{"id":66527,"date":"2018-07-09T17:45:21","date_gmt":"2018-07-09T14:45:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wall\/wall-1073\/"},"modified":"2023-06-30T11:07:23","modified_gmt":"2023-06-30T08:07:23","slug":"wall-1073","status":"publish","type":"wall","link":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wall\/wall-1073\/","title":{"rendered":"weekend-from-20230625-to-20230701"},"parent":0,"template":"","acf":{"type":"weekend","wall_id":"1073","date_from":"20230625","date_to":"20230701","book":"Isaiah","books_group":"Prophets","posts":[{"order":1,"id":"47698","color":"#effaea","size":"1","name":"The Truest Thing I Know ","post_title":"The Truest Thing I Know","slug":"the-truest-thing-i-know","old_id":"47698","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":33859,"post_title":"Avidan Freedman","slug":"avidan-freedman","old_id":"33859","first_name":"Avidan","last_name":"Freedman","description":"Rabbi Avidan Freedman is the Rabbi of Hevruta, the Shalom Hartman Institute's post high school program for Israelis and North Americans, and an educator in the institute's high school. He is an activist advocating for moral limits on Israeli arms exports, and on behalf of African refugees, and a proud husband and father of 5. He received his rabbinical ordination from Yeshivat Chovevei Torah in New York, and from the Israeli chief rabbinate.","credit":"","image_url":"","short_description":"Rabbi Avidan Freedman is the Rabbi of Hevruta, the Shalom Hartman Institute's post high school program for Israelis and North Americans, and an educator in the institute's high school. ","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":33860,"alt":"Avidan Freedman","title":"Avidan Freedman","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Avidan-Freedman-e1532029306365.jpg","width":856,"height":1024,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Avidan-Freedman-e1532029306365-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Avidan-Freedman-e1532029306365-251x300.jpg","medium-width":251,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Avidan-Freedman-e1532029306365-768x919.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":919,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Avidan-Freedman-e1532029306365-856x1024.jpg","large-width":856,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Avidan-Freedman-e1532029306365.jpg","1536x1536-width":856,"1536x1536-height":1024,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Avidan-Freedman-e1532029306365.jpg","2048x2048-width":856,"2048x2048-height":1024,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Avidan-Freedman-800x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":800,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Avidan-Freedman-e1532029306365-351x420.jpg","home_baner-width":351,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"136","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Human progress is a valiant, but futile, attempt to defeat death","post_main_content_content":"

One of the most basic, unquestioned, and unfounded axioms of modern man is the belief in the unlimited human capacity for understanding our world. The mysteries of the universe are all temporary, just waiting for the person who will crack their code, who will discover the equation or formulate the theory that will provide us with the explanation. This belief is an integral component of the modern belief in Progress. To suggest that a natural phenomenon is beyond human understanding, that it can't be measured or tested or evaluated, is modern heresy.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

But as much as human history can be rallied to prove that humanity progresses, it provides even more consistent and compelling evidence that human understanding is limited. There is, I submit, no surer, more well-founded truth statement that can be made than that \"our understanding is flawed.\" I'm not sure it's really possible to know anything else for certain. After all, perhaps this is all a dream. Perhaps I'm a brain floating in a jar. One can be skeptical of all statements, except for this one: that my understanding of the world is lacking. The entire history of scientific progress attests to it; it's shortsighted to think that the scientific truths we are most sure of won't seem quaint, primitive, and silly in 50 or 100 years.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The limits of human understanding are proven by another demonstrable phenomenon we simultaneously ignore and obsess about- death. In a sense, human progress is a valiant, but futile, attempt to defeat death, for death deals a fatal blow to the illusion of limitless human capacity.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

