{"id":65031,"date":"2018-07-09T17:45:01","date_gmt":"2018-07-09T14:45:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wall\/wall-1069\/"},"modified":"2023-06-02T07:15:17","modified_gmt":"2023-06-02T04:15:17","slug":"wall-1069","status":"publish","type":"wall","link":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wall\/wall-1069\/","title":{"rendered":"weekend-from-20230528-to-20230603"},"parent":0,"template":"","acf":{"type":"weekend","wall_id":"1069","date_from":"20230528","date_to":"20230603","book":"Isaiah","books_group":"Prophets","posts":[{"order":1,"id":"46797","color":"#effaea","size":"1","name":"Deep Math: The Indivisible One ","post_title":"Deep Math: The Indivisible One","slug":"deep-math-the-indivisible-one","old_id":"46797","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":42746,"post_title":"Michal Kohane","slug":"michal-kohane","old_id":"42746","first_name":"Michal ","last_name":"Kohane ","description":"Currently based in Israel, Rabbanit Michal Kohane is a graduate of Yeshivat Maharat, a writer, community leader and teacher of Talmud & Torah. She holds degrees in Israel studies , education and psychology, and has been a leader and educator in Northern California for over 25 years. Her first novel, Hachug (\"Extracurricular\") was published in Israel in 2016 and her weekly blog can be found at http:\/\/www.miko284.com\r\n\r\n\r\n","short_description":"Currently based in Israel, Rabbanit Michal Kohane is a graduate of Yeshivat Maharat, a writer, community leader and teacher of Talmud & Torah. ","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":42747,"alt":"","title":"michal kohane","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/michal-kohane-e1540448078529.jpg","width":214,"height":226,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/michal-kohane-e1540448078529-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/michal-kohane-e1540448078529.jpg","medium-width":214,"medium-height":226,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/michal-kohane-e1540448078529.jpg","medium_large-width":214,"medium_large-height":226,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/michal-kohane-e1540448078529.jpg","large-width":214,"large-height":226,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/michal-kohane-e1540448078529.jpg","1536x1536-width":214,"1536x1536-height":226,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/michal-kohane-e1540448078529.jpg","2048x2048-width":214,"2048x2048-height":226,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/michal-kohane-e1540448078529.jpg","post_full_size-width":214,"post_full_size-height":226,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/michal-kohane-e1540448078529.jpg","home_baner-width":214,"home_baner-height":226}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"125","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Kabbalistic insights into the structure of \u00a0the Menorah and the Torah","post_main_content_content":"

The Menorah was made of 7 branches, 9 flowers, 11 knobs and 22 cups, as described in Exodus 25:31-29. The Kabbalists say that the Menorah is like the whole Torah because it constantly sheds light. They tell us how its construction symbolizes it:<\/span><\/p>\r\n

In the 1st verse of the Book of Genesis, there are 7 words, like the 7 branches;<\/span><\/p>\r\n

In the 1st verse of the Book of Exodus, there are 11 words, like the 11 knobs;<\/span><\/p>\r\n

In the 1st verse in the Book of Leviticus, there are 9 words, like the 9 flowers;<\/span><\/p>\r\n

In the 1st verse of the Book of Deuteronomy, there are 22 words, like the 22 cups;<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Finally, in the 1st verse of the Book of Numbers, there are 17 words, like the 17 tefachim<\/em> of the Menorah\u2019s height (a tefach<\/em> is a Biblical measurement of about one fist wide).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Last, if we add all these (7+9+11+22), we\u2019ll get 49, same as the numbers of days between Passover and Shavuot, or \u2013 the walk from slavery to freedom, to coming to Mt. Sinai to receive the Torah. Inside both words, Torah and Menorah, hides the word \u201cor\u201d, light. This was the first thing God created which immediately was defined as \u201cgood\u201d. The Menorah is not a \u201cthing\u201d made of many parts, but rather \u2013 many parts of an indivisible One.<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":46798,"alt":"","title":"num8-kohane","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/num8-kohane.jpg","width":1280,"height":720,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/num8-kohane-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/num8-kohane-300x169.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":169,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/num8-kohane-768x432.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":432,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/num8-kohane-1024x576.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":576,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/num8-kohane.jpg","1536x1536-width":1280,"1536x1536-height":720,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/num8-kohane.jpg","2048x2048-width":1280,"2048x2048-height":720,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/num8-kohane-1200x675.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":675,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/num8-kohane-747x420.jpg","home_baner-width":747,"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":"Deep Math: The Indivisible One","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Kabbalistic insights into the structure of \u00a0the Menorah and the Torah","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":46798,"alt":"","title":"num8-kohane","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/num8-kohane.jpg","width":1280,"height":720,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/num8-kohane-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/num8-kohane-300x169.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":169,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/num8-kohane-768x432.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":432,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/num8-kohane-1024x576.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":576,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/num8-kohane.jpg","1536x1536-width":1280,"1536x1536-height":720,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/num8-kohane.jpg","2048x2048-width":1280,"2048x2048-height":720,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/num8-kohane-1200x675.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":675,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/num8-kohane-747x420.jpg","home_baner-width":747,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"tile_link_for_pay":"0","send_noty":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Torah","book":"Numbers","chapter":"8","chapter_main_number":"125","date":"20260219","wall_id":"125"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"410","name":"Torah","old_id":"810"},{"term_id":"557","name":"Kabbalah","old_id":"957"},{"term_id":"672","name":"Menorah","old_id":"1072"},{"term_id":"680","name":"Symbolism","old_id":"1080"},{"term_id":"789","name":"Numbers","old_id":"1189"}]},{"order":2,"id":"46936","color":"#effaea","size":"1","name":"Resident Alien (Ger Toshav) \u2013 Then and Now ","post_title":"Resident Alien (Ger Toshav) \u2013 Then and Now","slug":"resident-alien-ger-toshav-then-and-now","old_id":"46936","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":33877,"post_title":"Marc Bregman","slug":"marc-bregman","old_id":"33877","first_name":"Marc","last_name":"Bregman","description":"Marc Bregman received his Ph.D. from The Hebrew University in Jerusalem in 1991. He taught at the Hebrew Union College (Jerusalem), The Hebrew University in Jerusalem, the Schechter Institute for Judaic Studies in Jerusalem, and at the Ben-Gurion University in Beer Sheba, Israel. During 1993 he was Visiting Associate Professor at Yale University, and during 1996 he was the Stroum Professor of Jewish Studies and Visiting Research Fellow at the University of Washington in Seattle. During 2005, Bregman served as the Harry Starr Fellow in Judaica at Harvard University and was awarded a Teaching Fellowship at the Center for Advanced Judaic Studies at the University of Pennsylvania. He also has served as Forchheimer Visiting Professor in the Faculty of Humanities at The Hebrew University in Jerusalem. He is the author of The Tanhuma-Yelammedenu Literature: Studies in the Evolution of the Versions (Gorgias Press, 2003). In 2006, Bregman was appointed the Herman and Zelda Bernard Distinguished Professor of Jewish Studies at the University of North Carolina in Greensboro, where he also headed the program in Jewish Studies, until 2013. Bregman retired from UNCG as of July 31, 2017. He has now returned to Jerusalem where he is continuing his research and teaching activities.","credit":"","image_url":"","short_description":"Marc Bregman is the Herman and Zelda Bernard Distinguished Professor of Jewish Studies emeritus, at the University of North Carolina in Greensboro.","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":33878,"alt":"Marc Bregman","title":"Marc Bregman","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman.jpg","width":361,"height":488,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman-222x300.jpg","medium-width":222,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman.jpg","medium_large-width":361,"medium_large-height":488,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman.jpg","large-width":361,"large-height":488,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman.jpg","1536x1536-width":361,"1536x1536-height":488,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman.jpg","2048x2048-width":361,"2048x2048-height":488,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman.jpg","post_full_size-width":361,"post_full_size-height":488,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman-311x420.jpg","home_baner-width":311,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"126","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"God\u2019s presence resides when we treat others equally","post_main_content_content":"

Our Chapter addresses the status of the g<\/em><\/span>er<\/span><\/em> (resident alien) in a way that seems remarkably relevant to our time: \u201c\u2026There shall be one law for you, whether resident alien or citizen of the country (<\/span>ezrach ha-aretz<\/span><\/em>)\u201d (Num. 9:14). <\/span><\/p>\r\n

The Steinsaltz commentary makes it clear that g<\/span>er<\/span><\/em> refers to those who are \u201cfrom other nations\u201d (<\/span>me-\u2018amim acherim<\/span><\/em>). According to the Midrash (Sifre to Numbers 9:1-- 4 71:1) the biblical phrase \u201cthere shall be one law for you\u201d means that \u201cthe g<\/em><\/span>er <\/span><\/em>is equal to the e<\/em><\/span>zrach<\/span><\/em> (\u201ccitizen\u201d) in respect to all the Mitzvot of the Torah\u201d. The rabbinic sages defined those non-Israelites who lived among Israelites in Israelite territory as g<\/em><\/span>er toshav<\/span><\/em> (\u201cresident alien\u201d) as distinguished from ge<\/em><\/span>r tzedeq<\/span><\/em> (full-fledged convert to Judaism). Maimonides ruled that the law of g<\/em><\/span>er toshav<\/span><\/em> was only in effect when the laws of the Jubilee Year were also in effect. <\/span><\/p>\r\n

In modern times, after the resettlement of the Land of Israel by Jews, both Rav Abraham Isaac Kook and Rav Chaim Herzog, among others, maintained that the law of g<\/span>er t<\/span><\/em>oshav<\/em> should be applied in our time at least to some non-Jewish residents of Israel. <\/span><\/p>\r\n

It is worth noting that immediately following the law commanding the equal treatment of the <\/span>Ger<\/span><\/i> in our chapter (verse 14), we are told that the Shekhinah descended to dwell in the Mishkan: \u201cOn the day that the Mishkan was set up, the cloud covered the Mishkan, the Tent of the Witnessing; and in the evening it rested over the Mishkan in the likeness of fire until morning. It was always so: the cloud covered it, appearing as fire by night\u201d (15-16). <\/span><\/p>\r\n

