","old_id":"810"}]},{"order":5,"id":"52672","color":"#faeed8","size":"1","name":"From Moses to Moses to Moses (to Moses) ","post_title":"From Moses To Moses To Moses (To Moses)","slug":"from-moses-to-moses-to-moses-to-moses","old_id":"52672","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":36149,"post_title":"Shai Secunda","slug":"shai-secunda","old_id":"36149","first_name":"Shai ","last_name":"Secunda","description":"Shai Secunda occupies the Jacob Neusner chair in Judaism at Bard College, where he directs the Interdisciplinary Study of Religions program. He is the author of The Iranian Talmud: Reading the Bavli in Sasanian Iran (Philadelphia, 2014), and The Talmud\u2019s Red Fence: Menstruation and Difference in Babylonian Judaism and its Sasanian Context (Oxford, 2020), and writes regularly for the Jewish Review of Books on Jewish scholarship and culture.","short_description":"Shai Secunda is a professor of Jewish studies at Bard College, and writes regularly for the Jewish Review of Books on Jewish scholarship and culture. ","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":36150,"alt":"","title":"Shai Secunda","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Shai-Secunda-e1532842797599.jpg","width":1202,"height":1287,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Shai-Secunda-e1532842797599-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Shai-Secunda-e1532842797599-280x300.jpg","medium-width":280,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Shai-Secunda-e1532842797599-768x822.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":822,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Shai-Secunda-e1532842797599-956x1024.jpg","large-width":956,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Shai-Secunda-e1532842797599.jpg","1536x1536-width":1202,"1536x1536-height":1287,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Shai-Secunda-e1532842797599.jpg","2048x2048-width":1202,"2048x2048-height":1287,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Shai-Secunda-e1532842797599-1121x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":1121,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Shai-Secunda-e1532842797599-392x420.jpg","home_baner-width":392,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"187","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"You, too, might take your place in this chain of Jewish greatness","post_main_content_content":"

The Torah of Moses, one of the traditional names for the Pentateuch, fittingly closes with a paean to the unparalleled prophet and leader of the Israelites.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Never again did there arise in Israel a prophet like Moses\u2014whom the LORD singled out, face to face (Deut. 34:10).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The uniqueness of Moses and Mosaic prophecy is a basic tenant of Jewish theology. The Thirteen Principles of Faith, composed during the Middle Ages and traditionally recited every day after morning prayers, puts it as follows:<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    \r\n\t
  1. I believe with perfect faith that the prophecy of Moses is absolutely true. He was the chief of all prophets, both before and after him.<\/span><\/em><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n

    The compiler of the Principles was another Moses \u2013 the philosopher and halakhist, Moses Maimonides. Interestingly, about Moses Maimonides the following phrase circulated, already in the twelfth century during Maimonides\u2019 lifetime: \u201cfrom Moses to Moses there rose no one like Moses.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    In turn, this phrase inspired further adaptations, including a most memorable reference, by Leopold Bloom in James Joyce\u2019s <\/span>Ulysses<\/span><\/i>, to the eighteenth-century Jewish scholar and political philosopher, Moses Mendelssohn:<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    Three seekers of the pure truth, Moses of Egypt, Moses Maimonides, author of Moreh Nebukim (Guide of the Perplexed) and Moses Mendelssohn of such eminence that from Moses (of Egypt) to Moses (Mendelssohn) there arose none like Moses (Maimonides).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    These chains of \u201cMoseses\u201d are small acts of Jewish brilliance. Of course, they begin by paying tribute to the incomparable greatness of Moses of the Torah, who gave us the Torah. Yet they also open the way for future Mosaic greatness. The message is clear. Even if your name happens not to be \u201cMoses,\u201d if you strive mightily enough to reach the intellectual and spiritual heights, you, too, might take your place in this chain of Jewish greatness. <\/span><\/p>\r\n

     <\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":52673,"alt":"","title":"dt34-maimonides_and_mendelssohn_2nd_and_3rd_moses","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt34-maimonides_and_mendelssohn_2nd_and_3rd_moses.png","width":513,"height":259,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt34-maimonides_and_mendelssohn_2nd_and_3rd_moses-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt34-maimonides_and_mendelssohn_2nd_and_3rd_moses-300x151.png","medium-width":300,"medium-height":151,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt34-maimonides_and_mendelssohn_2nd_and_3rd_moses.png","medium_large-width":513,"medium_large-height":259,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt34-maimonides_and_mendelssohn_2nd_and_3rd_moses.png","large-width":513,"large-height":259,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt34-maimonides_and_mendelssohn_2nd_and_3rd_moses.png","1536x1536-width":513,"1536x1536-height":259,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt34-maimonides_and_mendelssohn_2nd_and_3rd_moses.png","2048x2048-width":513,"2048x2048-height":259,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt34-maimonides_and_mendelssohn_2nd_and_3rd_moses.png","post_full_size-width":513,"post_full_size-height":259,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt34-maimonides_and_mendelssohn_2nd_and_3rd_moses.png","home_baner-width":513,"home_baner-height":259}},"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":"From Moses To Moses To Moses (To Moses)","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"You, too, might take your place in this chain of Jewish greatness","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":52673,"alt":"","title":"dt34-maimonides_and_mendelssohn_2nd_and_3rd_moses","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt34-maimonides_and_mendelssohn_2nd_and_3rd_moses.png","width":513,"height":259,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt34-maimonides_and_mendelssohn_2nd_and_3rd_moses-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt34-maimonides_and_mendelssohn_2nd_and_3rd_moses-300x151.png","medium-width":300,"medium-height":151,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt34-maimonides_and_mendelssohn_2nd_and_3rd_moses.png","medium_large-width":513,"medium_large-height":259,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt34-maimonides_and_mendelssohn_2nd_and_3rd_moses.png","large-width":513,"large-height":259,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt34-maimonides_and_mendelssohn_2nd_and_3rd_moses.png","1536x1536-width":513,"1536x1536-height":259,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt34-maimonides_and_mendelssohn_2nd_and_3rd_moses.png","2048x2048-width":513,"2048x2048-height":259,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt34-maimonides_and_mendelssohn_2nd_and_3rd_moses.png","post_full_size-width":513,"post_full_size-height":259,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt34-maimonides_and_mendelssohn_2nd_and_3rd_moses.png","home_baner-width":513,"home_baner-height":259}},"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":"34","chapter_main_number":"187","date":"20260518","wall_id":"187"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"397","name":"Moses","old_id":"797"},{"term_id":"730","name":"Learning","old_id":"1130"}]},{"order":6,"id":"52733","color":"#e6f5f3","size":"1","name":"A Torah Of Lovingkindness ","post_title":"A Torah Of Lovingkindness","slug":"a-torah-of-lovingkindness","old_id":"52733","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":"2005","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"","post_main_content_content":"

