{"id":63151,"date":"2018-07-09T17:44:29","date_gmt":"2018-07-09T14:44:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wall\/wall-311\/"},"modified":"2023-04-16T08:04:04","modified_gmt":"2023-04-16T05:04:04","slug":"wall-311","status":"publish","type":"wall","link":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wall\/wall-311\/","title":{"rendered":"chapter-Prophets-II Kings-2"},"parent":0,"template":"","acf":{"type":"chapter","wall_id":"311","date":"20261108","book":"II Kings","chapter":"2","chapter_main_number":"311","books_group":"Prophets","hide_acf":true,"home_image":false,"home_posts":false,"home_posts_title":"","posts_home":[],"static_cube_title":"","static_cube_brief":"","static_cube_color":"","posts":[{"order":1,"id":"63005","color":"#f8ebe3","size":"1","name":"JPS Audio Bible - 2 Kings Chapter 2 ","post_title":"JPS Audio Bible - 2 Kings Chapter 2","slug":"jps-audio-bible-2-kings-chapter-2","old_id":"63005","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":34686,"post_title":"Soundcloud","slug":"soundcloud","old_id":"34686","first_name":"","last_name":"","description":"","short_description":"","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":34656,"alt":"","title":"491","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","width":300,"height":300,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","medium_large-width":300,"medium_large-height":300,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","large-width":300,"large-height":300,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","1536x1536-width":300,"1536x1536-height":300,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","2048x2048-width":300,"2048x2048-height":300,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","post_full_size-width":300,"post_full_size-height":300,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","home_baner-width":300,"home_baner-height":300}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"311","type_929":"4","show_author_image":true,"old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"","post_main_content_content":"","post_main_content_image":"","post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"JPS Audio Bible","tile_main_caption":"2 Kings Chapter 2","tile_main_caption_size":"2","tile_sub_caption":"Hear the daily chapter","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":"","tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"https:\/\/soundcloud.com\/929-bible\/JPS_Audio_Bible_2_Kings_Chapter_2","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","old_create_date":"","links":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"II Kings","chapter":"2","chapter_main_number":"311","date":"20261108","wall_id":"311"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":2,"id":"114122","color":"#f6edf6","size":"1","name":"Elisha\u2019s \u201cDifficult\u201d Request ","post_title":"Elisha\u2019s \u201cDifficult\u201d Request","slug":"elishas-difficult-request","old_id":"114122","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":78133,"post_title":"Josh Blechner","slug":"josh-blechner","old_id":"78133","first_name":"Josh ","last_name":"Blechner ","description":"Josh first finished the Tanach during Yeshiva in Mevaseret Zion. He and his daughter studied the Tanach again for her bat mitzvah. Josh has taught many classes on Tanach throughout the years and currently in the New Rochelle 929 group. When not studying for 929, Josh works as an in-house lawyer in New Jersey.","short_description":"Josh has taught many classes on Tanach throughout the years and currently in the New Rochelle 929 group, and is an in-house attorney in New Jersey. ","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":78134,"alt":"","title":"josh blechner","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","width":276,"height":351,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner-236x300.jpg","medium-width":236,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","medium_large-width":276,"medium_large-height":351,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","large-width":276,"large-height":351,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","1536x1536-width":276,"1536x1536-height":351,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","2048x2048-width":276,"2048x2048-height":351,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","post_full_size-width":276,"post_full_size-height":351,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","home_baner-width":276,"home_baner-height":351}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"311","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"But he does get a double helping of Elijah like he wanted\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

Chapter 2 gives away the ending from the very beginning: Elijah is about to be taken away in a whirlwind. The Talmud in Moed Katan 26b explains that Elijah never died, he was taken away alive. The transition from Elijah to Elisha is one of the rare occasions where one prophet passes the mantle of prophecy on to a successor. Elijah asks Elisha what he wants and Elisha responds: \u201clet a double portion of your spirit pass on to me\u201d (verse 9).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

What exactly was Elisha asking for? Some commentators believe that Elisha was asking for twice the prophetic acumen as Elijah. This seems like an odd request. If Elijah was such a powerful prophet, then simply matching Elijah in acumen would have been more than sufficient. This question leads to the other school of thought. Elisha was making the simple request that he be treated as the \u201cfirst born\u201d of Elijah. The first-born son is entitled to a double portion of the inheritance of their parents. Elisha is requesting that he be treated differently than the other prophet students that followed Elijah. A group of them appeared in this chapter and also knew about Elijah\u2019s impending ascent, so they were clearly plugged into the same prophetic line.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The problem with this interpretation is the next verse: \u201c\u2019You have asked a difficult thing,\u2019 he said. \u2018If you see me as I am being taken from you, this will be granted to you; if not, it will not\u2019\u201d (verse 11). Elijah however would not know how to pass on to Elisha a portion, double or not, of his spirit. The text provides no background on Elijah. There is no initial calling. He does not appear to be one of the schools of prophets. He also seems to talk directly to God without any prophetic build up. Elijah could simply be telling Elisha that the task is difficult because Elijah himself does not know how he tapped into the strong prophetic stream. His only response to Elisha is that if Elisha is able to see the great wonder of the coming chariots of fire, then his wish was granted. Sure enough, Elisha does witness what transpired and the other prophets do not. They send out a search party to try to locate Elijah because, unlike Elisha, they do not have access to their \u201chigh-level\u201d prophecy.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

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","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":62572,"alt":"","title":"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/yaakov-bieler.jpg","width":141,"height":180,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/yaakov-bieler-141x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":141,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/yaakov-bieler.jpg","medium-width":141,"medium-height":180,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/yaakov-bieler.jpg","medium_large-width":141,"medium_large-height":180,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/yaakov-bieler.jpg","large-width":141,"large-height":180,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/yaakov-bieler.jpg","1536x1536-width":141,"1536x1536-height":180,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/yaakov-bieler.jpg","2048x2048-width":141,"2048x2048-height":180,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/yaakov-bieler.jpg","post_full_size-width":141,"post_full_size-height":180,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/yaakov-bieler.jpg","home_baner-width":141,"home_baner-height":180}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"311","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Biblical personalities are often made the objects of both criticism and great respect\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

Elijah finally ascends to heaven on a fiery chariot, leaving Elisha to fend for himself. Whereas Elisha, as an initial miraculous act, makes the poisonous drinking water in Jericho potable (verses 19-22), thereby enhancing the lives of the Jericho-ites, the next thing that he does, on his way to Beth El, would appear to sully his reputation as a holy man, when he appears to \u201coverreact\u201d to youngsters\u2019 teasing regarding his lack of hair:<\/span><\/p>\r\n

From there he went up to Bethel. As he was going up the road, some little boys came out of the town and jeered at him, saying, \u201cGo away, baldhead! Go away, baldhead!\u201d He turned around and looked at them, and cursed them in the name of the LORD. Thereupon, two she-bears came out of the woods and mangled forty-two of the children (verses 23-24).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The Rabbis do their best to besmirch the reputations of these young men: the fact that Elisha \u201clooks\u201d intently at them prior to his cursing them (v. 24) comes closest to an objective assessment of their present and future worthlessness. Yet, according to a straightforward reading of the text, none of these assertions are explicit or even compelling, leading to the conclusion that Elisha would have been better off simply allowing their insults to land \u201con deaf ears.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

But it is possible that Elisha sinned, or simply made a mistake! Radak, on 2 Kings 13:14 \u201c<\/span>Now Elisha was fallen sick of his sickness whereof he was to die\u2026\u201d cites a Talmudic passage that implies that the prophet suffered a guilty conscience for this act (as well as two others), right up until his dying day:<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The Sages taught: Elisha fell ill three times. One, for inciting the bears to attack the children\u2026 (<\/span>Sota 47a).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

As opposed to sacred literature of other religions, the key figures in the Tanakh are humanized by mentioning not only the spiritual highpoints of their careers, but also the times when, as human beings, they err, and are called to account for their poor judgment. While the Talmud attempts to \u201cwhitewash\u201d the activities of certain characters, in order that these individuals can remain perched upon their lofty pedestals and continue to be venerated by the masses (e.g., Shabbat 56a, attempting to exonerate King David), biblical personalities are often made the objects of both criticism and great respect, by seminal Jewish sources and commentators.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

