{"id":51778,"date":"2018-07-09T17:42:05","date_gmt":"2018-07-09T14:42:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wall\/wall-181\/"},"modified":"2022-10-16T12:04:13","modified_gmt":"2022-10-16T09:04:13","slug":"wall-181","status":"publish","type":"wall","link":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wall\/wall-181\/","title":{"rendered":"chapter-Torah-Deuteronomy-28"},"parent":0,"template":"","acf":{"type":"chapter","wall_id":"181","date":"20260510","book":"Deuteronomy","chapter":"28","chapter_main_number":"181","books_group":"Torah","posts":[{"order":1,"id":"51839","color":"#f8ebe3","size":"1","name":"Deuteronomy 28 - Judy Hammond ","post_title":"Deuteronomy 28 - Judy Hammond","slug":"deuteronomy-28-judy-hammond","old_id":"51839","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":34686,"post_title":"Soundcloud","slug":"soundcloud","old_id":"34686","first_name":"","last_name":"","description":"","short_description":"","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":34656,"alt":"","title":"491","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","width":300,"height":300,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","medium_large-width":300,"medium_large-height":300,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","large-width":300,"large-height":300,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","1536x1536-width":300,"1536x1536-height":300,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","2048x2048-width":300,"2048x2048-height":300,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","post_full_size-width":300,"post_full_size-height":300,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","home_baner-width":300,"home_baner-height":300}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"181","type_929":"4","show_author_image":true,"old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"","post_main_content_content":"","post_main_content_image":"","post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"The Audio Bible","tile_main_caption":"Deuteronomy 28","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"read by Judy Hammond","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":"","tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"https:\/\/soundcloud.com\/929-bible\/deuteronomy-chapter-28-read-by-judy-hammond","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","old_create_date":"","links":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Torah","book":"Deuteronomy","chapter":"28","chapter_main_number":"181","date":"20260510","wall_id":"181"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":2,"id":"108571","color":"#f6edf6","size":"1","name":"Blessings v. Curses ","post_title":"Blessings v. Curses","slug":"blessings-v-curses","old_id":"108571","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":"181","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"But is there a third category as well?\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

Chapter 28 discusses the blessings and curses. The two sides line up pretty well, except for a few differences. To highlight these, here are the verses alternating between the blessings (B) and curses (C):<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Intro B) Now, if you obey your God, to observe faithfully all the divine commandments which I enjoin upon you this day, your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth. All these blessings shall come upon you and take effect, if you will but heed the word of your God<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Intro C) But if you do not obey your God to observe faithfully all the commandments and laws which I enjoin upon you this day, all these curses shall come upon you and take effect:<\/span><\/p>\r\n

1B): Blessed shall you be in the city and blessed shall you be in the country.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

1C) Cursed shall you be in the city and cursed shall you be in the country.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

2B) Blessed shall be your issue from the womb, your produce from the soil, and the offspring of your cattle, the calving of your herd and the lambing of your flock.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

2C) Cursed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

3B) Blessed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

3C) Cursed shall be your issue from the womb and your produce from the soil, the calving of your herd and the lambing of your flock.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

4B) Blessed shall you be in your comings and blessed shall you be in your goings.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

4C) Cursed shall you be in your comings and cursed shall you be in your goings.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The curses then go off on a much larger tangent for many verses.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

For the most part, these four introductory blessings\/curses are identical except for a flip of the middle two. The biggest difference comes in the introductory verses. The blessings are not just for obeying God, but for \u201cobserv[ing] faithfully,\u201d in Hebrew the double use of the verb for hear - <\/span>shamo\u2019a tishme\u2019u<\/span><\/em>. The phrase appears three other times in the Torah: Exodus 15:26, Exodus 23:22, and Deuteronomy 15:5.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Each of those instances introduces a blessing that God will bestow on the people. It seems, though, that it is harder to get a blessing and it is easier to get a curse. For one to be cursed, one just fails to follow God, but for a blessing one must observe faithfully. Perhaps this is a warning that one should not expect that simply going through the motions would be enough to warrant God\u2019s blessing. Faithful intent must be present as well. This also seems to open up a third category: don\u2019t follow the commandments - be cursed, follow them - status quo, but follow <\/span>faithfully<\/em> <\/span>and one will receive bountiful blessings. By adding this extra requirement, Moses is pushing the people to be their best in their devotion to God and the commandments.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

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She received her rabbinic ordination from Hebrew College in Boston. Energized by engaging creatively with Jewish text, she maintains a Daf Yomi haiku blog in which she writes daily Talmudic haikus.","short_description":"Rabbi Avi Strausberg is the Director of National Learning Initiatives at Hadar, and based in Washington, DC.","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":50594,"alt":"","title":"avi strausberg","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/avi-strausberg-1.jpg","width":1334,"height":1348,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/avi-strausberg-1-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/avi-strausberg-1-297x300.jpg","medium-width":297,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/avi-strausberg-1-768x776.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":776,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/avi-strausberg-1-1013x1024.jpg","large-width":1013,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/avi-strausberg-1.jpg","1536x1536-width":1334,"1536x1536-height":1348,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/avi-strausberg-1.jpg","2048x2048-width":1334,"2048x2048-height":1348,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/avi-strausberg-1-1188x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":1188,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/avi-strausberg-1-416x420.jpg","home_baner-width":416,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"181","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"What if we didn\u2019t view success and failure as a zero sum game?","post_main_content_content":"

Deuteronomy 28 contains a powerful litany of blessing and curses about what will happen or fail to happen if we do not obey God. \u00a0Among seemingly apocalyptic threats of skies turning to copper and soil to iron, twice, God threatens that if we fail to obey, the \u201cnatural pecking\u201d order will be reverse. \u00a0We are warned that the stranger in our midst will rise higher and higher, while we will sink lower and lower. The stranger will be the head and we will be the tail.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

