{"id":66940,"date":"2018-07-09T17:45:30","date_gmt":"2018-07-09T14:45:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wall\/wall-374\/"},"modified":"2023-07-14T15:35:04","modified_gmt":"2023-07-14T12:35:04","slug":"wall-374","status":"publish","type":"wall","link":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wall\/wall-374\/","title":{"rendered":"chapter-Prophets-Isaiah-40"},"parent":0,"template":"","acf":{"type":"chapter","wall_id":"374","date":"20270203","book":"Isaiah","chapter":"40","chapter_main_number":"374","books_group":"Prophets","posts":[{"order":1,"id":"66662","color":"#f8ebe3","size":"1","name":"JPS Audio Bible - Isaiah Chapter 40 ","post_title":"JPS Audio Bible - Isaiah Chapter 40","slug":"jps-audio-bible-isaiah-chapter-40","old_id":"66662","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":34686,"post_title":"Soundcloud","slug":"soundcloud","old_id":"34686","first_name":"","last_name":"","description":"","short_description":"","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":34656,"alt":"","title":"491","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","width":300,"height":300,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","medium_large-width":300,"medium_large-height":300,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","large-width":300,"large-height":300,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","1536x1536-width":300,"1536x1536-height":300,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","2048x2048-width":300,"2048x2048-height":300,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","post_full_size-width":300,"post_full_size-height":300,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","home_baner-width":300,"home_baner-height":300}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"374","type_929":"4","show_author_image":true,"old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"","post_main_content_content":"","post_main_content_image":"","post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"JPS Audio Bible","tile_main_caption":"Isaiah Chapter 40","tile_main_caption_size":"2","tile_sub_caption":"Hear the daily chapter","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":"","tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"https:\/\/soundcloud.com\/user-753876298\/jps_audio_bible_isaiah_chapter_40","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","old_create_date":"","links":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"Isaiah","chapter":"40","chapter_main_number":"374","date":"20270203","wall_id":"374"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":2,"id":"116629","color":"#f6edf6","size":"1","name":"God And Israel - Comforting Each Other ","post_title":"God And Israel - Comforting Each Other","slug":"god-and-israel-comforting-each-other","old_id":"116629","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":"374","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Be still, O my heart\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

Our<\/span> chapter<\/span><\/a> begins the second part of the Book of Isaiah (see<\/span> Ibn Ezra on Isaiah 40:1<\/span><\/a>). In modern Biblical scholarship, Isaiah Chapters 40-55 are referred to as<\/span> Deutero-Isaiah<\/span><\/a>, coming from the school of Isaiah\u2019s disciples, written about 538 BCE, reflecting the experience of the Exile.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Isaiah 40:1-26<\/span><\/a>, beginning \u201cComfort, oh comfort My people\u201d (<\/span>Nahamu<\/span>, <\/span>Nahamu \u2018Ami<\/span><\/em>) was chosen as the Haftara for the first Shabbat after Tisha\u2019 B\u2019av, the first of the<\/span> Shiva' d'Nechemta<\/span><\/a>, the<\/span> Seven Haftarot of Consolation<\/span><\/a>, read over the Summer until Rosh HaShanah.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Pesikta deRav Kahana<\/span><\/a>, which preserves literary homilies on the Torah and Haftara readings for the Holidays and Special Sabbaths, includes such a composite homily on the Haftara beginning with the words<\/span> Nahamu Nahamu<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0 <\/span><\/i>Here, we find a Midrashic<\/span> Proem (Petihta' in Aramaic)<\/span><\/a> beginning with<\/span> Ecclesiastes 1:16<\/span><\/a>: \u201cI said to myself\u201d (<\/span>Dibarti \u2018Ani \u2018im libi<\/span><\/em> \u2013 literally \u201cI said with my heart\u201d). This leads to a discourse on the human heart,<\/span> lev<\/span><\/a><\/em>, which in Biblical Hebrew indicates the inner man, mind, or the human will (i.e. the \u201cself\u201d). This midrash states that according to Scripture, the heart can see, hear, speak, know, stand, fall, walk, cry out, be glad and be comforted. Each of these activities of the \u201cheart\u201d is demonstrated with an appropriate biblical proof-text. The Proem concludes by stating that the \u201cheart\u201d can be comforted, by citing the<\/span> first two verses<\/span><\/a> of the Haftara <\/span>Nahamu:<\/span><\/i> \u201cComfort, oh comfort My people, says your God. Speak tenderly (<\/span>\u2018al lev, <\/span><\/i>literally \u201con the heart of\u201d) to Jerusalem.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The continuation of this homily deals creatively with the continuation of the Haftara: \u201cFor she has received at the hand of the Lord double for all her sins (<\/span>kiflayim be-khol chato\u2019techa<\/span><\/em>)\u201d. This verse suggests that \u201cJerusalem\u201d (i.e. Israel) receives a double portion of reward for her sins once her<\/span> \"iniquity is expiated<\/span><\/a> (<\/span>nirtzah \u2018onah<\/span><\/em>)\u201d . Our<\/span> Midrash<\/span><\/a> compares this verse with Job, who suffered repeatedly (<\/span>she-laqah be-kiflayim<\/span><\/em>), but<\/span> ultimately<\/span><\/a>: \u201cthe Lord gave Job twice what he had before.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The homily in Pesiqta deRav Kahana includes a remarkable depiction of how many biblical prophets tried unsuccessfully to comfort Jerusalem. These prophets came before the Holy One, blessed be He, complaining that Jerusalem refuses to be comforted by us. \u201cWhereupon, the Holy One said, you and I shall go and comfort her, as it says, Comfort, oh comfort with Me,\u201d reading the word <\/span>\u2018ami<\/span><\/i> both as \u201cMy people\u201d and revocalized as <\/span>\u2018imi<\/span><\/i> (\u201cwith Me\u201d).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The homily in Pesiqta deRav Kahana also includes a series of<\/span> parables<\/span><\/a> that pose the question, if a king\u2019s palace, vineyard or flock is damaged, is it the king himself, and not his damaged property, that needs to be comforted? Similarly, it is God who should be comforted for the destruction of His Temple, here interpreting \u201cComfort, oh comfort My people\u201d that God is here crying out to Israel to comfort Him!<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":73520,"alt":"","title":"ez11-cold comfort","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez11-cold-comfort.jpg","width":800,"height":600,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez11-cold-comfort-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez11-cold-comfort-300x225.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":225,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez11-cold-comfort-768x576.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":576,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez11-cold-comfort.jpg","large-width":800,"large-height":600,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez11-cold-comfort.jpg","1536x1536-width":800,"1536x1536-height":600,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez11-cold-comfort.jpg","2048x2048-width":800,"2048x2048-height":600,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez11-cold-comfort.jpg","post_full_size-width":800,"post_full_size-height":600,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez11-cold-comfort-560x420.jpg","home_baner-width":560,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"God And Israel - Comforting Each Other","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Be still, O my heart","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":73520,"alt":"","title":"ez11-cold comfort","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez11-cold-comfort.jpg","width":800,"height":600,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez11-cold-comfort-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez11-cold-comfort-300x225.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":225,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez11-cold-comfort-768x576.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":576,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez11-cold-comfort.jpg","large-width":800,"large-height":600,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez11-cold-comfort.jpg","1536x1536-width":800,"1536x1536-height":600,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez11-cold-comfort.jpg","2048x2048-width":800,"2048x2048-height":600,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez11-cold-comfort.jpg","post_full_size-width":800,"post_full_size-height":600,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez11-cold-comfort-560x420.jpg","home_baner-width":560,"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":"40","chapter_main_number":"374","date":"20270203","wall_id":"374"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"384","name":"God","old_id":"784"},{"term_id":"447","name":"Heart","old_id":"847"},{"term_id":"539","name":"Israel","old_id":"939"},{"term_id":"607","name":"Comfort","old_id":"1007"}]},{"order":3,"id":"116620","color":"#f6edf6","size":"1","name":"Raise Your Eyes ","post_title":"Raise Your Eyes","slug":"raise-your-eyes","old_id":"116620","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":35831,"post_title":"Ruth Fogelman","slug":"ruth-fogelman","old_id":"35831","first_name":"Ruth ","last_name":"Fogelman ","description":"Ruth Fogelman was born in England and has lived in Jerusalem\u2019s Old City for most of her life. She is the author of four books. Her poems, articles, short stories and photography have appeared in anthologies and various publications in Israel, USA and India, including Arc, Back to Joy: Little Reminders to Help Us Through Tough Times, The Deronda Review, Prosopisia, Poetica, and the International Literary Review. Ruth holds a Masters Degree from the Creative Writing Program of Bar Ilan University and leads the Pri Hadash Women\u2019s Writing Workshop in Jerusalem. \r\nShe is a member of the Israel Association of Writers in English\r\nVisit her website at http:\/\/jerusalemlives.weebly.com\r\n","short_description":"Ruth Fogelman is a poet, and lives in Jerusalem\u2019s Old City. ","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":35832,"alt":"","title":"Ruth Fogelman","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Ruth-Fogelman-.jpg","width":969,"height":973,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Ruth-Fogelman--150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Ruth-Fogelman--300x300.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Ruth-Fogelman--768x771.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":771,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Ruth-Fogelman-.jpg","large-width":969,"large-height":973,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Ruth-Fogelman-.jpg","1536x1536-width":969,"1536x1536-height":973,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Ruth-Fogelman-.jpg","2048x2048-width":969,"2048x2048-height":973,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Ruth-Fogelman-.jpg","post_full_size-width":969,"post_full_size-height":973,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Ruth-Fogelman--418x420.jpg","home_baner-width":418,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"374","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"swifts circle above worshippers\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