This is precisely the message that the Torah's ritual response to death carries. The most perplexing element of the ritual of the red heifer is its paradoxical effect, defiling the pure while it purifies the defiled. The dichotomy of pure-impure, <\/span>tahor-tameh<\/span><\/em>, is the major organizing principle of religious life in the desert. The Torah's response to death renders the dichotomy absurd, reminding us that ultimate meaning belongs only to the Ultimate. Our own understandings of the world, even through the categories God gives us, will always be limited and lacking.<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":66240,"alt":"","title":"is25-death","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is25-death.jpg","width":1920,"height":1280,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is25-death-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is25-death-300x200.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":200,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is25-death-768x512.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":512,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is25-death-1024x683.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":683,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is25-death.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1024,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is25-death.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":1280,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is25-death-1200x800.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":800,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is25-death-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":"The Truest Thing I Know","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Human progress is a valiant, but futile, attempt to defeat death","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":66240,"alt":"","title":"is25-death","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is25-death.jpg","width":1920,"height":1280,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is25-death-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is25-death-300x200.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":200,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is25-death-768x512.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":512,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is25-death-1024x683.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":683,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is25-death.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1024,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is25-death.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":1280,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is25-death-1200x800.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":800,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/is25-death-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":"19","chapter_main_number":"136","date":"20260308","wall_id":"136"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"448","name":"Ritual","old_id":"848"},{"term_id":"463","name":"Truth","old_id":"863"},{"term_id":"818","name":"Understanding","old_id":"1218"}]},{"order":2,"id":"47856","color":"#effaea","size":"1","name":"In The Presence Of The Rock ","post_title":"In The Presence Of The Rock","slug":"in-the-presence-of-the-rock","old_id":"47856","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":"137","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Moses denies the people a vision of faith and intimate connection","post_main_content_content":"

At the end, at Meribah, God tells Moses and Aaron: \u201cYou shall <\/span>speak<\/span><\/i> to the rock <\/span>before their eyes<\/span><\/i>.\u201d Once before they had seen sounds: at Mount Sinai, they had \u201cseen the voices\u201d (Exod. 20:15). Something of the power of God\u2019s word had affected them with the primal, traumatic impact of vision. Perhaps, suggests Meshech Chochmah<\/em>, now, at the end of the wilderness time, as they are about to reenact the Sinai Covenant, God wishes them to re-experience the visionary impact of the word. At Sinai, they had been confronted with its demand. Now, each individual will envisage Moses delivering that impact to unimpressible rock. They will bring themselves to bear on the scene; their eyes will be sanctified by <\/span>seeing<\/span><\/i> the holy word.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

However, Moses, because of his anger with the people, calls only on their sense of <\/span>hearing<\/span><\/i>: \u201cListen now, you rebels, shall we bring water forth for you from this rock?\u201d <\/span>Seeing<\/span><\/i> God\u2019s message would have generated faith, trust, intimate connection. But he fails to engage their depth perception of the moment. To see God\u2019s words is to bring one\u2019s personal presence-conscious and unconscious-to the scene; to be affected to the roots of one\u2019s being by something staged before one\u2019s eyes.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

But for this to happen, one must have eyes that can see. Such an intensity of vision is evoked in the midrash: \u201cEach person saw himself standing in the presence of the rock.\u201d \u00a0This is a scene of presences: the people are gathered <\/span>el pnei ha-sela--face-to-face<\/span><\/em> with the rock. Each person sees his\/her own presence in the presence of the rock. Looking at the thing, one endows it with a face; a space is created between two faces. One enhances the rock with one\u2019s own life.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The English psychoanalyst Donald Winnicott calls the space between mother and baby <\/span>potential space<\/span><\/em>; it is electric with fantasy and dream. In this space, mother and baby create each other. Facing the rock, each person experiences him\/herself facing the rock.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Excerpted from: \u00a0<\/span>Bewilderments<\/span><\/i>, Schocken Books, 2017, \u00a0\u201cHeart of Stone, Heart of Flesh,\u201d Chapter 8, Page 221.<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":78824,"alt":"","title":"zeph1-face","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/zeph1-face.jpg","width":6000,"height":4000,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/zeph1-face-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/zeph1-face-300x200.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":200,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/zeph1-face-768x512.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":512,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/zeph1-face-1024x683.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":683,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/zeph1-face.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1024,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/zeph1-face.jpg","2048x2048-width":2048,"2048x2048-height":1365,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/zeph1-face-1200x800.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":800,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/zeph1-face-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":"In The Presence Of The Rock","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Moses denies the people a vision of faith and intimate connection","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":78824,"alt":"","title":"zeph1-face","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/zeph1-face.jpg","width":6000,"height":4000,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/zeph1-face-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/zeph1-face-300x200.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":200,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/zeph1-face-768x512.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":512,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/zeph1-face-1024x683.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":683,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/zeph1-face.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1024,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/zeph1-face.jpg","2048x2048-width":2048,"2048x2048-height":1365,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/zeph1-face-1200x800.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":800,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/zeph1-face-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":"20","chapter_main_number":"137","date":"20260309","wall_id":"137"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"375","name":"Faith","old_id":"775"},{"term_id":"384","name":"God","old_id":"784"},{"term_id":"443","name":"See\/hear","old_id":"843"}]},{"order":3,"id":"47879","color":"#effaea","size":"1","name":"A Song Bursts Forth ","post_title":"A Song Bursts Forth","slug":"a-song-bursts-forth","old_id":"47879","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":47016,"post_title":"Ilana Blumberg","slug":"ilana-blumberg","old_id":"47016","first_name":"Ilana ","last_name":"Blumberg ","description":"Ilana Blumberg is a prize-winning author and teacher. Her most recent book is the memoir, \"Open Your Hand: Teaching as a Jew, Teaching as an American\" (Rutgers UP, 2018). She directs the Shaindy Rudoff Graduate Program in Creative Writing at Bar Ilan University and lives in Jerusalem with her family.","short_description":"Ilana Blumberg is a prize-winning author and teacher.","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":47017,"alt":"","title":"ilana blumberg","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/ilana-blumberg-e1546807007295.jpg","width":188,"height":249,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/ilana-blumberg-e1546807007295-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/ilana-blumberg-300x300.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/ilana-blumberg-e1546807007295.jpg","medium_large-width":188,"medium_large-height":249,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/ilana-blumberg-e1546807007295.jpg","large-width":188,"large-height":249,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/ilana-blumberg-e1546807007295.jpg","1536x1536-width":188,"1536x1536-height":249,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/ilana-blumberg-e1546807007295.jpg","2048x2048-width":188,"2048x2048-height":249,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/ilana-blumberg-e1546807007295.jpg","post_full_size-width":188,"post_full_size-height":249,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/ilana-blumberg-e1546807007295.jpg","home_baner-width":188,"home_baner-height":249}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"138","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"It sings the people back to the Well, and back to the ancestors","post_main_content_content":"