 <\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":93673,"alt":"","title":"job4-refuse concur pro con","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/job4-refuse-concur-pro-con.png","width":1920,"height":1483,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/job4-refuse-concur-pro-con-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/job4-refuse-concur-pro-con-300x232.png","medium-width":300,"medium-height":232,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/job4-refuse-concur-pro-con-768x593.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":593,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/job4-refuse-concur-pro-con-1024x791.png","large-width":1024,"large-height":791,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/job4-refuse-concur-pro-con.png","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1186,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/job4-refuse-concur-pro-con.png","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":1483,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/job4-refuse-concur-pro-con-1200x927.png","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":927,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/job4-refuse-concur-pro-con-544x420.png","home_baner-width":544,"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":"Elisha, Pro And Con","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Biblical personalities are often made the objects of both criticism and great respect","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":93673,"alt":"","title":"job4-refuse concur pro con","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/job4-refuse-concur-pro-con.png","width":1920,"height":1483,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/job4-refuse-concur-pro-con-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/job4-refuse-concur-pro-con-300x232.png","medium-width":300,"medium-height":232,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/job4-refuse-concur-pro-con-768x593.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":593,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/job4-refuse-concur-pro-con-1024x791.png","large-width":1024,"large-height":791,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/job4-refuse-concur-pro-con.png","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1186,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/job4-refuse-concur-pro-con.png","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":1483,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/job4-refuse-concur-pro-con-1200x927.png","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":927,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/job4-refuse-concur-pro-con-544x420.png","home_baner-width":544,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_link_for_pay":"0","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"send_noty":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"II Kings","chapter":"2","chapter_main_number":"311","date":"20261108","wall_id":"311"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"622","name":"Criticism","old_id":"1022"},{"term_id":"786","name":"Praise","old_id":"1186"},{"term_id":"931","name":"Elisha","old_id":"1331"}]},{"order":4,"id":"63190","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"2","name":"Elisha\u2019s Bad Hair Day ","post_title":"Elisha\u2019s Bad Hair Day","slug":"elishas-bad-hair-day","old_id":"63190","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":59587,"post_title":"Benjamin Morse","slug":"benjamin-morse","old_id":"59587","first_name":"Benjamin ","last_name":"Morse ","description":"Dr. Benjamin Morse studied religion and art history at Vassar, Oxford, and the Courtauld before completing a PhD in biblical interpretation. His dissertation reads the Hebrew Bible\u2019s \u201cmodern methods\u201d through the lens of painting and collage. His illustrated children\u2019s Torah, The Oldest Bedtime Story Ever, has won multiple awards.\r\nPhoto by Lenka Opalena.","short_description":"Dr. Benjamin Morse studied religion and art history, and is the author and illustrator of the illustrated children\u2019s Torah, The Oldest Bedtime Story Ever. ","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":59588,"alt":"","title":"Benjamin Morse by Lenka Opalena","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Benjamin-Morse-by-Lenka-Opalena.jpg","width":1069,"height":1576,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Benjamin-Morse-by-Lenka-Opalena-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Benjamin-Morse-by-Lenka-Opalena-203x300.jpg","medium-width":203,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Benjamin-Morse-by-Lenka-Opalena-695x1024.jpg","medium_large-width":695,"medium_large-height":1024,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Benjamin-Morse-by-Lenka-Opalena-695x1024.jpg","large-width":695,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Benjamin-Morse-by-Lenka-Opalena.jpg","1536x1536-width":1042,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Benjamin-Morse-by-Lenka-Opalena.jpg","2048x2048-width":1069,"2048x2048-height":1576,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Benjamin-Morse-by-Lenka-Opalena-814x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":814,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Benjamin-Morse-by-Lenka-Opalena-285x420.jpg","home_baner-width":285,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"311","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"He would probably be just as irritable if he lived today. We sure are.","post_main_content_content":"

Kids can be mean. The curse Elisha lays on his tormentors therefore delights. Infanticide by she-bears is no laughing matter but it is nice to know that at least once in the history of bullying \u201cBoys will be boys\u201d received a comeuppance. When it comes to \u201cGo on, baldie,\u201d it\u2019s easy to substitute similar taunts from playground memories. And to avoid pretending we\u2019re talking about mature responses to ridicule I\u2019ll admit my satisfaction when a high school reunion showed a number of my worst wishes for mean boys had come true.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

I may be under-accomplished financially and generally miserable over climate change, but for the time being I\u2019m not fat, bald, or brainwashed by the idolatrous myth that civilization is a winner.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Elisha is a creative in a world of warmongers. He purifies water with a dash of salt, raises a Shunamite\u2019s son, multiplies a widow\u2019s oil, and makes an amazing gourd stew. The catastrophe of kingship rages as Israel\u2019s leaders continue to kowtow to Baal and God\u2019s own people ravage landscapes and turn rivers to blood. Meanwhile influencers are freaking out about Elijah\u2019s imminent departure in a flurry of fear that Elisha finds tedious.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Elisha\u2019s problem is other people. Even his own master tests his patience. Three times Elijah has to be told no, Elisha will not stay behind; he\u2019s with him till the end. Unconvinced by the news of Elijah\u2019s ascent by flaming horses, the sons of prophets in Jericho intimidate Elisha into letting them send mighty men to search for him. When they return empty-handed after three days, Elisha tells them he told them so.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

His irritability mirrors my own. Baal-zebub is everywhere\u2014from the manipulation of land and people by spuriously elected presidents and corporate-funded members of Congress to subway cars full of commuters fetishizing their iPhones. A pox on the illusion of prosperity manufactured by human hands! The idols of culture, consumerism, and ideology beam into to households via flatscreens. We click on the Oscars and red carpet thumbnails like they\u2019re lines of coke. My downstairs neighbor receives ten packages from Amazon in four days. I\u2019m offered meditation for as low as two hundred dollars per month so that I can learn to control my mind, breath in acceptance of self and out in acceptance of others, and never have an emotional reaction to anything ever again. It\u2019s petulant, but I bedamn these things every day.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The mauling of the forty-two brats is overkill, although it\u2019s not one hundred percent clear that this is the fulfilment of Elisha\u2019s malediction. Hebrew\u2019s <\/span>vav<\/span><\/i>-consecutive doesn\u2019t strictly encode cause and effect. Rather, that he cursed them \u201cand then along came some bears\u201d comically implies it could have been incidental. If one was the result of the other, it\u2019s no wonder Elisha high-tailed it to Mount Carmel. Greater wrath is on the way, and however jejune his curse and absurd its consequences might seem, the text provides relief by reminding me that the results of my revenge fantasies are beyond my control.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Image by the author.<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":63191,"alt":"","title":"2 Kings 2 Elisha - BMorse","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2-Kings-2-Elisha-BMorse.jpg","width":631,"height":510,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2-Kings-2-Elisha-BMorse-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2-Kings-2-Elisha-BMorse-300x242.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":242,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2-Kings-2-Elisha-BMorse.jpg","medium_large-width":631,"medium_large-height":510,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2-Kings-2-Elisha-BMorse.jpg","large-width":631,"large-height":510,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2-Kings-2-Elisha-BMorse.jpg","1536x1536-width":631,"1536x1536-height":510,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2-Kings-2-Elisha-BMorse.jpg","2048x2048-width":631,"2048x2048-height":510,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2-Kings-2-Elisha-BMorse.jpg","post_full_size-width":631,"post_full_size-height":510,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2-Kings-2-Elisha-BMorse-520x420.jpg","home_baner-width":520,"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":"Elisha\u2019s Bad Hair Day","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"He would probably be just as irritable if he lived today. 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He has lectured and written extensively on Modern Orthodoxy, and blogs daily at https:\/\/yaakovbieler.wordpress.com ","short_description":"Rabbi Yaakov Bieler has been involved in Jewish education and the synagogue Rabbinate in New York, NY and Silver Spring, MD since being ordained by Yeshiva University. ","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":62572,"alt":"","title":"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/yaakov-bieler.jpg","width":141,"height":180,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/yaakov-bieler-141x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":141,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/yaakov-bieler.jpg","medium-width":141,"medium-height":180,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/yaakov-bieler.jpg","medium_large-width":141,"medium_large-height":180,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/yaakov-bieler.jpg","large-width":141,"large-height":180,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/yaakov-bieler.jpg","1536x1536-width":141,"1536x1536-height":180,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/yaakov-bieler.jpg","2048x2048-width":141,"2048x2048-height":180,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/yaakov-bieler.jpg","post_full_size-width":141,"post_full_size-height":180,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/yaakov-bieler.jpg","home_baner-width":141,"home_baner-height":180}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"311","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Sometimes fresh approaches are deemed necessary, even by God. Time for someone not so jaded!","post_main_content_content":"

