{"id":61314,"date":"2018-07-09T17:44:12","date_gmt":"2018-07-09T14:44:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wall\/wall-1059\/"},"modified":"2023-03-23T11:45:07","modified_gmt":"2023-03-23T09:45:07","slug":"wall-1059","status":"publish","type":"wall","link":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wall\/wall-1059\/","title":{"rendered":"weekend-from-20230319-to-20230325"},"parent":0,"template":"","acf":{"type":"weekend","wall_id":"1059","date_from":"20230319","date_to":"20230325","book":"I Kings","books_group":"Prophets","posts":[{"order":1,"id":"44210","color":"#effaea","size":"1","name":"A New Look At Sacrifice","post_title":"A New Look At Sacrifice","slug":"a-new-look-at-sacrifice","old_id":"44210","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":44113,"post_title":"Ruby Namdar","slug":"ruby-namdar","old_id":"44113","first_name":"Ruby ","last_name":"Namdar ","description":"Ruby Namdar was born and raised in Jerusalem to a family of Iranian-Jewish heritage. His first book, Haviv (2000) won The Ministry of Culture's Award for Best First Publication. His novel The Ruined House (2013) won the Sapir Prize, Israel\u2019s most prestigious literary award. He currently lives in NYC with his wife and two daughters, and teaches Jewish literature, focusing on Biblical and Talmudic narrative. The English edition of The Ruined House (translated by Hillel Halkin) was published in the US by Harper Collins in November 2017.","short_description":"Ruby Namdar is the author of The Ruined House (2013 - Harper Collins, 2017) which won Israel's Sapir Prize, and teaches Jewish literature. \r\n","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":44116,"alt":"","title":"ruby namdar","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/ruby-namdar-e1542375713954.jpg","width":659,"height":835,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/ruby-namdar-e1542375713954-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/ruby-namdar-e1542375713954-237x300.jpg","medium-width":237,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/ruby-namdar-682x1024.jpg","medium_large-width":682,"medium_large-height":1024,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/ruby-namdar-682x1024.jpg","large-width":682,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/ruby-namdar-e1542375713954.jpg","1536x1536-width":659,"1536x1536-height":835,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/ruby-namdar-e1542375713954.jpg","2048x2048-width":659,"2048x2048-height":835,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/ruby-namdar-800x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":800,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/ruby-namdar-e1542375713954-331x420.jpg","home_baner-width":331,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"91","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"A tool for humans desiring agency, for cosmic intervention","post_main_content_content":"

Sacrifice, this is what Leviticus is all about. But what is the true meaning of sacrifice? Leviticus, and the Bible in general, does not explain, or lay out any motivation. It prescribes, in great detail, a set of rituals, of actions \u2013 and does not elaborate on the intentions that are attached to them. The role of exploring the hidden meaning behind these cultic actions is left for us, the readers. <\/span><\/p>\r\n

The opaqueness of the text allows for endless interpretation possibilities, and gives us the freedom to attach new meaning to the ancient scripture, to make it ours according to our own generation\u2019s sensibilities. The Hebrew name of Leviticus, <\/span>Vayikra<\/span><\/i>, means \u201cHe called unto\u201d, but it can also mean \u201cHe read\u201d, as if the name itself is an invitation to read new meaning into old texts and practices. <\/span><\/p>\r\n

Sacrifice, on its face, is an ancient practice that has very little relevance to our life today. It is usually referred to as an almost pathetic effort made by mortals to appease the great forces of the universe with their meager offerings. But the notion of sacrifice is much more sophisticated and interesting. <\/span><\/p>\r\n

Sacrifice is a way for us, mortals, to gain a sense of agency. It is a tool for cosmic intervention, a way in which we do our share in restoring the cosmic balance. In a time when humanity is feeling (and sadly, often failing) the need to assume global responsibility \u2013 a task much bigger than we\u2019ve ever dared to take on in previous generations \u2013 the language and symbolism of sacrifice suddenly seems refreshingly contemporary.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

illustration<\/em>:\u00a0William Blake: Job's Sacrifice, from the Butts set,\u00a01805. Source - The Morgan Library \/ wikimedia<\/a>
\r\n
\r\n<\/p>\r\n

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Of Sacrifices","post_title":"Sacrifice Of Sacrifices","slug":"sacrifice-of-sacrifices","old_id":"44260","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":34285,"post_title":"Tammy Jacobowitz","slug":"tammy-jacobowitz","old_id":"34285","first_name":"Tammy ","last_name":"Jacobowitz ","description":"Dr. Tammy Jacobowitz is the chair of the Tanakh department at the SAR High School in Riverdale, NY, and is the founding director of Makom Ba'Siach at SAR, an immersive adult education program for parents. She has taught Bible for the Wexner Heritage program, and she is also an adjunct faculty member of Yeshivat Chovevei Torah, where she teaches the Pedagogy of Tanakh. \r\nShe received her BA in English Literature from the University of Pennsylvania, is a graduate of the Drisha Institute's Scholars Circle, and completed her PhD in Midrash at the University of Pennsylania in 2010 as a Wexner Graduate fellow. Dr. Jacobowitz is currently at work on a parsha book, geared towards parents reading to young children. Her research interests include the spiritualizing tactics of Midrash, gender and the body in the Bible and Rabbinics, purity and impurity, and the contemporary use of Midrash. She lives in Teaneck, NJ with her husband, Ronnie Perelis, and their four children.","short_description":"Dr. Tammy Jacobowitz is the chair of the Tanakh department at the SAR High School in Riverdale, NY,","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":34286,"alt":"","title":"tammy j","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/tammy-j.jpg","width":512,"height":768,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/tammy-j-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/tammy-j-200x300.jpg","medium-width":200,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/tammy-j.jpg","medium_large-width":512,"medium_large-height":768,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/tammy-j.jpg","large-width":512,"large-height":768,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/tammy-j.jpg","1536x1536-width":512,"1536x1536-height":768,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/tammy-j.jpg","2048x2048-width":512,"2048x2048-height":768,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/tammy-j.jpg","post_full_size-width":512,"post_full_size-height":768,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/tammy-j-280x420.jpg","home_baner-width":280,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"92","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"The mincha, that beautiful, paradoxical human attempt to reach outwards and upwards","post_main_content_content":"

Meet the \u201c<\/span>mincha<\/span><\/i>\u201d offering. Humble in composition (a bit of flour, some oil, spices and salt) and easy to prepare. You could make it in a pan, a griddle or an oven. A bit of the offering would be burnt; the rest would go to the priests to eat. Compared to the fancier sacrifices detailed in the surrounding chapters, the mincha could slip unnoticed. Quite unremarkable.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

But in Leviticus 2:3, this simple offering is called the \u201choly of Holies\u201d among the cadre of offerings. What accounts for this designation?<\/span><\/p>\r\n

You might recall that the earliest offerings on biblical record are also called a \u201cmincha\u201d. Cain and Abel, in Genesis 4, each give a <\/span>mincha <\/span><\/i>offering from their immediate possessions, fruit and cattle respectively. These parallel offerings leave us with a negative association because of the tragedy which ensues in their wake. But before the disappointment, rage and jealousy, Cain and Abel reach out across the human-divine divide. As implausible as it seems, they wish to share what they have with God, to gift God what He has gifted them. Do their <\/span>mincha <\/span><\/i>offerings express gratitude? Prayer for more? Or perhaps a basic, simple gesture to create closeness? The <\/span>mincha<\/span><\/i>, that beautiful, paradoxical human attempt to reach outwards and upwards.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The rabbis of the Midrash suggest another direction to distill the sacred nature of the <\/span>mincha<\/span><\/i>. Made of the most basic ingredients, the <\/span>mincha<\/span><\/i> offering was accessible to even the poorest of Israelites. Humble in presentation, the Bible nevertheless tells us that God prizes the <\/span>mincha<\/span><\/i> above all others. To the human eye, more is better. We judge ourselves on the same objective scale. Who donated more: money, time, or commitment? But God, insists the Midrash, does not adopt the same scale. What measures from God\u2019s perspective is the quality of the offering to the individual. What did it mean to <\/span>you<\/span><\/i>, in your life, with your set of circumstances, to devote your money, time or commitment? God is attentive to each individual on his or her own standard. And the poor? The ones who barely have what to give? Their offering is the holiest of holies, because what they give is practically all they have. As the Midrash says, \u201cit as if they gave their very lives\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