Chapter 21 is a chapter of aftermath. It tells us what it means to return to the extraordinary range of challenges that simply <\/span>resume, <\/span><\/i>as if we could possibly be ready, after massively dislocating events, events that alter the landscape in every possible way. Anyone who has undergone a deep loss or profound change but had to return to life within a dictated period of time knows what this challenge is like. We know that as we move forward, some other vector of experience moves in a different direction, from surface to depth.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

In Chapter 20, we experience too much to manage. \u00a0In Chapter 21, we find ourselves after the death of Miriam, after the complaining that follows that death, after the event of Moses and Aaron gathering the people before a rock. Moses strikes the rock when he has not been instructed to use the staff, and God decrees that neither brother will lead the people into the promised land. It is irreversible, inexplicable, devastating. The children of Israel continue on their journey until God tells Moses that Aaron will die after transferring his priestly garments to his son. Precisely this transmission happens and then Aaron dies and the people mourn thirty days.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Chapter 20 ends. Both Moses\u2019 siblings are gone, we know that Moses too will die, that he will not enter the land, that we will leave him, too, behind.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

And the narrative continues. It simply continues.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Chapter 21 picks up with journeying, and battle, and more complaining, and more petitioning of God for protection. But in the midst of this slew of events, we read that the children of Israel sing a song praying for water. It is an extremely short song compared to some of the songs we know in the Bible. \u201cRise up, O well, sing to it\/The well the chieftains dug\/ The nobles of the people started\/\u2026 with their own staffs\u201d (21:17-18).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

What is this song? To my ear, it is the verse in the chapter that registers the \u201cas if\u201d of continuing. This song, this prayer, sings the aftermath of Miriam\u2019s death, and Aaron\u2019s transmission of the priesthood, and Aaron\u2019s death, and the rock and the water, and the staff, always the staff, and the recognition that Moses, too, will be left behind. This song sings the people back to the well, back to the prayers for water, to the diggers of wells, to those who made our covenants, to our ancestors. <\/span><\/p>\r\n