    The Talmudic Sages say that the Torah begins and ends in precisely the same way; this crucial fact, I would suggest, teaches us what Torah is really <\/span>about <\/span><\/i>and what it is ultimately <\/span>for<\/span><\/i>.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    As the Torah comes to an end, Israel\u2019s great leader dies; we learn that \u201cGod buried [Moses] in the valley\u201d in a burial place fated to remain forever unknown (Deuteronomy 34:6). As the Torah begins, Adam and Eve eat from the tree and become aware of their nakedness; we are told that \u201cthe Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife, and clothed them\u201d (Genesis 3:21). The Sage R. Simlai notes: \u201cThe Torah begins with an act of lovingkindness (<\/span>gemilut chasadim<\/span><\/i>) and ends with an act of lovingkindness.\u201d As support he brings these two divine actions--burying Moses and clothing Adam and Eve (BT, Sotah 14a). The very essence of Torah, the Sages thus insist, is a God of love and kindness who calls Israel to love and kindness. <\/span><\/p>\r\n

    The book of Proverbs portrays a woman of valor as having \u201ca Torah of lovingkindness upon her tongue\u201d (Proverbs 31:26). The Talmudic Sage R. Elazar is disturbed by the implication: \u201cIs there then a Torah of lovingkindness and a Torah which is not of lovingkindness?\u201d (BT, Sukkah 49b).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    Painful as it is to say, we know all too well that there is a Torah which is not of lovingkindness. Torah can elicit staggering degrees of goodness and generosity of spirit; it can motivate us to love when hate seems much easier, to care for the pain of others when indifference seems the surer path. <\/span><\/p>\r\n

    But Torah can also be made to serve the opposite ends: It can serve to deepen selfishness and self-involvement; it can be cited to bolster chauvinism and cultivate hate. <\/span><\/p>\r\n

    In inheriting Torah, in studying and teaching it, we could do no better than to keep the simple challenge posed by these midrashim firmly in mind and at heart: The Torah we learn and teach should help us become kinder, more generous, more empathic and willing to give. <\/span><\/p>\r\n

    If it merely buttresses our biases and hardens our hearts, then it is simply not Torah.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    Torah is about a God of love who calls us to a life of love. May we merit that a Torah of lovingkindness always be upon our lips.<\/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":"929 End of the Torah","tile_main_caption":"A Torah Of Lovingkindness","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"In its Ending and in its Beginnings","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":"","tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Torah","book":"Deuteronomy","chapter":false,"chapter_main_number":false,"date":"20181224","wall_id":"2005"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":7,"id":"52852","color":"#f7e9e9","size":"1","name":"Big Shoes To Fill... ","post_title":"Big Shoes To Fill...","slug":"big-shoes-to-fill","old_id":"52852","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":34243,"post_title":"Moshe Sokolow","slug":"moshe-sokolow","old_id":"34243","first_name":"Moshe","last_name":"Sokolow","description":"Dr. Moshe Sokolow is Associate Dean of the Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education and Administration, Yeshiva University, and teaches a weekly class in parashat hashavu`a at Lincoln Square Synagogue. He is the author of TANAKH: An Owner\u2019s Manual (Jerusalem: Urim\/Ktav, 2015).\r\n\r\n","short_description":"Dr. Moshe Sokolow is Associate Dean of the Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education and Administration, Yeshiva University","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":34244,"alt":"","title":"sokolow","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow.jpg","width":302,"height":300,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow-300x298.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":298,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow.jpg","medium_large-width":302,"medium_large-height":300,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow.jpg","large-width":302,"large-height":300,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow.jpg","1536x1536-width":302,"1536x1536-height":300,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow.jpg","2048x2048-width":302,"2048x2048-height":300,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow.jpg","post_full_size-width":302,"post_full_size-height":300,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow.jpg","home_baner-width":302,"home_baner-height":300}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"188","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Just be strong and resolute: both physically and spiritually","post_main_content_content":"