This is a text that is consumed with fear that we will not get to be the ones in charge. \u00a0\u201cNatural order\u201d seems to dictate that the <\/span>ger<\/span><\/em>, the foreigner with no claim, should be beneath us, he should be powerless and vulnerable. \u00a0God forbid, the roles are reversed. This fear of the stranger rising to power is the same fear that animated Pharaoh's drive to oppress the Israelites in the opening chapters of the Book of Exodus. \u00a0Pharaoh sees the Israelites growing in number and he says, \u201cLet\u2019s deal shrewdly with them, so that they may not increase.\u201d What is he so afraid of? He\u2019s afraid of this curse in Deuteronomy 28. He\u2019s afraid that as the Israelites rise higher and higher, the Egyptians will sink lower and lower.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The world of our Torah is one in which the stranger must be kept down for fear that he will rise up against the native. \u00a0But, this is not the world of the world to come. In Tractate Pesachim, we read the story of Rav Yosef, the son of Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi who became ill and nearly died. \u00a0When he recovers, his father asks him, what did you see as you were about to die? Rav Yosef answers, I saw an inverted world. Those above were below and those below were above. \u00a0Meaning, in the world to come, the powerful in this world are marginalized and the marginalized become the powerful. His father affirms his vision and says, \u201cMy son, you have seen a clear world.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\r\n

What if we didn\u2019t view success and failure as a zero-sum game? \u00a0What if we stopped worrying about who was the head and who was the tail and instead worked to create a society in which the dignity of all human beings was honored? \u00a0What if God\u2019s curse ceased to hold power over us?<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Image by: Alexas Fotos<\/span> from Pixabay<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":51806,"alt":"","title":"dt28-upside-down","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt28-upside-down.jpg","width":1920,"height":1291,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt28-upside-down-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt28-upside-down-300x202.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":202,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt28-upside-down-768x516.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":516,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt28-upside-down-1024x689.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":689,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt28-upside-down.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1033,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt28-upside-down.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":1291,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt28-upside-down-1200x807.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":807,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt28-upside-down-625x420.jpg","home_baner-width":625,"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 Topsy-Turvy World","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"What if we didn\u2019t view success and failure as a zero sum game?","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":51806,"alt":"","title":"dt28-upside-down","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt28-upside-down.jpg","width":1920,"height":1291,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt28-upside-down-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt28-upside-down-300x202.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":202,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt28-upside-down-768x516.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":516,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt28-upside-down-1024x689.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":689,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt28-upside-down.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1033,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt28-upside-down.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":1291,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt28-upside-down-1200x807.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":807,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt28-upside-down-625x420.jpg","home_baner-width":625,"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":"28","chapter_main_number":"181","date":"20260510","wall_id":"181"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"364","name":"Equality","old_id":"764"},{"term_id":"453","name":"Stranger","old_id":"853"},{"term_id":"503","name":"Power","old_id":"903"},{"term_id":"583","name":"Curse","old_id":"983"}]},{"order":4,"id":"51810","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"How Fear Becomes Awe ","post_title":"How Fear Becomes Awe","slug":"how-fear-becomes-awe","old_id":"51810","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":"181","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"When our own selves cease to be the center of the world","post_main_content_content":"

After a relatively brief evocation of the good fortune that awaits Israel should it obey God\u2019s laws, the chapter goes to great lengths to describe the disasters that will befall the people should they disobey. The text is so graphically brutal that one cannot help but wonder: Can it really be desirable for the Jewish people to worship God out of abject fear? <\/span><\/p>\r\n

The word \u201c<\/span>yir\u2019ah<\/span><\/em>,<\/span><\/i>\u201d so central to biblical theology and spirituality, is conventionally translated as fear. But in fact it has a wide range of meanings: <\/span>yir\u2019ah<\/em> <\/span>can convey the sense of fear, on the one hand, or of awe, on the other.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

If fear and awe are so different, why does the same Hebrew word (<\/span>yir\u2019ah<\/span><\/i>) convey both? My teacher Bernard Steinberg once offered a powerful answer: \u201cAwe is what happens to fear when it stops being about me.\u201d When I fear God, in other words, I think about God\u2019s might and the ways it could impact upon me, but when I hold God in awe, I think only of God\u2019s might; thoughts of how it could affect me simply fall away. Fear becomes awe, then, when I forget about myself and focus only on God.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

We can discern something similar, I think, in the biblical Hebrew word <\/span>todah<\/span><\/em>. In contrast to modern Hebrew, where <\/span>todah<\/em> <\/span>means thanks, in biblical Hebrew the primary meaning of <\/span>todah<\/em> <\/span>is praise, though it can convey a sense of thanksgiving as well. Indeed, in some biblical texts it is difficult to know whether to translate <\/span>todah<\/em> <\/span>as thanks or praise.<\/span> Why does the same biblical Hebrew word convey both \u201cthanks\u201d and \u201cpraise\u201d? When I am thankful to God, I acknowledge God\u2019s generosity and its impact on me. When I praise God, however, I acknowledge God\u2019s generosity in and of itself. Thanks becomes praise when I forget about myself and focus only on God.<\/span> In other words, fear is to awe as thanks is to praise: The former give way to the latter when I transcend myself and think only of God.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