The text describes the \u201cpassing of the torch\u201d from mentor to mentee, teacher to student, Elijah to Elisha. While the teacher attempted to gradually accustom his student to his impending departure by suggesting that the latter stay behind during each of three missions which Elijah has been commanded to undertake, Elisha plaintively states: (Ibid. 2, 4, 6) \u201c\u2026I will not leave you\u201d\u2014until he had no choice, and had to helplessly watch his mentor\u2019s ascent to Heaven upon a chariot and a whirlwind.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Transitions such as the one involving Elijah and Elisha have occurred throughout human history, as a result of either human frailty and mortality, or burn-out and the need for change. Requiring a younger person to step up and fill an older, more experienced individual\u2019s shoes is often a daunting proposition, particularly within a traditional context. When a premium is placed upon doing things in a time-honored manner, inevitably the new person will first think of things to ask when there is no longer anyone with institutional memory around. He will normally be beset with doubts and uncertainties, and often will think to himself: \u201cIf only I could ask my predecessor for advice, for assurances that I am approaching these challenges correctly, as he himself would have.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

But of course, it is too late.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

But there are times when new and fresh approaches are deemed necessary, even by God. Elijah, like Moses well-before him, had over time become increasingly critical of the Jewish people. \u201cI am moved by zeal for the LORD, the God of Hosts, for the Israelites have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and put Your prophets to the sword. I alone am left, and they are out to take my life\u201d (19:10, 14). While Rabbi Jonathan Sacks has written, \u201cGod\u2019s Prophets are realists, not optimists,\u201d nevertheless in order to serve as appropriate conduits for God\u2019s prophecy, these highly spiritual individuals must recognize at least the potential within the Jewish people for repentance and improvement.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

If instead, they consign their charges to hopelessness and perdition, God replaces them with others who are not yet jaded, and who hopefully will be able to inspire hope for redemption and improvement, hence Joshua and Elisha.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The fact that this cycle understandably plays out over and over down through human history, clearly conveys the importance of studying the past in order to better understand the present and the future.<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":63203,"alt":"","title":"2kings2-passing the torch","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings2-passing-the-torch.png","width":1024,"height":571,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings2-passing-the-torch-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings2-passing-the-torch-300x167.png","medium-width":300,"medium-height":167,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings2-passing-the-torch-768x428.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":428,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings2-passing-the-torch-1024x571.png","large-width":1024,"large-height":571,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings2-passing-the-torch.png","1536x1536-width":1024,"1536x1536-height":571,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings2-passing-the-torch.png","2048x2048-width":1024,"2048x2048-height":571,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings2-passing-the-torch.png","post_full_size-width":1024,"post_full_size-height":571,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings2-passing-the-torch-753x420.png","home_baner-width":753,"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":"Passing The Torch","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Sometimes fresh approaches are deemed necessary, even by God. Time for someone not so jaded!","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":63203,"alt":"","title":"2kings2-passing the torch","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings2-passing-the-torch.png","width":1024,"height":571,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings2-passing-the-torch-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings2-passing-the-torch-300x167.png","medium-width":300,"medium-height":167,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings2-passing-the-torch-768x428.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":428,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings2-passing-the-torch-1024x571.png","large-width":1024,"large-height":571,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings2-passing-the-torch.png","1536x1536-width":1024,"1536x1536-height":571,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings2-passing-the-torch.png","2048x2048-width":1024,"2048x2048-height":571,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings2-passing-the-torch.png","post_full_size-width":1024,"post_full_size-height":571,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings2-passing-the-torch-753x420.png","home_baner-width":753,"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":"II Kings","chapter":"2","chapter_main_number":"311","date":"20261108","wall_id":"311"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"390","name":"Prophets","old_id":"790"},{"term_id":"402","name":"Leadership","old_id":"802"},{"term_id":"806","name":"Joshua","old_id":"1206"},{"term_id":"858","name":"Elijah","old_id":"1258"},{"term_id":"931","name":"Elisha","old_id":"1331"}]},{"order":6,"id":"63205","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"Letting Go: The Defining Challenge of Parenting ","post_title":"Letting Go: The Defining Challenge of Parenting","slug":"letting-go-the-defining-challenge-of-parenting","old_id":"63205","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":38322,"post_title":"James A. 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Diamond holds the Joseph and Wolf Lebovic Chair of Jewish Studies at the University of Waterloo.","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":38323,"alt":"","title":"James Diamond","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/James-Diamond-e1534858914913.jpg","width":1186,"height":1386,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/James-Diamond-e1534858914913-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/James-Diamond-e1534858914913-257x300.jpg","medium-width":257,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/James-Diamond-e1534858914913-768x898.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":898,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/James-Diamond-e1534858914913-876x1024.jpg","large-width":876,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/James-Diamond-e1534858914913.jpg","1536x1536-width":1186,"1536x1536-height":1386,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/James-Diamond-e1534858914913.jpg","2048x2048-width":1186,"2048x2048-height":1386,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/James-Diamond-e1534858914913-1027x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":1027,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/James-Diamond-e1534858914913-359x420.jpg","home_baner-width":359,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"311","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"The greatest source of conflict between generations is parents viewing their children as clones of themselves","post_main_content_content":"

When Elijah\u2019s time came to die, his disciple Elisha would not let go. Exasperated, Elijah asks Elisha if he has any final requests. Elisha responds with a seemingly arrogant demand- <\/span>Let a double portion of your spirit pass on to me<\/span><\/em> (2:9). Elijah grants the potential of surpassing his own prophetic prowess, subject to the curious condition that Elisha witness his death- <\/span>if you see me as I am being taken from you, this will be granted to you; if not it will not<\/span><\/em> (2:10). The significance of predicating the realization of Elisha\u2019s request on his capacity to observe Elijah\u2019s departure lies in the lesson that, though continuity with the past is essential, only a sober acknowledgment of its passage enables progress. Elijah\u2019s successor\/son needed to come to terms with the end of an era to avoid the banality ensured by a life of simply parroting his spiritual father. Elisha, in what surely is the shortest eulogy in Jewish history, laments Elijah\u2019s passing in military and parental imagery- <\/span>Oh father, father! Israel\u2019s chariots and horsemen<\/span><\/em>.<\/em> Elijah the prophetic father released his prophetic child to shape his own destiny.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Franz Kafka, one of the most innovative of modern writers exquisitely captured this tension in his <\/span>Letter to His Father<\/span><\/em>, pleading for release from the suffocating influence of a father who measured the son\u2019s accomplishments strictly in terms of himself. Franz excoriated his father\u2019s encouragement solely for actions that imitated him but, he laments, \u201cnothing of this had anything to do with my future.\u201d His denunciation continued, \u201cAnd it is characteristic that even today you really only encourage me in anything when you yourself are involved, when what is at stake is your own sense of self-importance.\u201d Franz\u2019s literary breakthrough could only materialize by overcoming the stifling parental presence he felt \u201c<\/span>would simply trample me underfoot so that nothing was left of me.\u201d<\/span> Elijah\u2019s staging of his death so that his \u2018son\u2019 could outdo his own prophetic reputation was the father\u2019s sacrifice for a \u2018son\u2019s\u2019 greatness Hermann Kafka could not replicate.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Elijah\u2019s death scene anticipates his messianic role which the prophet Malachi entrusted to him in God\u2019s name- <\/span>Lo, I will send the prophet Elijah to you\u2026He shall reconcile the hearts of fathers with their children, and the hearts of the children with their fathers<\/span><\/em>\u00a0(Mal. 3:23-24). It is not the cessation of war but the friction between parents and children that signals messianic times. The greatest source of conflict between generations is parents viewing their children as clones of themselves rather than independent human beings with their own aspirations. Like Elijah, parents must encourage children to let go. The messianic age can never materialize if growth is measured in terms of how closely one generation duplicates the previous one. Elijah\u2019s legacy reconciles successive generations teaching that their love for each other does not entail acting as mirrors of each other. Such is the defining challenge of parenting. To be trapped by the past is to preclude advancing beyond it.<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":63208,"alt":"","title":"2kings2-father 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Artson is married to Elana Shavit Artson, and they are the parents of twins, Shira and Jacob.\r\n","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"short_description":"Rabbi Dr Bradley Shavit Artson is the Dean of the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies and is Vice President of American Jewish University in Los Angeles.","link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":33993,"alt":"","title":"Rabbi Dr Bradley Shavit Artson","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Rabbi-Dr-Bradley-Shavit-Artson-e1532029361140.png","width":204,"height":199,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Rabbi-Dr-Bradley-Shavit-Artson-e1532029361140-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Rabbi-Dr-Bradley-Shavit-Artson-256x300.png","medium-width":256,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Rabbi-Dr-Bradley-Shavit-Artson-e1532029361140.png","medium_large-width":204,"medium_large-height":199,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Rabbi-Dr-Bradley-Shavit-Artson-e1532029361140.png","large-width":204,"large-height":199,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Rabbi-Dr-Bradley-Shavit-Artson-e1532029361140.png","1536x1536-width":204,"1536x1536-height":199,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Rabbi-Dr-Bradley-Shavit-Artson-e1532029361140.png","2048x2048-width":204,"2048x2048-height":199,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Rabbi-Dr-Bradley-Shavit-Artson-e1532029361140.png","post_full_size-width":204,"post_full_size-height":199,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Rabbi-Dr-Bradley-Shavit-Artson-e1532029361140.png","home_baner-width":204,"home_baner-height":199}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"311","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Like Elisha, we are garbed in our teachers\u2019 wisdom, warmed by their example\u00a0","post_main_content_content":"