Raise your eyes and look Who created these things<\/span><\/em><\/p>\r\n

Isaiah 40:26\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Raise your eyes and look \u2013<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>sparrows cross the sky at dawn<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>perching in pines near the Western Wall<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>and sing their morning prayer.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Raise your eyes and look \u2013<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>yet more flocks in flight,<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>morning tinged pink,<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>a pale moon descending in the west<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Raise your eyes and look \u2013<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>swifts circle above worshippers<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>as the sun takes its first steps<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>climbing its rungs in the east.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Raise your eyes and look \u2013<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>pigeons peek from crevices,<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>peer down from their Western Wall ledge \u2013<\/span><\/p>\r\n

can I, too, spread wings,<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>transcend the mundane<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>and fly?<\/span><\/p>\r\n

\u00a0<\/span> This poem first appeared in <\/span>Bellowing Ark<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n

 <\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":99815,"alt":"","title":"1chron28-fmkz kotel","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/1chron28-fmkz-kotel.jpg","width":3888,"height":2592,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/1chron28-fmkz-kotel-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/1chron28-fmkz-kotel-300x200.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":200,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/1chron28-fmkz-kotel-768x512.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":512,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/1chron28-fmkz-kotel-1024x683.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":683,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/1chron28-fmkz-kotel.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1024,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/1chron28-fmkz-kotel.jpg","2048x2048-width":2048,"2048x2048-height":1365,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/1chron28-fmkz-kotel-1200x800.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":800,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/1chron28-fmkz-kotel-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":"929 Poetry Corner","tile_main_caption":"Raise Your Eyes","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"swifts circle above worshippers","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":99815,"alt":"","title":"1chron28-fmkz kotel","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/1chron28-fmkz-kotel.jpg","width":3888,"height":2592,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/1chron28-fmkz-kotel-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/1chron28-fmkz-kotel-300x200.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":200,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/1chron28-fmkz-kotel-768x512.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":512,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/1chron28-fmkz-kotel-1024x683.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":683,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/1chron28-fmkz-kotel.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1024,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/1chron28-fmkz-kotel.jpg","2048x2048-width":2048,"2048x2048-height":1365,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/1chron28-fmkz-kotel-1200x800.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":800,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/1chron28-fmkz-kotel-630x420.jpg","home_baner-width":630,"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":"40","chapter_main_number":"374","date":"20270203","wall_id":"374"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"362","name":"Poetry","old_id":"762"},{"term_id":"635","name":"Jerusalem","old_id":"1035"}]},{"order":4,"id":"116635","color":"#f6edf6","size":"1","name":"Be Comforted, Be Comforted\u00a0 ","post_title":"Be Comforted, Be Comforted\u00a0","slug":"be-comforted-be-comforted","old_id":"116635","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":78133,"post_title":"Josh Blechner","slug":"josh-blechner","old_id":"78133","first_name":"Josh ","last_name":"Blechner ","description":"Josh first finished the Tanach during Yeshiva in Mevaseret Zion. He and his daughter studied the Tanach again for her bat mitzvah. Josh has taught many classes on Tanach throughout the years and currently in the New Rochelle 929 group. When not studying for 929, Josh works as an in-house lawyer in New Jersey.","short_description":"Josh has taught many classes on Tanach throughout the years and currently in the New Rochelle 929 group, and is an in-house attorney in New Jersey. ","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":78134,"alt":"","title":"josh blechner","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","width":276,"height":351,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner-236x300.jpg","medium-width":236,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","medium_large-width":276,"medium_large-height":351,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","large-width":276,"large-height":351,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","1536x1536-width":276,"1536x1536-height":351,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","2048x2048-width":276,"2048x2048-height":351,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","post_full_size-width":276,"post_full_size-height":351,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","home_baner-width":276,"home_baner-height":351}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"374","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"The force of repetition, of repetition\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

Summertime for many people is more relaxed; no school, kids at camp, beach days, and BBQs. On the Jewish calendar, summertime also has a period of mourning stuck right in the middle. The three weeks bracketed by two fast days commemorating the destruction of the Temple can make summertime a little tricky for some. But then, that first Shabbat after Tisha B'av, everyone breathes a sigh of relief. The synagogue may be a little emptier with congregants scattered on their vacations. This shabbat is known as Shabbat Nachamu, and that feeling of relief washes over everyone as they hear the opening words of the eponymous Haftorah- \u201c<\/span>nachamu nachamu ami<\/span><\/em>\u201d- \u201cbe comforted, be comforted my people.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