The contiguity of the law of the <\/span>Ger<\/span><\/em> to the dwelling of the Shekhinah in the Israelite camp suggests that when we regard as our equals those non-Jews who choose to live among us in peace, then God\u2019s Divine Presence too dwells among us.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

image:\u00a0by Kudryashova Vera\/shutterstock<\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":46937,"alt":"","title":"shutterstock_1037781469","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/shutterstock_1037781469.jpg","width":4563,"height":3042,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/shutterstock_1037781469-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/shutterstock_1037781469-300x200.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":200,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/shutterstock_1037781469-768x512.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":512,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/shutterstock_1037781469-1024x683.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":683,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/shutterstock_1037781469.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1024,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/shutterstock_1037781469.jpg","2048x2048-width":2048,"2048x2048-height":1365,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/shutterstock_1037781469-1200x800.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":800,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/shutterstock_1037781469-630x420.jpg","home_baner-width":630,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"Resident Alien (Ger Toshav) \u2013 Then and Now","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"God\u2019s presence resides when we treat others equally","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":46937,"alt":"","title":"shutterstock_1037781469","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/shutterstock_1037781469.jpg","width":4563,"height":3042,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/shutterstock_1037781469-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/shutterstock_1037781469-300x200.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":200,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/shutterstock_1037781469-768x512.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":512,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/shutterstock_1037781469-1024x683.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":683,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/shutterstock_1037781469.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1024,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/shutterstock_1037781469.jpg","2048x2048-width":2048,"2048x2048-height":1365,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/shutterstock_1037781469-1200x800.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":800,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/shutterstock_1037781469-630x420.jpg","home_baner-width":630,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"tile_link_for_pay":"0","send_noty":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Torah","book":"Numbers","chapter":"9","chapter_main_number":"126","date":"20260222","wall_id":"126"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"391","name":"In\/Justice","old_id":"791"},{"term_id":"433","name":"Other","old_id":"833"},{"term_id":"453","name":"Stranger","old_id":"853"}]},{"order":3,"id":"47023","color":"#effaea","size":"1","name":"Saga Of Love And Hate, Good And Evil In The Wilderness ","post_title":"Saga Of Love And Hate, Good And Evil In The Wilderness","slug":"saga-of-love-and-hate-good-and-evil-in-the-wilderness","old_id":"47023","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":34004,"post_title":"Avivah Gottlieb Zornberg","slug":"avivah-gottlieb-zornberg","old_id":"34004","first_name":"Avivah Gottlieb","last_name":"Zornberg","description":"Avivah Gottlieb Zornberg lives in Jerusalem where she has been lecturing on Torah since 1980. She reads biblical narratives through the prism of midrash, literature, philosophy and particularly psychoanalysis.\r\nShe was born in London and grew up in Glasgow, where her father was a Rabbi and the head of the Rabbinical Court. She studied Torah with him from childhood. Her PhD in English Literature is from Cambridge University, England. She taught English literature at the Hebrew University before turning to teaching Torah. She now teaches throughout the Jewish world, at synagogues, universities, and psychoanalytic institutes.\r\nShe is the author of five critically acclaimed books. Her latest book, Moses: A Human Life, was published by Yale University Press.\r\n","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"short_description":"Avivah Gottlieb Zornberg lives and lectures on Torah in Jerusalem. She is the author of five critically acclaimed books. ","link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":34006,"alt":"","title":"Avivah Gottlieb Zornberg","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Avivah-Gottlieb-Zornberg.jpg","width":454,"height":359,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Avivah-Gottlieb-Zornberg-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Avivah-Gottlieb-Zornberg-300x237.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":237,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Avivah-Gottlieb-Zornberg.jpg","medium_large-width":454,"medium_large-height":359,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Avivah-Gottlieb-Zornberg.jpg","large-width":454,"large-height":359,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Avivah-Gottlieb-Zornberg.jpg","1536x1536-width":454,"1536x1536-height":359,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Avivah-Gottlieb-Zornberg.jpg","2048x2048-width":454,"2048x2048-height":359,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Avivah-Gottlieb-Zornberg.jpg","post_full_size-width":454,"post_full_size-height":359,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Avivah-Gottlieb-Zornberg.jpg","home_baner-width":454,"home_baner-height":359}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"127","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Ambivalent people who struggle with their own volatile relations with God, with Moses, and with themselves","post_main_content_content":"

At the beginning of the book, all the signs indicate that the people are preparing for imminent arrival in the Land of Israel. According to the midrash, this journey was to have been extremely brief: a three-day journey. <\/span><\/p>\r\n

At this moment, sin has not yet happened, the people have not yet been punished with years in the desert, and Moses still believes he will enter the land. Hence, Moses speaks innocently, unsuspectingly of desire and fulfillment. His sense of plenitude is reflected in his speech to Jethro:<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Moses said to Chovav son of Reuel the Midianite, Moses\u2019 father-in-law, \u201cWe are traveling to the place... Come with us and we will be good to you; for God has promised goodness to Israel.\u201d And he replied, \u201cI will not go; but will return to my native land.\u201d He said, \u201cPlease do not leave us... if you come with us, the goodness that God grants to us we will extend [lit., \u201cdo good\u201d] to you\u201d (Num. 10:29-32). <\/span><\/p>\r\n

Four times, Moses utters the word <\/span>tov<\/span><\/em>-<\/span><\/i>-good. But as though deaf to Moses\u2019 blandishments, Jethro simply says, \u201cI\u2019m going home\u201d and vanishes from the biblical record.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

From this scene, we understand that the appeal to \u201cgoodness\u201d ultimately expresses a subjective sense of things. By repeating the word <\/span>tov<\/span><\/em> so often, Moses evokes an ecstatic sense of God\u2019s bounty. But Jethro does not share Moses\u2019 perspective, so he simply acts on his own desire and goes home.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

\u201cGoodness,\u201d then, lies in the eyes of the beholder. It is striking that in his infancy Moses is described as \u201cgood.\u201d (\u201cAnd his mother saw that he was good....\u201d [Exod. 2:2].) And at the Burning Bush, God promises to bring the people to \u201ca good and spacious land....\u201d (Exod. 3:8). The foundational experiences of Moses\u2019 life are permeated by a sense of <\/span>tov<\/span><\/em>.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

In the book of Numbers the words <\/span>tov<\/span><\/em> and <\/span>ra<\/span><\/em>, good and evil, are used to express the subjective consciousness of \u201clove\u201d and \u201chate.\u201d Moses\u2019 eyes are trained on that good destination that beckons so alluringly. He is full of love. But since love is not always contagious, Jethro remains unaffected by Moses\u2019 enthusiasm.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Here begins the saga of love and hate in the wilderness. Here begins the subjective narrative of an ambivalent people who, through a series of wilderness narratives, struggle with their own volatile relations with God, with Moses, and, ultimately, with themselves. In the end, their loves and hates will postpone for an entire generation their entry into the land.<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":84019,"alt":"","title":"ps52-good evil","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/ps52-good-evil.png","width":1920,"height":842,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/ps52-good-evil-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/ps52-good-evil-300x132.png","medium-width":300,"medium-height":132,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/ps52-good-evil-768x337.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":337,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/ps52-good-evil-1024x449.png","large-width":1024,"large-height":449,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/ps52-good-evil.png","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":674,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/ps52-good-evil.png","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":842,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/ps52-good-evil-1200x526.png","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":526,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/ps52-good-evil-958x420.png","home_baner-width":958,"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":"Saga Of Love And Hate, Good And Evil In The Wilderness","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Ambivalent people who struggle with their own volatile relations with God, with Moses, and with themselves","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":84019,"alt":"","title":"ps52-good evil","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/ps52-good-evil.png","width":1920,"height":842,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/ps52-good-evil-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/ps52-good-evil-300x132.png","medium-width":300,"medium-height":132,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/ps52-good-evil-768x337.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":337,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/ps52-good-evil-1024x449.png","large-width":1024,"large-height":449,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/ps52-good-evil.png","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":674,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/ps52-good-evil.png","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":842,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/ps52-good-evil-1200x526.png","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":526,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/ps52-good-evil-958x420.png","home_baner-width":958,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"tile_link_for_pay":"0","send_noty":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Torah","book":"Numbers","chapter":"10","chapter_main_number":"127","date":"20260223","wall_id":"127"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"381","name":"love","old_id":"781"},{"term_id":"466","name":"Goodness","old_id":"866"},{"term_id":"598","name":"Israelites","old_id":"998"}]},{"order":4,"id":"46999","color":"#effaea","size":"1","name":"Prophecy ","post_title":"Prophecy","slug":"prophecy","old_id":"46999","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":36669,"post_title":"Yakov Azriel","slug":"yakov-azriel","old_id":"36669","first_name":"Yakov ","last_name":"Azriel","description":"Yakov Azriel, who lives in Israel, has published five books of poetry in the USA and hundreds of poems in journals and magazines. His poems have won twenty-two prizes in international poetry competitions, and he has twice been awarded fellowships from the Memorial Foundation for Jewish Culture.","short_description":"Yakov Azriel is an English language poet who lives in Israel","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":36670,"alt":"","title":"Yakov.Azriel.Photo","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Yakov.Azriel.Photo_-e1533158407668.jpg","width":1099,"height":1519,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Yakov.Azriel.Photo_-e1533158407668-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Yakov.Azriel.Photo_-e1533158407668-217x300.jpg","medium-width":217,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Yakov.Azriel.Photo_-e1533158407668-741x1024.jpg","medium_large-width":741,"medium_large-height":1024,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Yakov.Azriel.Photo_-e1533158407668-741x1024.jpg","large-width":741,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Yakov.Azriel.Photo_-e1533158407668.jpg","1536x1536-width":1099,"1536x1536-height":1519,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Yakov.Azriel.Photo_-e1533158407668.jpg","2048x2048-width":1099,"2048x2048-height":1519,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Yakov.Azriel.Photo_-e1533158407668-868x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":868,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Yakov.Azriel.Photo_-e1533158407668-304x420.jpg","home_baner-width":304,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"128","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Suddenly, it strikes","post_main_content_content":"

\u201cTwo men, one named Eldad and the other Medad, had remained in the camp, yet the Spirit fell upon them. \u00a0They were among those recorded but had not gone out to the Tent, and they prophesied in the camp. A youth ran and told Moses, 'Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp!'\u201d \u00a0(Numbers 11:26-27)<\/span><\/p>\r\n

an eagle
\r\nhovers
\r\nstationary
\r\nabove a cliff on a scorched summer morning;
\r\nsuspended
\r\nin the air, as if
\r\na huge magnet above,
\r\na huge magnet below,
\r\nkeep it in perfect perpetual balance; a photographed eagle, preserved
\r\nin a photographed desert sky would budge
\r\nno less,
\r\nno more;<\/p>\r\n

until<\/p>\r\n

its dark eye shifts a thousandth of an inch, focusing
\r\n<\/span>on a rabbit or mouse or even snake slithering unaware from rock to rock.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

suddenly
\r\nIt<\/p>\r\n

Strikes.<\/p>\r\n

the Word of God
\r\nhovers
\r\nbeyond our perception
\r\nlike a radio transmission broadcast from Somewhere, amidst the static
\r\ndesperately seeking a receiver to pick up its message;
\r\nundetected even by the soul\u2019s ear<\/p>\r\n