Above my desk at work, I posted framed portraits of two of my teachers, Rabbi Simon Greenberg and Rabbi David Lieber, both of blessed memory. Rabbi Greenberg was a towering figure when I entered rabbinical school. Emeritus Rabbi at Congregation Har Zion in Philadelphia, Vice Chancellor of the Jewish Theological Seminary, and founding President of American Jewish University (then University of Judaism). Yet he took me under his wing and offered me mentoring and guidance throughout my student days and beyond. Rabbi David Lieber was his successor, the first full-time president of American Jewish University (then University of Judaism) and a Professor of Bible. He taught me not only in his writings and talks, but most of all in his actions and kindness. Both rabbis were compassionate, transparent in their goodness, and their love of Torah and people was clear to see in their actions. I never make a decision as dean of the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies without looking at their pictures and asking, What would Dr. Greenberg do? What would Dr. Lieber do? How would they counsel me now?<\/span><\/p>\r\n

That bond between teacher and student, between <\/span>rav<\/span><\/em> and <\/span>talmid<\/span><\/em>, has sustained Judaism from its inception. The link is as frail as the bond between two individuals can be, yet it is apparently strong enough to last across the ages. We see that bond as the prophet Elijah seeks to be alone so he can reunite with God, and his student Elisha refuses to leave him alone. Time after time, Elijah instructs his disciple to leave him alone so he can ascend to heaven, and as many times, his student sticks by him.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

And so it happens that Elijah is whisked to heaven in a chariot of fire, drawn by horses of fire. Elisha blurts out in wonder and sorrow, \u201cMy father! My father! Israel\u2019s chariot and cavalry!\u201d He takes his master\u2019s cloak and sunders it in two (where we get the ritual of <\/span>kriyah<\/span><\/i> \u2013 tearing clothing or a ribbon at a funeral), and then he puts on the master\u2019s cloak, fitting symbol that he is now garbed in his teacher\u2019s wisdom, warmed by his example.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

So are we all with our dearest teachers, those who shared not only knowledge but wisdom, not only skills but heart. They reverberate through us each and every day, and we \u2013 like Elisha \u2013 are wrapped in their authority, their example, their teachings. When Elisha returns, without his master, his first words are \u201cWhere is the Holy One, God of Elijah?\u201d That could be a cry of perceived absence from a student grieving his deceased teacher. But the answer is in the question itself: the God of your teacher is now found in your teacher\u2019s beloved student. Go, and be for others what your teacher was for you!<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":63182,"alt":"","title":"2kings2-master 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Julie most recently served as the Interim Executive Director and Director of Education at Kevah, a national non-profit facilitating home-based Torah study groups. After receiving her PhD in European history with a focus on Jewish women, gender and sexuality, Julie moved to Colorado, where she was a professor of Jewish Studies for many years. Julie regularly teaches for the Wexner Heritage Program, has taught for the Melton program and the Colorado Agency for Jewish Education. ","short_description":"Dr. Julie Lieber is a Jewish educator, and is the Director of the Pardes-Kevah Teaching Fellowship.","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":40789,"alt":"","title":"Julie Lieber","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/Julie-Lieber-e1537820405688.jpg","width":627,"height":680,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/Julie-Lieber-e1537820405688-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/Julie-Lieber-e1537820405688-277x300.jpg","medium-width":277,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/Julie-Lieber-e1537820405688.jpg","medium_large-width":627,"medium_large-height":680,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/Julie-Lieber-e1537820405688.jpg","large-width":627,"large-height":680,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/Julie-Lieber-e1537820405688.jpg","1536x1536-width":627,"1536x1536-height":680,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/Julie-Lieber-e1537820405688.jpg","2048x2048-width":627,"2048x2048-height":680,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/Julie-Lieber-e1537820405688.jpg","post_full_size-width":627,"post_full_size-height":680,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/Julie-Lieber-e1537820405688-387x420.jpg","home_baner-width":387,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"311","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Sometimes succession is harder than starting from scratch","post_main_content_content":"

Our rabbis tell us, \u201c<\/span>Kol Hatchalot Kashot<\/span><\/em>\u201d (All beginnings are hard).\u201d I would argue that even harder than beginnings are transitions. Standing at a starting point, all options are open and the possibilities seem endless. (Just ask those involved in the Silicon Valley startup industry). However, when one enters at a point of transition, one inherits history, baggage and everything else that comes with having a past.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Succession and transition, especially when one follows a successful and well-liked leader, are particularly challenging. In 2 Kings Chapter 2 we see such a struggle with succession. Elijah the prophet has served as the messenger of God for as long as the Israelites can remember. They have relied on his voice, his miracles and his style of communication for decades \u2013 even if they have not always heeded his voice. And now the time has come for Elijah to end his tenure as prophet.\u00a0 Elisha, his successor, senses his master\u2019s imminent departure and refuses to leave Elijah\u2019s side, repeatedly hushing the people who try to speak to him about this impending loss. He can\u2019t bear to even acknowledge what is about to take place.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Sensing Elisha\u2019s state of mind, Elijah presents him with a \u201cgenie moment.\u201d Elijah is prepared to grant Elisha one wish before he departs. Elisha asks for twice the spirit of Elijah to rest on him. What precisely this means is a matter of considerable debate, but it seems clear that his request revolves around wanting the spirit of Elijah to remain with him and in some capacity continue to play a role in Elisha\u2019s prophetic life as he takes over.\u00a0 Like many new leaders, who follow a beloved and charismatic figure, Elisha is scared. Yet, his solution is to resist the change altogether by in some way hoping Elijah\u2019s spirit will continue in him as he takes on this new leadership role.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