For me personally, this chapter has extra meaning. My grandfather\u2019s birthday was always celebrated on Shabbat Nachamu. I do not know the exact English date for his birthday, but I always associate this Shabbat with him. I also went to Yeshivat Mevaseret Zion and verse 9 is the source for the name of that town just outside of Jerusalem:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Ascend a lofty mountain, O herald of joy to Zion (<\/span>Mevaseret Zion<\/span><\/em>)...Raise it, have no fear; Announce to the cities of Judah: Behold your God!\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The chapter itself is a beautiful ode to comforting the people after so much gloom and doom in the book. One of the main examples is the use of repetition. Repetition is often used in Tanach to show love and affection. For example, when God calls out to Abraham twice in Genesis 22:11 showing love for the man willing to sacrifice his only son for God. Chapter 40 is full of repeated phrases starting with the opening verse.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Comforted, be comforted my nation (verse 1);\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Let all valleys be raised, all hills and mounts made low\u2026 all flesh, as one, shall behold\u2026 All flesh is grass, All its goodness\u201d (verses 3-5);\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Grass withers, flowers fade\u2026grass withers flowers fade (verses 7-8);<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Ascend a lofty mountain, O herald of joy to Zion; Raise your voice with power, O herald of joy to Jerusalem (verse 9);\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Whom did [God] consult, and who bestowed understanding, Providing guidance in the way of right? Providing guidance [God] in knowledge And made known the path of wisdom?\u201d (verse 14);<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Lebanon is not fuel enough, Nor its beasts enough for sacrifice (verse 16);\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Do you not know? Have you not heard? Have you not been told From the very first? Have you not discerned How the earth was founded?\u201d (verse 21);<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Hardly are they planted, Hardly are they sown, Hardly has their stem (verse 24).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Genesis 22:11 was not only about God showing love to Abraham, but also God stopping the sacrifice of Isaac. Perhaps by using the double language here God wants the people to remember that He saved Isaac from the edge of death and He will do the same thing now for His beloved people.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":116637,"alt":"","title":"-64ae3425516cf--64ae3425516d1Is40-pattern 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To The Prophets with Rabbi Abby Sosland- Isaiah 40 ","post_title":"Listening To The Prophets with Rabbi Abby Sosland- Isaiah 40","slug":"listening-to-the-prophets-with-rabbi-abby-sosland-isaiah-40","old_id":"67095","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":56624,"post_title":"Abby Sosland","slug":"abby-sosland","old_id":"56624","first_name":"Abby ","last_name":"Sosland","description":"Rabbi Abby Sosland is a spiritual advisor, writer, and educator, based at The Leffell School in Westchester, New York. 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She is the first female Latin American rabbi, and is a AJWS Global Justice Fellow in 2019-2020 She and her husband Rabbi Mario Karpuj founded Congregation Or Hadash in Sandy Springs, Georgia. She is the author of The Voice of Silence: A Rabbi's Journey into a Trappist Monastery and Other Contemplation (2017)","short_description":"Rabbi Dr. Analia Bortz is a medical doctor and with her husband Rabbi Mario Karpuj founded Congregation Or Hadash in Sandy Springs, Georgia. ","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":64463,"alt":"","title":"analia bortz","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/analia-bortz.jpg","width":225,"height":225,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/analia-bortz-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/analia-bortz.jpg","medium-width":225,"medium-height":225,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/analia-bortz.jpg","medium_large-width":225,"medium_large-height":225,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/analia-bortz.jpg","large-width":225,"large-height":225,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/analia-bortz.jpg","1536x1536-width":225,"1536x1536-height":225,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/analia-bortz.jpg","2048x2048-width":225,"2048x2048-height":225,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/analia-bortz.jpg","post_full_size-width":225,"post_full_size-height":225,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/analia-bortz.jpg","home_baner-width":225,"home_baner-height":225}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"374","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Tell us, how do we transform 'Ir Shalem,' a complete place, into 'Ir Shalom,' a city of peace?","post_main_content_content":"

\u201c<\/span><\/i>Jerusalem is a port city on the shore of eternity<\/span><\/em>\u201d <\/span><\/i>writes the Israeli poet Yehuda Amichai.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Jerusalem, the city of wholeness and holiness, is like the tank of\u00a0 oxygen for a scuba diver. Isaiah brings consolation to the broken spirit of the destroyed city with words of comfort. \u201c<\/span>Nachamu Nachamu Ami<\/span><\/em>, <\/span><\/i>Comfort oh comfort My people\u201d.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Let me take you, Mr. Isaiah, for a walk through the cobblestones of this magical city that wakes up every morning to the sounds of many languages, to the prayers of many rituals and to the smells of many spices. Come with me, my ancient prophet, for a field trip. I will show you Jerusalem. You were right!\u00a0 Look at your city. Rewind, reverse your engineered tears of sorrow, of the Temple destroyed and celebrate life in the modern capital of the Jewish people.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

I promise you we still sit on Tisha b\u2019Av and cry through the book of Lamentations that your colleague, Jeremiah, wrote. Now, though, we have a different perspective.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The <\/span>Yerushalaim shel maalah<\/em> <\/span>and the <\/span>Yerushalaim shel maatah<\/span><\/em>, <\/span><\/i>the celestial Jerusalem and the earthly Jerusalem, meet in a luminal area of a miracle come true. We came back to her.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The new Temple is Machane Yehuda, the magnificent market in the core of the city, which becomes sacred as it thrives with perfumes, spices, sounds, languages, people coming from all over, young and old. They come to celebrate Jerusalem, your city, Mr. Prophet. Secular and religious bring their utensils to make them kosher for Passover in the streets of Rehaviah, and the young Muslim woman at the pharmacy in the Mamilah mall takes care of the nun from the old city convent and the orthodox mother from <\/span>Meah Shearim<\/span><\/i> who juggles with eight children holding on to her long skirt.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Thanks for consoling your people, Isaiah, you have surfed the waves of catastrophe and now thousands of years later, we can dive with this oxygen-filled tank.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Your vision, Mr. Prophet, has inspired many generations. It has not been easy but it was worth it. Your vision created a sense of purpose beyond ritual. It also inspired those who sacrificed their lives for the wellbeing of this city. How to bring normalcy to this ancient place that whispers history and sense of belonging? How to celebrate normalcy as an extraordinary achievement of the everyday life in this <\/span>Ir Shalem, Yerushalaim?<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n

Now, Mr. Isaiah, since you have called us back with your words of wisdom, could you please advise how can we live in peace? How can we transform <\/span>Ir Shalem<\/span><\/i>, a perfect complete place, into <\/span>Ir Shalom, <\/span><\/i>a city of peace?<\/span><\/p>\r\n