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

the chosen one is focused: man or woman; farmer or kohen; child
\r\nhalf-asleep in his bed, totally unprepared,
\r\nor aged prophet meditating in devout readiness after years of anticipation;<\/p>\r\n

suddenly
\r\nIt<\/p>\r\n

Strikes.<\/p>\r\n

Image: John Singer Sargent: Frieze of the Prophets, c 1892, MFA-Boston \/ wikimedia<\/p>","post_main_content_image":"","post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"929 Poetry Corner","tile_main_caption":"Prophecy","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Suddenly, it strikes","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":70290,"alt":"","title":"jer18-John_Singer_Sargent_-_Frieze_of_the_Prophets","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/jer18-John_Singer_Sargent_-_Frieze_of_the_Prophets.jpg","width":757,"height":599,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/jer18-John_Singer_Sargent_-_Frieze_of_the_Prophets-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/jer18-John_Singer_Sargent_-_Frieze_of_the_Prophets-300x237.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":237,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/jer18-John_Singer_Sargent_-_Frieze_of_the_Prophets.jpg","medium_large-width":757,"medium_large-height":599,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/jer18-John_Singer_Sargent_-_Frieze_of_the_Prophets.jpg","large-width":757,"large-height":599,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/jer18-John_Singer_Sargent_-_Frieze_of_the_Prophets.jpg","1536x1536-width":757,"1536x1536-height":599,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/jer18-John_Singer_Sargent_-_Frieze_of_the_Prophets.jpg","2048x2048-width":757,"2048x2048-height":599,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/jer18-John_Singer_Sargent_-_Frieze_of_the_Prophets.jpg","post_full_size-width":757,"post_full_size-height":599,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/jer18-John_Singer_Sargent_-_Frieze_of_the_Prophets-531x420.jpg","home_baner-width":531,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"tile_link_for_pay":"0","send_noty":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Torah","book":"Numbers","chapter":"11","chapter_main_number":"128","date":"20260224","wall_id":"128"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"362","name":"Poetry","old_id":"762"},{"term_id":"506","name":"Prophecy","old_id":"906"}]},{"order":5,"id":"47173","color":"#effaea","size":"1","name":"Miriam\u2019s Apology Note To Moses ","post_title":"Miriam\u2019s Apology Note To Moses","slug":"miriams-apology-note-to-moses","old_id":"47173","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":39525,"post_title":"Erica Brown","slug":"erica-brown","old_id":"39525","first_name":"Erica ","last_name":"Brown","description":"Dr. Erica Brown is associate professor at the Graduate School of Education and Human Development at The George Washington University and director of its Mayberg Center for Jewish Education and Leadership. She is the author of 12 books. Her forthcoming book is The Book of Esther: Power, Fate and Fragility in Exile (Maggid\/OU).","short_description":"Dr. Erica Brown is Director of the Mayberg Center for Jewish Education and Leadership at The George Washington University.","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":39526,"alt":"","title":"erica brown","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/erica-brown-e1536180373903.jpg","width":154,"height":186,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/erica-brown-e1536180373903-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/erica-brown-e1536180373903.jpg","medium-width":154,"medium-height":186,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/erica-brown-e1536180373903.jpg","medium_large-width":154,"medium_large-height":186,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/erica-brown-e1536180373903.jpg","large-width":154,"large-height":186,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/erica-brown-e1536180373903.jpg","1536x1536-width":154,"1536x1536-height":186,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/erica-brown-e1536180373903.jpg","2048x2048-width":154,"2048x2048-height":186,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/erica-brown-e1536180373903.jpg","post_full_size-width":154,"post_full_size-height":186,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/erica-brown-e1536180373903.jpg","home_baner-width":154,"home_baner-height":186}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"129","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"The big sister sees her little brother for the leader and prophet he has become","post_main_content_content":"

Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Cushite woman he had married: \u201cHe married a Cushite woman!\u201d They said, \u201cHas the Lord spoken only through Moses? Has He not spoken through us as well?\u201d The Lord heard it\u2026As the cloud withdrew from the Tent, there was Miriam stricken with snow-white scales! (Num 12:1-2,10)<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Dear Moses,<\/span><\/p>\r\n

I write to you with shame and embarrassment from outside of the camp. I write to you to apologize for speaking badly about you to Aaron, for belittling you by speaking about your wife. It was not my place. I have thought long and hard about why this happened.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

You see, I stood as your protector among the reeds when you were only three-months old. I laugh when I think of my audacity, suggesting to Pharaoh\u2019s daughter that I find a Hebrew slave to nurse you. I was so proud of myself that I was able to reunite you with our beloved mother, of blessed memory. Through her milk, you would be bonded forever to our people while growing up behind palace walls. <\/span><\/p>\r\n

I\u2019m a meddler, a chutzpah lady. I jump in when I see a need, a gap, a problem I can solve. But as we all aged, I was no longer your protector. God was.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

I have always seen you as the younger brother and not always as the remote, respected leader you are among our ragtag wilderness people. I thought of you as an equal, as part of our sibling triumvirate. When God came down to chastise Aaron and myself, I let go of my defensiveness and saw you the way God asked us to, not as a brother but as a leader who speaks face-to-face with God. I knew that to be cognitively true, but emotionally refused to accept it. <\/span><\/p>\r\n

Strange as it sounds to hear this from a big sister, I want to thank you as I have never thanked you for your public service. <\/span><\/p>\r\n

I also appreciate that you put aside your hurt feelings and prayed on my behalf. The God who answered your prayers so many times before, would not grant me absolution this time. That is on me. Aaron and I, though older, are often less wise than you, our younger brother. We have been on the sidelines of your great story while you have been its hero. You carried the load so often alone, for that I am so very sorry. <\/span><\/p>\r\n

Today, as an old woman near the end of my life, I beg your forgiveness for not telling you sooner how much I admire and am grateful to you. I apologize for adding to your burden instead of lightening it. Only when I left the camp at a distance from you was I truly able to see you clearly.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

With love and contrition, <\/span><\/p>\r\n

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

image by: gerasimov_foto_174\/shutterstock<\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":47177,"alt":"","title":"shutterstock_1187019319","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/shutterstock_1187019319.jpg","width":6723,"height":4483,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/shutterstock_1187019319-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/shutterstock_1187019319-300x200.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":200,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/shutterstock_1187019319-768x512.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":512,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/shutterstock_1187019319-1024x683.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":683,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/shutterstock_1187019319.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1024,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/shutterstock_1187019319.jpg","2048x2048-width":2048,"2048x2048-height":1366,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/shutterstock_1187019319-1200x800.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":800,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/shutterstock_1187019319-630x420.jpg","home_baner-width":630,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"Miriam\u2019s Apology Note to Moses","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"The big sister sees her little brother for the leader and prophet he has become","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":47177,"alt":"","title":"shutterstock_1187019319","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/shutterstock_1187019319.jpg","width":6723,"height":4483,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/shutterstock_1187019319-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/shutterstock_1187019319-300x200.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":200,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/shutterstock_1187019319-768x512.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":512,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/shutterstock_1187019319-1024x683.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":683,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/shutterstock_1187019319.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1024,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/shutterstock_1187019319.jpg","2048x2048-width":2048,"2048x2048-height":1366,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/shutterstock_1187019319-1200x800.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":800,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/shutterstock_1187019319-630x420.jpg","home_baner-width":630,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"tile_link_for_pay":"0","send_noty":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Torah","book":"Numbers","chapter":"12","chapter_main_number":"129","date":"20260225","wall_id":"129"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"397","name":"Moses","old_id":"797"},{"term_id":"640","name":"Miriam","old_id":"1040"},{"term_id":"699","name":"Teshuvah","old_id":"1099"}]},{"order":6,"id":"47152","color":"#effaea","size":"1","name":"Moses\u2019 Resume, Moses\u2019 Eulogy ","post_title":"Moses\u2019 Resume, Moses\u2019 Eulogy","slug":"moses-resume-moses-eulogy","old_id":"47152","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":46658,"post_title":"Deborah Silver","slug":"deborah-silver","old_id":"46658","first_name":"Deborah ","last_name":"Silver ","description":"Rabbi Deborah Silver is the Rabbi of Shir Chadash in Metairie, New Orleans. She was ordained in 2010 by the Ziegler School at the American Jewish University, Los Angeles. Prior to rabbinical school she was educated at Cambridge University, England, after which she worked as an attorney at Mishcon de Reya, and at BPP Law School as an assistant professor, both in London. She hopes that her rabbinate embodies her deep love of Jewish learning - in all its varied forms - which has characterized her journey to date.\r\n\r\n","short_description":"Rabbi Deborah Silver is the Rabbi of Shir Chadash in Metairie, New Orleans.","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":46659,"alt":"","title":"deborah silver","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/deborah-silver-e1546180915732.jpg","width":305,"height":324,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/deborah-silver-e1546180915732-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/deborah-silver-e1546180915732-282x300.jpg","medium-width":282,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/deborah-silver-e1546180915732.jpg","medium_large-width":305,"medium_large-height":324,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/deborah-silver-e1546180915732.jpg","large-width":305,"large-height":324,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/deborah-silver-e1546180915732.jpg","1536x1536-width":305,"1536x1536-height":324,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/deborah-silver-e1546180915732.jpg","2048x2048-width":305,"2048x2048-height":324,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/deborah-silver-e1546180915732.jpg","post_full_size-width":305,"post_full_size-height":324,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/deborah-silver-293x420.jpg","home_baner-width":293,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"129","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"An intimate portrayal of a great leader, by his boss","post_main_content_content":"

One of the challenges of Torah narrative is that it can be hard to keep track of who is on stage at any given moment. Here is an example:<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The Lord came down in a pillar of cloud, stopped at the entrance of the Tent [of meeting] and called out \u201cAaron and Miriam!\u201d The two of them came forward\u2026 <\/span>(12:5).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

But we know from verse 4 and from back in Exodus<\/span> (29:42) that this spot was Moses and God\u2019s designated meeting place. So even though he says nothing in this scene, Moses was there.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

This is important because of what God is going to say: <\/span>When a prophet of the Lord arises among you, I make Myself known to him in a vision, I speak with him in a dream. Not so with My servant Moses; he is trusted throughout My household. With him I speak mouth to mouth, plainly and not in riddles, and he beholds the likeness of the Lord <\/span>(12:6-8).<\/span><\/em><\/p>\r\n

These verses are a poem. They are a tightly worded \u2018menorah\u2019 (chiastic) structure with two different kinds of vision on the outside, the opposition between dreams and direct encounter the next layer in, and a declaration of Moses\u2019 faithfulness at the heart. God has moved out of the ordinary level of discourse to describe Moses in the best kind of elevated language Biblical Hebrew has to offer. There is a deeply personal quality to the poem, as if God is savoring the special connection God and Moses have.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

At the end of the Torah we find an echo of our text here: \"<\/span>Never again did there arise in Israel a prophet like Moses whom the Lord singled out face to face\u2026\"\u00a0<\/span>(<\/span>Deut. <\/span>34:10).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

This is followed by a sort of resume in prose - the wondrous acts, the signs, the wonders, the way that Moses displayed God\u2019s might and power. We can see how it would make sense to end the Torah on a high. But while impressive in its scope and accurate in terms of Moses\u2019 achievements, the end of the Torah lacks the intimacy that we find in our own chapter. <\/span><\/p>\r\n

In our tradition, it is a <\/span>mitzvah <\/span><\/i>to give a eulogy, generously to praise the good characteristics of the person who has left the world. This can also bring profound comfort to those who remain on earth, confirming what made their loved one special.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Everything that made Moses special to God is contained in the poem God recites in this chapter. God\u2019s words here are Moses\u2019 true eulogy.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