What would it have looked like if Elisha had instead asked for strength to help him be his own, new type of prophetic leader? Ron Heifetz, one of the experts on adaptive leadership, teaches us, \u201cWhat people resist is not change per se, but loss.\u201d What would Elisha\u2019s prophetic tenure have looked like if instead of trying to replicate Elijah he had done the work of fully acknowledging and confronting this loss? Perhaps that would have made it less of a traumatic transition and more of a new beginning, ripe with endless opportunities and possibilities.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

image: Transitions, by Ben Schachter, courtesy of the artist<\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":63185,"alt":"","title":"2kings2-Schachter-DoorsasTransitions","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings2-Schachter-DoorsasTransitions.jpg","width":1216,"height":1103,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings2-Schachter-DoorsasTransitions-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings2-Schachter-DoorsasTransitions-300x272.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":272,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings2-Schachter-DoorsasTransitions-768x697.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":697,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings2-Schachter-DoorsasTransitions-1024x929.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":929,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings2-Schachter-DoorsasTransitions.jpg","1536x1536-width":1216,"1536x1536-height":1103,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings2-Schachter-DoorsasTransitions.jpg","2048x2048-width":1216,"2048x2048-height":1103,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings2-Schachter-DoorsasTransitions-1200x1088.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":1088,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings2-Schachter-DoorsasTransitions-463x420.jpg","home_baner-width":463,"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":"Tackling Transitions","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Sometimes succession is harder than starting from scratch","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":63185,"alt":"","title":"2kings2-Schachter-DoorsasTransitions","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings2-Schachter-DoorsasTransitions.jpg","width":1216,"height":1103,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings2-Schachter-DoorsasTransitions-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings2-Schachter-DoorsasTransitions-300x272.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":272,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings2-Schachter-DoorsasTransitions-768x697.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":697,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings2-Schachter-DoorsasTransitions-1024x929.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":929,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings2-Schachter-DoorsasTransitions.jpg","1536x1536-width":1216,"1536x1536-height":1103,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings2-Schachter-DoorsasTransitions.jpg","2048x2048-width":1216,"2048x2048-height":1103,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings2-Schachter-DoorsasTransitions-1200x1088.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":1088,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings2-Schachter-DoorsasTransitions-463x420.jpg","home_baner-width":463,"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":"II Kings","chapter":"2","chapter_main_number":"311","date":"20261108","wall_id":"311"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"402","name":"Leadership","old_id":"802"},{"term_id":"540","name":"Transformation","old_id":"940"},{"term_id":"822","name":"Self","old_id":"1222"},{"term_id":"858","name":"Elijah","old_id":"1258"},{"term_id":"931","name":"Elisha","old_id":"1331"}]},{"order":9,"id":"63193","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"\u201cOh, Father, Father! Israel\u2019s Chariots and Horsemen!\u201d ","post_title":"\u201cOh, Father, Father! Israel\u2019s Chariots and Horsemen!\u201d","slug":"oh-father-father-israels-chariots-and-horsemen","old_id":"63193","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":34243,"post_title":"Moshe Sokolow","slug":"moshe-sokolow","old_id":"34243","first_name":"Moshe","last_name":"Sokolow","description":"Dr. Moshe Sokolow is Associate Dean of the Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education and Administration, Yeshiva University, and teaches a weekly class in parashat hashavu`a at Lincoln Square Synagogue. He is the author of TANAKH: An Owner\u2019s Manual (Jerusalem: Urim\/Ktav, 2015).\r\n\r\n","short_description":"Dr. Moshe Sokolow is Associate Dean of the Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education and Administration, Yeshiva University","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":34244,"alt":"","title":"sokolow","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow.jpg","width":302,"height":300,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow-300x298.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":298,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow.jpg","medium_large-width":302,"medium_large-height":300,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow.jpg","large-width":302,"large-height":300,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow.jpg","1536x1536-width":302,"1536x1536-height":300,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow.jpg","2048x2048-width":302,"2048x2048-height":300,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow.jpg","post_full_size-width":302,"post_full_size-height":300,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow.jpg","home_baner-width":302,"home_baner-height":300}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"311","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Memorable eulogy - but what does this mean?","post_main_content_content":"

When Elijah first encountered Elisha, he was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen (1 Kings 19:19). When he threw his mantle over him, Elisha left his oxen and ran after him, saying \u201cLet me kiss my father and mother good-by, and I will follow you,\u201d to which Elijah replied: \u201cGo back, what have I done to you?\u201d (20) Small wonder, then, that when Elijah and Elisha parted company permanently, the latter referred to the former as his \u201cfather.\u201d Less obvious is the meaning of \u201cIsrael\u2019s chariots and horsemen\u201d (v. 12). Let us sample what the medievals had to say on the description of this relationship.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Rashi, in appreciation of the fact that the relationship between masters and disciples is akin to that of fathers and sons, wrote: \u201cMy endeared teacher who is better for Israel with his prayers than chariots and horsemen.\u201d Radak echoed Rashi, adding that on account of this relationship prophets in training were called \u201csons of prophets\u201d (see vss. 3, 5, and 15 in this chapter).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Gersonides (Ralbag) added the explanation that a teacher \u201cfathers\u201d a student\u2019s intellect (<\/span>sekhel<\/span><\/i>) and adduced the balance of the verse\u2014\u201che grasped his garments and rent them in two\u201d\u2014as evidence that a disciple is bound, by Halakhah, to tear his garments on the death of his teacher. Moreover, on close reading, the phrase \u201cin two\u201d seems superfluous (anything that is \u201crent\u201d is in two pieces), implying, to Ralbag, that whereas an ordinary mourner may, eventually, reattach the pieces of his torn garment, the disciple may never do so.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Malbim, however, saw an allusion in the chariot (<\/span>rekheb<\/span><\/i>) to an esoteric notion\u2014called \u201cMerkabah mysticism\u201d by scholars\u2014that alludes to God\u2019s providence (<\/span>hashgahah<\/span><\/i>) over Israel.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Image: Giuseppe Angeli: Elijah Taken Up in a Chariot of Fire, c. 1750 \/ wikimedia<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":63194,"alt":"","title":"2kings2-Elijah_Taken_Up_in_a_Chariot_of_Fire","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings2-Elijah_Taken_Up_in_a_Chariot_of_Fire.jpg","width":1024,"height":670,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings2-Elijah_Taken_Up_in_a_Chariot_of_Fire-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings2-Elijah_Taken_Up_in_a_Chariot_of_Fire-300x196.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":196,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings2-Elijah_Taken_Up_in_a_Chariot_of_Fire-768x503.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":503,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings2-Elijah_Taken_Up_in_a_Chariot_of_Fire-1024x670.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":670,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings2-Elijah_Taken_Up_in_a_Chariot_of_Fire.jpg","1536x1536-width":1024,"1536x1536-height":670,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings2-Elijah_Taken_Up_in_a_Chariot_of_Fire.jpg","2048x2048-width":1024,"2048x2048-height":670,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings2-Elijah_Taken_Up_in_a_Chariot_of_Fire.jpg","post_full_size-width":1024,"post_full_size-height":670,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings2-Elijah_Taken_Up_in_a_Chariot_of_Fire-642x420.jpg","home_baner-width":642,"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":"\u201cOh, Father, Father! Israel\u2019s Chariots and Horsemen!\u201d","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Memorable eulogy - but what does this mean?","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":63194,"alt":"","title":"2kings2-Elijah_Taken_Up_in_a_Chariot_of_Fire","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings2-Elijah_Taken_Up_in_a_Chariot_of_Fire.jpg","width":1024,"height":670,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings2-Elijah_Taken_Up_in_a_Chariot_of_Fire-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings2-Elijah_Taken_Up_in_a_Chariot_of_Fire-300x196.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":196,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings2-Elijah_Taken_Up_in_a_Chariot_of_Fire-768x503.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":503,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings2-Elijah_Taken_Up_in_a_Chariot_of_Fire-1024x670.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":670,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings2-Elijah_Taken_Up_in_a_Chariot_of_Fire.jpg","1536x1536-width":1024,"1536x1536-height":670,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings2-Elijah_Taken_Up_in_a_Chariot_of_Fire.jpg","2048x2048-width":1024,"2048x2048-height":670,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings2-Elijah_Taken_Up_in_a_Chariot_of_Fire.jpg","post_full_size-width":1024,"post_full_size-height":670,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings2-Elijah_Taken_Up_in_a_Chariot_of_Fire-642x420.jpg","home_baner-width":642,"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":"II 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Snapshots","tile_main_caption":"2 Kings 2: Elisha's Strange Request","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"with Adam Mintz ","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":"","tile_preview_video":"https:\/\/youtu.be\/IAr7qoPItis","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","old_create_date":"","links":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"II 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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":"311","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"And eventual appearance at the end of days\u2026\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