I\u2019m waiting for you to wipe the tears of the parents who lost their children and the children who lost their parents, the Muslim, the Christian, the Jew. We are all created in the image of God, your Friend, so please, bring us comfort and the right recipe to celebrate Your city, our city, in her splendor.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

image: Ben Schachter<\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":67109,"alt":"","title":"Is40-ABortz","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Is40-ABortz.jpg","width":757,"height":440,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Is40-ABortz-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Is40-ABortz-300x174.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":174,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Is40-ABortz.jpg","medium_large-width":757,"medium_large-height":440,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Is40-ABortz.jpg","large-width":757,"large-height":440,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Is40-ABortz.jpg","1536x1536-width":757,"1536x1536-height":440,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Is40-ABortz.jpg","2048x2048-width":757,"2048x2048-height":440,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Is40-ABortz.jpg","post_full_size-width":757,"post_full_size-height":440,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Is40-ABortz-723x420.jpg","home_baner-width":723,"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 Field Trip With Prophet Isaiah","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Tell us, how do we transform 'Ir Shalem,' a complete place, into 'Ir Shalom,' a city of peace?","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":67109,"alt":"","title":"Is40-ABortz","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Is40-ABortz.jpg","width":757,"height":440,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Is40-ABortz-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Is40-ABortz-300x174.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":174,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Is40-ABortz.jpg","medium_large-width":757,"medium_large-height":440,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Is40-ABortz.jpg","large-width":757,"large-height":440,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Is40-ABortz.jpg","1536x1536-width":757,"1536x1536-height":440,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Is40-ABortz.jpg","2048x2048-width":757,"2048x2048-height":440,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Is40-ABortz.jpg","post_full_size-width":757,"post_full_size-height":440,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Is40-ABortz-723x420.jpg","home_baner-width":723,"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":"40","chapter_main_number":"374","date":"20270203","wall_id":"374"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"301","name":"Ben Schachter","old_id":"701"},{"term_id":"607","name":"Comfort","old_id":"1007"},{"term_id":"635","name":"Jerusalem","old_id":"1035"},{"term_id":"940","name":"Isaiah","old_id":"1340"}]},{"order":7,"id":"67135","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"I Have No Strength ","post_title":"I Have No Strength","slug":"i-have-no-strength","old_id":"67135","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":58418,"post_title":"Naomi (Jaffe) Eini","slug":"naomi-jaffe-eini","old_id":"58418","first_name":"Naomi (Jaffe)","last_name":"Eini","description":"Naomi (Jaffe) Eini is an educational psychologist, lecturer and workshop facilitator, and author of the book, \"Journey To The Real World\" (Hebrew). 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":"374","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"But what gives us strength?","post_main_content_content":"

Chapter 40 deals with the strength of the Creator of the world and His promise to Israel. God calls His people the \"worm of Jacob\" to describe their weakness and in the name of the covenant, He promises to strengthen, support and redeem them.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The LORD is God from of old, Creator of the earth from end to end, He never grows faint or weary \u2026 He gives strength to the weary, Fresh vigor to the spent (Is. 40:28-29)<\/span><\/p>\r\n

More than ten expressions of strength and fatigue, weakness and energy are found in the text! This attracted my attention and made me think of a commonly used phrase in our times: \"I have no strength.\"<\/span><\/p>\r\n

This phrase, used by people of all ages, serves as an explanation or excuse for lack of action. Attentive listening will reveal that it appears in the vast majority of cases in response to an external request (\u201cCan you bring me the x?\u201d \u201cKeep on studying.\u201d \u201cYour brother will be happy to get some help,\u201d etc.) and is not necessarily related to physical effort. This is what we call in professional language \"motivation\", \"inner motive\" or \"meaning\". Without these components in life, we are comparable to \"worms\".<\/span><\/p>\r\n

What gives us strength?<\/span><\/p>\r\n

In my work as an educational psychologist, I have gained insights regarding this question: I ask the boy, parents, grandmother and educator who are coping with a serious crisis. \"What gives you strength?\" Their response sometimes comes at the speed of lightning and sometimes after reflection, or through teary eyes: \"The children,\" \"My parents who survived the inferno \/ who have given me everything\", \"The desire to hold the family together.\"\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Some do not know what to answer and expect my help. Others respond: \"I have no choice.\" And one mother answered me with a simplicity that was at once understanding and comforting: \"God\u201d\u00a0 I was astonished and excited by this response.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

But they who trust in the LORD shall renew their strength (v.31).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The prophet is telling us that our fatigue and strength (as a nation, and perhaps also as individuals) in the world is a direct expression of the degree of connection to the source of energy. Over and above all the reasons why we manage to survive\u00a0 and continue to exist, why we create and act in the world, there is one fundamental, all-encompassing reason - the will of God. The decision to recognize this and to strive to get close to Him is in our hands.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":67136,"alt":"","title":"is40-strength","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is40-strength.jpg","width":1920,"height":1216,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is40-strength-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is40-strength-300x190.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":190,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is40-strength-768x486.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":486,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is40-strength-1024x649.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":649,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is40-strength.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":973,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is40-strength.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":1216,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is40-strength-1200x760.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":760,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is40-strength-663x420.jpg","home_baner-width":663,"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":"I Have No Strength","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"But what gives us strength?","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":67136,"alt":"","title":"is40-strength","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is40-strength.jpg","width":1920,"height":1216,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is40-strength-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is40-strength-300x190.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":190,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is40-strength-768x486.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":486,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is40-strength-1024x649.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":649,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is40-strength.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":973,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is40-strength.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":1216,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is40-strength-1200x760.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":760,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is40-strength-663x420.jpg","home_baner-width":663,"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":"40","chapter_main_number":"374","date":"20270203","wall_id":"374"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"384","name":"God","old_id":"784"},{"term_id":"529","name":"Children","old_id":"929"},{"term_id":"808","name":"Strength","old_id":"1208"}]},{"order":8,"id":"67111","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"2","name":"The Value of Impermanence ","post_title":"The Value Of Impermanence","slug":"the-value-of-impermanence","old_id":"67111","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":"374","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Including our own: the only way for the divine flow to move on is if we cede our place to those coming after us","post_main_content_content":"

The chapter starts out famously chipper: \u201cComfort, comfort My people, says your God.\u201d That\u2019s a mighty nice opening, and we settle in for the kind of soaring rhetoric and affirmative thinking that led the ancient rabbis to designate the Book of Isaiah as the book of comfort. Think hot cocoa and cookies, but in Hebrew speeches.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

With such robust positivity, we\u2019re not really prepared for what comes next. The Prophet is told to proclaim. When he asks for more specific instruction, here\u2019s what he\u2019s told to preach: <\/span><\/p>\r\n

All flesh is grass, and all its goodness like the flowers of the field: Grass withers, flowers fade when the breath of the Lord blows on them. Indeed, people are but grass: Grass withers, flowers fade \u2013 but the word of our God is always fulfilled.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Somehow, the consolation we are offered is that people, like plants, fade. And that God\u2019s word endures. One simple way to interpret this odd comfort is to contrast the two claims. While it is indeed true (and elicits grief) that we age and die, we can take consolation in the eternity and reliability of God\u2019s word. By shifting our sense of purpose and even identity beyond the narrow confines of our own personality, our own biography, and re-centering ourselves in identification with God\u2019s purpose, we are offered the consolation of being part of something bigger, something transcendent and eternal. And that is, indeed, consoling.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

But it is also possible to read the two statements as both offering comfort. In our being like grass, there is itself consolation. If we can love the people who came before us and those who follow, then we don\u2019t always need to be the dancers at the dance. Instead, we can derive comfort and meaning by knowing that our grandparents experienced many of the life passages that we ourselves have enjoyed, as have our parents before us. Seeing our children married under a chuppah creates a flow that transcends the narrowness of time. We are part of a flow.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

And the only way for that flow to move is if we, in turn, cede our place to those coming after us. In the passing and arriving of generations, there is rebirth, resilience, and a chance to get right what previous generations got wrong. Mortality and impermanence offer the consolation of belonging to something precious, tasting of something exquisite and ephemeral, that is briefly ours and then is shared in turn with those we have raised to cherish the moment while it is theirs.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

That flowing process is the word of God. The Divine is not found in static abstractions or timeless ideals, but in the pulsing hearts of those who live, struggle, give birth and pass on. The moment is precious in part because it ends all too soon.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