Song bursts forth, because while we go on and the life of forward movement continues, the depths intersect that forward movement with the need for expression. <\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":61157,"alt":"","title":"2sam23-song","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/2sam23-song.png","width":1034,"height":1280,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/2sam23-song-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/2sam23-song-242x300.png","medium-width":242,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/2sam23-song-768x951.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":951,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/2sam23-song-827x1024.png","large-width":827,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/2sam23-song.png","1536x1536-width":1034,"1536x1536-height":1280,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/2sam23-song.png","2048x2048-width":1034,"2048x2048-height":1280,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/2sam23-song-969x1200.png","post_full_size-width":969,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/2sam23-song-339x420.png","home_baner-width":339,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"A Song Bursts Forth","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"It sings the people back to the Well, and back to the ancestors","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":61157,"alt":"","title":"2sam23-song","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/2sam23-song.png","width":1034,"height":1280,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/2sam23-song-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/2sam23-song-242x300.png","medium-width":242,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/2sam23-song-768x951.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":951,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/2sam23-song-827x1024.png","large-width":827,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/2sam23-song.png","1536x1536-width":1034,"1536x1536-height":1280,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/2sam23-song.png","2048x2048-width":1034,"2048x2048-height":1280,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/2sam23-song-969x1200.png","post_full_size-width":969,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/2sam23-song-339x420.png","home_baner-width":339,"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":"21","chapter_main_number":"138","date":"20260310","wall_id":"138"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"687","name":"Routine","old_id":"1087"},{"term_id":"802","name":"Song","old_id":"1202"}]},{"order":4,"id":"50378","color":"#effaea","size":"1","name":"Holiness In Imperfection ","post_title":"Holiness In Imperfection","slug":"holiness-in-imperfection","old_id":"50378","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":37918,"post_title":"Shai Held","slug":"shai-held","old_id":"37918","first_name":" Shai ","last_name":"Held","description":"Rabbi Shai Held, theologian, scholar, and educator, is President, Dean, and Chair in Jewish Thought at Hadar, where he also directs the Center for Jewish Leadership and Ideas. A 2011 recipient of the prestigious Covenant Award for excellence in Jewish education, Rabbi Held has been named multiple times to Newsweek\u2019s list of the 50 most influential rabbis in America. He holds a doctorate in religion from Harvard; Rabbi Held's first book, Abraham Joshua Heschel: The Call of Transcendence, was published by Indiana University Press in 2013; The Heart of Torah, a collection of essays on the Torah in two volumes, was published by JPS in 2017.","short_description":"Rabbi Shai Held is President, Dean, and Chair in Jewish Thought at Hadar,","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":37919,"alt":"","title":"shai held","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/shai-held.jpg","width":150,"height":186,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/shai-held-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/shai-held.jpg","medium-width":150,"medium-height":186,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/shai-held.jpg","medium_large-width":150,"medium_large-height":186,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/shai-held.jpg","large-width":150,"large-height":186,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/shai-held.jpg","1536x1536-width":150,"1536x1536-height":186,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/shai-held.jpg","2048x2048-width":150,"2048x2048-height":186,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/shai-held.jpg","post_full_size-width":150,"post_full_size-height":186,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/shai-held.jpg","home_baner-width":150,"home_baner-height":186}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"139","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"What a talking donkey can teach us about sainthood and villainy","post_main_content_content":"

The story of Balaam, the famed gentile seer hired to curse Israel, is complex and elusive. What kind of man is Balaam\u2014a villain, a saint, or something in between? What are the three long chapters dedicated to his story (Numbers 22-24) intended to teach us? And what, readers often wonder, is the purpose of the talking donkey?<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Read the story of Balaam and skip over the donkey episode and you might well come away with the impression that Balaam is a good, upstanding man, perhaps even a righteous one. The Moabite king Balak offers him great financial reward for cursing Israel, but Balaam repeatedly insists that he will not defy God, not even for \u201ca house full of silver and gold\u201d (22:8,18,38).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

And yet a crucial part of the story is the episode with the donkey, in which Balaam is brutally lampooned. Balaam claims prophetic sight (24:4,17), but he cannot even see what his donkey sees clearly (three times!); he proudly declares that God places words in his mouth (22:38, 23:5, 16), yet God does the same for his donkey (22:28), and so on.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

As Bible scholar Gordon Wenham astutely notes, Balaam is to Balak as Balaam\u2019s donkey is to Balaam: Just as Balaam drives his donkey to do his bidding until the latter is brought up short by the angel of God, so also Balak drives Balaam to do his bidding until he, too, is stopped by an encounter with God.<\/span> \u201cIn truth,\u201d Bible scholar Jacob Milgrom writes, \u201cBalaam is depicted on a level lower than his ass: More unseeing in his inability to detect the angel, more stupid in being defeated verbally by his ass, and more beastly in subduing it with his stick whereas it responds with tempered speech.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

What are we to learn from God\u2019s utilization of the complex, deeply imperfect figure of Balaam to bless Israel? Perhaps the Torah wants us to know that one can be inspired, and can even be a prophet, without necessarily being a blameless saint. More, the Torah wants us to internalize the reality that God can make use even of people who are deeply flawed to achieve significant and holy ends. This is neither a trite claim nor a truism; on the contrary, it is the reality that makes covenant possible, since we are all fragile, broken, and sometimes corrupt. God uses (only!) imperfect people to achieve God\u2019s ends in the world.<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":101664,"alt":"","title":"-6201044ff2166--6201044ff2167gen2-crack 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Magician\u2019s Blessing To Daily Prayer ","post_title":"From Magician\u2019s Blessing To Daily Prayer","slug":"from-magicians-blessing-to-daily-prayer","old_id":"48151","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":"141","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Good to get an \u201cobjective assessment,\u201d \u00a0but should our self worth be coming from outside sources?","post_main_content_content":"