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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. 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\u201cWhen a person presents an offering of meal to the <\/span>Eternal\u201d<\/span> (Leviticus 2:1).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The subject of this verse, and its first word in Hebrew, is \u05e0\u05b6\u05e4\u05b6\u05e9\u05c1 <\/span>nefesh<\/span><\/em>. On the most basic level, <\/span>nefesh<\/span><\/em> refers to the windpipe, the physical organ through which we (and many other creatures) breathe, that which makes life possible on the most elemental level. This, for example, is its meaning in Psalm 69:2 \u201cDeliver me, O God, for the waters have reached my nefesh<\/em>, neck.\u201d From there, it is but a short step to the meaning \u201cliving being\u201d as in first chapters of Genesis (1:20-21, 2:7, 19). Figuratively, it is later understood by many to mean<\/span> \u201clife-force,\u201d \u201csoul\u201d and \u201cseat of emotions and passions<\/span><\/a>.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The translators of the new JPS version disagreed. The explanatory volume <\/span>Notes on the New Translation of the Torah<\/span><\/em> (Harry M. Orlinsky, ed.) states, \u201c<\/span>nefesh<\/em> <\/span>connote[s] approximately \u2018being, person, self, creature,\u2019 even \u2018body\u2019 or whatever is needed to sustain life\u201d (pp. 59-60). The idea that a person has a separate \u201csoul,\u201d they explain, developed very late in the Biblical period \u201conly after the idea of resurrection (after 200 <\/span>BCE<\/span>., early in the Maccabean period; cf. Daniel 12:2-3) came into being\u201d (p. 60). Thus, the translation \u201ca person,\u201d above. Baruch Levine in<\/span> The JPS Torah Commentary: Leviticus<\/span> <\/em>adds a specifying comment: \u201can individual as part of a group.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Although we ought not lose sight of the original meaning of the text, modern readers should, I believe, keep the full range interpretation in mind. The multivalence of words and multivocality of its components allows us to read the Bible as a living text despite its antiquity. In the current instance, a <\/span>nefesh<\/span><\/em> brings an offering to the <\/span>Eternal<\/span>. To do that well, (we) finite beings must marshal all aspects of their (our) existence: physical, mental, emotional, spiritual and communal. We no longer bring offerings in the form of choice flour and oil, incense or lambs. Surely, the offerings of time, effort, and substance we can bring in the post-Temple world require no less than fullness of our being.<\/span> \u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":79615,"alt":"","title":"zech12-soul","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech12-soul.jpg","width":728,"height":546,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech12-soul-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech12-soul-300x225.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":225,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech12-soul.jpg","medium_large-width":728,"medium_large-height":546,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech12-soul.jpg","large-width":728,"large-height":546,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech12-soul.jpg","1536x1536-width":728,"1536x1536-height":546,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech12-soul.jpg","2048x2048-width":728,"2048x2048-height":546,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech12-soul.jpg","post_full_size-width":728,"post_full_size-height":546,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech12-soul-560x420.jpg","home_baner-width":560,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"Body and\/or Soul","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"The offerings of time, effort, and substance we can bring in the post-Temple world require no less ","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":79615,"alt":"","title":"zech12-soul","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech12-soul.jpg","width":728,"height":546,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech12-soul-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech12-soul-300x225.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":225,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech12-soul.jpg","medium_large-width":728,"medium_large-height":546,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech12-soul.jpg","large-width":728,"large-height":546,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech12-soul.jpg","1536x1536-width":728,"1536x1536-height":546,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech12-soul.jpg","2048x2048-width":728,"2048x2048-height":546,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech12-soul.jpg","post_full_size-width":728,"post_full_size-height":546,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech12-soul-560x420.jpg","home_baner-width":560,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"tile_link_for_pay":"0","send_noty":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Torah","book":"Leviticus","chapter":"2","chapter_main_number":"92","date":"20260105","wall_id":"92"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"387","name":"Sacrifice","old_id":"787"},{"term_id":"585","name":"Soul","old_id":"985"},{"term_id":"616","name":"Spirit","old_id":"1016"}]},{"order":4,"id":"44286","color":"#effaea","size":"1","name":"Bringing Everyone To The Table","post_title":"Bringing Everyone To The Table","slug":"bringing-everyone-to-the-table","old_id":"44286","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":34235,"post_title":"Marc Gitler","slug":"marc-gitler","old_id":"34235","first_name":"Marc","last_name":"Gitler","description":"Rabbi Marc Gitler, a recipient of the Wexner Fellowship, was ordained at Yeshivat Chovevei Torah, and earned an MPA from NYU . The founder of Fast for Feast, he lives in Denver, Colorado with his wife Sarah and their four children. He used to work for 929 North America.\r\n","short_description":"Rabbi Marc Gitler, founder of Fast for Feast, lives in Denver, Colorado with his wife Sarah and their four children. ","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":34236,"alt":"","title":"Marc Gitler","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Gitler.jpg","width":407,"height":407,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Gitler-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Gitler-300x300.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Gitler.jpg","medium_large-width":407,"medium_large-height":407,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Gitler.jpg","large-width":407,"large-height":407,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Gitler.jpg","1536x1536-width":407,"1536x1536-height":407,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Gitler.jpg","2048x2048-width":407,"2048x2048-height":407,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Gitler.jpg","post_full_size-width":407,"post_full_size-height":407,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Gitler.jpg","home_baner-width":407,"home_baner-height":407}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"93","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Eating together might involve personal sacrifice - but can bring peace","post_main_content_content":"

Our chapter introduces a new sacrifice, the \u201csh'lamim<\/em>.\u201d The rabbis translated \u201csh'lamim<\/em>\u201d as peace offering (\u201csh'lamim<\/em>\u201d from the root \u201cshalom\u201d) because it is divided between all parties. The blood and fats are burned on God\u2019s altar, the chest and hind legs are given to the priests, and the rest of the meat and the skin to the person\/s who brought the sacrifice. A sh'lamim<\/em> results in everyone walking away with something, and that spreads peace. <\/span><\/p>\r\n

Not that they should walk away: the medieval commentator Rabbi Yosef Bechor Shor adds that the way of peace is that everyone sits together and eats. This simple idea, sitting together to break bread, is one with a long and troubled history in the Tanach. Many generations earlier Jacob didn\u2019t invite his exhausted brother Esau to sit with him and eat, but rather traded some lentil soup for Esau\u2019s birthright. His children were able to sit together and eat, but only after they stripped Joseph of his coat of many colors and threw him into a pit. \u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

cover illustration: Photagraphee.eu (shutterstock_693458353)<\/p>\r\n

The brothers were unable to speak peacefully with Joseph, any conversation would end with a fight or argument, and so finally with him out of the way they sit and peacefully picnic together. I always wondered about this meal. Did they eat within earshot of the pit? Did they hear his screams and cries? His desperate pleas to save him from a painfully slow death of starvation? They imagined they had finally achieved peace, but in time they would be the ones suffering due to famine whereas Joseph had control of all the food in the world.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Sadly, sitting together and eating is complex for too many Jews today as well. Whether it be the kashrut wars between different agencies, Jewish community dinners that don\u2019t serve kosher food, or people who will not eat at the home of friends or relatives because the food isn\u2019t kosher enough, there are too many instances where eating divides rather than unites.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The shelamim serves as an incredible model. Our communities should aspire to lofty goals like shalom (peace) and shleimut (wholeness) but the only way that will allow for more people to sit together and eat, despite profound religious differences, is through personal sacrifice.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