And in an act of consummate generosity and comfort, God delivers it while Moses is standing there to hear it.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

image: Y G Harrison\/shutterstock<\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":47154,"alt":"","title":"shutterstock_1124306651","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/shutterstock_1124306651.jpg","width":5202,"height":3465,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/shutterstock_1124306651-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/shutterstock_1124306651-300x200.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":200,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/shutterstock_1124306651-768x512.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":512,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/shutterstock_1124306651-1024x682.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":682,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/shutterstock_1124306651.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1023,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/shutterstock_1124306651.jpg","2048x2048-width":2048,"2048x2048-height":1364,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/shutterstock_1124306651-1200x799.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":799,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/shutterstock_1124306651-631x420.jpg","home_baner-width":631,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"Moses\u2019 Resume, Moses\u2019 Eulogy","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"An intimate portrayal of a great leader, by his boss","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":47154,"alt":"","title":"shutterstock_1124306651","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/shutterstock_1124306651.jpg","width":5202,"height":3465,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/shutterstock_1124306651-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/shutterstock_1124306651-300x200.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":200,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/shutterstock_1124306651-768x512.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":512,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/shutterstock_1124306651-1024x682.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":682,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/shutterstock_1124306651.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1023,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/shutterstock_1124306651.jpg","2048x2048-width":2048,"2048x2048-height":1364,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/shutterstock_1124306651-1200x799.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":799,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/shutterstock_1124306651-631x420.jpg","home_baner-width":631,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"tile_link_for_pay":"0","send_noty":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Torah","book":"Numbers","chapter":"12","chapter_main_number":"129","date":"20260225","wall_id":"129"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"384","name":"God","old_id":"784"},{"term_id":"397","name":"Moses","old_id":"797"},{"term_id":"506","name":"Prophecy","old_id":"906"}]},{"order":7,"id":"65080","color":"#f6edf6","size":"1","name":"With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility ","post_title":"With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility","slug":"with-great-power-comes-great-responsibility","old_id":"65080","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":64875,"post_title":"Eliza McCarroll","slug":"eliza-mccarroll","old_id":"64875","first_name":"Eliza ","last_name":"McCarroll ","description":"Eliza McCarroll is a fifth-year rabbinical student from Sydney, Australia, at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion. ","short_description":"Eliza McCarroll is a fifth-year rabbinical student from Sydney, Australia, at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion. ","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":64877,"alt":"","title":"Eliza McCarroll","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Eliza-McCarroll-1.jpg","width":506,"height":436,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Eliza-McCarroll-1-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Eliza-McCarroll-1-300x258.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":258,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Eliza-McCarroll-1.jpg","medium_large-width":506,"medium_large-height":436,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Eliza-McCarroll-1.jpg","large-width":506,"large-height":436,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Eliza-McCarroll-1.jpg","1536x1536-width":506,"1536x1536-height":436,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Eliza-McCarroll-1.jpg","2048x2048-width":506,"2048x2048-height":436,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Eliza-McCarroll-1.jpg","post_full_size-width":506,"post_full_size-height":436,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Eliza-McCarroll-1-487x420.jpg","home_baner-width":487,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"341","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"What can Isaiah teach us about power dynamics for today\u2019s world?","post_main_content_content":"

Isaiah 7 feels like a masterclass in power dynamics and their subversion.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

We see this immediately when we are told the ending of the story (Jerusalem being attacked) at the beginning, before learning all the details which lead up to that point. Talk about a spoiler alert!<\/span><\/p>\r\n

God then speaks to both the prophet Isaiah and King Ahaz. If God speaks to both these men equally, they can speak to each other equally, too.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

This is demonstrated in Isaiah\u2019s ability to interact with King Ahaz, which is itself a subversion of a power structure, as this level of access to the monarchy indicates an elite social status, and this relationship is not always so even-keeled. The prophet Jeremiah, for example, is portrayed as so low on the social ladder that he is put into jail for spreading the word of God.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Isaiah\u2019s mutual relationship with Ahaz subsequently allows him to demonstrate the typically prophetic function of \u201cspeaking truth to power\u201d, such as when he says \u201clisten now, O House of David!\u201d (Isaiah 7:13). Using the irony of King Ahaz\u2019s regal lineage to call out his refusal to listen to advice, this interaction could be used to argue that Isaiah actually holds a certain power over the monarch, since it was the King who sought his counsel in the first place. Put differently, Isaiah recognises a responsibility to speak up, and he isn\u2019t afraid to do so when necessary.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Continuing our theme of subversion of power, we lastly see the King defer to the prophet, when, after God speaks to Ahaz, he states that he \u201cwill not ask\u201d and \u201cwill not test\u201d Adonai (Isaiah 7:10-12).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Ultimately, although Ahaz will follow his own agenda of granting his kingdom to the Assyrian attackers, we have still seen this uncommonly close bond between monarch and prophet, and a willingness on Isaiah\u2019s behalf to debate and discuss in an arena where personal consequences might have followed.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

This leaves us with a final question: how can we, in our own lives, utilise the existing power structures around us to bring to light the vision of the prophets, that of a society of justice and mercy, where equality reigns?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

May we use the lessons of Isaiah to work towards this better world, one as sweet as \u201cbutter and honey\u201d (Isaiah 7:15).<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":65081,"alt":"","title":"is7-political power","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is7-political-power.jpg","width":1920,"height":1280,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is7-political-power-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is7-political-power-300x200.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":200,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is7-political-power-768x512.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":512,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is7-political-power-1024x683.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":683,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is7-political-power.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1024,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is7-political-power.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":1280,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is7-political-power-1200x800.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":800,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is7-political-power-630x420.jpg","home_baner-width":630,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"What can Isaiah teach us about power dynamics for today\u2019s world?","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":65081,"alt":"","title":"is7-political power","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is7-political-power.jpg","width":1920,"height":1280,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is7-political-power-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is7-political-power-300x200.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":200,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is7-political-power-768x512.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":512,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is7-political-power-1024x683.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":683,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is7-political-power.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1024,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is7-political-power.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":1280,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is7-political-power-1200x800.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":800,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is7-political-power-630x420.jpg","home_baner-width":630,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"tile_link_for_pay":"0","send_noty":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"Isaiah","chapter":"7","chapter_main_number":"341","date":"20261220","wall_id":"341"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"391","name":"In\/Justice","old_id":"791"},{"term_id":"423","name":"Politics","old_id":"823"},{"term_id":"503","name":"Power","old_id":"903"}]},{"order":8,"id":"65073","color":"#e0e9ef","size":"1","name":"Alma, Not Mater ","post_title":"Alma, Not Mater","slug":"alma-not-mater","old_id":"65073","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":60755,"post_title":"Katja Vehlow","slug":"katja-vehlow","old_id":"60755","first_name":"Katja ","last_name":"Vehlow ","description":"Dr. Katja Vehlow is a rabbinical student at JTS in New York City. She taught as an Associate Professor of Religious and Jewish studies at the University of South Carolina. ","short_description":"Dr. Katja Vehlow is a rabbinical student at JTS in New York City. She taught as an Associate Professor of Religious and Jewish studies at the University of South Carolina. ","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":60757,"alt":"","title":"Katja Vehlow","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/Katja-Vehlow.jpg","width":454,"height":580,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/Katja-Vehlow-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/Katja-Vehlow-235x300.jpg","medium-width":235,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/Katja-Vehlow.jpg","medium_large-width":454,"medium_large-height":580,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/Katja-Vehlow.jpg","large-width":454,"large-height":580,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/Katja-Vehlow.jpg","1536x1536-width":454,"1536x1536-height":580,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/Katja-Vehlow.jpg","2048x2048-width":454,"2048x2048-height":580,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/Katja-Vehlow.jpg","post_full_size-width":454,"post_full_size-height":580,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/Katja-Vehlow-329x420.jpg","home_baner-width":329,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"341","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Whether Immanuel was Isaiah\u2019s son or Ahaz\u2019s, he certainly wasn\u2019t the messiah\u00a0","post_main_content_content":"

The biblical prophets were staunch critics of their societies, and often of their rulers, too. In their eyes, decisions and acts contradicting God\u2019s will would always be avenged. And when they talked about the future, they did so not because they actually could see what would happen but because they were convinced by the power of their message: God <\/span>will<\/span><\/i> punish God's people when they continue to act unjustly\u2014even if current events might seem to show the opposite. In fact, the Greek word \u201cprophet\u201d refers to foretelling future events, while the Hebrew <\/span>navi<\/span><\/em>, also usually translated as prophet, means \"to call,\" and refers perhaps to the prophet\u2019s conversations with God or the people, or to ecstatic music.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

In this chapter, a coalition between Kings Rezin of Aram and Pekah of northern Israel threatens King Ahaz. But when God asks Ahaz whether he wanted to see the future, he refuses. Ahaz does not wish to test God! Undeterred, Isaiah announces the imminent birth of a child: \u201cLook, the young woman is with child and about to give birth to a son. Let her name him Immanuel,\u201d (14) that is, \u201cGod is with us.\u201d Isaiah notes that this Immanuel will still be a small child\u00a0 when Assyria, an even greater threat will rise at the horizon. We are not sure what the birth of this child signifies. The text does not tell us, but just as Isaiah's children have special names that point to future events, so does the arrival of this Immanuel. Some Jewish interpreters suggested that Isaiah meant the birth of Hezekiah, King Ahaz' son, while others, such as Rashi, thought Immanuel was Isaiah\u2019s son. Beginning with the New Testament, Christian commentators read this verse as foreshadowing the miraculous birth of Jesus.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

This passage is a great example for the influence of Christian thought on Jewish Bible interpretation. Obviously, the rabbis emphatically reject the Christian reading. As the medieval commentator David Kimchi, also known as Radak, angrily notes, <\/span>alma<\/span><\/em>, the Hebrew word used for Immanuel\u2019s mother, means \u201cyoung woman,\u201d not \u201cvirgin,\u201d\u00a0 as Christian translations often implied. The rabbis insist on this interpretation precisely because this verse became so fundamental to the Jewish-Christian encounter. Similarly, some rabbinic commentators note that <\/span>hara<\/span><\/em>, (also 7:14) is a verb in the past tense. The young woman <\/span>has<\/span><\/em> already conceived\u2014this verse then cannot then, the rabbis insist, refer to the future birth of the Christian messiah. Immanuel\u2019s birth, instead, indicated the rise of a bigger enemy but was not of eschatological importance.<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":65074,"alt":"","title":"is7-King-Messiah","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is7-King-Messiah.jpg","width":1194,"height":573,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is7-King-Messiah-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is7-King-Messiah-300x144.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":144,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is7-King-Messiah-768x369.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":369,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is7-King-Messiah-1024x491.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":491,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is7-King-Messiah.jpg","1536x1536-width":1194,"1536x1536-height":573,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is7-King-Messiah.jpg","2048x2048-width":1194,"2048x2048-height":573,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is7-King-Messiah.jpg","post_full_size-width":1194,"post_full_size-height":573,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is7-King-Messiah-875x420.jpg","home_baner-width":875,"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":"Alma, Not Mater","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Whether Immanuel was Isaiah\u2019s son or Ahaz\u2019s, he certainly wasn\u2019t the messiah\u00a0","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":65074,"alt":"","title":"is7-King-Messiah","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is7-King-Messiah.jpg","width":1194,"height":573,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is7-King-Messiah-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is7-King-Messiah-300x144.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":144,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is7-King-Messiah-768x369.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":369,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is7-King-Messiah-1024x491.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":491,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is7-King-Messiah.jpg","1536x1536-width":1194,"1536x1536-height":573,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is7-King-Messiah.jpg","2048x2048-width":1194,"2048x2048-height":573,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is7-King-Messiah.jpg","post_full_size-width":1194,"post_full_size-height":573,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is7-King-Messiah-875x420.jpg","home_baner-width":875,"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":"Isaiah","chapter":"7","chapter_main_number":"341","date":"20261220","wall_id":"341"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"478","name":"Christianity","old_id":"878"},{"term_id":"506","name":"Prophecy","old_id":"906"},{"term_id":"622","name":"Criticism","old_id":"1022"}]},{"order":9,"id":"65104","color":"#faeed8","size":"1","name":"That\u2019s Mahershalalhashbaz To You ","post_title":"That\u2019s Mahershalalhashbaz To You","slug":"thats-mahershalalhashbaz-to-you","old_id":"65104","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":34011,"post_title":"Jeremy Benstein","slug":"dr-jeremy-benstein","old_id":"34011","first_name":"Jeremy","last_name":"Benstein","description":"Dr. Jeremy Benstein is the managing editor of 929-English. He is one of the founders of the Heschel Center for Sustainability. He writes the MiliMiliM - Hebrew Corner on the site, and is the author of a book about the Hebrew language, \"Hebrew Roots, Jewish Routes: A Tribal Language in a Global World\" (Behrman House, 2019). ","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"short_description":"Dr. Jeremy Benstein is the managing editor of 929-English, and is the author of a book about the Hebrew language, \"Hebrew Roots, Jewish Routes: A Tribal Language in a Global World\" (Behrman House, 2019). ","link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":34232,"alt":"","title":"Jeremy Benstein","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Presentation1.jpg","width":1280,"height":720,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Presentation1-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Presentation1-300x169.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":169,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Presentation1-768x432.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":432,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Presentation1-1024x576.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":576,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Presentation1.jpg","1536x1536-width":1280,"1536x1536-height":720,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Presentation1.jpg","2048x2048-width":1280,"2048x2048-height":720,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Presentation1-1200x675.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":675,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Presentation1-747x420.jpg","home_baner-width":747,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"342","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"A case of biblical onomastics*\u00a0","post_main_content_content":"