An old joke tells about two old Jews sitting on a bench, reading their newspapers, when one notices that his friend is reading the bulletin of the Nazi party. \u2018What on earth are you reading?\u2019 \u2018And what should I read?? This is the best news ever\u2019, replies the friend, \u2018We are the largest, most powerful, most successful nation in the world!\u2019<\/span><\/p>\r\n

A magician, a speaking she-donkey, curses that turn into blessings\u2026 Numbers 23 and 24 tell us a fantastic colorful story that leaves many questions. For example, if Balaam is so powerful, why not hire him to bless the Moabites, instead of curse the Children of Israel? Turns out, that sometimes, people (we) get so involved in our desire to destroy someone else, that we focus on that, instead \u2013 and often at the expense of \u2013 our own well-being.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Another question is about the famous \u201cma tovu\u201d, the words that decorate many synagogues throughout the world and open our morning prayers, although they are taken straight from Balaam\u2019s speech (Numbers 21:5). <\/span><\/p>\r\n

Why pick the words of a non-Jewish magician who set to destroy us, as those that adorn our shuls and start our day?<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The MaHaRaL (1520-1609) teaches that these words are true, davka<\/em> because they come from an \u201coutsider.\u201d We know from the Talmud that witnesses must be completely not related to the matter over which they testify, or it seems false because they are \u2014- <\/span>noge\u2019a bedavar,<\/span><\/em> related to the matter. In order for something to credible, it should come from an impartial source. So it is with ma tovu<\/em>: had we praised our own tents, camp, overall fabulousness, it might come from \u2013 and create \u2013 a feeling of haughtiness and pride, the same feeling that might have led to the transgression in the next chapter. <\/span><\/p>\r\n

On the other hand, should all our self worth be coming from outside sources?<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Nothing much has changed since: we still struggle how to take compliments: Is an \u201cobjective observation\u201d best? Or a kind word from a close friend?<\/span><\/p>\r\n

image: Mah Tovu Ohaleicha Yaakov: Moshe Kastel<\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":48152,"alt":"","title":"Num24-mah tovu","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Num24-mah-tovu.jpg","width":1024,"height":751,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Num24-mah-tovu-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Num24-mah-tovu-300x220.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":220,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Num24-mah-tovu-768x563.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":563,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Num24-mah-tovu-1024x751.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":751,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Num24-mah-tovu.jpg","1536x1536-width":1024,"1536x1536-height":751,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Num24-mah-tovu.jpg","2048x2048-width":1024,"2048x2048-height":751,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Num24-mah-tovu.jpg","post_full_size-width":1024,"post_full_size-height":751,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Num24-mah-tovu-573x420.jpg","home_baner-width":573,"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":"From Magician\u2019s Blessing To Daily Prayer","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Good to get an \u201cobjective assessment,\u201d \u00a0but should our self worth be coming from outside sources?","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":48152,"alt":"","title":"Num24-mah tovu","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Num24-mah-tovu.jpg","width":1024,"height":751,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Num24-mah-tovu-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Num24-mah-tovu-300x220.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":220,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Num24-mah-tovu-768x563.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":563,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Num24-mah-tovu-1024x751.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":751,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Num24-mah-tovu.jpg","1536x1536-width":1024,"1536x1536-height":751,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Num24-mah-tovu.jpg","2048x2048-width":1024,"2048x2048-height":751,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Num24-mah-tovu.jpg","post_full_size-width":1024,"post_full_size-height":751,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Num24-mah-tovu-573x420.jpg","home_baner-width":573,"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,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Torah","book":"Numbers","chapter":"24","chapter_main_number":"141","date":"20260315","wall_id":"141"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"453","name":"Stranger","old_id":"853"},{"term_id":"463","name":"Truth","old_id":"863"},{"term_id":"587","name":"Dignity","old_id":"987"}]},{"order":7,"id":"66331","color":"#efefef","size":"1","name":"A Sukkah Of Leviathan Skin ","post_title":"A Sukkah Of Leviathan Skin","slug":"a-sukkah-of-leviathan-skin","old_id":"66331","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":64758,"post_title":"Avraham Norin","slug":"avraham-norin","old_id":"64758","first_name":"Avraham ","last_name":"Norin ","description":"Avraham Norin teaches in Israel at the Machon Meir and Ora conversion program. He lives in the Southern Hebron Hills with his wife and six children.","short_description":"Avraham Norin teaches in Israel at the Machon Meir and Ora conversion program","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":64759,"alt":"","title":"avraham norin","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/avraham-norin.jpg","width":1064,"height":1600,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/avraham-norin-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/avraham-norin-200x300.jpg","medium-width":200,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/avraham-norin-681x1024.jpg","medium_large-width":681,"medium_large-height":1024,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/avraham-norin-681x1024.jpg","large-width":681,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/avraham-norin.jpg","1536x1536-width":1021,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/avraham-norin.jpg","2048x2048-width":1064,"2048x2048-height":1600,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/avraham-norin-798x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":798,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/avraham-norin-279x420.jpg","home_baner-width":279,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"361","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"An ancient vision of the transformation of evil into good","post_main_content_content":"