 <\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":44288,"alt":"","title":"shutterstock_693458353","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/shutterstock_693458353.jpg","width":5760,"height":3840,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/shutterstock_693458353-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/shutterstock_693458353-300x200.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":200,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/shutterstock_693458353-768x512.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":512,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/shutterstock_693458353-1024x683.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":683,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/shutterstock_693458353.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1024,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/shutterstock_693458353.jpg","2048x2048-width":2048,"2048x2048-height":1365,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/shutterstock_693458353-1200x800.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":800,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/shutterstock_693458353-630x420.jpg","home_baner-width":630,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"Bringing Everyone to the Table","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Eating together might involve personal sacrifice - but can bring peace","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":44288,"alt":"","title":"shutterstock_693458353","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/shutterstock_693458353.jpg","width":5760,"height":3840,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/shutterstock_693458353-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/shutterstock_693458353-300x200.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":200,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/shutterstock_693458353-768x512.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":512,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/shutterstock_693458353-1024x683.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":683,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/shutterstock_693458353.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1024,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/shutterstock_693458353.jpg","2048x2048-width":2048,"2048x2048-height":1365,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/shutterstock_693458353-1200x800.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":800,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/shutterstock_693458353-630x420.jpg","home_baner-width":630,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"tile_link_for_pay":"0","send_noty":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Torah","book":"Leviticus","chapter":"3","chapter_main_number":"93","date":"20260106","wall_id":"93"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"387","name":"Sacrifice","old_id":"787"},{"term_id":"415","name":"food","old_id":"815"},{"term_id":"736","name":"meal","old_id":"1136"}]},{"order":5,"id":"44363","color":"#effaea","size":"1","name":"Wanted: Flawed Leaders Who Can Take Responsibility For Their Actions","post_title":"Wanted: Flawed Leaders Who Can Take Responsibility For Their Actions","slug":"wanted-leaders-who-can-take-responsibility-for-their-actions","old_id":"44363","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":"94","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"The leader does not sin despite his exalted position but precisely because of it","post_main_content_content":"

Human societies require leaders. But with hierarchy of any kind comes the perennial temptation of abuse of power. It may be almost inevitable that leaders will stray, and sometimes even commit grave crimes. The path fallen leaders choose has vast implications not only for the leaders themselves but also for the entire society they lead. <\/span><\/p>\r\n

The chapter catalogues the various situations in which a purification offering (c<\/em><\/span>hatat<\/span><\/em>) is required. After opening with a general description\u2014\u201cWhen a person unwittingly incurs guilt in regard to any of the Lord\u2019s commandments about things not to be done, and does one of them\u201d (Leviticus 4:2)\u2014it goes on to describe the requirements in each case. The same introductory word\u2014\u201cif\u201d (<\/span>im<\/span><\/em>)\u2014is employed each time: \u201cIf (<\/span>im<\/span><\/em>) it is the anointed priest who has incurred guilt...\u201d (4:3); \u201cIf (<\/span>im<\/span><\/em>) it is the whole community of Israel that has erred...\u201d (4:13); and so on. <\/span><\/p>\r\n

But one lone case reads differently: \u201cIn case (<\/span>asher<\/span><\/em>) it is a chieftain who incurs guilt by doing any one of the things which by the commandment of the Lord his God ought not to be done unwittingly.\u201d (4:22). There is something odd about this shift from \u201cif\u201d to \u201cin case,\u201d and it leaves the reader wondering why the usual formula is altered. <\/span><\/p>\r\n

Noting that \u201cunwittingly\u201d appears to be a misplaced modifier, the Netziv (R. Naftali Zvi Yehudah Berlin, 1816-1893) understands our verse to be \u201chinting\u201d at a radical claim: \u201cThe [leader\u2019s] elevated status causes him to commit sins that are so egregious that [ordinary] people do not even commit them unwittingly\u201d (Ha\u2019amek Davar<\/em> to Leviticus 4:22). <\/span><\/p>\r\n

The point these interpreters make is sobering: The leader, they argue, does not sin <\/span>despite<\/em> <\/span>his exalted position but precisely <\/span>because<\/em> <\/span>of it. Power all too often leads to a sense of not being accountable to the same standards as \u201cregular people\u201d are. So the Torah warns the leader: Your status does not raise you above the moral (or religious) law. <\/span><\/p>\r\n

Since leaders are only flesh and blood, they are bound to be less-than-perfect. In light of this, the question we face as a community is what kind of imperfect leaders we want. We learn from here that we should seek flawed leaders who are genuinely capable, without dissembling or descending into double-speak, of taking responsibility for their failings and nurture a culture in which people are able to say, \u201cI have sinned against God.\u201d<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":54862,"alt":"","title":"jo-end-leadership","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jo-end-leadership.png","width":696,"height":348,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jo-end-leadership-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jo-end-leadership-300x150.png","medium-width":300,"medium-height":150,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jo-end-leadership.png","medium_large-width":696,"medium_large-height":348,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jo-end-leadership.png","large-width":696,"large-height":348,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jo-end-leadership.png","1536x1536-width":696,"1536x1536-height":348,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jo-end-leadership.png","2048x2048-width":696,"2048x2048-height":348,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jo-end-leadership.png","post_full_size-width":696,"post_full_size-height":348,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jo-end-leadership.png","home_baner-width":696,"home_baner-height":348}},"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":"Wanted: Flawed Leaders Who Can Take Responsibility For Their Actions","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"The leader does not sin despite his exalted position but precisely because of it","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":54862,"alt":"","title":"jo-end-leadership","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jo-end-leadership.png","width":696,"height":348,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jo-end-leadership-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jo-end-leadership-300x150.png","medium-width":300,"medium-height":150,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jo-end-leadership.png","medium_large-width":696,"medium_large-height":348,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jo-end-leadership.png","large-width":696,"large-height":348,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jo-end-leadership.png","1536x1536-width":696,"1536x1536-height":348,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jo-end-leadership.png","2048x2048-width":696,"2048x2048-height":348,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jo-end-leadership.png","post_full_size-width":696,"post_full_size-height":348,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jo-end-leadership.png","home_baner-width":696,"home_baner-height":348}},"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":"Leviticus","chapter":"4","chapter_main_number":"94","date":"20260107","wall_id":"94"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"400","name":"Sin","old_id":"800"},{"term_id":"402","name":"Leadership","old_id":"802"},{"term_id":"412","name":"Responsibility","old_id":"812"},{"term_id":"571","name":"Repentance","old_id":"971"}]},{"order":6,"id":"61483","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"Solomon Rezones ","post_title":"Solomon Rezones","slug":"solomon-rezones","old_id":"61483","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":33692,"post_title":"Alex Israel","slug":"33692-2","old_id":"33692","first_name":"Alex","last_name":"Israel","description":"Alex Israel teaches Tanakh at the Pardes Institute, Yeshivat Eretz Hatzvi and Matan, Jerusalem. 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The chapter moves on to the demarcation of the twelve administrative regions through which Solomon finances the country. The number twelve is striking in that it recalls the classic tribal division that we have been accustomed to throughout Jewish history, from Exodus through to the period of Judges. When we examine the list of districts, however, we discern that the geographical regions do not match specific tribes. In fact, only five regions (Mount Ephraim, Naphtali, Asher, Issachar, and Benjamin) correspond to tribal identities. It appears that Solomon has remodeled tribal borders and generated new regional boundaries.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

What is Solomon's objective in altering the ancient tribal divisions?<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    \r\n\t
  1. Expanded territory \u2014 One theory views the new division as a response to the capture and settlement of new areas, previously unpopulated by Israel. Population shift requires the drawing of new civic lines. Some of these new areas, such as the region of Dor, with its lucrative port, were small, but generated significant revenue; this region was capable of competing financially with provinces much larger in area and population. Solomon, understanding the new economic realities of Israel, restructures his country accordingly.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t
  2. A new national agenda \u2014 Some suggest that we are witnessing an attempt to modernize the kingdom and discard the ancient tribal division. The tribal period of the Judges has come to a close. Now, with one king and a united nation, the tribal identities seem archaic and superfluous. Solomon retains five tribal units, but creates seven new regions that muddle and modernize the traditional boundaries.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n