But the flow of humanity, the vitality of the Jewish people, the advance of compassion, generosity, inclusion \u2013 these endure long after us.<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":67116,"alt":"","title":"is40-impermanence","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is40-impermanence.jpg","width":1920,"height":1280,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is40-impermanence-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is40-impermanence-300x200.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":200,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is40-impermanence-768x512.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":512,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is40-impermanence-1024x683.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":683,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is40-impermanence.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1024,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is40-impermanence.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":1280,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is40-impermanence-1200x800.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":800,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is40-impermanence-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 Value Of Impermanence","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Including our own: the only way for the divine flow to move on is if we cede our place to those coming after us","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":67116,"alt":"","title":"is40-impermanence","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is40-impermanence.jpg","width":1920,"height":1280,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is40-impermanence-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is40-impermanence-300x200.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":200,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is40-impermanence-768x512.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":512,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is40-impermanence-1024x683.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":683,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is40-impermanence.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1024,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is40-impermanence.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":1280,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is40-impermanence-1200x800.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":800,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is40-impermanence-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":"40","chapter_main_number":"374","date":"20270203","wall_id":"374"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"384","name":"God","old_id":"784"},{"term_id":"607","name":"Comfort","old_id":"1007"}]},{"order":9,"id":"116630","color":"#f6edf6","size":"1","name":"The Tanakh Podcast-Isaiah40 ","post_title":"The Tanakh Podcast-Isaiah40","slug":"the-tanakh-podcast-isaiah40","old_id":"116630","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":33692,"post_title":"Alex Israel","slug":"33692-2","old_id":"33692","first_name":"Alex","last_name":"Israel","description":"Alex Israel teaches Tanakh at the Pardes Institute, Yeshivat Eretz Hatzvi and Matan, Jerusalem. 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","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":"374","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Agnon\u2019s imaginative, provocative and paradoxical use of a famous verse","post_main_content_content":"

In 1911 a young 24 years old author, sat for four intensive days in his apartment in Neve Tzedek, the first neighborhood outside of Jaffa, producing a riveting novel. The writer, who decades later, in 1966, received the Nobel Prize for Literature, used a verse from today\u2019s chapter to name his book \u201c<\/span>V<\/span><\/i>ehaya Ha\u2019akov Lemishor<\/span><\/em>\u201d, loosely translated as \u201cthe crooked becomes straight\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The complex, \u201ccrooked\u201d story follows a childless couple who initially, have everything (except a child), lose their fortune, and the husband, Menashe-Chayim, leaves home to wander as a beggar collecting funds. When he finally decides he has enough money to get back home, another beggar requests his greatest treasure: not the hard-earned money but a recommendation letter the rabbi wrote for him, encouraging people to give him tzedakah. Menashe-Chayim agrees, sells the letter and buys goods to trade and sell back home. But in an inn along the way, he drinks a bit too much, and upon waking up discovers that his pack with his tefillin and money is all gone. Nevertheless, he gathers his strength and heads home.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Meanwhile, the beggar with the sought-after letter is not so lucky and dies penniless. The shocked community decides to organize for him a respectful funeral. That\u2019s when they find the letter and send a message to Menashe-Chayim\u2019s town, notifying of his death. After some halachic debate, the rabbi allows Menashe-Chayim\u2019s wife to remarry, soon to have a child with her new husband.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

That\u2019s, of course, when Menashe-Chayim returns to town. Since he is dead, no one recognizes him. Then he learns that his beloved wife is married and a mom. He decides not to say anything not to interrupt his wife\u2019s newly found happiness and cause the child to be marked as a <\/span>mamzer<\/span><\/i>. Although a Cohen, he opts to spend the rest of his life in the cemetery, telling no one about this saga except for the cemetery\u2019s guard. After his death, the guard moves the nameplate from the misnamed beggar to Menashe-Chayim\u2019s actual burial place.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Most readers are left with wonderment: This is the end?? This is how \u201cthe crooked becomes straight\u201d?? What about the usual happily ever-after we\u2019ve become accustomed to?? But maybe Shai Agnon, the author of this fantastical tale, says exactly that. Borrowing a verse from the first chapter of Isaiah\u2019s consolations, which hints at Jacob\u2019s \u201ccrooked\u201d journey through the use of the term <\/span>akov (Ya\u2019akov<\/span><\/em>) becomes <\/span>yashar (Yisrae\u2019l<\/span><\/em>) he reminds us, with a gentle smile, that while we are promised that \u201call will be well in the end\u201d, the journey is likely to be more complex and full of surprises, and that \u201cending well\u201d might not look quite like anything we expected or could imagine.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Image: photo of Agnon by Yakhin Hirsch, 1966 \/ wikipedia<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":67133,"alt":"","title":"is40-shai agnon","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is40-shai-agnon.jpg","width":794,"height":600,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is40-shai-agnon-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is40-shai-agnon-300x227.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":227,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is40-shai-agnon-768x580.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":580,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is40-shai-agnon.jpg","large-width":794,"large-height":600,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is40-shai-agnon.jpg","1536x1536-width":794,"1536x1536-height":600,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is40-shai-agnon.jpg","2048x2048-width":794,"2048x2048-height":600,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is40-shai-agnon.jpg","post_full_size-width":794,"post_full_size-height":600,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is40-shai-agnon-556x420.jpg","home_baner-width":556,"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":"And The Crooked Shall Be Made Straight","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Agnon\u2019s imaginative, provocative and paradoxical use of a famous verse","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":67133,"alt":"","title":"is40-shai agnon","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is40-shai-agnon.jpg","width":794,"height":600,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is40-shai-agnon-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is40-shai-agnon-300x227.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":227,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is40-shai-agnon-768x580.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":580,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is40-shai-agnon.jpg","large-width":794,"large-height":600,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is40-shai-agnon.jpg","1536x1536-width":794,"1536x1536-height":600,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is40-shai-agnon.jpg","2048x2048-width":794,"2048x2048-height":600,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is40-shai-agnon.jpg","post_full_size-width":794,"post_full_size-height":600,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is40-shai-agnon-556x420.jpg","home_baner-width":556,"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":"40","chapter_main_number":"374","date":"20270203","wall_id":"374"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"373","name":"Literature","old_id":"773"},{"term_id":"841","name":"Agnon","old_id":"1241"}]},{"order":11,"id":"67105","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"\u201cDouble for All Her Sins\u201d ","post_title":"\u201cDouble for All Her Sins\u201d","slug":"double-for-all-her-sins","old_id":"67105","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":"374","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Can this be applied to the Holocaust as well?","post_main_content_content":"

Ibn Ezra explained that this prophecy of consolation follows immediately upon the one of doom that Isaiah prophesied when Hezekiah foolishly showed off his treasures to the emissaries of the king of Babylon (chapter 39). He cited an earlier exegete, Rabbi Moshe HaKohen, who said that the consolation was intended to be fulfilled during the Second Temple, adding his own opinion assigning it to \u201cour exile\u201d (i.e., the messianic future).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Regarding v.2: \u201cSpeak tenderly to Jerusalem, and declare to her that her term of service is over, that her iniquity is expiated; for she has received at the hand of the LORD double for all her sins,\u201d Ibn Ezra interpreted the doubling as twice the punishment meted out to any other nation, and Radak (after citing Ibn Ezra) reported on his father\u2019s interpretation that one portion was their own and the second was the one due to their ancestors.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Malbim,* however, drew the following thematic distinctions:<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Redemption can come either before its [appointed] time, if they are meritorious, or if they have suffered their punishment, or, eventually, even without merit, He will redeem them at the appointed time, therefore, [Isaiah] spoke a double consolation\u2026<\/span><\/p>\r\n