If one of the core goals of the religious life is to teach us that our interests and concerns ought not to be the exclusive center of our lives, then fear of punishment is something that must ultimately be minimized. As an alternative, Jewish tradition offers us awe, wherein we acknowledge Someone far greater than ourselves, and thus allow God\u2014and not our own egos\u2014to become the very center of our world.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Image by\u00a0Radoan Tanvir\u00a0from\u00a0Pixabay\u00a0<\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":51812,"alt":"","title":"dt28-awe","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt28-awe.jpg","width":1920,"height":1114,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt28-awe-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt28-awe-300x174.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":174,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt28-awe-768x446.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":446,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt28-awe-1024x594.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":594,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt28-awe.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":891,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt28-awe.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":1114,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt28-awe-1200x696.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":696,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt28-awe-724x420.jpg","home_baner-width":724,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"How Fear Becomes Awe","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"When our own selves cease to be the center of the world","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":51812,"alt":"","title":"dt28-awe","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt28-awe.jpg","width":1920,"height":1114,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt28-awe-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt28-awe-300x174.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":174,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt28-awe-768x446.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":446,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt28-awe-1024x594.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":594,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt28-awe.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":891,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt28-awe.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":1114,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt28-awe-1200x696.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":696,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt28-awe-724x420.jpg","home_baner-width":724,"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":"28","chapter_main_number":"181","date":"20260510","wall_id":"181"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"470","name":"Thanks","old_id":"870"},{"term_id":"502","name":"Fear","old_id":"902"},{"term_id":"786","name":"Praise","old_id":"1186"}]},{"order":5,"id":"51814","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"Everyone Serves Something ","post_title":"Everyone Serves Something","slug":"everyone-serves-something","old_id":"51814","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":"181","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Choose to serve love, hope, and repairing the broken world and broken hearts","post_main_content_content":"

\u201cBecause you would not serve your God in joy and gladness over the abundance of everything, you shall have to serve -- in hunger and thirst, naked and lacking everything -- the enemies whom Adonai will let loose against you\u201d (28:47-48).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Many struggle with the notion of a vengeful God who repays the breaking of faith in these ways. But what happens if we read the verse not prescriptively but descriptively? In other words: this isn't about what God will \"do to us\" if we turn away, it\u2019s the natural consequences of choosing to turn away from a path of holiness.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Does the idea of serving make us uncomfortable? Maybe we want to say, I'm nobody's servant -- I live for my own self! But in the Torah's frame, that's an impossibility. We were slaves to Pharaoh in Egypt until God rescued us with a mighty hand, not so that we could be self-sufficient and serve our own needs, but so that we could enter into covenant and serve God.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Everyone serves something. That's a fact of life. The question is what or whom we will choose to serve.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

In the Torah's understanding, either we can dedicate our lives to serving the Holy One-- through the practice of mitzvot; through feeding the hungry and protecting the vulnerable; through cultivating gratitude for life's abundance; through working to rebuild and repair the world; through teshuvah, turning ourselves around -- or we can turn our backs on all of that.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

And if we turn our backs on all of that, we will find ourselves serving a master who is cruel and uncaring. Maybe that master will be overwork. Maybe that master will be a political system that mistreats the immigrants and refugees. Maybe that master will be whatever we use to numb ourselves to the brokenness around and within us.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

But there really isn't any other choice. We can't choose not to serve. We can't choose to be completely self-sufficient-- that's not how the world works. In the Torah's stark framing, either we serve God or we serve something else, and the inevitable fruits of serving something else will be disconnection and not facing down internal enemies.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Being servants of the Divine doesn't mean we'll be spared these challenges. But the Torah says that if we turn away from the obligation to serve, we'll meet with enmity. If we turn away, we'll experience lack -- maybe because our needs won't be met, and maybe because we have not cultivated a mindset of gratitude.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Choosing to serve God means choosing to be in relationship. It means choosing love, and hope, and ethical actions, and spiritual practice, and choosing to work toward repairing both the broken world and our broken hearts. Choosing to serve God means choosing to be attentive both to the needs of others and to our own <\/span>neshamot<\/span><\/em>, our own souls.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Image by\u00a0Steve Watts\u00a0from\u00a0Pixabay\u00a0<\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":51817,"alt":"","title":"dt28-broken","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt28-broken.jpg","width":1920,"height":1920,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt28-broken-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt28-broken-300x300.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt28-broken-768x768.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":768,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt28-broken-1024x1024.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt28-broken.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt28-broken.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":1920,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt28-broken-1200x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt28-broken-420x420.jpg","home_baner-width":420,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"Everyone Serves Something","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Choose to serve love, hope, and repairing the broken world and broken hearts","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":51817,"alt":"","title":"dt28-broken","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt28-broken.jpg","width":1920,"height":1920,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt28-broken-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt28-broken-300x300.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt28-broken-768x768.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":768,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt28-broken-1024x1024.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt28-broken.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt28-broken.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":1920,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt28-broken-1200x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt28-broken-420x420.jpg","home_baner-width":420,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"tile_link_for_pay":"0","send_noty":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Torah","book":"Deuteronomy","chapter":"28","chapter_main_number":"181","date":"20260510","wall_id":"181"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"699","name":"Teshuvah","old_id":"1099"},{"term_id":"707","name":"Service","old_id":"1107"}]},{"order":6,"id":"51823","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"To Be Blessed In The City And The Country ","post_title":"To Be Blessed In The City And The Country","slug":"to-be-blessed-in-the-city-and-the-country","old_id":"51823","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":51365,"post_title":"Jamie Weisbach","slug":"jamie-weisbach","old_id":"51365","first_name":"Jamie ","last_name":"Weisbach ","description":"Jamie Weisbach is a Chicago native, and a current fellow at Yeshivat Hadar. In the past he has studied at the Conservative Yeshiva, SVARA, and Drisha. ","short_description":"Jamie Weisbach is a fellow at Yeshivat Hadar. ","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":51367,"alt":"","title":"Jamie Weisbach","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Jamie-Weisbach-1.jpg","width":316,"height":302,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Jamie-Weisbach-1-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Jamie-Weisbach-1-300x287.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":287,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Jamie-Weisbach-1.jpg","medium_large-width":316,"medium_large-height":302,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Jamie-Weisbach-1.jpg","large-width":316,"large-height":302,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Jamie-Weisbach-1.jpg","1536x1536-width":316,"1536x1536-height":302,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Jamie-Weisbach-1.jpg","2048x2048-width":316,"2048x2048-height":302,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Jamie-Weisbach-1.jpg","post_full_size-width":316,"post_full_size-height":302,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Jamie-Weisbach-1.jpg","home_baner-width":316,"home_baner-height":302}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"181","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"There are different blessings to be found in each different place to live","post_main_content_content":"