    Moses, \u201cservant (`<\/em><\/span>eved<\/span><\/em>) of God\u201d (verse 1), is dead. He is succeeded by Joshua, who is rather pointedly described\u2014by virtue of a nearly identical relationship\u2014as: \u201cMoses\u2019s servant (<\/span>mesharet<\/span><\/em>)\u201d (ibid).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    In verse 6, God tells Joshua to \u201cbe strong and resolute\u201d (c<\/em><\/span>hazak ve`ematz<\/span><\/em>) and adds, immediately thereafter (7), \u201cJust be very strong and resolute (<\/span>raq chazak ve`ematz<\/span><\/em>). Rashi, troubled by the seemingly unnecessary repetition, distinguished between the two instructions. The first he interpreted as: \u201cBe strong and resolute. In the physical sense, as it states: \u2018For you will lead this people to inherit the land\u2019.\u201d While the second he interpreted as: \u201cJust be very strong and resolute. This was said in reference to the Torah, as it states: 'To preserve, to act in accordance with all the laws of the Torah\u2019.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    The precedence which \u201cthe physical sense\u201d takes over \u201cthe Torah\u201d is reminiscent of the rabbinic adage: \u201cPropriety precedes Torah\u201d (<\/span>derekh eretz kadmah leTorah<\/span><\/em>). As much as the pursuit of Torah is the loftiest of all our possible objectives, our \u201clower order needs\u201d have to be met before our \u201chigher order needs\u201d can be fulfilled, as Abraham Maslow reminded us in his well-known \u201chierarchy\u201d (<\/span>A Theory of Human Motivation<\/span><\/em>). Hence, Joshua\u2019s very first instruction to Israel is: \u201cPrepare food\u201d (11).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    The significance of \u201cjust be strong and resolute\u201d is reinforced by the people\u2019s incorporation of the phrase in their inaugural declaration of loyalty to Joshua in the closing verse of our chapter: \u201cAnyone who rebels against your instructions and disobeys anything that you command him, shall be put to death; just be strong and resolute\u201d (<\/span>raq<\/em> <\/span>chazak ve`ematz<\/span><\/em>) (verse 18).<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":52860,"alt":"","title":"jo1-shoes","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo1-shoes.jpg","width":965,"height":628,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo1-shoes-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo1-shoes-300x195.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":195,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo1-shoes-768x500.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":500,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo1-shoes.jpg","large-width":965,"large-height":628,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo1-shoes.jpg","1536x1536-width":965,"1536x1536-height":628,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo1-shoes.jpg","2048x2048-width":965,"2048x2048-height":628,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo1-shoes.jpg","post_full_size-width":965,"post_full_size-height":628,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo1-shoes-645x420.jpg","home_baner-width":645,"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":"Big Shoes To Fill...","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Just be strong and resolute: both physically and spiritually","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":52860,"alt":"","title":"jo1-shoes","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo1-shoes.jpg","width":965,"height":628,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo1-shoes-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo1-shoes-300x195.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":195,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo1-shoes-768x500.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":500,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo1-shoes.jpg","large-width":965,"large-height":628,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo1-shoes.jpg","1536x1536-width":965,"1536x1536-height":628,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo1-shoes.jpg","2048x2048-width":965,"2048x2048-height":628,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo1-shoes.jpg","post_full_size-width":965,"post_full_size-height":628,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo1-shoes-645x420.jpg","home_baner-width":645,"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":"Prophets","book":"Joshua","chapter":"1","chapter_main_number":"188","date":"20260519","wall_id":"188"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"707","name":"Service","old_id":"1107"},{"term_id":"808","name":"Strength","old_id":"1208"}]},{"order":8,"id":"52839","color":"#f7f7f5","size":"1","name":"The Journey or the Destination? ","post_title":"The Journey or the Destination?","slug":"the-journey-or-the-destination","old_id":"52839","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":38047,"post_title":"Shoshana Michael Zucker","slug":"shoshana-michael-zucker","old_id":"38047","first_name":"Shoshana Michael ","last_name":"Zucker ","description":"Shoshana Michael Zucker is a translator and editor by profession, but would much rather be learning and teaching Torah. A graduate of Barnard College, she made aliyah in 1983 and now lives in Kfar Saba where she is an active member of the Masorti Congregation Hod veHadar. ","short_description":"Shoshana Michael Zucker is a translator and editor and lives in Kfar Saba \r\n","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":38048,"alt":"","title":"Shoshana Michael Zucker","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Shoshana-Michael-Zucker.jpg","width":231,"height":310,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Shoshana-Michael-Zucker-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Shoshana-Michael-Zucker-224x300.jpg","medium-width":224,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Shoshana-Michael-Zucker.jpg","medium_large-width":231,"medium_large-height":310,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Shoshana-Michael-Zucker.jpg","large-width":231,"large-height":310,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Shoshana-Michael-Zucker.jpg","1536x1536-width":231,"1536x1536-height":310,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Shoshana-Michael-Zucker.jpg","2048x2048-width":231,"2048x2048-height":310,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Shoshana-Michael-Zucker.jpg","post_full_size-width":231,"post_full_size-height":310,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Shoshana-Michael-Zucker.jpg","home_baner-width":231,"home_baner-height":310}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"188","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Joshua v. Genesis: Where linear and cyclical time intersect","post_main_content_content":"

    The first chapter of Joshua is the natural continuation of the historical narrative in Deuteronomy. Moses ascended Mount Nebo, died and was buried by God in a carefully concealed grave. His servant Joshua, charged with ensuring that Moses\u2019 teachings are not forgotten, takes command and prepares to lead the people into the Land.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    This chapter occupies an interesting place in Jewish liturgical reading of the prophets. It is the haftarah for the final portion of the Torah, which is never read on a Shabbat morning, and for Sim\u1e25at Torah. When the last chapter of \u00a0Deuteronomy is read on Sim\u1e25at Torah, its reading is followed by reading from the beginning of Genesis, to enact and emphasize the never ending cycle of Torah. And then \u2013 after a brief detour to the sacrifices of the day \u2013 the prophetic reading from continues the historical narrative of the Israelites journey from the wilderness to the land of Israel. Cyclical, liturgical or mythic time intersects with linear, historical time.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    The liturgical cycle leaves the Israelites in the wilderness. Historical time brings them into the Promised Land. Is the journey important or the destination? Do we ever actually arrive?<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    For me, and perhaps for many readers, the value of 929 is not only the focus on a chapter rather than a longer portion but its linear nature. This encourages greater attention, a chapter missed will not soon return. And it sometimes creates interesting juxtapositions when reading the traditional, weekly portion and the daily chapter in parallel. For example, Exodus 14 and 15 which recount the splitting of the Reed Sea, came during the week when the story of Noah is read. Both highlight the tremendous, often destructive, power of water, and God\u2019s saving \u2013 but selective \u2013 intervention.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    What other interesting intersections await as we move forward?<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":52840,"alt":"","title":"jo1-time","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo1-time.jpg","width":301,"height":300,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo1-time-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo1-time-300x299.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":299,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo1-time.jpg","medium_large-width":301,"medium_large-height":300,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo1-time.jpg","large-width":301,"large-height":300,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo1-time.jpg","1536x1536-width":301,"1536x1536-height":300,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo1-time.jpg","2048x2048-width":301,"2048x2048-height":300,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo1-time.jpg","post_full_size-width":301,"post_full_size-height":300,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo1-time.jpg","home_baner-width":301,"home_baner-height":300}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"The Journey or the Destination?","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Joshua v. Genesis: Where linear and cyclical time intersect","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":52840,"alt":"","title":"jo1-time","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo1-time.jpg","width":301,"height":300,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo1-time-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo1-time-300x299.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":299,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo1-time.jpg","medium_large-width":301,"medium_large-height":300,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo1-time.jpg","large-width":301,"large-height":300,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo1-time.jpg","1536x1536-width":301,"1536x1536-height":300,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo1-time.jpg","2048x2048-width":301,"2048x2048-height":300,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo1-time.jpg","post_full_size-width":301,"post_full_size-height":300,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo1-time.jpg","home_baner-width":301,"home_baner-height":300}},"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":"Prophets","book":"Joshua","chapter":"1","chapter_main_number":"188","date":"20260519","wall_id":"188"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"420","name":"Time","old_id":"820"},{"term_id":"806","name":"Joshua","old_id":"1206"}]},{"order":9,"id":"52933","color":"#f8ebe3","size":"1","name":"Rahab ","post_title":"Rahab","slug":"rahab","old_id":"52933","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":52024,"post_title":"Mackenzie Reynolds","slug":"mackenzie-reynolds","old_id":"52024","first_name":"Mackenzie ","last_name":"Reynolds ","description":"Mackenzie Reynolds is in their final year of studies at the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College. 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","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":52284,"alt":"","title":"Mackenzie-Reynolds","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Mackenzie-Reynolds-1.jpg","width":671,"height":655,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Mackenzie-Reynolds-1-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Mackenzie-Reynolds-1-300x293.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":293,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Mackenzie-Reynolds-1.jpg","medium_large-width":671,"medium_large-height":655,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Mackenzie-Reynolds-1.jpg","large-width":671,"large-height":655,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Mackenzie-Reynolds-1.jpg","1536x1536-width":671,"1536x1536-height":655,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Mackenzie-Reynolds-1.jpg","2048x2048-width":671,"2048x2048-height":655,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Mackenzie-Reynolds-1.jpg","post_full_size-width":671,"post_full_size-height":655,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Mackenzie-Reynolds-1-430x420.jpg","home_baner-width":430,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"189","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"How did you know what Lot did not?","post_main_content_content":"