    But rezoning the country has its hazards. Notwithstanding Solomon's intent, historic identities endure; ethnic statuses remain intact. A significant and troubling detail is that the tribe of Judah is not specified in this list of tax colonies. Some suggest that this omission is evidence that Solomon's own tribe is fully absolved of its tax burden.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    Solomon's changes are most severe for the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh, as they suffer from a more invasive subdivision, and hence a disproportionate tax burden. This uneven policy is possibly deliberate, intended to weaken the tribes of Joseph, who represent a potential source of opposition to the king, but this strategy has a devastating ripple effect in later years. The act that eventually tears Solomon's kingdom apart after his death is a demand for a reduction of the crushing tax burden, and the epicenter of the revolt is the tribes of Joseph (1 Kings 11:27-28).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    Alex Israel, 1 Kings: Torn in Two<\/em>, Maggid Books, 2013, A Fresh National Agenda\u00a0<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":61437,"alt":"","title":"alex israel - kings 1","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/alex-israel-kings-1.jpg","width":1020,"height":1304,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/alex-israel-kings-1-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/alex-israel-kings-1-235x300.jpg","medium-width":235,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/alex-israel-kings-1-768x982.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":982,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/alex-israel-kings-1-801x1024.jpg","large-width":801,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/alex-israel-kings-1.jpg","1536x1536-width":1020,"1536x1536-height":1304,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/alex-israel-kings-1.jpg","2048x2048-width":1020,"2048x2048-height":1304,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/alex-israel-kings-1-939x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":939,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/alex-israel-kings-1-329x420.jpg","home_baner-width":329,"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":"Excerpts from: 1 Kings - 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He currently serves as the Rabbinic Intern of the Hillel at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. Prior to attending HUC, he had worked as a Youth Professional in synagogues for 8 years.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n","short_description":"Samuel Stern is a rabbinical student at HUC-JIR, and serves as the Rabbinic Intern of the Hillel at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. . ","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":39059,"alt":"","title":"samuel stern","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/samuel-stern-e1535867738995.jpeg","width":460,"height":443,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/samuel-stern-e1535867738995-150x150.jpeg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/samuel-stern-e1535867738995-300x289.jpeg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":289,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/samuel-stern-768x740.jpeg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":740,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/samuel-stern-e1535867738995.jpeg","large-width":460,"large-height":443,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/samuel-stern-e1535867738995.jpeg","1536x1536-width":460,"1536x1536-height":443,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/samuel-stern-e1535867738995.jpeg","2048x2048-width":460,"2048x2048-height":443,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/samuel-stern-e1535867738995.jpeg","post_full_size-width":460,"post_full_size-height":443,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/samuel-stern-e1535867738995-436x420.jpeg","home_baner-width":436,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"291","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Bathsheba emerges untainted by the adultery and murder for which David receives full blame\u00a0","post_main_content_content":"

    \u201cSolomon was King over all Israel\u201d, and only the third king to reign over all of Israel. For all the peace and prosperity that Israel experienced under the leadership of Solomon, I could imagine him being the greatest of Israelite leaders. His reign will be a bellwether against which all future kings of both Israel and Judah will be judged. No other king will match the wisdom of Solomon, or his wealth and the prosperity of his people. Until almost one thousand years later, under the reign of Herod, no one will match his building of the Temple in Jerusalem, an honor Solomon is chosen for that even his father David was not entitled to do.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    Solomon\u2019s mother is Bathsheba. The account in 2 Samuel 11\u201312 of how Bathsheba came to be David\u2019s wife makes clear that the circumstances are morally problematic. Yet because her character is suppressed, she emerges untainted by the adultery and murder for which David receives full blame. Bathsheba\u2019s role is intentionally minimized to focus the story on David. David bears the responsibility and the condemnation, and from this point on he is beset by problems within his family that have political implications for his reign. That is not to say Bathsheba is not important, she is instrumental in ensuring Solomon ends up on the throne and can be seen at the opening of this book as being an important advisor to her son the king. She, and by extension Solomon, are left out of David\u2019s morally disturbing decisions to focus on how Solomon can be a pious and successful king with his mother\u2019s help, as we see in this chapter.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    The text is reverent of Solomon, but never claims he is perfect. Nonetheless, his kingship will be the comparison point for later kings to determine whether they were righteous and obeyed the covenant. The chapter emphasizes that all of Israel and Judah had enough to eat and drink and were generally prosperous. Communal prosperity was rare in the time of Solomon, and so adding praise of his wisdom and virtue is reflective of the positive remembrance of the rule of 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King And The Queen Mother","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":"I Kings","chapter":"4","chapter_main_number":"291","date":"20261011","wall_id":"291"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"835","name":"King","old_id":"1235"},{"term_id":"838","name":"Solomon","old_id":"1238"},{"term_id":"911","name":"Bathsheba","old_id":"1311"}]},{"order":8,"id":"61767","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"Confusing Wealth With Wisdom ","post_title":"Confusing Wealth With Wisdom","slug":"confusing-wealth-with-wisdom","old_id":"61767","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":61355,"post_title":"Grace Gleason","slug":"grace-gleason","old_id":"61355","first_name":"Grace ","last_name":"Gleason","description":"Grace Gleason is a second-year student at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America","short_description":"Grace Gleason is a second-year student at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":61356,"alt":"","title":"grace gleason","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/grace-gleason.jpg","width":1739,"height":1831,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/grace-gleason-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/grace-gleason-285x300.jpg","medium-width":285,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/grace-gleason-768x809.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":809,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/grace-gleason-973x1024.jpg","large-width":973,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/grace-gleason.jpg","1536x1536-width":1459,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/grace-gleason.jpg","2048x2048-width":1739,"2048x2048-height":1831,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/grace-gleason-1140x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":1140,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/grace-gleason-399x420.jpg","home_baner-width":399,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"292","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Though Solomon is building God\u2019s Temple - there\u2019s something of the Pharaoh about him\u00a0\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