Our chapter begins with a number of blessings, including the promise \u201cBlessed you will be in the city.\u201d \u00a0What does it mean to be \u201cblessed in the city\u201d?<\/span><\/p>\r\n

In the Talmud, Bava Metzia 107a, Rav explains that this means that you will live close to the synagogue. The Torah Temimah explains that Rav viewed this as a major blessing, because in a time when synagogues where on the outskirts of cities, people would gather at the nearest homes to walk there together for safety. \u00a0Living nearby meant that your home would be a place where those going to synagogue would regularly gather, bringing blessing to you through the merit of the pious people gathering in your home. <\/span><\/p>\r\n

However, this interpretation seems to be undermined by what Rabbi Yochanan says in Sota 22a, that it is preferable to live far away from the synagogue, because that way you can receive merit for each step you take on the walk there. The more steps you have to take, the more merit there is in the journey, so living nearby means there is actually less merit to be had, due to the ease of the journey. <\/span><\/p>\r\n

I think that while this could be read as a simple disagreement, these statements could also be read as highlighting that there are many different ways to find blessing. For some, living close to synagogue would be a great blessing, and for some, living far from it would be greater. There\u2019s no one single place that is the most blessed to live in, rather, there are different blessings to be found in each different place to live. <\/span><\/p>\r\n

This seems to be the idea behind the blessings given in this chapter: \u201cBlessed are you in the city, and blessed are you in the field\u2026 Blessed are you in your coming, and blessed are you in your going.\u201d \u00a0Rather than blessing one place, or one path, the blessing is all encompassing. There is no one right way to be. You don\u2019t get blessed just for one, correct path. Instead, each person must find their place, and God will bless us with all of the blessings that can be found in whichever place we find ourselves. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

image by: Glen, M. A., Town Mouse and Country Mouse, New York: Frederick Company Publishers, 1907 \/ wikimedia.<\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":51828,"alt":"","title":"dt28-Town_mouse_country_mouse","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt28-Town_mouse_country_mouse.png","width":700,"height":700,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt28-Town_mouse_country_mouse-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt28-Town_mouse_country_mouse-300x300.png","medium-width":300,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt28-Town_mouse_country_mouse.png","medium_large-width":700,"medium_large-height":700,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt28-Town_mouse_country_mouse.png","large-width":700,"large-height":700,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt28-Town_mouse_country_mouse.png","1536x1536-width":700,"1536x1536-height":700,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt28-Town_mouse_country_mouse.png","2048x2048-width":700,"2048x2048-height":700,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt28-Town_mouse_country_mouse.png","post_full_size-width":700,"post_full_size-height":700,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt28-Town_mouse_country_mouse-420x420.png","home_baner-width":420,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"To Be Blessed In The City And The Country","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"There are different blessings to be found in each different place to live","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":51828,"alt":"","title":"dt28-Town_mouse_country_mouse","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt28-Town_mouse_country_mouse.png","width":700,"height":700,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt28-Town_mouse_country_mouse-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt28-Town_mouse_country_mouse-300x300.png","medium-width":300,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt28-Town_mouse_country_mouse.png","medium_large-width":700,"medium_large-height":700,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt28-Town_mouse_country_mouse.png","large-width":700,"large-height":700,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt28-Town_mouse_country_mouse.png","1536x1536-width":700,"1536x1536-height":700,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt28-Town_mouse_country_mouse.png","2048x2048-width":700,"2048x2048-height":700,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt28-Town_mouse_country_mouse.png","post_full_size-width":700,"post_full_size-height":700,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt28-Town_mouse_country_mouse-420x420.png","home_baner-width":420,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"tile_link_for_pay":"0","send_noty":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Torah","book":"Deuteronomy","chapter":"28","chapter_main_number":"181","date":"20260510","wall_id":"181"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"504","name":"Blessing","old_id":"904"},{"term_id":"851","name":"City\/cities","old_id":"1251"}]},{"order":7,"id":"51719","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"Serve God with Joy ","post_title":"Serve God With Joy","slug":"serve-god-with-joy","old_id":"51719","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":36149,"post_title":"Shai Secunda","slug":"shai-secunda","old_id":"36149","first_name":"Shai ","last_name":"Secunda","description":"Shai Secunda occupies the Jacob Neusner chair in Judaism at Bard College, where he directs the Interdisciplinary Study of Religions program. 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","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":"181","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Be happy, or else!","post_main_content_content":"

Deuteronomy 28 contains one of the harshest visions of punishments in the entire Torah. Traditionally known as the <\/span>Tochecha<\/span><\/i> \u2013 \u201cThe Rebuke\u201d \u2013 most of the chapter outlines ghastly, frightening punishments that will visit the Israelites if they do not keep the Divine covenant ratified at Moab.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