In our<\/span> chapter<\/span><\/a>, the Prophet Elijah ascends to heaven in a whirlwind. This is described through the eyes of Elisha: \u201ca fiery chariot with fiery horses suddenly appeared and separated one from the other; and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind. Elisha saw it, and he cried out, \u2018Oh, father, father! Israel\u2019s chariots and horsemen!\u2019\u201d (<\/span>II Kings 2:11-12<\/span><\/a>).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

In the<\/span> Talmud Bavli<\/span><\/a>, the 2<\/span>nd<\/span> century CE Tanna, Rabbi Yose, casts doubt as to whether Moses and Elijah ever really ascended to heaven: \u201cMoses and Elijah never actually ascended to heaven on high, as it is stated: \u2018The heavens are the heavens of the Lord, and the earth He gave to the children of man\u2019 (<\/span>Psalms 115:16<\/span><\/a>). But there the Gemara counters from Scripture: \u201cBut isn\u2019t it written: \u2018Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind\u2019?! (<\/span>II Kings 2:11<\/span><\/a>). Consequently, according to<\/span> Derekh Eretz Zuta<\/span><\/a>, Elijah is listed among those few \u201cwho entered the Garden of Eden alive.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

According to<\/span> Seder Olam Rabbah<\/span><\/a>, Elijah is hidden away, and will not be seen again until the coming of the Messiah. But at present, in heaven, Elijah records the deeds of all the generations of mankind in the heavenly Books.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

In Biblical and Rabbinic tradition, Elijah is renowned for his zealousness as we learn in his answer to God: \u201cI am moved by zeal for the Lord, the God of Hosts, for the Israelites have forsaken Your covenant\u201d (<\/span>I Kings 19:10<\/span><\/a>). This verse is the basis for the custom of<\/span> Kisse' Eliyahu<\/span><\/a><\/em>, first mentioned in<\/span> Pirkei de-Rabbi Eliezer<\/span><\/a>, as instituted by the Sages, that people should have a <\/span>seat of honor<\/em> <\/span>for the \u201cAngel of the Covenant\u201d (<\/span>Mal\u2019akh ha-Brit<\/span><\/em>)<\/span><\/i> at every <\/span>Brit Milah<\/em> <\/span>(circumcision ceremony). For it is Elijah, may he be remembered for good, who is called the \u201cAngel of the Covenant'', as it is said, \"And the Angel of the Covenant\u2026Behold, he cometh\" (<\/span>Malachi 3:1<\/span><\/a>).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

In the prophecy of Malachi, we read: \u201cLo, I will send the prophet Elijah to you before the coming of the awesome, fearful day of the Lord. He shall reconcile parents with children and children with their parents\u201d (<\/span>Malachi 2:23-24<\/span><\/a>). Elijah will appear to announce the imminent coming of the Messiah. Indeed, at the End of Days, Elijah at the Messiah's command, will blow the Great Shofar, revealing the Primal Light of Creation, reviving the dead, and rebuilding the Temple. His arrival will banish all evil from the earth: God will seize Samael (Satan) by the hair of his head and Elijah will slaughter him (see Yalqut Hadash, Yetzer 20).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

And so, at the Passover seder, a full cup of wine (<\/span>Kos Eliyahu<\/span><\/i>) is set out on the table, but not drunk, in expectation of the prophet's arrival to announce the dawn of the Messianic Age. And similarly, at the Havdalah ceremony, we sing that Elijah will come to usher in the final eternal Shabbat of the Messianic Age.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Image:\u00a0 Elijah\u2019s Chair<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":63199,"alt":"","title":"2kings2-elijah's chair","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings2-elijahs-chair.jpg","width":698,"height":868,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings2-elijahs-chair-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings2-elijahs-chair-241x300.jpg","medium-width":241,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings2-elijahs-chair.jpg","medium_large-width":698,"medium_large-height":868,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings2-elijahs-chair.jpg","large-width":698,"large-height":868,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings2-elijahs-chair.jpg","1536x1536-width":698,"1536x1536-height":868,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings2-elijahs-chair.jpg","2048x2048-width":698,"2048x2048-height":868,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings2-elijahs-chair.jpg","post_full_size-width":698,"post_full_size-height":868,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings2-elijahs-chair-338x420.jpg","home_baner-width":338,"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":"Elijah\u2019s Ascension to Heaven","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"And eventual appearance at the end of days\u2026","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":63199,"alt":"","title":"2kings2-elijah's chair","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings2-elijahs-chair.jpg","width":698,"height":868,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings2-elijahs-chair-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings2-elijahs-chair-241x300.jpg","medium-width":241,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings2-elijahs-chair.jpg","medium_large-width":698,"medium_large-height":868,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings2-elijahs-chair.jpg","large-width":698,"large-height":868,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings2-elijahs-chair.jpg","1536x1536-width":698,"1536x1536-height":868,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings2-elijahs-chair.jpg","2048x2048-width":698,"2048x2048-height":868,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings2-elijahs-chair.jpg","post_full_size-width":698,"post_full_size-height":868,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings2-elijahs-chair-338x420.jpg","home_baner-width":338,"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":"II Kings","chapter":"2","chapter_main_number":"311","date":"20261108","wall_id":"311"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"363","name":"Midrash","old_id":"763"},{"term_id":"500","name":"Messiah","old_id":"900"},{"term_id":"511","name":"Heaven","old_id":"911"},{"term_id":"858","name":"Elijah","old_id":"1258"}]},{"order":12,"id":"63178","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"Apprenticeship and Filial Feelings ","post_title":"Apprenticeship And Filial Feelings","slug":"apprenticeship-and-filial-feelings","old_id":"63178","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. His first book \"I Kings - Torn in Two\" was published in 2013. See his website www.alexisrael.org, and his podcasts at https:\/\/elmad.pardes.org\/ and https:\/\/tanachstudy.com\/ \r\n","credit":"","image_url":"","short_description":"Alex Israel teaches Tanakh at the Pardes Institute, Yeshivat Eretz Hatzvi and Matan, Jerusalem.","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":33693,"alt":"","title":"alex israel","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/alex-israel.jpg","width":1657,"height":2500,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/alex-israel-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/alex-israel-199x300.jpg","medium-width":199,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/alex-israel-679x1024.jpg","medium_large-width":679,"medium_large-height":1024,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/alex-israel-679x1024.jpg","large-width":679,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/alex-israel.jpg","1536x1536-width":1018,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/alex-israel.jpg","2048x2048-width":1357,"2048x2048-height":2048,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/alex-israel-795x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":795,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/alex-israel-278x420.jpg","home_baner-width":278,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"311","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Elisha served Elijah, and became like a son to him","post_main_content_content":"

Elisha's perseverance in following Elijah can be seen in two ways. The Talmud views Elisha as a paradigm of <\/span>shimush talmidei chachamim<\/span><\/em>, a relationship based less in study and more in lending practical assistance to Elijah: \u201cR. Yohanan further said in the name of R. Shimon b. Yohai: The service of the Torah is greater than the study thereof. As it is stated, \u2018Here is Elisha, the son of Shaphat, who poured water on the hands of Elijah\u2019 (II Kings 3:11). It is not stated, \u2018who learned,\u2019 but \u2018who poured water.\u2019 This teaches that the service of the [teachers of] Torah is greater than its study\u201d (Berakhot 7a).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

In this teaching, the student imbibes the wisdom of his master more by loyal devotion and service than by direct instruction. It is the personal example, the small moments, the everyday conversations, the incidental observations, that shape the student, rather than rousing speeches and public lectures. This dedication is the chief factor in Elisha's apprenticeship at the feet of Elijah.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