    Hiding under the straw bales on your roof, my mind loops: <\/span><\/p>\r\n

    How did you know what my ancestor Lot did not?<\/span>
    \r\n<\/span> No matter who is pounding<\/span>
    \r\n<\/span> your door down, demanding<\/span>
    \r\n<\/span> the soft bodies of guests in your house<\/span>
    \r\n<\/span> do not give them up.<\/span>
    \r\n<\/span> No matter who.<\/span>
    \r\n<\/span>How did you know what Lot did not?<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    Life on the fringe, in the wall<\/span>
    \r\n<\/span>of this crumbling town--what you must have seen.<\/span>
    \r\n<\/span>A world apart. Trading in secrecy, whispers, codes.<\/span>
    \r\n<\/span>Love made in alleyways and stoops, among shadows<\/span>
    \r\n<\/span>That love knows the importance of a good cover.<\/span>
    \r\n<\/span>That love knows, too, the cost of being held to the light.<\/span>
    \r\n<\/span> Never give up on anyone.<\/span>
    \r\n<\/span> Never give anyone up.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    You never know when you will be the one hiding.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

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

    Salt pillars scattered the land Rahab escaped.<\/span>
    \r\n<\/span>Her momma. Her brother. Her lover. Her best friend.<\/span>
    \r\n<\/span>All pillars left in the wake. <\/span><\/p>\r\n

    They didn\u2019t get that to get out, you must<\/span>
    \r\n<\/span>keep your head up and your feet moving. <\/span><\/p>\r\n

    But Rahab did. She reached Jericho, where<\/span>
    \r\n<\/span>she unpacked her bags and set up shop.<\/span>
    \r\n<\/span>proving herself by moments to her liminal, wall-dwelling neighbors,<\/span>
    \r\n<\/span>purveyors of the underground, <\/span>
    \r\n<\/span>she was trustworthy.<\/span>
    \r\n<\/span>She kept her head up. Her feet moving forward.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

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

    So when we came to your door, you did what you always do:<\/span>
    \r\n<\/span> Yes of course, come in.<\/span>
    \r\n<\/span> Let me show you the way.<\/span>
    \r\n<\/span> Do not move.<\/span>
    \r\n<\/span> Do not make a sound.<\/span>
    \r\n<\/span> Wait.<\/span>
    \r\n<\/span> Here.<\/span>
    \r\n<\/span> For me.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    And when the police came looking, you did what you always do:<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span> There is no one here.<\/span>
    \r\n<\/span> Only me.<\/span>
    \r\n<\/span> Yes, come in.<\/span>
    \r\n<\/span> Take a look.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    Quiet exhale hiss as footsteps thud down<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    Head up,<\/span>
    \r\n<\/span> feet moving,<\/span>
    \r\n<\/span> you rush to uncover us<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    You tell us to run. <\/span><\/p>\r\n

    Don\u2019t look back, you say.<\/span>
    \r\n<\/span>You\u2019ll turn to salt.<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":52939,"alt":"","title":"jo2-rahab_the_harlot","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo2-rahab_the_harlot.jpg","width":550,"height":700,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo2-rahab_the_harlot-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo2-rahab_the_harlot-236x300.jpg","medium-width":236,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo2-rahab_the_harlot.jpg","medium_large-width":550,"medium_large-height":700,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo2-rahab_the_harlot.jpg","large-width":550,"large-height":700,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo2-rahab_the_harlot.jpg","1536x1536-width":550,"1536x1536-height":700,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo2-rahab_the_harlot.jpg","2048x2048-width":550,"2048x2048-height":700,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo2-rahab_the_harlot.jpg","post_full_size-width":550,"post_full_size-height":700,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo2-rahab_the_harlot-330x420.jpg","home_baner-width":330,"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":"Rahab","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"How did you know what Lot did not? 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","post_title":"Who Was Rahab?","slug":"who-was-rahab","old_id":"52927","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":52873,"post_title":"Tikva Frymer-Kensky","slug":"tikva-frymer-kensky","old_id":"52873","first_name":"Tikva ","last_name":"Frymer-Kensky","description":"Dr. Tikva Frymer-Kensky (1943-2006) had been the director of Biblical Studies at the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College and was a professor of Hebrew Bible and the History of Judaism at the University of Chicago. She was a pioneer in combining rigorous study of the ancient Near East with rigorous feminism. She received her bachelor's degree in ancient world studies from City College of New York and a bachelor's in Hebrew Literature in Bible and Talmud from the Jewish Theological Seminary in 1965, a master's in West Semitics from Yale in 1967, and a doctorate in Assyriology and Sumerology from Yale in 1977.\r\n\r\n","short_description":"Dr. Tikva Frymer-Kensky (1943-2006) was a professor of Hebrew Bible and the History of Judaism at the University of Chicago, and had been the director of Biblical Studies at the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College.\r\n","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":52874,"alt":"","title":"tikva frymer-kensky","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/tikva-frymer-kensky.jpg","width":125,"height":175,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/tikva-frymer-kensky-125x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":125,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/tikva-frymer-kensky.jpg","medium-width":125,"medium-height":175,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/tikva-frymer-kensky.jpg","medium_large-width":125,"medium_large-height":175,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/tikva-frymer-kensky.jpg","large-width":125,"large-height":175,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/tikva-frymer-kensky.jpg","1536x1536-width":125,"1536x1536-height":175,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/tikva-frymer-kensky.jpg","2048x2048-width":125,"2048x2048-height":175,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/tikva-frymer-kensky.jpg","post_full_size-width":125,"post_full_size-height":175,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/tikva-frymer-kensky.jpg","home_baner-width":125,"home_baner-height":175}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"189","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Prostitute, heroine, oracle, proselyte","post_main_content_content":"