At the end of the Sukkot holiday, there is a custom to \"say goodbye to the sukkah\" with food and prayer. On the last day of Sukkot, one enters the sukkah, eats a snack, and recites the following prayer:\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\r\n

May it be Your will, LORD, our God and the God of our forefathers, that just as I have fulfilled the mitzvah and dwelled in this Sukkah, so may I merit to dwell in the Sukkah of the skin of the Leviathan.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n

What is the meaning of this unusual custom and prayer? The answer is that they are a commentary to our chapter in Isaiah.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Chapter 27 of Isaiah begins with the verse of God killing the mighty sea creatures: \"In that day the LORD will punish, With His great, cruel, mighty sword Leviathan the Elusive Serpent\u2014 Leviathan the Twisting Serpent; He will slay the Dragon [<\/span>tanin<\/span><\/em>, <\/span><\/i>also crocodile] of the sea\"<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Read in a vacuum, this verse can be understood in many ways. The midrash discusses two actual leviathans dating back to the six days of creation. Other commentaries take a more symbolic approach while interpreting our verse. However, the prayer we recite upon leaving the sukkah connect this verse with the beginning of Isaiah's speech in this unit of chapter 23-27, showing that each of these sea creatures represents another kingdom. In chapter 23, Isaiah discusses the punishment that will occur to Tyre and Sidon. These were the two shipbuilding people of ancient times. Their ships ruled the sea to such an extent that the \"Mediterranean Sea\" was dubbed by many as the \"Tyrian Sea\". These are the Leviathans of chapter 27. Their ships assisted Egypt, a third country mentioned in chapter 23, to sell its wheat all throughout the ancient world. This is the crocodile mentioned in our verse.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

According to chapter 23, these three countries will be punished for their self-interested actions, divorced of any morals or ethics. But after a period of destruction, and with the help of God, the countries will rehabilitate themselves and return to being successful people. \u00a0 They will then be God-oriented, using their skills to help the poor and needy. Isaiah says concerning Tyre \"Her merchandise and her hire shall be holiness to the LORD: it shall not be stored away and not be hoarded; for her merchandise shall be for them that dwell before the LORD, to EAT sufficiently, and for durable COVERING\" (23:18). Thus the messianic \u201csukkah\u201d made of the Tyrian \u201cLeviathan.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