However, their relationship is expressed in higher terms than as teacher and student. As Elijah ascends heavenward, Elisha exclaims, \"My father, my father!\" (II Kings 2:12). Elisha perceives Elijah as a parent. This brings to mind Elisha's original encounter with Elijah, when Elisha said, \"Let me kiss my mother and father and I will [then] follow you\" (I Kings 19:20). As he began his association with Elijah, he bade an emotional farewell to his parents. But now after his formative apprenticeship, possibly years afterward, Elijah has become a spiritual parent to Elisha.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Rabbinic literature is familiar with the notion of a rabbi adopting a parental role: \"For his father brought him into this world, but his rabbi who taught him wisdom brings him into the World to Come\" (Mishna Bava Metzia 2:11). Furthermore, when the Talmud looks for a proof text that a student must tear his clothes on the death of his rabbi just like a child for a parent, it turns specifically to Elisha (Moed Katan 26a).\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Alex Israel, II Kings: In a Whirlwind, Maggid Books, 2019<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":63310,"alt":"","title":"Alex Israel - 2_kings_cover","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Alex-Israel-2_kings_cover.jpg","width":1711,"height":1821,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Alex-Israel-2_kings_cover-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Alex-Israel-2_kings_cover-282x300.jpg","medium-width":282,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Alex-Israel-2_kings_cover-768x817.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":817,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Alex-Israel-2_kings_cover-962x1024.jpg","large-width":962,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Alex-Israel-2_kings_cover.jpg","1536x1536-width":1443,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Alex-Israel-2_kings_cover.jpg","2048x2048-width":1711,"2048x2048-height":1821,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Alex-Israel-2_kings_cover-1128x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":1128,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Alex-Israel-2_kings_cover-395x420.jpg","home_baner-width":395,"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: II Kings - 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On the final journey Elijah and his disciple Elisha, we see an intriguing feature of their relationship, present since they first met.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

As they travel to the place was God will take up Elijah to heaven in a whirlwind, Elijah three times urges Elisha, \u201cstay here, because for the Lord has sent me on to\u2026\u201d Elijah enjoins his student to stop following him. Yet three times, Elisha replies by swearing, \u201cAs the Lord live and as you live, I will not leave you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

This echoes their initial encounter. God had told Elijah to appoint Elisha as his successor. Elijah threw his cloak over Elisha, who said \u201cLet me kiss my mother and father goodbye and I will follow you.\u201d (I Kings 19:20) Yet Elijah replied, \u201cGo back. What have I done to you?\u201d Here too the prophet appears to tell the disciple not to follow him.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Why would he do this? Perhaps because when the master seems, with an air of mystery, to reject students, the urge to follow him becomes all the stronger. I recall hearing somewhere, \u201cthe teacher is never so alluring, as when he turns away,\u201d though I couldn\u2019t find this quote.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

This turning away may also enable the disciple to become an independent person. The power of the master\u2019s spiritual example can mould the student to the extent that he or she becomes an imitation of the teacher, rather than a unique individual. Indeed, as Rabbi Alex Israel notes, although Elisha was Elijah\u2019s close disciple, he was very different from him in personality and style. Whereas Elijah was isolated and solitary, Elisha is depicted as sociable and frequently surrounded by people.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Rabbi Elchanan Samet argues that Elijah\u2019s attempts to turn away Elisha aim to test the latter\u2019s commitment. After Elisha has thrice refused to go back, Elijah knows for sure that this is his worthy successor.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Rabbi Samet supports this with a beautiful intertextual reading. He points out that Elijah\u2019s initial urging of Elisha to \u201creturn here\u201d echo the words of Abraham\u2019s instructions to his servants on the way to the Akedah to proceed no further. However, after Elisha has proven his dedication, the verse recounts that the \u201ctwo of them went on,\u201d recalling the language the Torah uses to describe Abraham and Isaac continuing on together to Mount Moriah. With this reference, the author signals Elisha\u2019s transformation from Elijah\u2019s servant into his spiritual son and heir.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

image by Ben 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Norton & Co., 2019.","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":54357,"alt":"","title":"robert alter","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/robert-alter.jpg","width":184,"height":275,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/robert-alter-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/robert-alter.jpg","medium-width":184,"medium-height":275,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/robert-alter.jpg","medium_large-width":184,"medium_large-height":275,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/robert-alter.jpg","large-width":184,"large-height":275,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/robert-alter.jpg","1536x1536-width":184,"1536x1536-height":275,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/robert-alter.jpg","2048x2048-width":184,"2048x2048-height":275,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/robert-alter.jpg","post_full_size-width":184,"post_full_size-height":275,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/robert-alter.jpg","home_baner-width":184,"home_baner-height":275}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"311","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Elijah's fiery chariot take us into new territory","post_main_content_content":"

2:11 \u201cAnd it happened as they were going along speaking that, look, there was a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and they separated the two of them, and then Elijah went up to the heavens in a whirlwind.\u201d<\/p>\r\n

This story takes us into new territory. Everywhere in the Hebrew Bible, death is the definitive end, Sheol, the underworld, a hole in the ground into which the once living person goes down. The single previous intimation of Elijah\u2019s ascension is the cryptic notation about Enoch\u2019s being \u201ctaken\u201d by God in Genesis 5:24. Elijah does not die but rides up to the celestial sphere in a fiery chariot. His ascension prepares the way for the idea of Christ\u2019s resurrection in Christian Scripture, and it is significant that Elijah and Moses are represented in the New Testament as the two chief precursors of Jesus.<\/p>\r\n

From: Robert Alter, The Hebrew Bible<\/em>, vol. 2: Prophets, W. W. Norton & Co., 2019, ad loc. By permission of the author.<\/p>\r\n

 <\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":54890,"alt":"","title":"Alter-Cover","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover.jpg","width":1200,"height":693,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-300x173.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":173,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-768x444.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":444,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-1024x591.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":591,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover.jpg","1536x1536-width":1200,"1536x1536-height":693,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover.jpg","2048x2048-width":1200,"2048x2048-height":693,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-1200x693.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":693,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-727x420.jpg","home_baner-width":727,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"From Robert Alter's Bible Translation and Commentary","tile_main_caption":"A New End To Life","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Elijah's fiery chariot take us into new territory","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":54890,"alt":"","title":"Alter-Cover","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover.jpg","width":1200,"height":693,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-300x173.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":173,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-768x444.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":444,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-1024x591.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":591,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover.jpg","1536x1536-width":1200,"1536x1536-height":693,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover.jpg","2048x2048-width":1200,"2048x2048-height":693,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-1200x693.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":693,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-727x420.jpg","home_baner-width":727,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"tile_link_for_pay":"0","send_noty":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"II Kings","chapter":"2","chapter_main_number":"311","date":"20261108","wall_id":"311"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"383","name":"Death","old_id":"783"},{"term_id":"397","name":"Moses","old_id":"797"},{"term_id":"666","name":"Mystic","old_id":"1066"},{"term_id":"795","name":"Vision","old_id":"1195"},{"term_id":"858","name":"Elijah","old_id":"1258"}]},{"order":16,"id":"63187","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"The Elijah Scam ","post_title":"The Elijah Scam","slug":"the-elijah-scam","old_id":"63187","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 . 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","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":"311","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"What some people won\u2019t do...","post_main_content_content":"

Just as he entered with a sudden tumultuous promise \u201cI swear as the lord lives that there will be no dew or rain,\u201d Elijah exits with a fantastic whirlwind spectacle, a fiery chariot lead by burning Clydesdales or mustangs. But for the Jew of great faith, Elijah\u2019s exit was only transitory. Not only does he witness every Brit milah and Pesach seder, he also appears to the sages in the Talmud, visits to the early Hasidic masters, and plays all sorts of roles in Shlomo Carlebach\u2019s stories. But none of these, compares to Elijah\u2019s appearance in Hungary in the winter of 1859.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Two Jewish families lived in a small Hungarian hamlet, occasionally the two husbands, and business partners, left their families for work.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

One Sunday morning, the same day the husbands left town for work, a Jewish stranger from Poland, in tattered clothing, was knocking on the door, asking for food and a place to sleep. The pious wife, despite her husband\u2019s absence, took pity on the poor man, allowing him to stay with her.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The traveler made quite an impression. He ate no meat, drank only water, slept on the floor, and even slept with stones under his head. All day he sat in his room studying and praying, and at midnight he awoke, weeping over the destruction of the Holy Temples in Jerusalem.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

That Friday night, following the Shabbat meal, the children and housekeepers went to sleep leaving only the guest and the hostess at the table. The guest began talking with her, until she finally mustered the courage and asked him who he was, and what was he doing in her house?<\/span><\/p>\r\n