    A Canaanite woman living in Jericho, Rahab is a prostitute who is also a biblical heroine. According to the narrative in Joshua 2,<\/span> before the conquest of Canaan, Joshua sends two men as spies to see the land. They come to Rahab\u2019s house for lodging, information, and\/or sex. The king, hearing about the two men, demands that Rahab give them up. Like the midwives in Egypt, Rahab is faced with a \u201cmoment of truth.\u201d Like them, Rahab defies the ruler and rescues the Israelites. She tells the king\u2019s men that the two men have left and that the king\u2019s men should chase them. Meanwhile, she has hidden the men under the flax drying on her roof (2:4); the writer uses the unusual word <\/span>ti<\/span><\/i>z<\/span><\/i>peno, <\/span><\/i>\u201cshe hid him\u201d (even though there are two men), perhaps as an allusion to Exod 2:2, where Moses\u2019s mother hides her newborn <\/span>(ti<\/span><\/i>z<\/span><\/i>penehu). <\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n

    Rahab is midwife and mother to Israel in its beginnings in Canaan.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    Rahab lets the two men out through her window, which is in the town wall. She requests a return for her act of <\/span>hesed<\/span><\/em>, special kindness. She asks that she and her family be spared once the Israelites attack Jericho. The spies give her a crimson thread to hang from her window, with the injunction that she is to gather her family and wait inside her house; as long as they stay indoors, they will be spared, just as the Israelites who stayed in houses marked with the blood of the paschal lamb were spared the fate of the Egyptians.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    Rahab has a special function in the biblical narratives of Israel\u2019s existence in the land. When uncovering the men, she explains that she knows that God will give Israel the land (2:8). She declares (quoting from the Song of Miriam in Exodus 15; see v. 11) that \u201cdread\u201d has fallen on the inhabitants and that they all \u201cfear\u201d Israel (2:9). This is the message that the men bring back to Joshua. Rahab is thus the oracle of Israel\u2019s occupation of the land. Another woman, the prophet Deborah, announced a major victory in the taking of Canaan; and the end of Israel\u2019s occupation of the land is pronounced by yet another woman, the prophet Huldah.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    Rahab, who begins as triply marginalized\u2014Canaanite, woman, and prostitute\u2014moves to the center as bearer of a divine message and herald of Israel in its new land. Even though later generations of readers have been squeamish about her occupation, preferring to think of her as an \u201cinnkeeper,\u201d she is remembered in Jewish tradition as the great proselyte, as ancestress of kings and prophets, and, in the New Testament, as ancestress of Jesus.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    From: The Jewish Women\u2019s Archive (<\/span>https:\/\/jwa.org\/encyclopedia\/article\/rahab-bible<\/span><\/a>)<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    Image: \u00a0<\/span>Rahab Receiveth and Concealeth the Spies,<\/span> Frederick Richard Pickersgill, 1881 \/ wikimedia<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    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kopel.jpg","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/chesky-kopel.jpg.png","width":191,"height":220,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/chesky-kopel.jpg-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/chesky-kopel.jpg.png","medium-width":191,"medium-height":220,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/chesky-kopel.jpg.png","medium_large-width":191,"medium_large-height":220,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/chesky-kopel.jpg.png","large-width":191,"large-height":220,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/chesky-kopel.jpg.png","1536x1536-width":191,"1536x1536-height":220,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/chesky-kopel.jpg.png","2048x2048-width":191,"2048x2048-height":220,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/chesky-kopel.jpg.png","post_full_size-width":191,"post_full_size-height":220,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/chesky-kopel.jpg.png","home_baner-width":191,"home_baner-height":220}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"189","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"An abolitionist code in the fight against slavery and the Confederacy","post_main_content_content":"

    The Jericho spies designate a sign for their protector Rahab: If Rahab hangs a red string from her window, she and her family would remain safe from the imminent Israelite invasion; if she does not, she forfeits the promise of protection. This sign bears clear echoes of the Biblical past\u2014the sacrificial blood on the Israelite doorposts that drew God\u2019s protection from the Plague of the Firstborn in Exodus 12, the red string around the wrist of Zerah that signaled his emergence from his mother Tamar\u2019s womb in Genesis 38\u2014and its echoes also continue to reverberate in modern history.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    The anthropologist Elly Teman explored the role of the Rahab story in the popular mystical tradition of wearing a red string around one\u2019s wrist as protection from the Evil Eye. <\/span><\/p>\r\n

    Perhaps more surprisingly, Rahab\u2019s red string has even made an appearance in the political history of the United States. As documented by historian William R. Trotter, during the Civil War, a secret organization of abolitionist Quakers known as \u201cthe Red String Society\u201d operated in the Piedmont region of North Carolina. They sought to sabotage the Confederate war effort by facilitating desertion among Confederate soldiers. Their goal was to bring about the ultimate end of the evil practice of American slavery.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    Because the Red Strings committed treason against their erstwhile government, they took great pains to preserve secrecy. Each reportedly wore a red string on his or her lapel, a sign recognizable only to fellow saboteurs. The symbolism was unmistakable: The Union Army, by acting against the forces of enslavement, played the role of Joshua\u2019s army carrying out the will of God. The Red Strings expected and hoped that the forces of the Union would win the war and destroy their irredeemably corrupt Southern society. The Red Strings therefore played the role of Rahab, doing their part to assist the sacred war effort and bring down the Jericho Confederacy. The red strings they wore served as a sign not only to one another but also to God above, seeking His recognition and protection from the approaching onslaught.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    Image by: Arttis \/ shutterstock.com<\/span><\/p>\r\n