    King Solomon\u2019s conversation with Hiram, the king of Tyre, in this chapter, as they negotiate the construction of the Temple, has a familiar tone. It\u2019s the tone of powerful men, detached from the reality of everyday suffering and subjection, speaking about their grand plans. \u201cI propose to build a house for the name of God,\u201d Solomon says to Hiram. \u201cGive orders for cedars to be cut for me in Lebanon. My slaves will work with yours. I\u2019ll give you any wage you ask for the use of your slaves. Because as you know, there is no one who can cut timber like the Sidonians\u201d (5:19).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    I hear him saying that last sentence with a chuckle, a joke of those in power at the expense of those who are sweating and bleeding into the construction of a place of worship. At best, I hear it as empty flattery and sycophantism.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    This is the behavior of the wisest man of all time? The one who we just learned composed three thousand proverbs, one thousand songs (5:12)? Who explained natural phenomena of all kinds (5:13)? Sought after by followers from kingdoms far and wide who wanted to listen to his wisdom (5:14)?<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    Yes. And this would not be the first nor the last time power and wealth was confused with wisdom and intellect.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    The language of Solomon\u2019s servants building the Temple should remind us of the way Pharaoh\u2019s subjection of the Israelites is described in the book of Exodus. Yes, the two instances are different in that Solomon\u2019s servants are described as being satisfied with the peace they are enjoying, each having his own fig and his own vine (5:4). They might also actually enjoy the fruits of their labor in being able to visit the Temple when it\u2019s completed. But they are still slaves.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    Perhaps the chapter intentionally chooses similar language for King Solomon\u2019s workers\u2019\/slaves\u2019\/servants\u2019 construction of the Temple as the language used to describe Pharaoh\u2019s subjection of the Israelites. The Torah never asks us to nod along unthinkingly. And here is no exception. The clues in the language might lead us to ask: What\u2019s wrong with this picture? And to ask, when - now, individually and as a society -- do we confuse wealth with wisdom? How - now - might we create a society in which people are able to enjoy the metaphorical shade of their own fig and vine without paying the price of their freedom?<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    Image: Warner Murals, Wilshire Boulevard Temple<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":61770,"alt":"","title":"1kings5-temple3","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings5-temple3.jpg","width":676,"height":800,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings5-temple3-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings5-temple3-254x300.jpg","medium-width":254,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings5-temple3.jpg","medium_large-width":676,"medium_large-height":800,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings5-temple3.jpg","large-width":676,"large-height":800,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings5-temple3.jpg","1536x1536-width":676,"1536x1536-height":800,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings5-temple3.jpg","2048x2048-width":676,"2048x2048-height":800,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings5-temple3.jpg","post_full_size-width":676,"post_full_size-height":800,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings5-temple3-355x420.jpg","home_baner-width":355,"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":"Confusing Wealth With Wisdom","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Though Solomon is building God\u2019s Temple - there\u2019s something of the Pharaoh about him\u00a0","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":61770,"alt":"","title":"1kings5-temple3","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings5-temple3.jpg","width":676,"height":800,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings5-temple3-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings5-temple3-254x300.jpg","medium-width":254,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings5-temple3.jpg","medium_large-width":676,"medium_large-height":800,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings5-temple3.jpg","large-width":676,"large-height":800,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings5-temple3.jpg","1536x1536-width":676,"1536x1536-height":800,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings5-temple3.jpg","2048x2048-width":676,"2048x2048-height":800,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings5-temple3.jpg","post_full_size-width":676,"post_full_size-height":800,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings5-temple3-355x420.jpg","home_baner-width":355,"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":"I Kings","chapter":"5","chapter_main_number":"292","date":"20261012","wall_id":"292"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"372","name":"Wisdom","old_id":"772"},{"term_id":"440","name":"Wealth\/money","old_id":"840"},{"term_id":"503","name":"Power","old_id":"903"},{"term_id":"778","name":"Temple","old_id":"1178"},{"term_id":"838","name":"Solomon","old_id":"1238"}]},{"order":9,"id":"61703","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"King Solomon\u2019s Wisdom ","post_title":"King Solomon\u2019s Wisdom","slug":"king-solomons-wisdom","old_id":"61703","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":36669,"post_title":"Yakov Azriel","slug":"yakov-azriel","old_id":"36669","first_name":"Yakov ","last_name":"Azriel","description":"Yakov Azriel, who lives in Israel, has published five books of poetry in the USA and hundreds of poems in journals and magazines. His poems have won twenty-two prizes in international poetry competitions, and he has twice been awarded fellowships from the Memorial Foundation for Jewish Culture.","short_description":"Yakov Azriel is an English language poet who lives in Israel","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":36670,"alt":"","title":"Yakov.Azriel.Photo","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Yakov.Azriel.Photo_-e1533158407668.jpg","width":1099,"height":1519,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Yakov.Azriel.Photo_-e1533158407668-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Yakov.Azriel.Photo_-e1533158407668-217x300.jpg","medium-width":217,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Yakov.Azriel.Photo_-e1533158407668-741x1024.jpg","medium_large-width":741,"medium_large-height":1024,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Yakov.Azriel.Photo_-e1533158407668-741x1024.jpg","large-width":741,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Yakov.Azriel.Photo_-e1533158407668.jpg","1536x1536-width":1099,"1536x1536-height":1519,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Yakov.Azriel.Photo_-e1533158407668.jpg","2048x2048-width":1099,"2048x2048-height":1519,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Yakov.Azriel.Photo_-e1533158407668-868x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":868,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Yakov.Azriel.Photo_-e1533158407668-304x420.jpg","home_baner-width":304,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"292","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"The wisdom of his ages","post_main_content_content":"

    \u201cAnd the wisdom of Solomon was greater than the wisdom of all the sons of the East\u2026\u201d (I Kings 5:10)\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    When King Solomon was young, he learned<\/span>
    \r\n<\/span>The language of soft-eyed gazelles that graze among the lilies,<\/span>
    \r\n<\/span>Who taught him how to leap from crag to crag<\/span>
    \r\n<\/span>On the mountains of spices, and to step firmly along steep cliffs.<\/span>
    \r\n<\/span>He learned the language of doves that nest in clefts of rocks,<\/span>
    \r\n<\/span>Who taught him the secrets of how the male courts the female,<\/span>
    \r\n<\/span>And the way of a man with a maid.<\/span>
    \r\n<\/span>After the winds blew gently before dawn,<\/span>
    \r\n<\/span>Awakening him in his orchard of pomegranates,<\/span>
    \r\n<\/span>Solomon wrote <\/span>The Song of Songs.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n

    When King Solomon grew older, he learned<\/span>
    \r\n<\/span>The language of ants that gather their food in the summer,<\/span>
    \r\n<\/span>Of locusts that have no general yet go forth in troops,<\/span>
    \r\n<\/span>Of spiders that weave webs in his palace.<\/span>
    \r\n<\/span>He learned the language<\/span>
    \r\n<\/span>Of snakes sunning themselves on rocks in spring,<\/span>
    \r\n<\/span>Of eagles gliding in the air in autumn,<\/span>
    \r\n<\/span>Of rock-badgers that hide in winter.<\/span>
    \r\n<\/span>When his ships set sail to bring him peacocks and monkeys from Ophir,<\/span>
    \r\n<\/span>Solomon wrote <\/span>The Book of Proverbs.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n

    When King Solomon was an old man,<\/span>
    \r\n<\/span>Satiated from conversing with animals and birds,<\/span>
    \r\n<\/span>He studied the language of the moon, the stars and the sun,<\/span>
    \r\n<\/span>Who taught him to everything there is a season<\/span>
    \r\n<\/span>And a time under heaven:<\/span>
    \r\n<\/span>A time to sing and a time to refrain,<\/span>
    \r\n<\/span>A time to speak and a time to keep silent,<\/span>
    \r\n<\/span>A time to write and a time to lay down the pen.<\/span>
    \r\n<\/span>For what profit does a man have from all his labor<\/span>
    \r\n<\/span>That he labors under the sun?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    King Solomon sighed.<\/span>
    \r\n<\/span>\u201cThis too is vanity and a striving after the wind.<\/span>
    \r\n<\/span>Surely for the wise man, whose eyes are in his head,<\/span>
    \r\n<\/span>His wisdom should make his face shine.<\/span>
    \r\n<\/span>Surely God should bring every deed into judgment<\/span>
    \r\n<\/span>Concerning every hidden thing,<\/span>
    \r\n<\/span>Be it for good or for evil.\u201d<\/span>
    \r\n<\/span>After writing <\/span>Kohelet<\/span><\/i>, the old man<\/span>
    \r\n<\/span>Stood up, leaned down on his cane<\/span>
    \r\n<\/span>And said <\/span>Kaddish.<\/span><\/i><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":61782,"alt":"","title":"1kings5-proverbs-ecclesiastes-song-of-songs-n","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings5-proverbs-ecclesiastes-song-of-songs-n.jpg","width":426,"height":414,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings5-proverbs-ecclesiastes-song-of-songs-n-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings5-proverbs-ecclesiastes-song-of-songs-n-300x292.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":292,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings5-proverbs-ecclesiastes-song-of-songs-n.jpg","medium_large-width":426,"medium_large-height":414,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings5-proverbs-ecclesiastes-song-of-songs-n.jpg","large-width":426,"large-height":414,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings5-proverbs-ecclesiastes-song-of-songs-n.jpg","1536x1536-width":426,"1536x1536-height":414,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings5-proverbs-ecclesiastes-song-of-songs-n.jpg","2048x2048-width":426,"2048x2048-height":414,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings5-proverbs-ecclesiastes-song-of-songs-n.jpg","post_full_size-width":426,"post_full_size-height":414,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings5-proverbs-ecclesiastes-song-of-songs-n.jpg","home_baner-width":426,"home_baner-height":414}},"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":"King Solomon\u2019s Wisdom","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"The wisdom of his ages","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":61782,"alt":"","title":"1kings5-proverbs-ecclesiastes-song-of-songs-n","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings5-proverbs-ecclesiastes-song-of-songs-n.jpg","width":426,"height":414,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings5-proverbs-ecclesiastes-song-of-songs-n-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings5-proverbs-ecclesiastes-song-of-songs-n-300x292.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":292,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings5-proverbs-ecclesiastes-song-of-songs-n.jpg","medium_large-width":426,"medium_large-height":414,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings5-proverbs-ecclesiastes-song-of-songs-n.jpg","large-width":426,"large-height":414,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings5-proverbs-ecclesiastes-song-of-songs-n.jpg","1536x1536-width":426,"1536x1536-height":414,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings5-proverbs-ecclesiastes-song-of-songs-n.jpg","2048x2048-width":426,"2048x2048-height":414,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings5-proverbs-ecclesiastes-song-of-songs-n.jpg","post_full_size-width":426,"post_full_size-height":414,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings5-proverbs-ecclesiastes-song-of-songs-n.jpg","home_baner-width":426,"home_baner-height":414}},"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":"I Kings","chapter":"5","chapter_main_number":"292","date":"20261012","wall_id":"292"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"362","name":"Poetry","old_id":"762"},{"term_id":"838","name":"Solomon","old_id":"1238"}]},{"order":10,"id":"61839","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"The Cherubim ","post_title":"The Cherubim","slug":"the-cherubim","old_id":"61839","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":61340,"post_title":"Matthew Miller","slug":"matthew-miller","old_id":"61340","first_name":"Matthew ","last_name":"Miller ","description":"Matthew Miller is passionate about Jewish Studies and the Hebrew Language, having completed a BA in Jewish Studies and Linguistics at McGill and an MA in Hebrew Linguistics at Queen Mary University of London. He also studied at Yeshivat Yesodei HaTorah in Moshav Zanoah. He currently lives in London with his wife, Georgia.","short_description":"Matthew Miller is passionate about Jewish Studies and the Hebrew Language","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":61342,"alt":"","title":"Matthew Miller","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/Matthew-Miller.jpg","width":251,"height":310,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/Matthew-Miller-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/Matthew-Miller-243x300.jpg","medium-width":243,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/Matthew-Miller.jpg","medium_large-width":251,"medium_large-height":310,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/Matthew-Miller.jpg","large-width":251,"large-height":310,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/Matthew-Miller.jpg","1536x1536-width":251,"1536x1536-height":310,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/Matthew-Miller.jpg","2048x2048-width":251,"2048x2048-height":310,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/Matthew-Miller.jpg","post_full_size-width":251,"post_full_size-height":310,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/Matthew-Miller.jpg","home_baner-width":251,"home_baner-height":310}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"293","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Divinely commanded idolatrous images - or cultural appropriation?","post_main_content_content":"