There is relatively little theodicy in the <\/span>Tochecha<\/span><\/i>. However, towards the end of the chapter the chastisements are justified on the following grounds: \u201cbecause you did not heed the LORD your God and keep the commandments and laws that He enjoined upon you\u201d (Deuteronomy 28:58).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Another explanation appears somewhat earlier in the chapter:<\/span><\/p>\r\n

45. All these curses shall befall you\u2026because you did not heed the LORD your God and keep the commandments and laws that He enjoined upon you\u202647. Because (<\/span>tahat<\/span><\/em>) you would not serve the LORD your God in joy and gladness over the abundance of everything, 48. you shall have to serve\u2014in hunger and thirst, naked and lacking everything\u2014the enemies whom the LORD will let loose against you\u2026<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The common understanding of verse 47 is as startling as it is well-known: Even if the Jewish people observe the covenant, but do not serve God with joy, they will still be subject to terrible punishment.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

On the one hand, this is a powerful message about the importance of joy in worship. On the other hand, it is difficult to understand why such terrible penalties should be meted out if the Israelites essentially respect the covenant.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

An alternative interpretation of the verse presents itself: \u201c<\/span>instead<\/span> of<\/span> (<\/span>tahat<\/span><\/em>)<\/span> serving the Lord your God in joy and gladness\u2026you shall have to serve \u2013 in hunger and thirst\u2026\u201d In other words, God presents two life-paths to His people: One can either serve God and be rewarded with a happy life, or disobey the commandments and suffer in misery. Although this rendition is less dramatic, it better fits with the spirit of the chapter and the book of Deuteronomy: God demands really one thing of the Israelites \u2013 commitment.<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":51720,"alt":"","title":"dt27-joy","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt27-joy.jpg","width":640,"height":426,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt27-joy-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt27-joy-300x200.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":200,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt27-joy.jpg","medium_large-width":640,"medium_large-height":426,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt27-joy.jpg","large-width":640,"large-height":426,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt27-joy.jpg","1536x1536-width":640,"1536x1536-height":426,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt27-joy.jpg","2048x2048-width":640,"2048x2048-height":426,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt27-joy.jpg","post_full_size-width":640,"post_full_size-height":426,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt27-joy-631x420.jpg","home_baner-width":631,"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":"Serve God With Joy","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Be happy, or else!","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":51720,"alt":"","title":"dt27-joy","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt27-joy.jpg","width":640,"height":426,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt27-joy-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt27-joy-300x200.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":200,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt27-joy.jpg","medium_large-width":640,"medium_large-height":426,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt27-joy.jpg","large-width":640,"large-height":426,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt27-joy.jpg","1536x1536-width":640,"1536x1536-height":426,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt27-joy.jpg","2048x2048-width":640,"2048x2048-height":426,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt27-joy.jpg","post_full_size-width":640,"post_full_size-height":426,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt27-joy-631x420.jpg","home_baner-width":631,"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":"28","chapter_main_number":"181","date":"20260510","wall_id":"181"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"652","name":"Commandments","old_id":"1052"},{"term_id":"743","name":"Joy","old_id":"1143"}]},{"order":8,"id":"51830","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"To Be An Example - No More, No Less ","post_title":"To Be An Example - No More, No Less","slug":"to-be-an-example-no-more-no-less","old_id":"51830","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":33923,"post_title":"Jonathan Sacks","slug":"rabbi-lord-jonathan-sacks","old_id":"33923","first_name":"Jonathan ","last_name":"Sacks","description":"An international religious leader, philosopher, and award-winning author of over 35 books, Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks served as the International President of 929.\r\nRabbi Sacks served as the Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth years between 1991 and 2013, and was knighted by Her Majesty The Queen in 2005 and made a Life Peer. Rabbi Sacks passed away on 7th November 2020, aged 72. He was one of the greatest Jewish thinkers of the 20th century, who bridged the religious and secular world through his ground-breaking canon of work.","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"short_description":"Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks z\"k (1948-2020) was the former Chief Rabbi of the Commonwealth, and the International 929 president.","link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":36222,"alt":"","title":"JSacks","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/JSacks-e1532858712594.jpg","width":437,"height":548,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/JSacks-e1532858712594-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/JSacks-e1532858712594-239x300.jpg","medium-width":239,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/JSacks-768x448.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":448,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/JSacks-1024x597.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":597,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/JSacks-e1532858712594.jpg","1536x1536-width":437,"1536x1536-height":548,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/JSacks-e1532858712594.jpg","2048x2048-width":437,"2048x2048-height":548,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/JSacks-e1532858712594.jpg","post_full_size-width":437,"post_full_size-height":548,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/JSacks-e1532858712594-335x420.jpg","home_baner-width":335,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"181","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"There is nothing in the particularism of Israel to contradict the universalism of the human condition as the image and likeness of God","post_main_content_content":"

The holy, in the Bible, simply means <\/span>God\u2019s domain<\/em> <\/span>\u2013 those points in time and space at which his presence is peculiarly visible. That is what Isaiah means when he says of Israel: \u2018You are my witnesses \u2013 declares the Lord \u2013 that I am God\u2019 (Is. 43: 10). It is also what Moses means in one of his closing addresses:<\/span><\/p>\r\n

\u201cThe Lord will establish you as His holy people, as He promised you on oath, if you keep the commands of the Lord your God and walk in His ways. <\/span>Then all the peoples on earth will see that you are called by the name of God<\/em> <\/span>and they will fear you\u201d (Deut. 28: 9-10).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

There is no assertion in the Bible that the Israelites are inherently better or more moral than others. Their role confers on them no worldly privileges, only the religious life itself. Nor is there any implication that God is not accessible to others. On the contrary, he is the creator and sustainer of all. Job, the supreme example of a righteous man, is not a Jew. At his prayer at the dedication of the Temple, Solomon asks God to hear the prayers of \u2018the foreigner who does not belong to your people Israel . . . so that all the peoples of the earth may know your name and fear you, as do your people Israel\u2019 (I Kings 8: 41-43). <\/span><\/p>\r\n