He replied with a great secret, one that he only revealed to the truly righteous, he was Elijah the prophet, and was gathering the dispersed Jews for all over the world.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Feeling privileged to host Elijah in her house she went to sleep for the night. Around midnight she was awoken. \u201cElijah\u201d was at the foot of her bed with an important message \u201cI have travelled from one end of the earth to the other and have never met a woman as righteous as you. You are worthy to be the mother of the Messiah. The only problem is your husband, he is not pious like you. That is why I was sent here from the heavens, to sleep with you so your son can be the Moshiach, the redeemer of Israel.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

In case she didn\u2019t believe him, he revealed a sign: three days after I leave the chest in your room will magically contain 400 golden coins, but you can only check once those three days have passed.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

She believed \u201cElijah\u201d, and not only slept with him that night and the next, but even sent an excited message to her husband that he must come home immediately. Needless to say when Elijah exited the Hungarian hamlet, perhaps in his chariot of fire,\u00a0 the golden coins were not in the chest, nor was the Messiah in her womb.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Image: Fagin in a watercolour by 'Kyd,' 1889 \/ wikipedia\u00a0<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":63188,"alt":"","title":"2kings2-Fagin_by_Kyd_1889","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings2-Fagin_by_Kyd_1889.jpg","width":2421,"height":3174,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings2-Fagin_by_Kyd_1889-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings2-Fagin_by_Kyd_1889-229x300.jpg","medium-width":229,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings2-Fagin_by_Kyd_1889-768x1007.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":1007,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings2-Fagin_by_Kyd_1889-781x1024.jpg","large-width":781,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings2-Fagin_by_Kyd_1889.jpg","1536x1536-width":1172,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings2-Fagin_by_Kyd_1889.jpg","2048x2048-width":1562,"2048x2048-height":2048,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings2-Fagin_by_Kyd_1889-915x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":915,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings2-Fagin_by_Kyd_1889-320x420.jpg","home_baner-width":320,"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 Elijah Scam","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"What some people won\u2019t do...","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":63188,"alt":"","title":"2kings2-Fagin_by_Kyd_1889","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings2-Fagin_by_Kyd_1889.jpg","width":2421,"height":3174,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings2-Fagin_by_Kyd_1889-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings2-Fagin_by_Kyd_1889-229x300.jpg","medium-width":229,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings2-Fagin_by_Kyd_1889-768x1007.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":1007,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings2-Fagin_by_Kyd_1889-781x1024.jpg","large-width":781,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings2-Fagin_by_Kyd_1889.jpg","1536x1536-width":1172,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings2-Fagin_by_Kyd_1889.jpg","2048x2048-width":1562,"2048x2048-height":2048,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings2-Fagin_by_Kyd_1889-915x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":915,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings2-Fagin_by_Kyd_1889-320x420.jpg","home_baner-width":320,"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":"II Kings","chapter":"2","chapter_main_number":"311","date":"20261108","wall_id":"311"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"373","name":"Literature","old_id":"773"},{"term_id":"475","name":"Humor","old_id":"875"},{"term_id":"858","name":"Elijah","old_id":"1258"}]},{"order":17,"id":"63048","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"A Lesson on the Daily Chapter- 2 Kings 2 ","post_title":"A Lesson on the Daily Chapter- 2 Kings 2","slug":"a-lesson-on-the-daily-chapter-2-kings-2","old_id":"63048","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":40936,"post_title":"David Silber","slug":"david-silber-2","old_id":"40936","first_name":"David ","last_name":"Silber ","description":"Rabbi David Silber is the Founder and Dean of Drisha Institute for Jewish Education. 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\u201cTrips to Heaven\u201d<\/a> by Garry Wayland: Texts about experiencing the sublime.<\/p>\r\n

\u201cWhat Happened, River Jordan, That Thou Turnest Back? Mile-High Waves, Flying Arks & Secret Stones\u201d<\/a> by Shalom Flank: Explore the mysteries of the Jordan River.<\/p>","post_main_content_image":"","post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"Go deeper into the chapter....","tile_main_caption":"Source Sheets - 2 Kings 2","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Links to learning resources","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":42232,"alt":"","title":"sefaria-words-sunburst","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst.png","width":608,"height":395,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst-300x195.png","medium-width":300,"medium-height":195,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst.png","medium_large-width":608,"medium_large-height":395,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst.png","large-width":608,"large-height":395,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst.png","1536x1536-width":608,"1536x1536-height":395,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst.png","2048x2048-width":608,"2048x2048-height":395,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst.png","post_full_size-width":608,"post_full_size-height":395,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst.png","home_baner-width":608,"home_baner-height":395}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"Sefaria word sunburst visualization","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","old_create_date":"","links":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"II Kings","chapter":"2","chapter_main_number":"311","date":"20261108","wall_id":"311"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":19,"id":"63180","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"Points to Ponder - 2 Kings 2 ","post_title":"Points to Ponder - 2 Kings 2","slug":"points-to-ponder-2-kings-2","old_id":"63180","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":38102,"post_title":"929-English","slug":"929-english","old_id":"38102","first_name":"","last_name":"929-English","description":"","short_description":"","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":38333,"alt":"","title":"\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5.png","width":1513,"height":860,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5-300x171.png","medium-width":300,"medium-height":171,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5-768x437.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":437,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5-1024x582.png","large-width":1024,"large-height":582,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5.png","1536x1536-width":1513,"1536x1536-height":860,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5.png","2048x2048-width":1513,"2048x2048-height":860,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5-1200x682.png","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":682,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5-739x420.png","home_baner-width":739,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"311","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"","post_main_content_content":"

    \r\n\t
  1. Double or nothing?<\/em> Verse 9: Elisha asks \u201cLet a double portion of your spirit pass on to me.\u201d What exactly was he asking for? Apparently he was asking to be considered as a first-born (who received a double portion), and sole successor. But there is a range of views among the commentators.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t
  2. \u201cOh father, father, Israel\u2019s chariots and horsemen!<\/em>\u201d Elisha\u2019s cry as Elijah is taken from him in the fiery chariot. There is intimacy here (\u201cfather, father!\u201d), and also deep admiration (chariots and cavalry are symbols of raw power), and also a reference to the way in which Elijah was swept up.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t
  3. Told you so<\/em>. The disciples of the prophets wanted to send out a search party for Elijah (see verse 16). Elisha knows it is pointless, but does not succeed in convincing them. When they return empty-handed, he can say: \u201cDidn\u2019t I tell you so?\u201d (verse 18).<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t
  4. Sticks and stones<\/em>. Why is \u201cgo away [or \u2018go up\u2019], baldhead\u201d so hurtful? Was it because of the double contrast with Elijah, who was described in the last chapter as very hairy, who ascended to heaven, while bald-headed Elisha is struggling to make the journey up to Beit El on foot?<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t
  5. \u201cThere were no bears, there was no forest.\u201d<\/em> This is what the Talmud says (Bavli Sotah, 47a) about the story. Between Jericho and Beit El there was no forest, and there were no bears. It was all a miracle.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t
  6. Spot the differences.<\/em> It\u2019s official: five chapters after Elijah called Elisha to come after him, Elisha becomes his unchallenged successor. Now is the time to make a comparison, about the similarities and differences between the two. <\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>","post_main_content_image":{"id":86314,"alt":"","title":"Points to ponder","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","width":1000,"height":1000,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-300x300.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-768x768.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":768,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","large-width":1000,"large-height":1000,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","1536x1536-width":1000,"1536x1536-height":1000,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","2048x2048-width":1000,"2048x2048-height":1000,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","post_full_size-width":1000,"post_full_size-height":1000,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-420x420.jpg","home_baner-width":420,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"2 Kings 2","tile_main_caption":"Points to Ponder","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Insights and questions for personal reflection and group discussion","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":86314,"alt":"","title":"Points to ponder","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","width":1000,"height":1000,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-300x300.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-768x768.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":768,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","large-width":1000,"large-height":1000,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","1536x1536-width":1000,"1536x1536-height":1000,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","2048x2048-width":1000,"2048x2048-height":1000,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","post_full_size-width":1000,"post_full_size-height":1000,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-420x420.jpg","home_baner-width":420,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"tile_link_for_pay":"0","send_noty":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"II Kings","chapter":"2","chapter_main_number":"311","date":"20261108","wall_id":"311"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false}]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/wall\/63151"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/wall"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/wall"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=63151"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}