    In 1 Kings 6:23 we read about the Cherubim which were made for Solomon's Temple.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    The cherub has found a prized place in English literature and art. One beautiful example can be found in Macbeth (Act 1, Scene 7) in his soliloquy about killing King Duncan:<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    And pity, like a naked new-born babe,<\/span>
    \r\n<\/span>Striding the blast, or heaven's <\/span>cherubim<\/b>, horsed<\/span>
    \r\n<\/span>Upon the sightless couriers of the air,<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    Some argue that this image of a horsed winged cherub can also be found in Ezekiel 2:14 in his oracle against Tyre.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    In the Decalogue (Exodus 20:4, Deuteronomy 5:8), God enjoins the people from creating images of divine beings.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    How, then, could the selfsame God instruct the people to build the cherubim, which would be placed in the Tabernacle and later in the Temple?<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    Judah Halevi explains in the Kuzari (1:97) that the critical difference between forbidden images (like the Golden Calf) and the cherubim is that the latter were expressly commanded by God: \u201c[The sin of the Golden Calf] consisted in the manufacture of an image of a forbidden thing, and in attributing divine power to a creation of their own, something chosen by themselves without the guidance of God.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    The Jewish Study Bible tells us that \u201ccherub images are attested on various ancient Near Eastern artifacts...In Jewish tradition they came to symbolize the presence of God.\"<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    In other words, this is but one example of the Bible using something which is commonplace and elevating it for the service of God.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    Indeed, some have argued, such as R. Dr. Joshua Berman, that the design of the Tabernacle as a whole, and by extension the Temple, was adopted and adapted from the surrounding Near Eastern culture. He<\/span> points out<\/span><\/a> that: \u201c ...some 80 years ago, an unexpected affinity was noticed between the biblical descriptions of the Tabernacle and the illustrations of Rameses\u2019 camp at Kadesh in several bas reliefs.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    In the former we find: \u201cA throne tent...[in which] the emblem bearing the pharaoh\u2019s name and symbolizing his power is flanked by falcons symbolizing the god Horus, with their wings spread in protection over him.\u201d He points out how \u201cthe ark of the Tabernacle is similarly flanked by two winged cherubim, whose wings hover protectively over it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    He interprets this architectural parallel (along with significant literary parallels) as reflecting \u201ca deliberate act of cultural appropriation\u201d, concluding that the parallels are the Bible\u2019s way of telling us that \u201c...the God of Israel overmastered Ramesses the Great by several orders of magnitude, effectively trouncing him at his own game.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    Image: Cherub on a Neo-Assyrian seal. ca. 1000 BCE\u2013612 BCE \/ wikimedia<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":61840,"alt":"","title":"1kings6-Cherub_on_a_Neo-Assyrian_seal","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings6-Cherub_on_a_Neo-Assyrian_seal.jpg","width":320,"height":540,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings6-Cherub_on_a_Neo-Assyrian_seal-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings6-Cherub_on_a_Neo-Assyrian_seal-178x300.jpg","medium-width":178,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings6-Cherub_on_a_Neo-Assyrian_seal.jpg","medium_large-width":320,"medium_large-height":540,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings6-Cherub_on_a_Neo-Assyrian_seal.jpg","large-width":320,"large-height":540,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings6-Cherub_on_a_Neo-Assyrian_seal.jpg","1536x1536-width":320,"1536x1536-height":540,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings6-Cherub_on_a_Neo-Assyrian_seal.jpg","2048x2048-width":320,"2048x2048-height":540,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings6-Cherub_on_a_Neo-Assyrian_seal.jpg","post_full_size-width":320,"post_full_size-height":540,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings6-Cherub_on_a_Neo-Assyrian_seal-249x420.jpg","home_baner-width":249,"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 Cherubim","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Divinely commanded idolatrous images - or cultural appropriation?","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":61840,"alt":"","title":"1kings6-Cherub_on_a_Neo-Assyrian_seal","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings6-Cherub_on_a_Neo-Assyrian_seal.jpg","width":320,"height":540,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings6-Cherub_on_a_Neo-Assyrian_seal-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings6-Cherub_on_a_Neo-Assyrian_seal-178x300.jpg","medium-width":178,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings6-Cherub_on_a_Neo-Assyrian_seal.jpg","medium_large-width":320,"medium_large-height":540,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings6-Cherub_on_a_Neo-Assyrian_seal.jpg","large-width":320,"large-height":540,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings6-Cherub_on_a_Neo-Assyrian_seal.jpg","1536x1536-width":320,"1536x1536-height":540,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings6-Cherub_on_a_Neo-Assyrian_seal.jpg","2048x2048-width":320,"2048x2048-height":540,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings6-Cherub_on_a_Neo-Assyrian_seal.jpg","post_full_size-width":320,"post_full_size-height":540,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings6-Cherub_on_a_Neo-Assyrian_seal-249x420.jpg","home_baner-width":249,"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":"I Kings","chapter":"6","chapter_main_number":"293","date":"20261013","wall_id":"293"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"366","name":"Commentators","old_id":"766"},{"term_id":"429","name":"Idolatry","old_id":"829"},{"term_id":"662","name":"Halacha","old_id":"1062"},{"term_id":"669","name":"Cherub","old_id":"1069"}]},{"order":11,"id":"61845","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"The Sanctuaries of God ","post_title":"The Sanctuaries Of God","slug":"the-sanctuaries-of-god","old_id":"61845","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":42746,"post_title":"Michal Kohane","slug":"michal-kohane","old_id":"42746","first_name":"Michal ","last_name":"Kohane ","description":"Currently based in Israel, Rabbanit Michal Kohane is a graduate of Yeshivat Maharat, a writer, community leader and teacher of Talmud & Torah. She holds degrees in Israel studies , education and psychology, and has been a leader and educator in Northern California for over 25 years. Her first novel, Hachug (\"Extracurricular\") was published in Israel in 2016 and her weekly blog can be found at http:\/\/www.miko284.com\r\n\r\n\r\n","short_description":"Currently based in Israel, Rabbanit Michal Kohane is a graduate of Yeshivat Maharat, a writer, community leader and teacher of Talmud & Torah. ","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":42747,"alt":"","title":"michal kohane","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/michal-kohane-e1540448078529.jpg","width":214,"height":226,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/michal-kohane-e1540448078529-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/michal-kohane-e1540448078529.jpg","medium-width":214,"medium-height":226,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/michal-kohane-e1540448078529.jpg","medium_large-width":214,"medium_large-height":226,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/michal-kohane-e1540448078529.jpg","large-width":214,"large-height":226,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/michal-kohane-e1540448078529.jpg","1536x1536-width":214,"1536x1536-height":226,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/michal-kohane-e1540448078529.jpg","2048x2048-width":214,"2048x2048-height":226,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/michal-kohane-e1540448078529.jpg","post_full_size-width":214,"post_full_size-height":226,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/michal-kohane-e1540448078529.jpg","home_baner-width":214,"home_baner-height":226}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"293","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Some reflections on the construction of Tabernacle and Temple","post_main_content_content":"