After spending a week \"dwelling before the LORD\" in the sukkah, we eat and pray that the evil-doers of today will be able to change their ways, and learn to dedicate their talents and skills to ethics and goodness.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Image: Leviathan Sukkah \/ sukkahcity.com<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":66332,"alt":"","title":"is27-sukkah","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is27-sukkah.jpg","width":1493,"height":565,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is27-sukkah-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is27-sukkah-300x114.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":114,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is27-sukkah-768x291.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":291,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is27-sukkah-1024x388.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":388,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is27-sukkah.jpg","1536x1536-width":1493,"1536x1536-height":565,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is27-sukkah.jpg","2048x2048-width":1493,"2048x2048-height":565,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is27-sukkah-1200x454.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":454,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is27-sukkah-1110x420.jpg","home_baner-width":1110,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"A Sukkah Of Leviathan Skin","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"An ancient vision of the transformation of evil into good","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":66332,"alt":"","title":"is27-sukkah","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is27-sukkah.jpg","width":1493,"height":565,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is27-sukkah-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is27-sukkah-300x114.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":114,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is27-sukkah-768x291.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":291,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is27-sukkah-1024x388.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":388,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is27-sukkah.jpg","1536x1536-width":1493,"1536x1536-height":565,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is27-sukkah.jpg","2048x2048-width":1493,"2048x2048-height":565,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is27-sukkah-1200x454.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":454,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is27-sukkah-1110x420.jpg","home_baner-width":1110,"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":"27","chapter_main_number":"361","date":"20270117","wall_id":"361"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"444","name":"History","old_id":"844"},{"term_id":"575","name":"Interpretation","old_id":"975"},{"term_id":"663","name":"Sukkah","old_id":"1063"},{"term_id":"982","name":"Leviathan","old_id":"1382"}]},{"order":8,"id":"66334","color":"#f6edf6","size":"1","name":"Leaving Retribution Up To God ","post_title":"Leaving Retribution Up To God","slug":"leaving-retribution-up-to-god","old_id":"66334","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":66049,"post_title":"Liora Alban","slug":"liora-alban","old_id":"66049","first_name":"Liora ","last_name":"Alban ","description":"Liora Alban is a fifth-year rabbinical student at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Los Angeles. ","short_description":"Liora Alban is a fifth-year rabbinical student at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Los Angeles. ","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":66050,"alt":"","title":"liora alban","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/liora-alban.jpg","width":450,"height":640,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/liora-alban-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/liora-alban-211x300.jpg","medium-width":211,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/liora-alban.jpg","medium_large-width":450,"medium_large-height":640,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/liora-alban.jpg","large-width":450,"large-height":640,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/liora-alban.jpg","1536x1536-width":450,"1536x1536-height":640,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/liora-alban.jpg","2048x2048-width":450,"2048x2048-height":640,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/liora-alban.jpg","post_full_size-width":450,"post_full_size-height":640,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/liora-alban-295x420.jpg","home_baner-width":295,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"361","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Isaiah\u2019s prophecies here lack oracles of vengeance against Judah\u2019s enemies","post_main_content_content":"

To refer to Isaiah as a single book is misleading, since the book of Isaiah is actually composed of three distinct literary units. Isaiah 1-39 generally contains prophecies of the Prophet Isaiah about the historical events of the second half of the 8th century BCE. During this period, the Assyrian Empire grew more powerful and threatened small kingdoms such as Israel and Judah. Sometimes these small kingdoms would accept Assyrian power, and sometimes they would revolt. These events led the Prophet Isaiah to a crucial question: To what extent could the Judeans rely on God\u2019s protection against the Assyrians and to what extent did they need to get involved themselves by employing militaristic or diplomatic means?<\/span><\/p>\r\n

In Isaiah 27, Isaiah demonstrates confidence that God will punish scornful enemies at an apocalyptic end of days. He refers to a Leviathan serpent that God will destroy. Isaiah 27:1 reads: \u201cIn that day Adonai will punish, with Adonai\u2019s great, cruel, mighty sword Leviathan the Elusive Serpent\u2014 Leviathan the Twisting Serpent; Adonai will slay the Dragon of the sea.\u201d According to the JPS commentary, the Leviathan physically embodies the chaos that stands for forces of evil in the world. Similarly, Ibn Ezra explains that some are of the opinion that the Leviathan figuratively represents oppressive kings, princes, and nobles.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

From ancient times to today, people have tried desperately to find answers to confusing and terrifying situations. Fearing political destruction, Isaiah places his concerns onto the Leviathan. While Isaiah is clearly anxious, his prophecies are unique in that they lack oracles of vengeance against Judah\u2019s enemies. Isaiah operates on the assumption that God has a divine plan that will dole out justice for Israel and Judah. Furthermore, this divine plan is more likely to be realized than anything humans can devise.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