Israel is called on to be the opposite of a master-race, for it is a covenant into which one may convert, and not a race, neither is its goal to seek mastery over men but to become, instead, a servant of God. There is nothing in the particularism of Israel to contradict the universalism of the human condition as the image and likeness of God. <\/span><\/p>\r\n

Israel\u2019s role is to be an example: no more, no less. That is how Maimonides\u2019 son Abraham interprets, in his father\u2019s name, the phrase \u2018a kingdom of priests\u2019: \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

\u201cThe priest of any congregation is its leader, its most honoured individual and the congregation\u2019s role model through whom they learn to follow in the right path. [In calling on Israel to be a \u2018kingdom of priests\u2019 it was as if God said to them], \u2018Become leaders of the world through keeping my Torah, so that your relationship to [humanity] becomes that of a priest to his congregation, so that the world follows in your path, imitates your deeds and walks in your ways.\u201d<\/span>
\r\n
\r\n<\/span><\/p>\r\n

From: <\/span>To Heal a Fractured World<\/span><\/i>, p.65-66<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Image by\u00a0Riala\u00a0from\u00a0Pixabay\u00a0(Synagogue, Netherlands: For My House Shall Be A House of Prayer For All Nations)<\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":51834,"alt":"","title":"dt28-kol haamim","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt28-kol-haamim.jpg","width":1193,"height":986,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt28-kol-haamim-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt28-kol-haamim-300x248.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":248,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt28-kol-haamim-768x635.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":635,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt28-kol-haamim-1024x846.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":846,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt28-kol-haamim.jpg","1536x1536-width":1193,"1536x1536-height":986,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt28-kol-haamim.jpg","2048x2048-width":1193,"2048x2048-height":986,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt28-kol-haamim.jpg","post_full_size-width":1193,"post_full_size-height":986,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt28-kol-haamim-508x420.jpg","home_baner-width":508,"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":"To Be An Example - No More, No Less","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"There is nothing in the particularism of Israel to contradict the universalism of the human condition as the image and likeness of God","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":51834,"alt":"","title":"dt28-kol haamim","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt28-kol-haamim.jpg","width":1193,"height":986,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt28-kol-haamim-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt28-kol-haamim-300x248.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":248,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt28-kol-haamim-768x635.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":635,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt28-kol-haamim-1024x846.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":846,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt28-kol-haamim.jpg","1536x1536-width":1193,"1536x1536-height":986,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt28-kol-haamim.jpg","2048x2048-width":1193,"2048x2048-height":986,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt28-kol-haamim.jpg","post_full_size-width":1193,"post_full_size-height":986,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt28-kol-haamim-508x420.jpg","home_baner-width":508,"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":"28","chapter_main_number":"181","date":"20260510","wall_id":"181"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"354","name":"Rabbi Sacks","old_id":"754"},{"term_id":"402","name":"Leadership","old_id":"802"},{"term_id":"648","name":"Choseness","old_id":"1048"}]},{"order":9,"id":"51846","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"The Blessing of Rain \u2013 Then and Now ","post_title":"The Blessing Of Rain \u2013 Then And Now","slug":"the-blessing-of-rain-then-and-now","old_id":"51846","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":33877,"post_title":"Marc Bregman","slug":"marc-bregman","old_id":"33877","first_name":"Marc","last_name":"Bregman","description":"Marc Bregman received his Ph.D. from The Hebrew University in Jerusalem in 1991. He taught at the Hebrew Union College (Jerusalem), The Hebrew University in Jerusalem, the Schechter Institute for Judaic Studies in Jerusalem, and at the Ben-Gurion University in Beer Sheba, Israel. During 1993 he was Visiting Associate Professor at Yale University, and during 1996 he was the Stroum Professor of Jewish Studies and Visiting Research Fellow at the University of Washington in Seattle. During 2005, Bregman served as the Harry Starr Fellow in Judaica at Harvard University and was awarded a Teaching Fellowship at the Center for Advanced Judaic Studies at the University of Pennsylvania. He also has served as Forchheimer Visiting Professor in the Faculty of Humanities at The Hebrew University in Jerusalem. He is the author of The Tanhuma-Yelammedenu Literature: Studies in the Evolution of the Versions (Gorgias Press, 2003). In 2006, Bregman was appointed the Herman and Zelda Bernard Distinguished Professor of Jewish Studies at the University of North Carolina in Greensboro, where he also headed the program in Jewish Studies, until 2013. Bregman retired from UNCG as of July 31, 2017. He has now returned to Jerusalem where he is continuing his research and teaching activities.","credit":"","image_url":"","short_description":"Marc Bregman is the Herman and Zelda Bernard Distinguished Professor of Jewish Studies emeritus, at the University of North Carolina in Greensboro.","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":33878,"alt":"Marc Bregman","title":"Marc Bregman","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman.jpg","width":361,"height":488,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman-222x300.jpg","medium-width":222,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman.jpg","medium_large-width":361,"medium_large-height":488,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman.jpg","large-width":361,"large-height":488,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman.jpg","1536x1536-width":361,"1536x1536-height":488,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman.jpg","2048x2048-width":361,"2048x2048-height":488,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman.jpg","post_full_size-width":361,"post_full_size-height":488,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman-311x420.jpg","home_baner-width":311,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"181","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Great is rain, for it is compared to the resurrection of the dead","post_main_content_content":"