    \u201cIn the four hundred and eightieth year after the Israelites left the land of Egypt, in the month of Ziv\u2014that is, the second month\u2014in the fourth year of his reign over Israel, Solomon began to build the House of the LORD.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    Thus, opens Kings I, chapter 6, describing the building of the Temple. Abarbanel (1437-1508) poses a number of questions on this seemingly simple verse: First, why do we count years here from the Exodus from Egypt and not from creation or from Solomon\u2019s reign itself? Second, why the \u201cfourth year\u201d when King David, his father, already instructed Solomon to build the \u201cHouse\u201d and even gave him the plans and most of the material? Third, I would like to add, is there meaning to the \u201csecond month\u201d mentioned both as \u201csecond\u201d and in its name \u201cthe month of Ziv\u201d??<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    Abarbanel thinks that the Exodus hints at the fact that the First Temple\u2019s years are counted from the construction of its predecessor, the Mishkan, which lasted for 480 years. Solomon\u2019s Temple then stood for 410 years. 70 years of the exile passed following the destruction of the First Temple before the Second Temple was built, which totals 480 again. According to our tradition, the Second Temple also stood for 480 years, although that count includes a debate regarding the Second Temple\u2019s \u201cmissing years\u201d (historically, it stood for about 580 years). For Abarbanel and others, the numbers indicate a connection between all the central worship places creating a continuity of Sanctuaries for God, who (based on Exodus 25:9) said that if we build a holy place set aside for Him, He will dwell among us.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    As for King David\u2019s plans and materials, Solomon brought them to the Temple\u2019s treasury (Kings I, 7:51), so they were not lost or spent. Nevertheless, Solomon opted to invest his own labor, supplies and resources, which is what delayed the project.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    Last but not least, the month of <\/span>Ziv <\/span><\/em>-<\/span><\/i> splendor, brilliance - being the month of Iyar is known by this name (Ziv<\/em>) because it\u2019s the time for trees to have buds and blossoms (Rashi) and the whole country to have a special luster because of them. But Iyar offers something else. This month includes the only \u201cman-made\u201d Torah holiday, Pesach Sheni. \u201cSecond Pesach\u201d, taking place in the 2<\/span>nd<\/span> month, represents the quest for redemption which comes from \u201cbelow\u201d; inspired, pushed for and created by people, as opposed to Nissan, the first month, when redemption was all from \u201cabove\u201d and all we were asked to do is stay out of the way and follow directions.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    We can only hope that it\u2019s no coincidence that the same month when Solomon built the Temple is also the month that saw in modern times, the establishment of the State of Israel the commemoration of Jerusalem Day, the month of brilliance, luster and splendor.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    Image: The ancient city of Jerusalem with Solomon's Temple, c. 1871 \/ wikipedia<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":61846,"alt":"","title":"1kings6-Jerusalem_with_Solomon's_Temple","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings6-Jerusalem_with_Solomons_Temple.jpg","width":800,"height":550,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings6-Jerusalem_with_Solomons_Temple-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings6-Jerusalem_with_Solomons_Temple-300x206.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":206,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings6-Jerusalem_with_Solomons_Temple-768x528.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":528,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings6-Jerusalem_with_Solomons_Temple.jpg","large-width":800,"large-height":550,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings6-Jerusalem_with_Solomons_Temple.jpg","1536x1536-width":800,"1536x1536-height":550,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings6-Jerusalem_with_Solomons_Temple.jpg","2048x2048-width":800,"2048x2048-height":550,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings6-Jerusalem_with_Solomons_Temple.jpg","post_full_size-width":800,"post_full_size-height":550,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings6-Jerusalem_with_Solomons_Temple-611x420.jpg","home_baner-width":611,"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 Sanctuaries Of God","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Some reflections on the construction of Tabernacle and Temple","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":61846,"alt":"","title":"1kings6-Jerusalem_with_Solomon's_Temple","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings6-Jerusalem_with_Solomons_Temple.jpg","width":800,"height":550,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings6-Jerusalem_with_Solomons_Temple-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings6-Jerusalem_with_Solomons_Temple-300x206.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":206,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings6-Jerusalem_with_Solomons_Temple-768x528.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":528,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings6-Jerusalem_with_Solomons_Temple.jpg","large-width":800,"large-height":550,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings6-Jerusalem_with_Solomons_Temple.jpg","1536x1536-width":800,"1536x1536-height":550,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings6-Jerusalem_with_Solomons_Temple.jpg","2048x2048-width":800,"2048x2048-height":550,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings6-Jerusalem_with_Solomons_Temple.jpg","post_full_size-width":800,"post_full_size-height":550,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings6-Jerusalem_with_Solomons_Temple-611x420.jpg","home_baner-width":611,"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":"I Kings","chapter":"6","chapter_main_number":"293","date":"20261013","wall_id":"293"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"366","name":"Commentators","old_id":"766"},{"term_id":"444","name":"History","old_id":"844"},{"term_id":"539","name":"Israel","old_id":"939"},{"term_id":"632","name":"Calendar","old_id":"1032"}]},{"order":12,"id":"61912","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"The Careers Of Yakhin And Boaz ","post_title":"The Careers Of Yakhin And Boaz","slug":"the-careers-of-yakhin-and-boaz","old_id":"61912","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":"294","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Solomonic columns live on in buildings and books","post_main_content_content":"