     <\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":52922,"alt":"","title":"jo2-red string","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo2-red-string.jpg","width":1000,"height":536,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo2-red-string-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo2-red-string-300x161.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":161,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo2-red-string-768x412.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":412,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo2-red-string.jpg","large-width":1000,"large-height":536,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo2-red-string.jpg","1536x1536-width":1000,"1536x1536-height":536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo2-red-string.jpg","2048x2048-width":1000,"2048x2048-height":536,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo2-red-string.jpg","post_full_size-width":1000,"post_full_size-height":536,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo2-red-string-784x420.jpg","home_baner-width":784,"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":"Reappearances Of Rahab\u2019s Red String","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"An abolitionist code in the fight against slavery and the Confederacy","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":52922,"alt":"","title":"jo2-red string","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo2-red-string.jpg","width":1000,"height":536,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo2-red-string-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo2-red-string-300x161.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":161,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo2-red-string-768x412.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":412,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo2-red-string.jpg","large-width":1000,"large-height":536,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo2-red-string.jpg","1536x1536-width":1000,"1536x1536-height":536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo2-red-string.jpg","2048x2048-width":1000,"2048x2048-height":536,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo2-red-string.jpg","post_full_size-width":1000,"post_full_size-height":536,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo2-red-string-784x420.jpg","home_baner-width":784,"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":"Prophets","book":"Joshua","chapter":"2","chapter_main_number":"189","date":"20260520","wall_id":"189"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"434","name":"War","old_id":"834"},{"term_id":"438","name":"Slavery","old_id":"838"},{"term_id":"444","name":"History","old_id":"844"},{"term_id":"856","name":"Rahab","old_id":"1256"}]},{"order":12,"id":"52958","color":"#f6f5de","size":"1","name":"A Miraculous Story With A Miraculous Ending ","post_title":"A Miraculous Story With A Miraculous Ending","slug":"a-miraculous-story-with-a-miraculous-ending","old_id":"52958","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":52021,"post_title":"Sophie Gribetz","slug":"sophie-gribetz","old_id":"52021","first_name":"Sophie ","last_name":"Gribetz ","description":"Sophie Gribetz is a 4th grader at SAR Academy in Riverdale, NY. She studied the book of Joshua last year at the Evelina de Rothschild School in Jerusalem and is studying it again this year at SAR. She writes for 929 together with her mother, Sarit Kattan Gribetz, an Assistant Professor in the Theology Department at Fordham University and a Core Faculty Member at the Drisha Institute for Jewish Education. ","short_description":"Sophie Gribetz is a 4th grader at SAR Academy in Riverdale, NY. ","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":52023,"alt":"","title":"Sophie Gribetz","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Sophie-Gribetz-1.jpg","width":3467,"height":3426,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Sophie-Gribetz-1-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Sophie-Gribetz-1-300x296.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":296,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Sophie-Gribetz-1-768x759.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":759,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Sophie-Gribetz-1-1024x1012.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":1012,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Sophie-Gribetz-1.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1518,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Sophie-Gribetz-1.jpg","2048x2048-width":2048,"2048x2048-height":2024,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Sophie-Gribetz-1-1200x1186.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":1186,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Sophie-Gribetz-1-425x420.jpg","home_baner-width":425,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"190","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Practical, theological and literary answers to the question: why the detailed description of crossing the river?","post_main_content_content":"

    In Joshua 2:1, we read that \u201cJoshua the son of Nun secretly sent two men as spies from Shitim\u201d in order to collect intelligence about the land of Israel. The text does not mention how these men were able to cross the Jordan River. This unexciting description of the spies\u2019 travels from one side of the Jordan to the other is just a single word, <\/span>vayelchu<\/span><\/i>, \u201cthey went.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    This brief description of the spies\u2019 journey in Joshua 2 stands in contrast to the dramatic crossing of the Jordan river by the people of Israel in Joshua 3. Almost an entire chapter is devoted to this second crossing. Joshua 3 explains in tremendous detail the many steps it took to cross the river. First, the people of Israel encamped next to the Jordan river for three days. Then, they were given elaborate directions for following the ark of the covenant. Next, they were instructed to make themselves holy so that they would be ready for the wondrous feats that would happen the following day. God assures Joshua that the miracles that will transpire will demonstrate to the people of Israel that God supports Joshua as their leader, just as God supported Moses before him. <\/span><\/p>\r\n

    Finally, Joshua predicts that as soon as the soles of the priests\u2019 feet will enter the water, the river will split, so the people of Israel can cross on dry land. After all this preparation and fanfare, they do. The text even tells us the following spectacular detail: \u201c<\/span>While all Israel were crossing over on dry ground, the priests who bore the ark of the covenant of the <\/span>Lord<\/span> stood on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan, until the entire nation finished crossing over the Jordan\u201d (Joshua 3:17).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    Why is there such a discrepancy between the one-word first crossing of the river in Joshua 2, and the chapter-long second crossing of the river in Joshua 3?<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    One answer is practical. Perhaps the spies crossed the river at the end of the summer, when the waters were low and the river was easier to cross. By the time the Israelites were ready to cross as a nation, it might have already been winter, when the river was high and they couldn\u2019t cross easily without divine intervention. Likewise, it\u2019s a lot easier for two people to cross the river undercover, than it is for an entire nation to march through, and so the nation\u2019s crossing was a bigger feat. <\/span><\/p>\r\n

    Theologically, the miracle of crossing perhaps wasn\u2019t a practical necessity, but a way of demonstrating to the people God\u2019s power and reassuring them that God would assist them. <\/span><\/p>\r\n

    Or literarily: the nation\u2019s crossing of the Jordan into the land of Canaan mirrors the nation\u2019s crossing of the Red Sea out of the land of Egypt. This crossing of a river marks the ending of a journey that began with a crossing forty years earlier. <\/span><\/p>\r\n

    It is a nice way to conclude a miraculous story with a miraculous ending. \u00a0<\/span>
    \r\n
    \r\n<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    Written by Sophie Gribetz together with Sarit Kattan Gribetz<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    Image: from <\/span>Joshua Passing The River Jordan with the Ark of the Covenant<\/span><\/i>, 1800, by Benjamin West \/ wikimedia<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":52959,"alt":"","title":"jo3-crossing-West","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo3-crossing-West.jpg","width":1200,"height":693,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo3-crossing-West-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo3-crossing-West-300x173.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":173,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo3-crossing-West-768x444.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":444,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo3-crossing-West-1024x591.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":591,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo3-crossing-West.jpg","1536x1536-width":1200,"1536x1536-height":693,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo3-crossing-West.jpg","2048x2048-width":1200,"2048x2048-height":693,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo3-crossing-West-1200x693.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":693,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo3-crossing-West-727x420.jpg","home_baner-width":727,"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 Miraculous Story With A Miraculous Ending","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Practical, theological and literary answers to the question: why the detailed description of crossing the river?","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":52959,"alt":"","title":"jo3-crossing-West","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo3-crossing-West.jpg","width":1200,"height":693,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo3-crossing-West-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo3-crossing-West-300x173.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":173,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo3-crossing-West-768x444.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":444,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo3-crossing-West-1024x591.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":591,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo3-crossing-West.jpg","1536x1536-width":1200,"1536x1536-height":693,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo3-crossing-West.jpg","2048x2048-width":1200,"2048x2048-height":693,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo3-crossing-West-1200x693.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":693,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo3-crossing-West-727x420.jpg","home_baner-width":727,"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":"Prophets","book":"Joshua","chapter":"3","chapter_main_number":"190","date":"20260521","wall_id":"190"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"384","name":"God","old_id":"784"},{"term_id":"471","name":"Miracle","old_id":"871"},{"term_id":"806","name":"Joshua","old_id":"1206"}]},{"order":13,"id":"52952","color":"#f6edf6","size":"1","name":"Remembering the Thresholds ","post_title":"Remembering The Thresholds","slug":"remembering-the-thresholds","old_id":"52952","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":52167,"post_title":"Lea Andersen","slug":"lea-andersen","old_id":"52167","first_name":"Lea ","last_name":"Andersen ","description":"Lea Andersen is a first year rabbinical student at Hebrew College. She is excited by queer and feminist expressions of traditional Judaism, as well as contemporary midrash and halakha.","short_description":"Lea Andersen is a first year rabbinical student at Hebrew College.","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":52278,"alt":"","title":"lea anderson","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/lea-anderson.jpg","width":901,"height":977,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/lea-anderson-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/lea-anderson-277x300.jpg","medium-width":277,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/lea-anderson-768x833.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":833,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/lea-anderson.jpg","large-width":901,"large-height":977,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/lea-anderson.jpg","1536x1536-width":901,"1536x1536-height":977,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/lea-anderson.jpg","2048x2048-width":901,"2048x2048-height":977,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/lea-anderson.jpg","post_full_size-width":901,"post_full_size-height":977,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/lea-anderson-387x420.jpg","home_baner-width":387,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"190","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Joshua and the Israelites have to take something with them from their crossing","post_main_content_content":"