In the first part of our Chapter, Moses lists the blessings that will be a reward for \u201chearkening diligently unto the voice of the Lord\u201d (Deuteronomy 28:1-14) One of the most enduring of these is the Blessing of Rain: \u201cThe Lord will open for you His bounteous store, the heavens, to provide rain for your land in season and to bless all your undertakings \u201c( verse 12).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Last year, Israel experienced one of the worst droughts in 100 years. Fortunately, this year\u2019s relatively rainy winter has created a welcome break in a five-year period of drought, but the country\u2019s water woes are still far from over. The Kinneret (\u201cSea of Galilee\u201d), Israel\u2019s major reservoir of fresh-water, is still considerably below being considered \u201cfull\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The Midrash (Deuteronomy Rabbah 7:6) elaborates on the blessing of rain in a way that remains relevant to this day: \u201cThe Lord will open for you His bounteous store\u201d \u2013 What does the word \u2018open\u2019 here refer to? God alone holds the \u2018keys\u2019 for \u2018opening\u2019 resurrection, infertility and rain. The \u2018opening\u2019 of resurrection is mentioned by Ezekiel (37:13): \u2018You shall know, O My people, that I am the Lord, when I have opened your graves and lifted you out of your graves.\u2019 The \u2018opening\u2019 of infertility is mentioned in Genesis (29:31): \u2018The Lord saw that Leah was unloved and he opened her womb.\u2019 And the \u2018opening\u2019 of rain is mentioned in Deuteronomy (28:12): \u2018The Lord will open for you His bounteous store, the heavens, to provide rain for your land in season.\u2019 Great is rain, for it is compared to the resurrection of the dead, as it says: \u2018On the third day He will raise us up \u2026 And He will come to us like rain, like latter rain that refreshes the earth\u2019 (Hosea 6:2-3).\u201d <\/span><\/p>\r\n

For this reason, we include the Prayer for Rain in the Blessing of Resurrection (the second benediction of the \u201cEighteen Benedictions,\u201d Amidah prayer). And so, let us join with the Psalmist in praise of God for His Blessing of Rain: \u201cYou take care of the earth and irrigate it \u2026 The meadows are clothed with flocks, the valleys mantled with grain. They raise a shout, they break into song\u201d (Psalms 65:10-14).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

 <\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":51847,"alt":"","title":"dt28-rain","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt28-rain.jpg","width":1920,"height":1218,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt28-rain-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt28-rain-300x190.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":190,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt28-rain-768x487.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":487,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt28-rain-1024x650.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":650,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt28-rain.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":974,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt28-rain.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":1218,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt28-rain-1200x761.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":761,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt28-rain-662x420.jpg","home_baner-width":662,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"The Blessing of Rain \u2013 Then and Now","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Great is rain, for it is compared to the resurrection of the dead","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":51847,"alt":"","title":"dt28-rain","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt28-rain.jpg","width":1920,"height":1218,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt28-rain-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt28-rain-300x190.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":190,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt28-rain-768x487.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":487,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt28-rain-1024x650.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":650,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt28-rain.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":974,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt28-rain.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":1218,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt28-rain-1200x761.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":761,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt28-rain-662x420.jpg","home_baner-width":662,"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":"28","chapter_main_number":"181","date":"20260510","wall_id":"181"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"437","name":"Prayer","old_id":"837"},{"term_id":"504","name":"Blessing","old_id":"904"},{"term_id":"780","name":"Rain","old_id":"1180"}]},{"order":10,"id":"51808","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"Tisha B\u2019av ","post_title":"Tisha B\u2019av","slug":"tisha-bav","old_id":"51808","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":36669,"post_title":"Yakov Azriel","slug":"yakov-azriel","old_id":"36669","first_name":"Yakov ","last_name":"Azriel","description":"Yakov Azriel, who lives in Israel, has published five books of poetry in the USA and hundreds of poems in journals and magazines. 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\u201cAnd you shall grope at noon as a blind man gropes in the darkness, and your ways shall not succeed \u2014 but you shall be oppressed and despoiled all the days, with no one to help you\u201d (28:29).
\r\n
\r\n<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Where am I?<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>I grope<\/span><\/p>\r\n

and fall, rise, stumble<\/span><\/p>\r\n

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

Again.
\r\n<\/span>I bump against a thick slab;<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>Cold;<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>Hard.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Stepping around it, I walk over a low mound,<\/span><\/p>\r\n

then knock into another vertical slab;<\/span><\/p>\r\n

and yet another.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

What am I?<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>I am blind \u2014 but<\/span><\/p>\r\n

am I still a man? \u00a0Or have I become<\/span><\/p>\r\n

a wingless, earless bat<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>unable to navigate<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>around these cold, hard slabs<\/span><\/p>\r\n

that surround me.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Darkness hisses<\/span><\/p>\r\n

at me, lurking, scheming<\/span>
\r\n<\/span> to trip me. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

I grope<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>and fall, rise, stumble<\/span><\/p>\r\n

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

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

Who am I?<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>I was once a brother; a son.<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>I was once a father; a friend.<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>A husband, too.<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>A <\/span>kohen <\/span><\/i>serving God in His temple.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