In First Isaiah, Isaiah essentially leaves retribution up to God, and the people are not held responsible for destroying Assyria themselves. In trusting God to take action, Isaiah sets an example of how people can have faith in God even when things make no sense. We cannot control everything, no matter what unrealistic explanations we develop. We cannot always take action to make things better. Instead, we can have faith and be our best selves. Perhaps God has a plan that will make sense in time.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Image: by Ben Schachter<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":66335,"alt":"","title":"IsaiahProphet","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/IsaiahProphet.jpg","width":885,"height":1120,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/IsaiahProphet-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/IsaiahProphet-237x300.jpg","medium-width":237,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/IsaiahProphet-768x972.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":972,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/IsaiahProphet-809x1024.jpg","large-width":809,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/IsaiahProphet.jpg","1536x1536-width":885,"1536x1536-height":1120,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/IsaiahProphet.jpg","2048x2048-width":885,"2048x2048-height":1120,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/IsaiahProphet.jpg","post_full_size-width":885,"post_full_size-height":1120,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/IsaiahProphet-332x420.jpg","home_baner-width":332,"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":"Leaving Retribution Up To God","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Isaiah\u2019s prophecies here lack oracles of vengeance against Judah\u2019s enemies","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":66335,"alt":"","title":"IsaiahProphet","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/IsaiahProphet.jpg","width":885,"height":1120,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/IsaiahProphet-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/IsaiahProphet-237x300.jpg","medium-width":237,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/IsaiahProphet-768x972.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":972,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/IsaiahProphet-809x1024.jpg","large-width":809,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/IsaiahProphet.jpg","1536x1536-width":885,"1536x1536-height":1120,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/IsaiahProphet.jpg","2048x2048-width":885,"2048x2048-height":1120,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/IsaiahProphet.jpg","post_full_size-width":885,"post_full_size-height":1120,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/IsaiahProphet-332x420.jpg","home_baner-width":332,"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":"27","chapter_main_number":"361","date":"20270117","wall_id":"361"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"375","name":"Faith","old_id":"775"},{"term_id":"940","name":"Isaiah","old_id":"1340"},{"term_id":"953","name":"Assyria","old_id":"1353"},{"term_id":"982","name":"Leviathan","old_id":"1382"}]},{"order":9,"id":"66368","color":"#e0e9ef","size":"1","name":"The Spice of Knowledge ","post_title":"The Spice Of Knowledge","slug":"the-spice-of-knowledge","old_id":"66368","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. 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Malbim\u2019s commentary on this chapter contains an insight into epistemology (the theory of knowledge) that current events have made more poignant.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Utilizing the cultivating and grinding of grains and spices as a simile, Isaiah wrote:<\/span><\/p>\r\n

\u201cDoes he who plows to sow plow all the time, breaking up and furrowing his land? When he has smoothed its surface, does he not rather broadcast [alt: scatter] black cumin and scatter cumin, or set wheat in a row, barley in a strip, and emmer in a patch? For He teaches him the right manner, His God instructs him. So, too, black cumin is not threshed with a threshing board, nor is the wheel of a threshing sledge rolled over cumin; but black cumin is beaten out with a stick and cumin with a rod\u201d (24-27).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Malbim* (v. 27) explained the symbolism as follows:<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Wheat and all types of grain get mixed with chaff and waste and require threshing and grinding to remove the chaff and purify [the wheat] until it is pure flour. Similarly, when the seeds of a soul sprout and it is ready to accept religion and morality, one\u2019s [religious] studies are mixed with alien and erroneous studies along with concepts that are false and irrational. Just as straw must be removed from its husk, so does truth have to be detached from falsehood.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Different types of waste can be removed just by threshing or beating while others require grinding in a mill and sifting in a strainer. So it is with false concepts that take root in the soul. Those that enter by way of the imagination can be removed easily by the intellect, while those that are caused by faulty reasoning, defective philosophies, and flawed premises are difficult to remove\u2026<\/span><\/p>\r\n

At a time that accusations of \u201cfake news\u201d and claims to \u201calternative facts\u201d reverberate around us, we can certainly appreciate the efforts required to reestablish the credibility of ostensibly objective truths.<\/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>\r\n

Image: The Mystical Mill (Jim Forest, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0) by Ben 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She is a graduate of Mandel School For Educational Leadership, works at Midreshet Lindenbaum, and is writing a doctorate in psychology at Bar Ilan University.","short_description":"Naomi (Jaffe) Eini is an educational psychologist, lecturer and workshop facilitator, and doctoral candidate in psychology.","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":58420,"alt":"","title":"naomi eini","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/naomi-eini.jpg","width":960,"height":1135,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/naomi-eini-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/naomi-eini-254x300.jpg","medium-width":254,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/naomi-eini-768x908.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":908,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/naomi-eini-866x1024.jpg","large-width":866,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/naomi-eini.jpg","1536x1536-width":960,"1536x1536-height":1135,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/naomi-eini.jpg","2048x2048-width":960,"2048x2048-height":1135,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/naomi-eini.jpg","post_full_size-width":960,"post_full_size-height":1135,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/naomi-eini-355x420.jpg","home_baner-width":355,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"362","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Why don\u2019t the people - our children - understand us?","post_main_content_content":"

\"For with stammering lips and with a strange tongue shall it be spoken to this people\" (Isaiah 28: 11). The language of the prophet is incomprehensible to the people.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

It is interesting to note that this chapter was chosen as the Haftarah for the weekly reading of Parashat Shemot<\/em>, in which Moses mentions that he is: \"\u2026slow of speech, and of a slow tongue.\"(4:,10)\u00a0 and asks God how the people will listen, understand and believe him.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Sometimes we have difficulty in making ourselves understood.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

There may be several reasons for this:<\/span><\/p>\r\n