The man in the picture is of course Mahershala Ali, American actor and rapper, recipient of two Academy Awards and a Golden Globe Award (and a BAFTA and a SAG award). Time magazine named him one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2019.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Ali won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance as Juan in Barry Jenkins' drama film <\/span>Moonlight <\/span><\/i>(2016). He won a second Academy Award and the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of Don Shirley in the comedy-drama film <\/span>Green Book <\/span><\/i>(2018).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Ali was born Mahershalalhashbaz Gilmore in 1974, in Hayward, California, the son of Phillip Gilmore and Willicia Goines, an ordained Baptist minister. In 2000, he converted to Islam, changed his surname from Gilmore to Ali, and joined the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

But he kept the name Mahershala, short for Mahershalalhashbaz, which appears in our chapter as the symbolic name of the son of the prophet Isaiah, meaning something like \u201cpillage hastens, looting speeds\u201d foreshadowing the imminent salvation of Judah, from Aram and Israel, by Assyria.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

It coulda been worse. In the next chapter (9:5), another child is born, with a name, that though the prophecy it expresses is a little more upbeat, is even more of a mouthful: \u201cPele-yoetz-el-gibbor-aviad-sar-shalom\u201d or, \u201cThe Mighty God is planning grace; The Eternal Father, a peaceable ruler.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Ali is quite an actor - and he has quite a name!<\/p>\r\n

*onomastics: the study of the history and origin of proper names, especially personal names.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Photo: Gordon Correll, Toronto International Film Festival 2016 \/ wikipedia<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":65115,"alt":"","title":"is8-Mahershala","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is8-Mahershala.jpg","width":769,"height":1024,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is8-Mahershala-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is8-Mahershala-225x300.jpg","medium-width":225,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is8-Mahershala-768x1023.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":1023,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is8-Mahershala-769x1024.jpg","large-width":769,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is8-Mahershala.jpg","1536x1536-width":769,"1536x1536-height":1024,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is8-Mahershala.jpg","2048x2048-width":769,"2048x2048-height":1024,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is8-Mahershala.jpg","post_full_size-width":769,"post_full_size-height":1024,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is8-Mahershala-315x420.jpg","home_baner-width":315,"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":"Isaiah in Hollywood","tile_main_caption":"That\u2019s Mahershalalhashbaz To You","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"A case of biblical onomastics*\u00a0","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":65115,"alt":"","title":"is8-Mahershala","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is8-Mahershala.jpg","width":769,"height":1024,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is8-Mahershala-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is8-Mahershala-225x300.jpg","medium-width":225,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is8-Mahershala-768x1023.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":1023,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is8-Mahershala-769x1024.jpg","large-width":769,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is8-Mahershala.jpg","1536x1536-width":769,"1536x1536-height":1024,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is8-Mahershala.jpg","2048x2048-width":769,"2048x2048-height":1024,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is8-Mahershala.jpg","post_full_size-width":769,"post_full_size-height":1024,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is8-Mahershala-315x420.jpg","home_baner-width":315,"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":"Isaiah","chapter":"8","chapter_main_number":"342","date":"20261221","wall_id":"342"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"524","name":"Theater","old_id":"924"},{"term_id":"551","name":"Names","old_id":"951"}]},{"order":10,"id":"65130","color":"#e6f5f3","size":"1","name":"The Hiding Of God\u2019s Face Brings Heartbreak, Then Comfort ","post_title":"The Hiding Of God\u2019s Face Brings Heartbreak, Then Comfort","slug":"the-hiding-of-gods-face-brings-heartbreak-then-comfort","old_id":"65130","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":34250,"post_title":"Sarah Rudolph","slug":"sarah-rudolph","old_id":"34250","first_name":"Sarah ","last_name":"Rudolph","description":"Sarah Rudolph is a freelance Jewish educator, writer, and editor. She has been sharing her passion for Jewish texts of all kinds for over 15 years, with students of all ages. Sarah\u2019s essays have been published in a variety of internet and print media, including Times of Israel, Kveller, Jewish Action, OU Life, The Lehrhaus, TorahMusings, and more. Sarah lives in Cleveland with her husband and four children, but is privileged to learn online with students all over the world through www.TorahTutors.org and www.WebYeshiva.org. \r\n\r\n","short_description":"Sarah Rudolph is a freelance Jewish educator, writer, and editor.","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":34251,"alt":"","title":"Sarah R","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Sarah-R.jpg","width":2824,"height":4246,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Sarah-R-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Sarah-R-200x300.jpg","medium-width":200,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Sarah-R-681x1024.jpg","medium_large-width":681,"medium_large-height":1024,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Sarah-R-681x1024.jpg","large-width":681,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Sarah-R.jpg","1536x1536-width":1022,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Sarah-R.jpg","2048x2048-width":1362,"2048x2048-height":2048,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Sarah-R-798x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":798,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Sarah-R-279x420.jpg","home_baner-width":279,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"342","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Isaiah\u2019s words will be stored away for future generations who will recognize their truth","post_main_content_content":"

We\u2019ve all been there (or think we have): the only voice of reason in a room, the only one who can see the truth, surrounded and pressured by a world that persists frustratingly in wrongness.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

But no one knows that isolation and frustration \u2013 maybe even the temptation to give up and give in \u2013 better than a prophet of God, the truest of the true, who simply cannot make himself heard.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Amos Hakham, in the <\/span>Daat Mikra<\/span><\/em> commentary on Isaiah, sees a brief soliloquy reacting to that experience in chapter 8. God \u201ctook me by the hand and charged me not to walk in the path of that people\u201d (v. 11); Hakham explains the imagery of a \u201chand\u201d as portraying the power of the prophetic experience through which God cautioned Isaiah not to be swayed by the [much lesser] power of naysayers.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Which naysayers might he have been tempted or bullied into following? Perhaps rebels against the Davidic dynasty? Alternatively, God is warning the prophet to stand strong against more general opposition.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

How powerful Isaiah\u2019s opposition must have been, if he needed the bolstering of God\u2019s own \u201cmighty hand\u201d to withstand it.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

One can imagine it would be easier to go along blindly with whatever the people say \u2013 and so God continues, \u201cDon\u2019t think everything this people decides is right and good; don\u2019t agree at the outset to join them in their deeds\u201d (paraphrasing according to Hakham).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

One can imagine the value of even a few allies in one\u2019s countercultural stand \u2013 and Hakham goes on to point out that God\u2019s admonishment shifts from singular, addressing the prophet alone, to plural, addressing the followers he did have.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

And one can imagine the prophet\u2019s heartbreak, when God then instructs him to seal up his prophecy (v. 16). Earlier, God had said to \u201cget a large sheet and write on it in common script\u201d (v. 1) \u2013 publicly \u2013 but now, the people have demonstrated they\u2019re not listening, and so he wraps up his words and puts them away for safekeeping.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Yet, there is comfort there, too. The prophet still has students who do pay attention, students who will faithfully guard his words \u2013 \u201cthough in this generation, his words were not accepted, his words are necessary for future generations\u201d (Hakham\u2019s comment on v. 16).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Despite all the frustrations, despite the pressure to step down from his soapbox, despite the necessity of packing his words away for another time \u2013 the prophet is inspired by packing them away rather than throwing them away, and proclaims in verse 17, \u201cSo I will wait for the LORD, who is hiding His face from the House of Jacob, and I will trust [hope] in Him.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

With his students and his children, whose names transform them to living symbols of God\u2019s faithfulness to His nation (v. 18) \u2013 Isaiah will wait, and hope, for the day his words will be recognized as the lone voice of truth they always were.<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":65133,"alt":"","title":"is8-heartbreak","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is8-heartbreak.png","width":1280,"height":1025,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is8-heartbreak-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is8-heartbreak-300x240.png","medium-width":300,"medium-height":240,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is8-heartbreak-768x615.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":615,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is8-heartbreak-1024x820.png","large-width":1024,"large-height":820,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is8-heartbreak.png","1536x1536-width":1280,"1536x1536-height":1025,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is8-heartbreak.png","2048x2048-width":1280,"2048x2048-height":1025,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is8-heartbreak-1200x961.png","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":961,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is8-heartbreak-524x420.png","home_baner-width":524,"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 Hiding Of God\u2019s Face Brings Heartbreak, Then Comfort","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Isaiah\u2019s words will be stored away for future generations who will recognize their truth","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":65133,"alt":"","title":"is8-heartbreak","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is8-heartbreak.png","width":1280,"height":1025,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is8-heartbreak-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is8-heartbreak-300x240.png","medium-width":300,"medium-height":240,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is8-heartbreak-768x615.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":615,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is8-heartbreak-1024x820.png","large-width":1024,"large-height":820,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is8-heartbreak.png","1536x1536-width":1280,"1536x1536-height":1025,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is8-heartbreak.png","2048x2048-width":1280,"2048x2048-height":1025,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is8-heartbreak-1200x961.png","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":961,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is8-heartbreak-524x420.png","home_baner-width":524,"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":"Isaiah","chapter":"8","chapter_main_number":"342","date":"20261221","wall_id":"342"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"463","name":"Truth","old_id":"863"},{"term_id":"506","name":"Prophecy","old_id":"906"},{"term_id":"607","name":"Comfort","old_id":"1007"},{"term_id":"940","name":"Isaiah","old_id":"1340"}]},{"order":11,"id":"65192","color":"#f7e9e9","size":"1","name":"Do We Ever Really Learn From The Past? ","post_title":"Do We Ever Really Learn From The Past?","slug":"do-we-ever-really-learn-from-the-past","old_id":"65192","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":33992,"post_title":"Bradley Shavit Artson","slug":"rabbi-dr-bradley-shavit-artson","old_id":"33992","first_name":"Bradley Shavit ","last_name":"Artson","description":"Rabbi Dr Bradley Shavit Artson holds the Abner and Roslyn Goldstine Dean's Chair of the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies and is Vice President of American Jewish University in Los Angeles, and is professor of philosophy there. Artson is married to Elana Shavit Artson, and they are the parents of twins, Shira and Jacob.\r\n","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"short_description":"Rabbi Dr Bradley Shavit Artson is the Dean of the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies and is Vice President of American Jewish University in Los Angeles.","link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":33993,"alt":"","title":"Rabbi Dr Bradley Shavit Artson","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Rabbi-Dr-Bradley-Shavit-Artson-e1532029361140.png","width":204,"height":199,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Rabbi-Dr-Bradley-Shavit-Artson-e1532029361140-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Rabbi-Dr-Bradley-Shavit-Artson-256x300.png","medium-width":256,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Rabbi-Dr-Bradley-Shavit-Artson-e1532029361140.png","medium_large-width":204,"medium_large-height":199,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Rabbi-Dr-Bradley-Shavit-Artson-e1532029361140.png","large-width":204,"large-height":199,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Rabbi-Dr-Bradley-Shavit-Artson-e1532029361140.png","1536x1536-width":204,"1536x1536-height":199,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Rabbi-Dr-Bradley-Shavit-Artson-e1532029361140.png","2048x2048-width":204,"2048x2048-height":199,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Rabbi-Dr-Bradley-Shavit-Artson-e1532029361140.png","post_full_size-width":204,"post_full_size-height":199,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Rabbi-Dr-Bradley-Shavit-Artson-e1532029361140.png","home_baner-width":204,"home_baner-height":199}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"343","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"","post_main_content_content":"