\u201cHer term of service is over:\u201d If they are redeemed when the appointed time arrives\u2014because they will not have merited its advancement, or at an earlier time because \u201cher iniquity is expiated\u201d by means of repentance and merit, or \u201cshe has received at the hand of the LORD double for all her sins,\u201d that He will double their privations and punishment until they are equal to all her sins. This can be likened to one who was sentenced to ten years in jail and ten lashes a day, but the jailer beat him one hundred times each day, so he received his due punishment in one year and was released.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

This occurred in Egypt because the intensity of the oppression completed the four hundred years in only two hundred and ten.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

One wonders how Malbim would have viewed the establishment of the State of Israel so soon after the Holocaust as an example of a redemption that followed upon a doubled punishment?\u00a0<\/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":67106,"alt":"","title":"is40-sokolow","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is40-sokolow.jpg","width":1040,"height":1920,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is40-sokolow-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is40-sokolow-163x300.jpg","medium-width":163,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is40-sokolow-555x1024.jpg","medium_large-width":555,"medium_large-height":1024,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is40-sokolow-555x1024.jpg","large-width":555,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is40-sokolow.jpg","1536x1536-width":832,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is40-sokolow.jpg","2048x2048-width":1040,"2048x2048-height":1920,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is40-sokolow-650x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":650,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is40-sokolow-228x420.jpg","home_baner-width":228,"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":"\u201cDouble for All Her Sins\u201d","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Can this be applied to the Holocaust as well?","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":67106,"alt":"","title":"is40-sokolow","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is40-sokolow.jpg","width":1040,"height":1920,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is40-sokolow-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is40-sokolow-163x300.jpg","medium-width":163,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is40-sokolow-555x1024.jpg","medium_large-width":555,"medium_large-height":1024,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is40-sokolow-555x1024.jpg","large-width":555,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is40-sokolow.jpg","1536x1536-width":832,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is40-sokolow.jpg","2048x2048-width":1040,"2048x2048-height":1920,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is40-sokolow-650x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":650,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is40-sokolow-228x420.jpg","home_baner-width":228,"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":"40","chapter_main_number":"374","date":"20270203","wall_id":"374"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"403","name":"Redemption","old_id":"803"},{"term_id":"408","name":"Holocaust","old_id":"808"},{"term_id":"539","name":"Israel","old_id":"939"},{"term_id":"547","name":"Punishment","old_id":"947"}]},{"order":12,"id":"67147","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"Comfort For The Suffering ","post_title":"Comfort For The Suffering","slug":"comfort-for-the-suffering","old_id":"67147","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":55057,"post_title":"Robin Nafshi","slug":"robin-nafshi","old_id":"55057","first_name":"Robin ","last_name":"Nafshi ","description":"Rabbi Robin Nafshi (also known as Rabbi Robin) was ordained by Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in 2005. She joined Temple Beth Jacob in July of 2010. Rabbi Robin is a graduate of both New York University and Cornell Law School. Rabbi Robin shares her life with her partner, Cantor Shira Nafshi, who serves as TBJ\u2019s part-time cantor. They are the delighted parents of Liba, who joined their family in January of 2014. \r\n","short_description":"Rabbi Robin Nafshi (also known as Rabbi Robin) is rabbi at Temple Beth Jacob in Concord, NH.","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":55058,"alt":"","title":"robin-nafshi","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/robin-nafshi.jpg","width":453,"height":302,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/robin-nafshi-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/robin-nafshi-300x200.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":200,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/robin-nafshi.jpg","medium_large-width":453,"medium_large-height":302,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/robin-nafshi.jpg","large-width":453,"large-height":302,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/robin-nafshi.jpg","1536x1536-width":453,"1536x1536-height":302,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/robin-nafshi.jpg","2048x2048-width":453,"2048x2048-height":302,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/robin-nafshi.jpg","post_full_size-width":453,"post_full_size-height":302,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/robin-nafshi.jpg","home_baner-width":453,"home_baner-height":302}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"374","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"To live is to know pain\u00a0","post_main_content_content":"

Too many people I know are suffering, and I mean really suffering. One friend recently had a miscarriage. Another\u2019s father died way too young, less than a year after he was diagnosed with lung cancer. A third friend experienced the death of her parents and an in-law in a twenty-two month period. Still another is the victim of a blogging neo-Nazi, whose actions leave terror in her heart. Another faces cancer surgery.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

All of these friends, to some extent or another, seek help from God. A few are quite religious; others are not. But they all have turned to God \u2013 the Divine, the Source, the Creator (ironically, not the <\/span>rofeh<\/span><\/em>, the healer) \u2013 whether extensively or as a small part of their overall healing, to help them cope with their pain.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Isaiah Chapter 40, verse 1, is one of the most well-known passages that suffering people turn to when they seek God\u2019s presence: <\/span>Nachamu nachamu ami yomar eloheichem<\/span><\/em>: <\/span><\/i>\u201cComfort, comfort My people, says your God.\u201d Many contemporary Jewish musicians have composed melodies for this verse, including Safam, Elana Arian, and Nashamah Carlebach. Music can stir the soul and open its many passages to allow in God\u2019s presence.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Historically, in Isaiah Chapter 40, the Israelites have been exiled to Babylonia after the destruction of the First Temple. Their beloved city of Jerusalem has been leveled, and the holy place where they\u2019d felt a connection to the Divine is gone. En masse, they have been relocated to a foreign city in a foreign land among people who speak a foreign language and worship a foreign god. And so, Isaiah implores God to bring them comfort.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Isaiah continues his words to God in verse 2, \u201cSpeak tenderly to Jerusalem (the Israelites). Declare to her that her term of service [in exile] is over, that her sins have been pardoned.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The language is powerful, and yet it connects the pain of suffering with the commission of sin. This is a very difficult theology for most modern people, Jew or not, religious or not. The Lisbon earthquake of 1755, in which many children died when their school collapsed, challenged the theology that suffering is punishment from God for sin.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

As we read further into Chapter 40, Isaiah declares in verse 7, \u201cGrass withers, flowers fade when the breath of the Eternal blows on them. Indeed, the human is but grass.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