But now, I wear a tattered coat.
\r\n<\/span>I have not shaved, nor washed.<\/span>
\r\n<\/span> I have not eaten.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Losing my balance, I grope<\/span><\/p>\r\n

and fall, rise, stumble<\/span><\/p>\r\n

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

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

Why am I<\/span><\/p>\r\n

the way I am?<\/span>
\r\n<\/span> Nowhere to be, to go.<\/span>
\r\n<\/span> No one to help me.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Why can\u2019t I find a clearer path?<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>Why do I blunder across these slabs of stone,<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>Why do I grope<\/span><\/p>\r\n

and fall, rise, stumble<\/span><\/p>\r\n

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

again? <\/span><\/p>\r\n

How silent it is<\/span><\/p>\r\n

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

How dark.<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>How cold<\/span><\/p>\r\n

the wind.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

How many times have I fallen?<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>How many slabs of stone<\/span><\/p>\r\n

yet await me,<\/span>
\r\n<\/span><\/p>\r\n

as Darkness plots<\/span><\/p>\r\n

and makes me stagger, makes me totter,<\/span><\/p>\r\n

as I grope<\/span><\/p>\r\n

and fall, rise, stumble<\/span>
\r\n<\/span> and fall<\/span><\/p>\r\n

again? <\/span><\/p>\r\n

My fingers find letters<\/span><\/p>\r\n

engraved on the slabs.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Names and numbers.<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>Dates.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Oh God,<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>why am I<\/span><\/p>\r\n

in a graveyard?<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":79074,"alt":"","title":"zech1-blindfolded","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/zech1-blindfolded.png","width":1095,"height":1920,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/zech1-blindfolded-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/zech1-blindfolded-171x300.png","medium-width":171,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/zech1-blindfolded-584x1024.png","medium_large-width":584,"medium_large-height":1024,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/zech1-blindfolded-584x1024.png","large-width":584,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/zech1-blindfolded.png","1536x1536-width":876,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/zech1-blindfolded.png","2048x2048-width":1095,"2048x2048-height":1920,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/zech1-blindfolded-684x1200.png","post_full_size-width":684,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/zech1-blindfolded-240x420.png","home_baner-width":240,"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 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\u201cImitatio Dei: The Secret Formula for Forgiveness\u201d<\/span><\/a> by Gil Perl: What does it mean to be like God? <\/span><\/p>\r\n

\u201cJoy and Play in Jewish Tradition\u201d<\/span><\/a> by Evan Krame: Explore texts about happiness. <\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":"","post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"Go deeper into the chapter....","tile_main_caption":"Sefaria Source Sheets - Deuteronomy 28","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Click to get links to learning resources","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":42232,"alt":"","title":"sefaria-words-sunburst","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst.png","width":608,"height":395,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst-300x195.png","medium-width":300,"medium-height":195,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst.png","medium_large-width":608,"medium_large-height":395,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst.png","large-width":608,"large-height":395,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst.png","1536x1536-width":608,"1536x1536-height":395,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst.png","2048x2048-width":608,"2048x2048-height":395,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst.png","post_full_size-width":608,"post_full_size-height":395,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst.png","home_baner-width":608,"home_baner-height":395}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"Sefaria word sunburst visualization","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","old_create_date":"","links":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Torah","book":"Deuteronomy","chapter":"28","chapter_main_number":"181","date":"20260510","wall_id":"181"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":14,"id":"108568","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"Points To Ponder: Deuteronomy 28 ","post_title":"Points To Ponder: Deuteronomy 28","slug":"points-to-ponder-deuteronomy-28","old_id":"108568","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":false,"related_cahpter":"181","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"","post_main_content_content":"

    \r\n\t
  1. The correct ratio?<\/em> 14 verses describe the blessing. 53 verses are devoted to the curse.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t
  2. Plagues not listed in the Torah.<\/em> Many of the disasters are named (calamity, panic, frustration, consumption, fever, inflammation, scorching heat and drought, blight and mildew), and also \u201cextraordinary plagues, strange and lasting plagues, malignant and chronic diseases\u201d (verse 59), as well as\u00a0 (verse 61) \u201call the other diseases and plagues that are not mentioned in this book of Teaching.\u201d In other words - the whole shebang.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t
  3. Know the enemy<\/em>. The description of the cruel war machine that comes from afar, and is invincible (verses 49-52) is reminiscent of the empires - Assyria and Babylonia - that will eventually destroy the kingdoms of Israel and Judah.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t
  4. The absolute nadir<\/em>. The biggest curse can be found in verses 53-57, where the suffering erases all vestiges of humanity, and brings people to do the unthinkable in order to survive.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t
  5. The spirit, too<\/em>. In the description of the catastrophe, you can feel not only the bodily travails, but also the infliction on the spirit. See for instance verses 34, 65-67, and others.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t
  6. The hope<\/em>. Well, not in this chapter - but it\u2019s coming! (patience - two more chapters).<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>","post_main_content_image":{"id":86314,"alt":"","title":"Points to ponder","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","width":1000,"height":1000,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-300x300.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-768x768.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":768,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","large-width":1000,"large-height":1000,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","1536x1536-width":1000,"1536x1536-height":1000,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","2048x2048-width":1000,"2048x2048-height":1000,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","post_full_size-width":1000,"post_full_size-height":1000,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-420x420.jpg","home_baner-width":420,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"The Daily Summary","tile_main_caption":"Points to Ponder: Deuteronomy 28","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Insights and questions for personal reflection and group discussion","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":86314,"alt":"","title":"Points to ponder","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","width":1000,"height":1000,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-300x300.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-768x768.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":768,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","large-width":1000,"large-height":1000,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","1536x1536-width":1000,"1536x1536-height":1000,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","2048x2048-width":1000,"2048x2048-height":1000,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","post_full_size-width":1000,"post_full_size-height":1000,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-420x420.jpg","home_baner-width":420,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","old_create_date":"","tile_link_for_pay":"0","links":false,"send_noty":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Torah","book":"Deuteronomy","chapter":"28","chapter_main_number":"181","date":"20260510","wall_id":"181"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false}],"hide_acf":true,"home_image":false,"home_posts":false,"home_posts_title":"","posts_home":[],"static_cube_title":"","static_cube_brief":"","static_cube_color":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/wall\/51778"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/wall"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/wall"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=51778"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}