As a college student, I took a course with Professor Ernest May, a specialist in international relations, who argued that nations often mess up their current struggles because they always read them through the crisis that they most recently botched in the past. Using the example of the USA, he argued that generals and politicians tried to fix the mistakes of the Korean War in the Vietnamese War, hence applying the wrong standards and goals to the current struggle. He argued that American did the same with the Korean War, fighting it with the modified policies of World War Two. And we fought World War Two as though it were a chance to get World War One right. Time after time, we apply the wrong lessons, the wrong implications, to a subsequent challenge, thereby assuring that we will get it wrong in all new ways \u2026 again.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The same seems to be true of Biblical history as well. The Kingdoms of Israel and Judah are called to repent of their many shortcomings and errors. Time and again they are urged to return to the path of righteousness and justice, to remain faithful to the covenant between God and the people. Yet again and again their corrupt leaders and false prophets fan the flames of idolatry, greed, and power. And each time they do, disaster results.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Isaiah refuses to give up on the people, and in Chapter 9 he reminds them three times of God\u2019s warning of what will come if they do not change their ways. Yet time and again, the response remains the same: \u201cthe people has not returned to the One \u2026 they do not seek the Lord.\u201d With each renewed warning, the level of desperation grows, and the creeping despair that the people will not learn from their mistakes. \u201cThe guides of this people mislead, and the guided ones are corrupted.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The sacred literature of ancient Israel is extraordinary in many ways, but never more so than in its brutal honesty, its willingness to offer self-condemnation when it is due, to hold highest loyalty for the standards God expects of us, even when the people themselves fail to rise to that standard. Core to the prophetic call is a willingness to be a traitor in the eyes of the people because they won\u2019t betray God\u2019s vision of what Israel is called to be.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

And we, heirs both to the prophets and the people, readers of the Scripture that records both the popular greed and mendacity, but also the lofty vision of what a just and righteous people could be in the world \u2026<\/span><\/p>\r\n

\u2026 are we prepared to show ultimate loyalty to what is right and true and good, even if that means calling out the people or the nations that we love?<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":"","post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"Do We Ever Really Learn From The Past?","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"And we, heirs both to the prophets and the people, readers of the Scripture that records both the popular greed and mendacity, but also the lofty vision of what a just and righteous people could be in the world \u2026 are we prepared to show ultimate loyalty to what is right and true and good, even if that means calling out the people or the nations that we love?","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":"","tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"tile_link_for_pay":"0","send_noty":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"Isaiah","chapter":"9","chapter_main_number":"343","date":"20261222","wall_id":"343"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"384","name":"God","old_id":"784"},{"term_id":"391","name":"In\/Justice","old_id":"791"},{"term_id":"444","name":"History","old_id":"844"},{"term_id":"895","name":"Loyalty","old_id":"1295"}]},{"order":12,"id":"65165","color":"#f7f7f5","size":"1","name":"First There Was the Word ","post_title":"First There Was The Word","slug":"first-there-was-the-word","old_id":"65165","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":"343","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"And then there was fake news","post_main_content_content":"

\u201cMy Lord let loose a word [<\/span>davar<\/span><\/em>] against Jacob and it fell upon Israel.\u201d (7)<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The medieval exegetes, such as Rashi, Kara, Eliezer of Beaugency, and Ibn Ezra, identified the \u201cword\u201d in this verse with a prophecy. Malbim,* however, came up with a decidedly modern interpretation.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

\"The prophet, here, has turned back to the ten tribes to prophesy about the catastrophe that will engulf them. Ancient people used to believe in something called an \u201coracle\u201d (\u05d0\u05e8\u05d0\u05e7\u05e2\u05dc), a voice that spread amongst the masses who thought that it was a pronouncement or an edict that had come to them from heaven.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

This oracle emanated largely with the masses from whom it reached the officialdom and from there it spread throughout the nation. On this basis [the prophet] describes the statement \u201cbricks have fallen\u201d (9) as though they saw it as a word that God had sent them from heaven. This began among \u201cJacob,\u201d which signifies the masses, and from there it spread among \u201cIsrael,\u201d the officialdom, to the extent that\u2026 [\u201cAll the people shall know\u201d (8)].<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Prophecy was once widespread in Israel, as we noted in our introduction to this book. Indeed, the Talmud declares that Isaiah was but one of four prophets who prophesied at this juncture in time. (The others were Amos, Micah, and Hoshea). While we may have their prophecies, we have little information about how they were received.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Malbim seems to have believed that there was a natural inclination on people\u2019s part to view positive predictions as genuine prophecies, while consigning negative notices as mere oracles. One may wonder: had Malbim been alive today, would he have substituted \u201cfake news\u201d for oracles?<\/span><\/p>\r\n

*For the significance of Malbim\u2019s commentary to the Book of Isaiah,<\/span> see our introduction to chapter 1.<\/span><\/a><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":65166,"alt":"","title":"is9-fake news","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is9-fake-news.jpg","width":1920,"height":1279,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is9-fake-news-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is9-fake-news-300x200.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":200,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is9-fake-news-768x512.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":512,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is9-fake-news-1024x682.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":682,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is9-fake-news.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1023,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is9-fake-news.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":1279,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is9-fake-news-1200x799.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":799,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is9-fake-news-630x420.jpg","home_baner-width":630,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"First There Was The Word","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"And then there was fake news","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":65166,"alt":"","title":"is9-fake news","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is9-fake-news.jpg","width":1920,"height":1279,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is9-fake-news-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is9-fake-news-300x200.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":200,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is9-fake-news-768x512.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":512,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is9-fake-news-1024x682.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":682,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is9-fake-news.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1023,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is9-fake-news.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":1279,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is9-fake-news-1200x799.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":799,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is9-fake-news-630x420.jpg","home_baner-width":630,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"tile_link_for_pay":"0","send_noty":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"Isaiah","chapter":"9","chapter_main_number":"343","date":"20261222","wall_id":"343"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"506","name":"Prophecy","old_id":"906"}]},{"order":13,"id":"65247","color":"#effaea","size":"1","name":"The Challenges Of One God ","post_title":"The Challenges Of One God","slug":"the-challenges-of-one-god","old_id":"65247","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":36147,"post_title":"Aaron Koller","slug":"aaron-koller","old_id":"36147","first_name":"Aaron","last_name":"Koller","description":"Aaron Koller is professor of Near Eastern studies at Yeshiva University, where he is chair of the Beren Department of Jewish Studies. His last book was Esther in Ancient Jewish Thought (Cambridge University Press), and his next is Unbinding Isaac: The Akedah in Jewish Thought (forthcoming from JPS\/University of Nebraska Press in 2020); he is also the author of numerous studies in Semitic philology. Aaron has served as a visiting professor at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem and held research fellowships at the Albright Institute for Archaeological Research and the Hartman Institute. He lives in Queens, NY with his wife, Shira Hecht-Koller, and their children.","short_description":"Aaron Koller is professor of Near Eastern studies at Yeshiva University, and chair of the Department of Jewish Studies there.","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":36148,"alt":"","title":"AJ Koller headshot","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/AJ-Koller-headshot.jpg","width":5184,"height":3456,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/AJ-Koller-headshot-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/AJ-Koller-headshot-300x200.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":200,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/AJ-Koller-headshot-768x512.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":512,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/AJ-Koller-headshot-1024x683.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":683,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/AJ-Koller-headshot.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1024,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/AJ-Koller-headshot.jpg","2048x2048-width":2048,"2048x2048-height":1365,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/AJ-Koller-headshot-1200x800.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":800,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/AJ-Koller-headshot-630x420.jpg","home_baner-width":630,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"344","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Theodicy, universalism, particularism, exceptionalism","post_main_content_content":"

Monotheism is a powerful idea. On the one hand, it creates new problems. In a polytheistic system, the destruction of a temple is painful, but it is not a reason for a theological crisis. It may simply mean that other gods have defeated, or even outvoted, my own god, as we read in some of<\/span> the Sumerian city laments<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

For a monotheist, however, this is a major crisis, and entire biblical books (such as Ezekiel) are focused on this problem precisely: how can <\/span>our<\/span><\/em> God abandon us? Even more profoundly, the question of theodicy (\u201cwhy do bad things happen to good people?\u201d) only arises in a monotheistic worldview. Then we have to struggle to explain how an omniscient (all-knowing), omnibenevolent (all-good), and omnipotent (all-powerful) God can allow pain and suffering in the world. If there is no omniscient, omnibenevolent, omnipotent God, there is no question.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

So how does Assyria conquer Israel? The monotheistic answer is given in Isaiah 10:5: \u201cWoe! Assyria, rod of My anger \/ in whose hand, as a staff, is My fury!\u201d This short line encapsulates a fundamental theological teaching. If Assyria is ascendant, it is not <\/span>despite<\/span><\/em> God, but because of God.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

This is not the only view found in Tanakh. Elsewhere, it is implied that the various nations have their own gods \u2013 assigned to them by God Godself. (This view is developed and defended by Ramban \/ Nachmanides, most elaborately in his commentary on Leviticus 18:25.) The prophets object to that, however, in passages such as this one, or Amos 9: \u201cLook, I brought Israel up out of Egypt \u2013 but also the Philistines from Crete, and the Arameans from Qir!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