How can this provide comfort to the suffering? Perhaps the assertion of our universal humanity and frailty reminds us that we have not been singled out in our suffering. It is the way of all people. To live is to know pain. Not all the time, but in all life.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":67148,"alt":"","title":"is40-pain","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is40-pain.jpg","width":1920,"height":1280,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is40-pain-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is40-pain-300x200.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":200,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is40-pain-768x512.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":512,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is40-pain-1024x683.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":683,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is40-pain.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1024,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is40-pain.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":1280,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is40-pain-1200x800.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":800,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is40-pain-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":"Comfort For The Suffering","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"To live is to know pain\u00a0","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":67148,"alt":"","title":"is40-pain","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is40-pain.jpg","width":1920,"height":1280,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is40-pain-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is40-pain-300x200.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":200,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is40-pain-768x512.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":512,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is40-pain-1024x683.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":683,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is40-pain.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1024,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is40-pain.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":1280,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is40-pain-1200x800.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":800,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is40-pain-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":"40","chapter_main_number":"374","date":"20270203","wall_id":"374"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"374","name":"Humanity","old_id":"774"},{"term_id":"384","name":"God","old_id":"784"},{"term_id":"401","name":"Life","old_id":"801"},{"term_id":"491","name":"Suffering","old_id":"891"},{"term_id":"606","name":"Pain","old_id":"1006"},{"term_id":"607","name":"Comfort","old_id":"1007"}]},{"order":13,"id":"67094","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"The Great Leveler ","post_title":"The Great Leveler","slug":"the-great-leveler","old_id":"67094","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":54356,"post_title":"Robert Alter","slug":"robert-alter","old_id":"54356","first_name":"Robert ","last_name":"Alter","description":"Robert Alter is the Class of 1937 Professor of Hebrew and Comparative Literature at the University of California at Berkeley, where he has taught since 1967. He has written over twenty books, focusing on such topics as the European novel from the 18th century to the present, contemporary American fiction, and modern Hebrew literature. He has also written extensively on the literary aspects of the Bible. His most recent work is his monumental three volume translation of the entire Hebrew Bible - The Hebrew Bible, W. W. Norton & Co., 2019 - from which the selections in 929 are taken. ","short_description":"Robert Alter is the Class of 1937 Professor of Hebrew and Comparative Literature at the University of California at Berkeley, and author of the three-volume translation of the entire Hebrew Bible - The Hebrew Bible, W. W. Norton & Co., 2019.","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":54357,"alt":"","title":"robert alter","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/robert-alter.jpg","width":184,"height":275,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/robert-alter-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/robert-alter.jpg","medium-width":184,"medium-height":275,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/robert-alter.jpg","medium_large-width":184,"medium_large-height":275,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/robert-alter.jpg","large-width":184,"large-height":275,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/robert-alter.jpg","1536x1536-width":184,"1536x1536-height":275,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/robert-alter.jpg","2048x2048-width":184,"2048x2048-height":275,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/robert-alter.jpg","post_full_size-width":184,"post_full_size-height":275,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/robert-alter.jpg","home_baner-width":184,"home_baner-height":275}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"374","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"The crooked shall be straight","post_main_content_content":"

40:4 \u201cEvery valley shall be lifted high and every mountain brought low, and the crooked shall be straight, and the ridges become a valley.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The power of this stark formulation is worth preserving literally, even though the phrase might mean \u201cthe rugged ground shall be leveled.\u201d The poet, conjuring up the expanses of arid land, abounding in ravines and ridges and rough terrain, that stretches between Babylonia and Judah, imagines a miraculous smoothing out of the ground as a great highway is laid down for the return of the exiles.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

From: Robert Alter, The Hebrew Bible<\/em>, vol. 2: Prophets, W. W. Norton & Co., 2019, ad loc. By permission of the author.<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":54890,"alt":"","title":"Alter-Cover","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover.jpg","width":1200,"height":693,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-300x173.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":173,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-768x444.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":444,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-1024x591.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":591,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover.jpg","1536x1536-width":1200,"1536x1536-height":693,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover.jpg","2048x2048-width":1200,"2048x2048-height":693,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-1200x693.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":693,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-727x420.jpg","home_baner-width":727,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"From Robert Alter's Bible Translation and Commentary","tile_main_caption":"The Great Leveler","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"The crooked shall be straight","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":54890,"alt":"","title":"Alter-Cover","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover.jpg","width":1200,"height":693,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-300x173.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":173,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-768x444.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":444,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-1024x591.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":591,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover.jpg","1536x1536-width":1200,"1536x1536-height":693,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover.jpg","2048x2048-width":1200,"2048x2048-height":693,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-1200x693.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":693,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-727x420.jpg","home_baner-width":727,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"tile_link_for_pay":"0","send_noty":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"Isaiah","chapter":"40","chapter_main_number":"374","date":"20270203","wall_id":"374"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":14,"id":"67096","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"Haftorah Homilies: Isaiah Chapter 40 ","post_title":"Haftorah Homilies: Isaiah Chapter 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Homilies: Be Comforted!","tile_main_caption":"Isaiah Chapter 40","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"with Reuben Ebrahimoff (Haftorah Man)","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":"","tile_preview_video":"https:\/\/youtu.be\/yWV693onj6A","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","old_create_date":"","links":false,"tile_link_for_pay":"0","send_noty":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"Isaiah","chapter":"40","chapter_main_number":"374","date":"20270203","wall_id":"374"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"589","name":"audio","old_id":"989"},{"term_id":"951","name":"Haftarah","old_id":"1351"}]},{"order":15,"id":"67143","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"Spiritual Comfort ","post_title":"Spiritual Comfort","slug":"spiritual-comfort","old_id":"67143","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":67068,"post_title":"Zachary Truboff","slug":"zachary-truboff","old_id":"67068","first_name":"Zachary ","last_name":"Truboff ","description":"Rabbi Zachary Truboff lives in Jerusalem and has a passion for using Jewish texts and ideas along to address important issues of the day.","short_description":"Rabbi Zachary Truboff lives in Jerusalem and has a passion for using Jewish texts and ideas along to address important issues of the day.","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":67069,"alt":"","title":"zach 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vision of a better world...","post_main_content_content":"

The book of Lamentations describes the shocking state of Jerusalem in the wake of the Temple\u2019s destruction. Her majestic glory has been debased, and her children taken into captivity. With empty roads and abandoned streets, she dwells alone. Feeling the pain of loss and shame, she does what all of us might do: \u201cBitterly she weeps in the night, Her cheeks wet with tears. There is none to comfort her\u201d (1:2). Jerusalem mourns in the same way that we mourn the loss of a loved one. She cries out, desperately hoping that others might comfort her. Whereas Jews typically mourn for seven days, Jerusalem\u2019s mourning, however, lasts for seventy years until Isaiah offers the following message of consolation: \u201cComfort, oh comfort My people, Says your God\u201d (40:1-2).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