    Our chapter narrates the thirteen years that Solomon took to build his own palace in Jerusalem. This is referred to as the \u201cLebanon Forest House\u201d because it was built of \u201ccedars of Lebanon\u201d --\u00a0 \u201cwith four rows of cedar columns, and with hewn cedar beams above the columns\u201d (I Kings 7:1-2). To undertake the massive metalwork in his palace, Solomon brought Hiram from Tyre (verse 13-14). With the help of this renowned artisan, Solomon set up two bronze columns \u201cat the portico of the Great Hall. He set up one column on the right and named it Yakhin, and he set up the other column on the left and named it Boaz\u201d (verse 21, compare II Chronicles 3:17, Jeremiah 52:20-22).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    It is curious that columns, no matter how impressive, should be given human names. According to a late Midrashic text (Midrash Tadshe, Chapter 2, as reworked by Radak to I Kings 7:21) \u2018Yakhin\u2019, was so named to express the hope that the Temple complex should be established forever, as it says: \u201cas the moon, it shall be established (yikon) forever\u201d (Psalms 89:38). \u201cBoaz\u201d was so named as an expression of strength, since this name can be read as a contraction of two Hebrew words \u201cBo \u2018Az\u201d (\u201cin it is strength\u201d), as it says: \u201cThe Lord will give strength [\u2018oz] to His people\u201d (Psalms 29:11). The Hida (Haim Yosef David Azulai, died 1805) interpreted these two names to teach the moral lesson that one who prepares himself (Yakhin) spiritually can override the strong (Bo \u2018Az) temptation to sin. Malbim interprets these two names to indicate that God establishes the Laws of Nature by means of His strength (Bo \u2018Az), but also will be prepared (Yakhin) to employ miracles that override the Laws of Nature.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    Unfortunately, these two impressive bronze columns were destroyed, according to Scripture, when Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon, conquered Jerusalem and destroyed the First Temple: \u201cThe Chaldeans broke up the bronze columns of the House of the Lord, the stands, and the bronze tank that was in the House of the Lord; and they carried the bronze away to Babylon\u201d (2 Kings 25:13).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    But Yakhin and Boaz live on in what are known in archeological terminology as \u201cSolomonic Columns\u201d, i.e. helical columns, characterized by spiraling twisting shafts, like corkscrews. This depiction of Solomon\u2019s two columns goes back to at least to the 4<\/span>th<\/span> century Roman Emperor, Constantine the Great, who brought a set of columns, thought to have come originally from Solomon\u2019s Temple in Jerusalem, to Rome for reuse in the original St. Peter's Basilica. Four such twisted columns support Bernini\u2019s 17<\/span>th<\/span> century Baldacchino, the centerpiece of the present-day St. Peter\u2019s Basilica in the Vatican. Such \u201cSolomonic Columns\u201d are also found in other churches and in synagogues, particularly flanking the Ark, and on the title pages of many traditional Hebrew books.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    Image: At right, two of the Solomonic columns brought to Rome by Constantine in their present day location on a pier in St. Peter's Basilica. In the foreground at left is part of Bernini's Baldacchino, inspired by the original columns \/ 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Careers Of Yakhin And Boaz","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Solomonic columns live on in buildings and 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    \u201cThere the thrones for judgment stood; thrones of the house of David\u201d (Psalms 122:5).<\/span><\/em><\/p>\r\n

    By combining the first verse in this chapter with the final verse of the preceding chapter, we can arrive at two different conclusions:<\/span><\/p>\r\n

      \r\n\t
    1. Solomon completed the Temple in seven years, while the work on his palace took thirteen years.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t
    2. While Solomon spent only seven years building the Temple, he spent thirteen years on his palace.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n

      The first is complimentary (he completed the Temple in a more efficient fashion) while the second is derogatory (he spent more time and, implicitly, more effort, on his palace). For which option do you vote? Would it influence your vote if I told you that Rashi\u2019s commentary supports the former? He wrote: \u201dIn work of the Most High he hurried, but in his own [work] he was slow; Scripture tells this to praise him.\u201d Implicit in Rashi\u2019s commentary is the assumption that Solomon commenced both construction projects at the same time. Radak, however, argued that they were consecutive. Does that change your opinion? (See our follow-up note in chapter 9<\/a>.)<\/span><\/p>\r\n

      On account of\u2014or, in deference to\u2014his wisdom, Solomon made the administration of justice a hallmark of his reign, so much so, that he set aside a room in his palace for that exclusive purpose. \u201cHe made the throne portico, where he was to pronounce judgment\u2014the Hall of Judgment. It was paneled with cedar from floor to floor\u201d (7). Whereas we would have expected the prepositional phrase \u201cfrom wall to wall,\u201d Scripture uses the somewhat clumsier \u201cfloor to floor,\u201d which Rashi\u2014relying on the Aramaic Targum\u2014interpreted as \u201cfrom foundation to foundation [i.e.] from the base of this wall to the base of the other wall.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

      In a sense, the throne of justice room paid for itself, since, as we have already noted (in chapter 3), Solomon\u2019s reputation for wise judgment earned him both glory and wealth; to wit: \u201cThroughout the land, they sought to see Solomon and to hear the wisdom God had implanted in his heart. Each would bring a gift of silver and gold\u2026\u201d (1 Kings 10:24-5).<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":61922,"alt":"","title":"1kings7-slow and fast","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings7-slow-and-fast.png","width":1280,"height":640,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings7-slow-and-fast-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings7-slow-and-fast-300x150.png","medium-width":300,"medium-height":150,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings7-slow-and-fast-768x384.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":384,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings7-slow-and-fast-1024x512.png","large-width":1024,"large-height":512,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings7-slow-and-fast.png","1536x1536-width":1280,"1536x1536-height":640,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings7-slow-and-fast.png","2048x2048-width":1280,"2048x2048-height":640,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings7-slow-and-fast-1200x600.png","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":600,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings7-slow-and-fast-840x420.png","home_baner-width":840,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"The Temple And The Palace","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Which is better: building slow or fast?","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":61922,"alt":"","title":"1kings7-slow and fast","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings7-slow-and-fast.png","width":1280,"height":640,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings7-slow-and-fast-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings7-slow-and-fast-300x150.png","medium-width":300,"medium-height":150,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings7-slow-and-fast-768x384.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":384,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings7-slow-and-fast-1024x512.png","large-width":1024,"large-height":512,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings7-slow-and-fast.png","1536x1536-width":1280,"1536x1536-height":640,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings7-slow-and-fast.png","2048x2048-width":1280,"2048x2048-height":640,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings7-slow-and-fast-1200x600.png","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":600,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/1kings7-slow-and-fast-840x420.png","home_baner-width":840,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"tile_link_for_pay":"0","send_noty":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"I Kings","chapter":"7","chapter_main_number":"294","date":"20261014","wall_id":"294"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"391","name":"In\/Justice","old_id":"791"},{"term_id":"778","name":"Temple","old_id":"1178"}]},{"order":14,"id":"61984","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"Does God Dwell on Earth? 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      It\u2019s one of the pivotal moments in Jewish history, the development of the monarchy, and of Jewish thought. After seven years of constructing the Holy Temple in Jerusalem, King Solomon and the entire nation gather to dedicate this new building. Standing in prayer before the people, Solomon lifts up his voice and his arms, and proclaimed a revolution that continues to percolate in religious life.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

      He has depleted the nation\u2019s treasury to build this beautiful, artistic, inspiring edifice. He has conscripted much of the nation\u2019s working adults and involved a fair number of foreign laborers in the effort too. Raised on stories of a Tent of Meeting and a Tabernacle in which God and Moses would commune face to face, I would imagine that most people gathered for this auspicious launch would expect the new Temple to be the locus for God\u2019s dwelling among humanity. But Solomon rejects that idea as a violation of the ethos of monotheism. He confronts it head on:<\/span><\/p>\r\n

      \u201cWill God really dwell on earth? Even the heavens to their uttermost reaches cannot contain You, how much less this House that I have built?\u201d In this pronouncement, Solomon makes clear that the God of monotheism is not simply further on the spectrum than any other creature, God is literally off the charts. Not bigger \u2026 incomparable. Not smarter \u2026 incomparable. God isn\u2019t merely better, more, greater. Such categories are actually a demotion and simply don\u2019t apply to the divine, any more than the concept \u201cnorth\u201d applies north of the North Pole. The category simply fails.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

      And with that bold move, Solomon forces the Jewish people to grapple with the necessity for metaphor. If God can\u2019t dwell on earth (or in the heavens), then all talk of God is metaphoric, pointing toward a truth that is beyond verbal description. Language as asymptote \u2013 the words approach but never reach what they seek to portray.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

      God beyond the literal turns all religion into poetry. Rambam is building on King Solomon\u2019s insight when he points out that this same insight means that God can\u2019t \u201cdo\u201d or \u201ccommand\u201d or \u201cspeak\u201d in any way comparable to what humans do when they act in those ways. The words point beyond themselves. They are literally false when applied to God, yet indicate something profound and elusive.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

      So why build that House? Because, says Solomon, wherever the descendants of those Israelites wander, they can turn their focus, their hearts, their mindfulness to that site, and direct their prayers to that place as a way of linking themselves with the prayers of their ancestors, with their co-religionists around the world, with those whose history and destiny they 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