This sort of radical monotheism, clearly prominent in prophetic thinking already in the days of Isaiah and Amos, does have a theological downside, however (besides the issue of theodicy): if God is God of the whole world, what makes Israel special? Or, as Amos (9:7) says, \u201cAre you not just like the Ethiopians to me, O Israelites?\u201d Universalism comes at the expense of particularism, and if \u201cAssyria is the rod of my wrath,\u201d Israel and Assyria are, theologically, not so different after all.<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":65248,"alt":"","title":"is10-dollar","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is10-dollar.jpg","width":1161,"height":944,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is10-dollar-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is10-dollar-300x244.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":244,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is10-dollar-768x624.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":624,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is10-dollar-1024x833.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":833,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is10-dollar.jpg","1536x1536-width":1161,"1536x1536-height":944,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is10-dollar.jpg","2048x2048-width":1161,"2048x2048-height":944,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is10-dollar.jpg","post_full_size-width":1161,"post_full_size-height":944,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is10-dollar-517x420.jpg","home_baner-width":517,"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 Challenges Of One God","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Theodicy, universalism, particularism, exceptionalism","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":65248,"alt":"","title":"is10-dollar","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is10-dollar.jpg","width":1161,"height":944,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is10-dollar-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is10-dollar-300x244.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":244,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is10-dollar-768x624.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":624,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is10-dollar-1024x833.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":833,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is10-dollar.jpg","1536x1536-width":1161,"1536x1536-height":944,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is10-dollar.jpg","2048x2048-width":1161,"2048x2048-height":944,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is10-dollar.jpg","post_full_size-width":1161,"post_full_size-height":944,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is10-dollar-517x420.jpg","home_baner-width":517,"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":"Isaiah","chapter":"10","chapter_main_number":"344","date":"20261223","wall_id":"344"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"384","name":"God","old_id":"784"},{"term_id":"460","name":"Evil","old_id":"860"},{"term_id":"491","name":"Suffering","old_id":"891"},{"term_id":"610","name":"Universal Message","old_id":"1010"},{"term_id":"832","name":"Theology","old_id":"1232"}]},{"order":14,"id":"65239","color":"#eceffa","size":"1","name":"The Case Of Widows And Orphans ","post_title":"The Case Of Widows And Orphans","slug":"the-case-of-widows-and-orphans","old_id":"65239","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":57331,"post_title":"Josh and Leora Blechner","slug":"josh-and-leora-blechner","old_id":"57331","first_name":"Josh and Leora ","last_name":"Blechner","description":"Josh and Leora Blechner have been learning Tanach together since Leora was five years old. Josh is an in-house attorney in New Jersey and Leora is a middle school student at SAR academy.","short_description":"Josh and Leora Blechner have been learning Tanach together since Leora was five years old. Josh is an in-house attorney in New Jersey and Leora is a middle school student at SAR academy.","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":57484,"alt":"","title":"blechner","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/blechner-1.jpg","width":501,"height":509,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/blechner-1-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/blechner-1-295x300.jpg","medium-width":295,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/blechner-1.jpg","medium_large-width":501,"medium_large-height":509,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/blechner-1.jpg","large-width":501,"large-height":509,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/blechner-1.jpg","1536x1536-width":501,"1536x1536-height":509,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/blechner-1.jpg","2048x2048-width":501,"2048x2048-height":509,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/blechner-1.jpg","post_full_size-width":501,"post_full_size-height":509,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/blechner-1-413x420.jpg","home_baner-width":413,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"344","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Harming - and protecting - the most vulnerable\u00a0\u00a0","post_main_content_content":"

The theme of telling Israel that they need to care for the widows and orphans appears multiple times in the book of Isaiah. But there\u2019s an interesting juxtaposition of this theme at the end of the ninth chapter and the beginning of the tenth. In Isaiah 9:16 God says that he will destroy all of Israel, including the widows and orphans. And then in Isaiah 10:1-2 Isaiah castigates the people of Jerusalem for not protecting widows and orphans. Why juxtapose these two messages? On the one hand God proclaims that everyone is evil and he will destroy the widows and orphans and yet the very next chapter the people are castigated for their treatment of the widows and orphans.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

We want to suggest three potential answers, each showing a slightly different way that the prophet can portray a theme or message by simple juxtaposition:<\/span><\/p>\r\n

1) When God declares that he will destroy the widows and orphans, the unwritten response from the people is- \u201cWhat can we do to prevent the destruction of the vulnerable?\u201d God takes that point and flips around and responds, \u201cIf you want to save the vulnerable from my wrath, you need to do a better job of protecting them yourselves!\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

2) Similarly, God says he is going to destroy the widows and orphans and then he turns to Israel and asks why didn\u2019t you protect them? In essence He is saying that it is Israel\u2019s fault that He has to destroy them along with all Israel. The people could have been better and not have this destruction. \u201cIf you feel bad right now, it's your fault not mine.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

3) Finally, such a staggering decision to destroy the most vulnerable of the population may have triggered a reaction from the listeners questioning how can God possibly harm those that are most vulnerable. Isaiah then turns around and throws it back at the people. You are blaming God for promising to destroy the widows and orphans and yet look how you yourselves treat them!?<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Image: James Tissot The Widow's Mite<\/em> (Le denier de la veuve), 1886-1894 \/ Brooklyn Museum<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":65245,"alt":"","title":"is10-Widows_Mite_Le_denier_de_la_veuve_-_James_Tissot","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is10-Widows_Mite_Le_denier_de_la_veuve_-_James_Tissot.jpg","width":747,"height":483,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is10-Widows_Mite_Le_denier_de_la_veuve_-_James_Tissot-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is10-Widows_Mite_Le_denier_de_la_veuve_-_James_Tissot-300x194.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":194,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is10-Widows_Mite_Le_denier_de_la_veuve_-_James_Tissot.jpg","medium_large-width":747,"medium_large-height":483,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is10-Widows_Mite_Le_denier_de_la_veuve_-_James_Tissot.jpg","large-width":747,"large-height":483,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is10-Widows_Mite_Le_denier_de_la_veuve_-_James_Tissot.jpg","1536x1536-width":747,"1536x1536-height":483,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is10-Widows_Mite_Le_denier_de_la_veuve_-_James_Tissot.jpg","2048x2048-width":747,"2048x2048-height":483,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is10-Widows_Mite_Le_denier_de_la_veuve_-_James_Tissot.jpg","post_full_size-width":747,"post_full_size-height":483,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is10-Widows_Mite_Le_denier_de_la_veuve_-_James_Tissot-650x420.jpg","home_baner-width":650,"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 Case Of Widows And Orphans","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Harming - and protecting - the most vulnerable\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":65245,"alt":"","title":"is10-Widows_Mite_Le_denier_de_la_veuve_-_James_Tissot","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is10-Widows_Mite_Le_denier_de_la_veuve_-_James_Tissot.jpg","width":747,"height":483,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is10-Widows_Mite_Le_denier_de_la_veuve_-_James_Tissot-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is10-Widows_Mite_Le_denier_de_la_veuve_-_James_Tissot-300x194.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":194,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is10-Widows_Mite_Le_denier_de_la_veuve_-_James_Tissot.jpg","medium_large-width":747,"medium_large-height":483,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is10-Widows_Mite_Le_denier_de_la_veuve_-_James_Tissot.jpg","large-width":747,"large-height":483,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is10-Widows_Mite_Le_denier_de_la_veuve_-_James_Tissot.jpg","1536x1536-width":747,"1536x1536-height":483,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is10-Widows_Mite_Le_denier_de_la_veuve_-_James_Tissot.jpg","2048x2048-width":747,"2048x2048-height":483,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is10-Widows_Mite_Le_denier_de_la_veuve_-_James_Tissot.jpg","post_full_size-width":747,"post_full_size-height":483,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is10-Widows_Mite_Le_denier_de_la_veuve_-_James_Tissot-650x420.jpg","home_baner-width":650,"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":"Isaiah","chapter":"10","chapter_main_number":"344","date":"20261223","wall_id":"344"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"384","name":"God","old_id":"784"},{"term_id":"391","name":"In\/Justice","old_id":"791"},{"term_id":"436","name":"Morality","old_id":"836"}]},{"order":15,"id":"65319","color":"#f8ebe3","size":"1","name":"It Will Be Good! Or At Least, Better... ","post_title":"It Will Be Good! Or At Least, Better...","slug":"it-will-be-good-or-at-least-better","old_id":"65319","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":37561,"post_title":"Deena Cowans","slug":"deena-cowans","old_id":"37561","first_name":"Deena ","last_name":"Cowans","description":"Deena Cowans is a rabbinical student at JTS and alumnus of the Master's in Public Administration- Development Practice at Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA). \r\nDeena is the Director of Education (Rosh Chinuch) at Camp Ramah in the Rockies since January 2016, and was the Youth and Family Programs at Congregation Ansche Chesed in 2016-2017.","short_description":"Deena Cowans is a rabbinical student at JTS, and the Director of Education at Camp Ramah in the Rockies","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":37562,"alt":"","title":"deena cowans","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/deena-cowans-e1534076835642.jpg","width":181,"height":207,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/deena-cowans-e1534076835642-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/deena-cowans-e1534076835642.jpg","medium-width":181,"medium-height":207,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/deena-cowans-e1534076835642.jpg","medium_large-width":181,"medium_large-height":207,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/deena-cowans-e1534076835642.jpg","large-width":181,"large-height":207,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/deena-cowans-e1534076835642.jpg","1536x1536-width":181,"1536x1536-height":207,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/deena-cowans-e1534076835642.jpg","2048x2048-width":181,"2048x2048-height":207,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/deena-cowans-e1534076835642.jpg","post_full_size-width":181,"post_full_size-height":207,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/deena-cowans-e1534076835642.jpg","home_baner-width":181,"home_baner-height":207}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"345","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"In the meantime, even an incomplete peace would be nice","post_main_content_content":"