    A human life is often defined by its transitions. \u00a0The experiences of growing up, changing schools or jobs, and finding a partner are some of them. Sometimes these transitions are more dramatic, like joining a people or coming out of the closet. In each case, however, we must consider how we will approach our transitions, how we will enact them, how we are changed by them, and what we carry with us from them. <\/span><\/p>\r\n

    So, too, is the transition of the Israelites from wandering in the desert to dwelling in their homeland. When arriving at the Jordan, the camp of Israel stops overnight, as if savoring the imminent crossing and preparing for it. \u00a0With some instructions and collaboration, Joshua leads the people to split the Jordan, and to cross it together into the Land. <\/span><\/p>\r\n

    Joshua and the Israelites have to take something with them from their crossing, though. One person from each tribe carries a stone from the bed of the Jordan into the Land with them, with which they will build a monument. In other words, they were not allowed to merely cross the threshold without looking back. Something of that liminal space needed to be with them as they entered their new reality. <\/span><\/p>\r\n

    This is similar to transitions in our own lives. No one merely crosses the threshold from one state of being into another. Something about that crossing\u2014an emotion, a memory, or perhaps even something physical\u2014remains with us even after we cross, to remind us of where we have come from as we move toward where we are going. <\/span><\/p>\r\n

    It is not enough to get through a moment of transition. If we want to draw as much as we can from it, we must acknowledge it, remember it, and learn from it, not only for our own sake, but for the sake of those who will come after.<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":52953,"alt":"","title":"jo3-crossing-the-threshold","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo3-crossing-the-threshold.jpg","width":300,"height":169,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo3-crossing-the-threshold-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo3-crossing-the-threshold-300x169.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":169,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo3-crossing-the-threshold.jpg","medium_large-width":300,"medium_large-height":169,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo3-crossing-the-threshold.jpg","large-width":300,"large-height":169,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo3-crossing-the-threshold.jpg","1536x1536-width":300,"1536x1536-height":169,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo3-crossing-the-threshold.jpg","2048x2048-width":300,"2048x2048-height":169,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo3-crossing-the-threshold.jpg","post_full_size-width":300,"post_full_size-height":169,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo3-crossing-the-threshold.jpg","home_baner-width":300,"home_baner-height":169}},"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":"Remembering The Thresholds","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Joshua and the Israelites have to take something with them from their crossing","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":52953,"alt":"","title":"jo3-crossing-the-threshold","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo3-crossing-the-threshold.jpg","width":300,"height":169,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo3-crossing-the-threshold-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo3-crossing-the-threshold-300x169.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":169,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo3-crossing-the-threshold.jpg","medium_large-width":300,"medium_large-height":169,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo3-crossing-the-threshold.jpg","large-width":300,"large-height":169,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo3-crossing-the-threshold.jpg","1536x1536-width":300,"1536x1536-height":169,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo3-crossing-the-threshold.jpg","2048x2048-width":300,"2048x2048-height":169,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo3-crossing-the-threshold.jpg","post_full_size-width":300,"post_full_size-height":169,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/jo3-crossing-the-threshold.jpg","home_baner-width":300,"home_baner-height":169}},"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":"Prophets","book":"Joshua","chapter":"3","chapter_main_number":"190","date":"20260521","wall_id":"190"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"540","name":"Transformation","old_id":"940"},{"term_id":"552","name":"Change","old_id":"952"}]},{"order":14,"id":"108808","color":"#effaea","size":"1","name":"Chazak v\u2019Ematz: Be Strong and Resolute ","post_title":"Chazak v\u2019Ematz: Be Strong and Resolute","slug":"chazak-vematz-be-strong-and-resolute","old_id":"108808","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":101758,"post_title":"Naomi Bromberg Bar-Yam","slug":"naomi-bromberg-bar-yam","old_id":"101758","first_name":"Naomi ","last_name":"Bromberg Bar-Yam ","description":"Naomi Bromberg Bar-Yam is a social worker and advocate in maternal and child health. She explores her work and life through Torah drashot, rituals and children\u2019s stories.","short_description":"Naomi Bromberg Bar-Yam is a social worker and advocate in maternal and child health. She explores her work and life through Torah drashot, rituals and children\u2019s stories.","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":101760,"alt":"","title":"-62028435af471--62028435af472Naomi Bromberg Bar-Yam.jpg","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/02\/62028435af471-62028435af472Naomi-Bromberg-Bar-Yam.jpg.jpg","width":361,"height":449,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/02\/62028435af471-62028435af472Naomi-Bromberg-Bar-Yam.jpg-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/02\/62028435af471-62028435af472Naomi-Bromberg-Bar-Yam.jpg-241x300.jpg","medium-width":241,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/02\/62028435af471-62028435af472Naomi-Bromberg-Bar-Yam.jpg.jpg","medium_large-width":361,"medium_large-height":449,"large":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/02\/62028435af471-62028435af472Naomi-Bromberg-Bar-Yam.jpg.jpg","large-width":361,"large-height":449,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/02\/62028435af471-62028435af472Naomi-Bromberg-Bar-Yam.jpg.jpg","1536x1536-width":361,"1536x1536-height":449,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/02\/62028435af471-62028435af472Naomi-Bromberg-Bar-Yam.jpg.jpg","2048x2048-width":361,"2048x2048-height":449,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/02\/62028435af471-62028435af472Naomi-Bromberg-Bar-Yam.jpg.jpg","post_full_size-width":361,"post_full_size-height":449,"home_baner":"https:\/\/cetwpuploads.blob.core.windows.net\/wp929\/uploads\/2022\/02\/62028435af471-62028435af472Naomi-Bromberg-Bar-Yam.jpg-338x420.jpg","home_baner-width":338,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"188","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Meaning Joshua - and us\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