To better understand the kind of comfort God is extending to Jerusalem and the Jewish people in Isaiah, let\u2019s examine the first description of comfort in the Bible. After the sin of Adam and Eve, humanity was forced to work the earth in order to provide food. It is difficult backbreaking labor. Eventually, Lamech has a son, whom he names Noach, as if to say (5:29) \u2018This one will bring us comfort (<\/span>yenachamenu<\/span><\/em>)<\/span><\/i> from our work and from the toil of our hands.\u2019 Rashi explains that Noah\u2019s unique gift was to invent farming implements that would ease the harshness of agricultural work. In other words, Noah brings comfort to his parents because his efforts alleviate the physical pain and suffering of the onerous work that consumes their days and nights.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Isaiah, however, appears to be describing something different, what we might call spiritual comfort. First and foremost, God offers His presence to the Jewish people. After decades of silence, God finally speaks to them once again, and this simple act reminds them that they are not alone and that the covenant endures. Second, God does not deny the pain and suffering that the Jewish people and Jerusalem have experienced. In fact, God acknowledges (40:2) that \u2018she has received double for her sins.\u2019 Third, and most important, God helps the Jewish people find their faith once more and gives them hope. God recognizes that the world, as it is right now, is one of brokenness. While the Jewish people may have sinned and therefore brought their punishment upon themselves, this does not negate the inequities that exist throughout creation. As a result, God proclaims (40:4), \u2018Let every valley be raised, Every hill and mount made low. Let the rugged ground become level And the ridges become a plain.\u2019 Instead of a world of mountains and valleys, hierarchy and oppression, God promises that the world will be transformed into one of equality and justice. This is, perhaps, the most significant dimension of the spiritual comfort God offers to Jerusalem. Through offering a genuine vision of a better world, God enables the Jewish people to know true comfort.<\/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":"Spiritual Comfort","tile_main_caption":"To understand the kind of comfort God is extending to Jerusalem and the Jewish people in Isaiah, let\u2019s examine the first description of comfort in the Bible\u2026.","tile_main_caption_size":"2","tile_sub_caption":"","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":"40","chapter_main_number":"374","date":"20270203","wall_id":"374"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"607","name":"Comfort","old_id":"1007"},{"term_id":"616","name":"Spirit","old_id":"1016"},{"term_id":"986","name":"Lamentations","old_id":"1386"}]},{"order":16,"id":"66648","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"Sefaria Source Sheets - Isaiah 40 ","post_title":"Sefaria Source Sheets - Isaiah 40","slug":"sefaria-source-sheets-isaiah-40","old_id":"66648","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":42228,"post_title":"Sefaria","slug":"sefaria","old_id":"42228","first_name":"","last_name":"Sefaria","description":"Sefaria is a non-profit organization dedicated to building the future of Jewish learning in an open and participatory way. We are assembling a free living library of Jewish texts and their interconnections, in Hebrew and in translation. With these digital texts, we can create new, interactive interfaces for Web, tablet and mobile, allowing more people to engage with the textual treasures of our tradition.","short_description":"Sefaria is a non-profit organization dedicated to building the future of Jewish learning in an open and participatory way. \r\n","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":42230,"alt":"","title":"Sefaria Logo2","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Sefaria-Logo2.png","width":1200,"height":1200,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Sefaria-Logo2-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Sefaria-Logo2-300x300.png","medium-width":300,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Sefaria-Logo2-768x768.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":768,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Sefaria-Logo2-1024x1024.png","large-width":1024,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Sefaria-Logo2.png","1536x1536-width":1200,"1536x1536-height":1200,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Sefaria-Logo2.png","2048x2048-width":1200,"2048x2048-height":1200,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Sefaria-Logo2.png","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Sefaria-Logo2-420x420.png","home_baner-width":420,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"374","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"","post_main_content_content":"

\u201cOn Mixed Multitudes, Riff Raffs, and Electric Cords: Exploring Collective Identity, Newcomers, and Redemption\u201d<\/a> by Jeremy Fineberg: Texts about community and difference.<\/p>\r\n

\u201cTorah as a Source of Comfort\u201d <\/a>by Suzanne Brody: How can Jewish texts provide solace?\u00a0<\/p>\r\n

 <\/p>","post_main_content_image":"","post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"Go deeper into the chapter....","tile_main_caption":"Source Sheets - Isaiah 40","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Links to learning resources","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":42232,"alt":"","title":"sefaria-words-sunburst","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst.png","width":608,"height":395,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst-300x195.png","medium-width":300,"medium-height":195,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst.png","medium_large-width":608,"medium_large-height":395,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst.png","large-width":608,"large-height":395,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst.png","1536x1536-width":608,"1536x1536-height":395,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst.png","2048x2048-width":608,"2048x2048-height":395,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst.png","post_full_size-width":608,"post_full_size-height":395,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst.png","home_baner-width":608,"home_baner-height":395}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"Sefaria word sunburst visualization","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","old_create_date":"","links":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"Isaiah","chapter":"40","chapter_main_number":"374","date":"20270203","wall_id":"374"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":17,"id":"67092","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"Points to Ponder - Isaiah 40 ","post_title":"Points to Ponder - Isaiah 40","slug":"points-to-ponder-isaiah-40","old_id":"67092","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":38102,"post_title":"929-English","slug":"929-english","old_id":"38102","first_name":"","last_name":"929-English","description":"","short_description":"","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":38333,"alt":"","title":"\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5.png","width":1513,"height":860,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5-300x171.png","medium-width":300,"medium-height":171,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5-768x437.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":437,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5-1024x582.png","large-width":1024,"large-height":582,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5.png","1536x1536-width":1513,"1536x1536-height":860,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5.png","2048x2048-width":1513,"2048x2048-height":860,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5-1200x682.png","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":682,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5-739x420.png","home_baner-width":739,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"374","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"","post_main_content_content":"

    \r\n\t
  1. Reading between the lines<\/em>. We should listen to the words of the prophet and fill in what the people must be thinking and feeling. The greater the comfort offered - the greater the despair felt by those who need it.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t
  2. Measure for measure<\/em>. Every construction project requires accurate measurements. How should one measure the world? Water one measures in the palm of the hand; the sky, the width of the hand. The weightier creations, in scales and balances. So what\u2019s the answer to this riddle? \u201cWho measured the waters with the hollow of His hand, And gauged the skies with a span, And meted earth\u2019s dust with a measure, And weighed the mountains with a scale And the hills with a balance?\u201d (verse 12). The master builder of the universe.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t
  3. Ultimate inconsequentiality.<\/em> Among the different images used in this chapter is this excellent one: \u201cThe nations are but a drop in a bucket, Reckoned as dust on a balance\u201d (verse 16). A drop in a bucket that has been emptied...<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t
  4. Silly idols!<\/em> Verses 19-20 give a short explanation as to how to go about making an idol. This description is meant to impress upon the listener just how crazy it is to believe there is something in this object, beyond the physical raw materials it is made of. Curious to know more about the design and production of idols? Soon the prophet will take us on a guided tour of the craftsman\u2019s workshop. Stay with us.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t
  5. There\u2019s no comparison<\/em>. But even so, we have to compare in order to understand it. That\u2019s what the prophet presents in verses 12-26. God as compared with people. As compared with the nations. As compared with idols, and with flesh and blood leaders. There\u2019s really no comparison.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>","post_main_content_image":{"id":86314,"alt":"","title":"Points to ponder","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","width":1000,"height":1000,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-300x300.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-768x768.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":768,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","large-width":1000,"large-height":1000,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","1536x1536-width":1000,"1536x1536-height":1000,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","2048x2048-width":1000,"2048x2048-height":1000,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","post_full_size-width":1000,"post_full_size-height":1000,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-420x420.jpg","home_baner-width":420,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"Isaiah 40","tile_main_caption":"Points to Ponder","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Insights and questions for personal reflection and group discussion","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":86314,"alt":"","title":"Points to ponder","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","width":1000,"height":1000,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-300x300.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-768x768.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":768,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","large-width":1000,"large-height":1000,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","1536x1536-width":1000,"1536x1536-height":1000,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","2048x2048-width":1000,"2048x2048-height":1000,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","post_full_size-width":1000,"post_full_size-height":1000,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-420x420.jpg","home_baner-width":420,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"tile_link_for_pay":"0","send_noty":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"Isaiah","chapter":"40","chapter_main_number":"374","date":"20270203","wall_id":"374"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false}],"hide_acf":true,"home_image":false,"home_posts":false,"home_posts_title":"","posts_home":[],"static_cube_title":"","static_cube_brief":"","static_cube_color":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/wall\/66940"}],"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=66940"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}