In 1977, with Israel on the cusp of a peace deal with Egypt, Israeli singer-songwriter David Broza penned music to and performed the now iconic song, \u201cYihiye Tov<\/em>\u201d (It Will Be Good<\/em> - lyrics by recently deceased author Yonatan Gefen). The song expresses both the hope and disappointment at the political situation and the move towards peace. At the end of the song, Broza imagines a future of peace and co-existence, which he describes by paraphrasing the messianic vision described in this chapter, \u201cThe wolf will live come to live with the lamb, and the tiger will lie down with the kid\u201d.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Geffen\/Broza\u2019s hope for peace has not yet been fully realized, nor has the vision of the prophet that we read in this chapter. But maybe that is exactly the point of this image: to force us to confront our ideas of peace and what would constitute a true and complete peace, so that we reckon with the incomplete peace in which we live. The chapter begins with a more realistic and realized vision of peace and renewal, in which the shoot of the line of Jesse (a reference to King David and the Jewish Messiah) emerges from a stump of a tree. Broza\u2019s song is, perhaps, a living testament to the truth of this prophecy. After several bitter and costly wars, Israelis were still able to dream of peace and negotiate with their neighbors.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The rest of the prophecy has not yet come true, and maybe it never will. It is hard to imagine combatants laying down their weapons and coexisting with their enemies in peace and security in Israel any time soon, just as it is hard to imagine bears grazing with cows or lions eating straw, as this chapter envisions. For a world utterly without violence, we must continue to wait for the messianic era. But as Broza sings, in the meantime, we can pursue peace and continue to believe and hope that everything will be ok.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Image: David Broza at Masada, 2012, photo by Avinoam Michaeli \/ pikiwiki<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":65320,"alt":"","title":"is11-David_Broza","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is11-David_Broza.jpg","width":800,"height":614,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is11-David_Broza-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is11-David_Broza-300x230.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":230,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is11-David_Broza-768x589.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":589,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is11-David_Broza.jpg","large-width":800,"large-height":614,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is11-David_Broza.jpg","1536x1536-width":800,"1536x1536-height":614,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is11-David_Broza.jpg","2048x2048-width":800,"2048x2048-height":614,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is11-David_Broza.jpg","post_full_size-width":800,"post_full_size-height":614,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is11-David_Broza-547x420.jpg","home_baner-width":547,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"https:\/\/youtu.be\/qtI7h5A9eEQ","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"It Will Be Good! 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Isaiah 11 depicts Israel\u2019s redemption from national subjugation. God will do to Assyria what he once did to Egypt, restoring Israel to their land (Isa 11:11\u201315). This will be heralded by the messianic \u201cshoot [who] shall grow out of the stump of Jesse\u201d (Isa 11:1). Under his leadership, Israel will dwell forever in a state of otherworldly repose: \u201cThe wolf shall dwell with the lamb, The leopard lie down with the kid[.] \u2026 In all of My sacred mount Nothing evil or vile shall be done; For the land shall be filled with devotion to the LORD As water covers the sea\u201d (Isa 11:6, 9). Israel\u2019s national restoration is inextricably linked with the renewal of creation itself.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Presumably, this prophecy comforted Isaiah\u2019s contemporaries. Centuries later, however, it would profoundly disturb the greatest Jewish philosopher, Maimonides:<\/span><\/p>\r\n

It should not occur to you that during the days of the messiah a single thing from the \u2018ways of the world\u2019 will be canceled nor will there be something novel in the creation. Rather, the world will continue in its customary way. Now, that which is said in Isaiah, \u2018The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, The leopard lie down with the kid\u2019 (Isa 11:6) is a parable and riddle. The substance of the matter is that Israel will dwell in safety (Mishneh Torah, Laws of Kings and Wars, 12:1).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

For Maimonides, the notion that politics could have cosmic consequences was philosophically embarrassing. Therefore, he understood the latter metaphorically.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Most contemporary readers, I imagine, are inclined to share Maimonides\u2019 rationalism. However, even those who cannot accept Isaiah\u2019s prophecy literally ought to appreciate one of its important implications: Israel aspires for a redemption that benefits the entire world, not just themselves. For Isaiah, Israel is not, as for Balaam, \u201ca people that dwells apart, Not reckoned among the nations\u201d (Num 23:9). Rather, their fate is intimately tied up with that of the whole world. Therefore, Jews must never construe their place in the world parochially or myopically.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Even the Great Eagle himself could not fully resist this sublime suggestion. Although Maimonides began by \u201crefuting\u201d Isaiah\u2019s cosmic language, he concluded by invoking it: \u201cAt that time there will be no famines and no wars, no envy and no competition. \u2026 They will then achieve knowledge of the Creator to as high a degree as humanly possible, as it says, \u2018For the land shall be filled with devotion to [literally \u2018knowledge of\u2019] the LORD As water covers the sea\u2019 (Isa 11:9)\u201d (Mishneh Torah, Laws of Kings and Wars, 12:5). For the philosopher no less than for the prophet, at stake in Israel\u2019s national restoration is nothing less than a renewed world. This is the promise and the challenge of being God\u2019s people.<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":65337,"alt":"","title":"is11-peace-justice-world","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is11-peace-justice-world.jpg","width":1920,"height":730,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is11-peace-justice-world-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is11-peace-justice-world-300x114.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":114,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is11-peace-justice-world-768x292.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":292,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is11-peace-justice-world-1024x389.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":389,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is11-peace-justice-world.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":584,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is11-peace-justice-world.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":730,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is11-peace-justice-world-1200x456.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":456,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is11-peace-justice-world-1105x420.jpg","home_baner-width":1105,"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":"Nation Restored, Creation Renewed","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Israel aspires for a redemption that benefits the entire world, not just themselves","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":65337,"alt":"","title":"is11-peace-justice-world","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is11-peace-justice-world.jpg","width":1920,"height":730,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is11-peace-justice-world-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is11-peace-justice-world-300x114.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":114,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is11-peace-justice-world-768x292.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":292,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is11-peace-justice-world-1024x389.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":389,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is11-peace-justice-world.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":584,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is11-peace-justice-world.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":730,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is11-peace-justice-world-1200x456.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":456,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is11-peace-justice-world-1105x420.jpg","home_baner-width":1105,"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":"Isaiah","chapter":"11","chapter_main_number":"345","date":"20261224","wall_id":"345"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"423","name":"Politics","old_id":"823"},{"term_id":"458","name":"Nations","old_id":"858"},{"term_id":"506","name":"Prophecy","old_id":"906"},{"term_id":"610","name":"Universal Message","old_id":"1010"}]},{"order":17,"id":"115705","color":"#eceffa","size":"1","name":"Chekhov v. Shakespeare ","post_title":"Chekhov v. Shakespeare","slug":"chekhov-v-shakespeare","old_id":"115705","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":92960,"post_title":"Calev Ben-Dor","slug":"calev-ben-dor","old_id":"92960","first_name":"Calev ","last_name":"Ben-Dor ","description":"Having grown up in London, Calev Ben-Dor now lives in Jerusalem with his family. He writes and teaches about Israel and Judaism and is involved in a Whatsapp facilitated 929 learning group with members from across the world.","short_description":"Calev Ben-Dor lives in Jerusalem and writes and teaches about Israel and Judaism.","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":92962,"alt":"","title":"calev ben dor","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/calev-ben-dor-1.jpg","width":428,"height":414,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/calev-ben-dor-1-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/calev-ben-dor-1-300x290.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":290,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/calev-ben-dor-1.jpg","medium_large-width":428,"medium_large-height":414,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/calev-ben-dor-1.jpg","large-width":428,"large-height":414,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/calev-ben-dor-1.jpg","1536x1536-width":428,"1536x1536-height":414,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/calev-ben-dor-1.jpg","2048x2048-width":428,"2048x2048-height":414,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/calev-ben-dor-1.jpg","post_full_size-width":428,"post_full_size-height":414,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/calev-ben-dor-1.jpg","home_baner-width":428,"home_baner-height":414}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"345","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Which style of tragedy do you prefer?\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

Isaiah\u2019s vision that the wolf shall dwell with the lamb presents an inspiring utopian vision of world peace but as Aviezer Ravitsky notes, throughout Jewish history, with the Jewish people lacking sovereignty, \u201cneither war nor peace really stood as a concrete option for the Jewish people.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Yet with the return of the Jewish people to Israel, these issues are particularly relevant.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

There are different conceptions of peace. One, <\/span>Shalom<\/span><\/i>, comes from the word <\/span>shlemut<\/span><\/i>, meaning whole and perfect.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Another comes from the Latin word <\/span>pax <\/span><\/i>which means \"freedom from civil disorder.\u201d In a world of pax, people or countries may hate one another, but agree to stop fighting. Indeed, <\/span>Pax Romana <\/span><\/i>was a time of stability, but primarily because the Romans were so powerful they had destroyed all their enemies.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

In his book \u2018To Heal a Fractured World\u2019, Jonathan Sacks discusses the difference between what he calls the \u2018prophetic version of peace\u2019 [a la Isaiah] and the Rabbinic version, which comes in the form of <\/span>darkei shalom <\/span><\/i>[the ways of peace], when just as we bury Jewish dead, we are commanded to bury gentile dead for <\/span>darkei shalom<\/span><\/i>.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

For Sacks, <\/span>darkei shalom<\/span><\/i> \u201care clearly not peace as Isaiah or Micha envisaged it. At first sight these rabbinic laws lack the grandeur of the prophets \u2013 they are small scale, local, even prosaic\u2026They seem to be no more than pragmatism, generously conceived.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

But he argues they \u201cconstitute a programme for peace in an unredeemed world.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

What the sages who articulated the ways of peace knew was that in this not-yet-fully-redeemed world, peace means living with difference \u2013 with those who have another faith and other texts. That is the fundamental distinction between the prophetic peace of religious unity and the rabbinic peace of religious diversity, with all the compromise, restraint and mutual respect that coexistence requires.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

In comparing them, Sacks explains that the prophets envisaged peace in what Francis Fukuyama, following Hegel, called the \u2018end of history\u2019. The rabbis constructed a template of peace tailored to the crooked timer of humanity.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Amos Oz used to describe how he imagined Israeli-Palestinian peace by drawing on literature. Oz argues that the conflict is a tragedy in that it is a clash between right and right, adding that tragedies can be resolved in one of two ways \u2013 the Shakespearian way or the Chekhov way: \u201cIn a tragedy by Shakespeare things are resolved but the stage at the end is littered with dead bodies. In a tragedy by Chekhov everyone is unhappy, bitter, disillusioned and melancholy but they are alive.\u201d He concludes that he is working for a Chekhovian rather than a Shakespearian conclusion.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The Chekhov way is far less inspiring than Isaiah\u2019s vision. But in the unredeemed world in which we live, perhaps it\u2019s the best that can be achieved.<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":93878,"alt":"","title":"job8-tragedy","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/job8-tragedy.png","width":1280,"height":1156,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/job8-tragedy-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/job8-tragedy-300x271.png","medium-width":300,"medium-height":271,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/job8-tragedy-768x694.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":694,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/job8-tragedy-1024x925.png","large-width":1024,"large-height":925,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/job8-tragedy.png","1536x1536-width":1280,"1536x1536-height":1156,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/job8-tragedy.png","2048x2048-width":1280,"2048x2048-height":1156,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/job8-tragedy-1200x1084.png","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":1084,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/job8-tragedy-465x420.png","home_baner-width":465,"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":"Chekhov v. Shakespeare","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Which style of tragedy do you prefer?","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":93878,"alt":"","title":"job8-tragedy","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/job8-tragedy.png","width":1280,"height":1156,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/job8-tragedy-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/job8-tragedy-300x271.png","medium-width":300,"medium-height":271,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/job8-tragedy-768x694.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":694,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/job8-tragedy-1024x925.png","large-width":1024,"large-height":925,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/job8-tragedy.png","1536x1536-width":1280,"1536x1536-height":1156,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/job8-tragedy.png","2048x2048-width":1280,"2048x2048-height":1156,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/job8-tragedy-1200x1084.png","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":1084,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/job8-tragedy-465x420.png","home_baner-width":465,"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":"Isaiah","chapter":"11","chapter_main_number":"345","date":"20261224","wall_id":"345"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"409","name":"Peace","old_id":"809"},{"term_id":"444","name":"History","old_id":"844"},{"term_id":"955","name":"Tragedy","old_id":"1355"}]}],"hide_acf":true,"home_image":false,"home_posts":false,"home_posts_title":"","posts_home":[],"static_cube_title":"","static_cube_brief":"","static_cube_color":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/wall\/65031"}],"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=65031"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}