    First, <\/span>yeshar koach<\/em> <\/span>(way to go!) to all the 929ers who have just completed our study of the Torah, foundational text for all that comes in the rest of Tanakh and beyond. Quite an achievement!<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    And so, the next part of our story begins \u2013 the God of Israel, the people of Israel and the land of Israel converge. With God\u2019s help and guidance, the people of Israel take their first steps into their promised land.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    The book of Joshua has been described as the 6<\/span>th<\/span> book of Torah. Many ideas, events and phrases in Torah, particularly Deuteronomy, and Joshua are direct reflections of one another: The crossing of the Jordan is similar to the crossing of the Reed Sea in Exodus; In Deuteronomy 28, Moses describes in detail the ritual, blessings and curses on Mt. Gerizim and Mt. Ebal, and in Joshua 8, those events take place. Joshua is repeatedly described as Moses\u2019 successor.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    In Deuteronomy 31, both Joshua and the people are told 3 times to be strong and resolute and not to be afraid because God is with them. In Joshua 1, the phrase is repeated 4 times, and again in chapter 10. While the phrase is commonly used in modern Hebrew, it does not appear before this and only appears again at the very end of the Bible, centuries later in Chronicles.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    Chazak v\u2019ematz<\/em> <\/span>is a two word microcosm of everything Moses tried to teach the people and Joshua tried to live and model. The term has both military and spiritual connotations.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    In Deuteronomy 31, <\/span>chazak v\u2019ematz<\/em> <\/span>refers to strength and resolve to enter and settle the land, including military action, for God will be with you.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    In Joshua, the phrase shifts from physical might to include spiritual devotion.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    Be strong and resolute, for you shall apportion to the people the land that I swore to their father to assign to them (1:6).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    But you must be <\/span>very <\/span><\/i>strong and resolute to observe faithfully all the Teaching that My servant Moses enjoined upon you. Do not deviate from it right or left, that you may be successful wherever you go (1:7).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    Keeping God\u2019s laws requires us to be <\/span>very <\/span><\/i>strong and resolute; it is harder than the strength needed for military action.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    Captured in these two words is the message that the land will not fall into the Israelite\u2019s hands easily and cannot be taken for granted. Settling the land and sustaining our sovereignty require ongoing faithful partnership with God, creating the society that God has laid out and commanded.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    In Joshua, the people take these words to heart and they show strength and resolve both militarily and spiritually. A welcome reprieve from the difficult experiences of the desert and what is to come.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    Chazak v\u2019ematz <\/span><\/em>- <\/span><\/i>as we continue our journey through the Early Prophets over the next months.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

     <\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":67250,"alt":"","title":"is41-strong","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is41-strong.png","width":1111,"height":1280,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is41-strong-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is41-strong-260x300.png","medium-width":260,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is41-strong-768x885.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":885,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is41-strong-889x1024.png","large-width":889,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is41-strong.png","1536x1536-width":1111,"1536x1536-height":1280,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is41-strong.png","2048x2048-width":1111,"2048x2048-height":1280,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is41-strong-1042x1200.png","post_full_size-width":1042,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is41-strong-365x420.png","home_baner-width":365,"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":"Chazak v\u2019Ematz: Be Strong and Resolute","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Meaning Joshua - and us","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":67250,"alt":"","title":"is41-strong","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is41-strong.png","width":1111,"height":1280,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is41-strong-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is41-strong-260x300.png","medium-width":260,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is41-strong-768x885.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":885,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is41-strong-889x1024.png","large-width":889,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is41-strong.png","1536x1536-width":1111,"1536x1536-height":1280,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is41-strong.png","2048x2048-width":1111,"2048x2048-height":1280,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is41-strong-1042x1200.png","post_full_size-width":1042,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is41-strong-365x420.png","home_baner-width":365,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_link_for_pay":"0","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"send_noty":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"Joshua","chapter":"1","chapter_main_number":"188","date":"20260519","wall_id":"188"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"375","name":"Faith","old_id":"775"},{"term_id":"402","name":"Leadership","old_id":"802"},{"term_id":"806","name":"Joshua","old_id":"1206"}]},{"order":15,"id":"108835","color":"#f7f7f5","size":"1","name":"Prophetic Intertextuality ","post_title":"Prophetic Intertextuality","slug":"prophetic-intertextuality","old_id":"108835","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":"189","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Interesting references to Lot, Jethro - and more espionage\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

    The second chapter of Joshua is the perfect example of a book of the Prophets referencing stories in the Torah. These references show both contrasts and connections between the well-known stories in the Torah, and the current ones being played out. Three examples in Chapter 2:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

      \r\n\t
    1. The chapter begins with Joshua sending two spies to Jericho. It is no coincidence that Joshua\u2019s first act as leader of the people is sending two spies. Joshua was one of the original 12 spies sent to the land of Canaan in Numbers. This time, Joshua himself orders the spies be sent. In the Torah, it seems as if the people had made the request and God and\/or Moses reluctantly agreed.\u00a0 Joshua also makes sure to send only two spies for a very specific mission in one location. Perhaps this is an indication that the original spies with their grandiose mission were doomed from the onset. The success of this mission is also an indication that Joshua is trying to right the wrongs of the past. He may also realize that the people will be calmer with a successful mission.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t
    2. The two spies encounter Rahab, an innkeeper\/prostitute. She hides them on her roof when the king of Jericho comes looking for them. This story evokes the story of the two angels who came to visit Lot in Genesis. In that story, Lot tries to confront the angry mob by offering his own daughters to save the guests. In the end, the two angels must save Lot and his family- telling them to flee to the mountainside while Sodom is destroyed. Here, Rahab is the one who saves the two visitors. She artfully distracts the local guard and tells the two men to run to the hills to safety. Rahab takes the place of the angels in this flipped story. Perhaps the message here is that in the books of the Prophets, God does not always act in an outward manner. Help may not come from obvious angels, but from the most unlikely places.<\/li>\r\n\t
    3. Rahab also tells the spies that she believes in God because she has heard all about the wonders God performed on behalf of the Israelites including \u201cFor we have heard how the Lord dried up the waters of the Sea of Suf before you, when you came out of Mi\u017crayim\u201d (verse 10). This recalls another foreigner who favored the Israelites because of what he heard about Egypt: \u201cJethro priest of Midian, Moses\u2019 father-in-law, heard all that God had done for Moses and for Israel, God\u2019s people, how God had brought Israel out from Egypt\u201d (Exodus 18:1). The text specifically links Rahab to Yitro to signal that she is a true believer in God and is to be trusted.\u00a0<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n

      These three examples show that the books of the Prophets are carefully written with the previous books of the Torah in mind as a way to convey a deeper message or suggest a specific feeling about a character.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

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