{"id":67761,"date":"2018-07-09T17:45:40","date_gmt":"2018-07-09T14:45:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wall\/wall-384\/"},"modified":"2023-07-26T08:47:50","modified_gmt":"2023-07-26T05:47:50","slug":"wall-384","status":"publish","type":"wall","link":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wall\/wall-384\/","title":{"rendered":"chapter-Prophets-Isaiah-50"},"parent":0,"template":"","acf":{"type":"chapter","wall_id":"384","date":"20270217","book":"Isaiah","chapter":"50","chapter_main_number":"384","books_group":"Prophets","posts":[{"order":1,"id":"67218","color":"#f8ebe3","size":"1","name":"JPS Audio Bible - Isaiah Chapter 50 ","post_title":"JPS Audio Bible - Isaiah Chapter 50","slug":"jps-audio-bible-isaiah-chapter-50","old_id":"67218","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":"384","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 50","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_50","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":"50","chapter_main_number":"384","date":"20270217","wall_id":"384"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":2,"id":"96378","color":"#effaea","size":"1","name":"King Josiah\u2019s Death: Confusion, Anger, Faith\u00a0 ","post_title":"King Josiah\u2019s Death: Confusion, Anger, Faith\u00a0","slug":"king-josiahs-death-confusion-anger-faith","old_id":"96378","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":56364,"post_title":"Yael Ziegler","slug":"yael-ziegler","old_id":"56364","first_name":"Yael ","last_name":"Ziegler ","description":"Dr. Yael Ziegler is an Assistant Professor of Bible at Herzog College and Matan. She received her BA from Yeshiva University\u2019s Stern College for Women and an MA and PhD at Bar-Ilan University. Dr. Ziegler is the author of Promises to Keep: The Oath in Biblical Narrative (Brill, 2008) and Ruth: From Alienation to Monarchy (Maggid, 2015), which has been translated into Hebrew. Her forthcoming book on Lamentations is scheduled for publication in 2020. \r\n","short_description":"Dr. Yael Ziegler is an Assistant Professor of Bible at Herzog College and Matan","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":56365,"alt":"","title":"yael-ziegler","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/yael-ziegler.jpg","width":150,"height":175,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/yael-ziegler-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/yael-ziegler.jpg","medium-width":150,"medium-height":175,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/yael-ziegler.jpg","medium_large-width":150,"medium_large-height":175,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/yael-ziegler.jpg","large-width":150,"large-height":175,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/yael-ziegler.jpg","1536x1536-width":150,"1536x1536-height":175,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/yael-ziegler.jpg","2048x2048-width":150,"2048x2048-height":175,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/yael-ziegler.jpg","post_full_size-width":150,"post_full_size-height":175,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/yael-ziegler.jpg","home_baner-width":150,"home_baner-height":175}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"2032","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"The key to unlocking the secrets of Lamentations\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

Responses to Josiah\u2019s untimely death reverberate throughout biblical passages, merging in a swell of mixed emotions: grief, despair, anger, and confusion. Initially, the public laments in an official display of anguish (II Chr. 35:25). Jeremiah acknowledges the difficulty of recovering from Josiah\u2019s death and advises the king\u2019s son to refrain from excessive mourning (Jer. 22:10). According to many exegetes, echoes of Josiah\u2019s death appear in Lam. 4:21:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The breath of our nostrils, anointed of the Lord, was captured in their traps, about [whom] we said, \u201cUnder his shadow, we will live among the nations.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Confusion seems to trump grief, as the problem of theodicy \u2013 <\/span>an attempt to understand how God\u2019s goodness exists alongside evil \u2013 <\/span>overshadows the experience of mourning Josiah. In the aftermath of the king\u2019s death, several prophets express their confusion at God\u2019s treatment of the wicked and the righteous. Jeremiah asks why the wicked prosper (Jer. 12:1\u20133). Habakkuk questions why evil people triumph over the righteous (Hab. 1:4, 13). Abravanel suggests that the servant who suffers without cause in Isaiah 52:13\u201353:12 may refer to Josiah:<\/span><\/p>\r\n

And his grave was placed with evildoers\u2026 though he had done no violence and there was no deceit in his mouth (Is. 53:9)<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Though none of these verses explicitly name Josiah, taken together, they suggest that prophets are perplexed about God\u2019s ways following Josiah\u2019s death.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Nevertheless, alongside this confusion, another response emerges, one that balances the unrelenting current of baffled grief. An expression of faith in God\u2019s righteous judgments appears in the final chapter of Zephaniah, who prophesies during the reign of Josiah. After describing the sins of Jerusalem and her leaders, Zephaniah asserts (3:5): \u201cThe Lord is righteous in her midst; He does not commit perversions.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Belief in God\u2019s righteousness may represent another manner of approaching Josiah\u2019s death. In fact, Zephaniah 3:5 is echoed in Lamentations 1:19:<\/span> \u201c<\/b>The Lord is righteous, for I have rebelled against His mouth!\u201d Rabbinic sources attribute these words to Josiah, who utters them as he lies dying from mortal wounds received in battle. According to this reading, Josiah\u2019s staunch faith in God\u2019s justice stands in stark contrast to the incomprehension expressed earlier.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

These two contradictory approaches, confusion vs. faith, represent different ways in which humans contend with an incomprehensible world. Lamentations strikes a balanced posture in its approach to the problem of God\u2019s justice. Lamentations articulates intense anger at God, generated by acute awareness of the capriciousness of death, the triumph of evildoers, and the suffering of the innocent. However,<\/span> Lamentations also allows a second approach to emerge from the turmoil, one that concludes that God remains just.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Rabbinic sources maintain that the kernel of the book of Lamentations begins to emerge in the aftermath of Josiah\u2019s death. Josiah\u2019s death marks the beginning of the nation\u2019s theological crisis, spawning the initial attempts to struggle with the complex questions that arise in the wake of the <\/span>h<\/span>urban<\/span><\/em>.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

From: <\/span>https:\/\/korenpub.com\/products\/lamentations-faith-in-a-turbulent-world<\/span><\/a><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":96210,"alt":"","title":"Lamentations ziegler","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Lamentations-ziegler.jpg","width":1500,"height":1499,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Lamentations-ziegler-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Lamentations-ziegler-300x300.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Lamentations-ziegler-768x767.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":767,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Lamentations-ziegler-1024x1024.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Lamentations-ziegler.jpg","1536x1536-width":1500,"1536x1536-height":1499,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Lamentations-ziegler.jpg","2048x2048-width":1500,"2048x2048-height":1499,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Lamentations-ziegler-1200x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Lamentations-ziegler-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":"Reflections on the Book","tile_main_caption":"King Josiah\u2019s Death: Confusion, Anger, Faith\u00a0","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"The key to unlocking the secrets of Lamentations","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":96210,"alt":"","title":"Lamentations ziegler","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Lamentations-ziegler.jpg","width":1500,"height":1499,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Lamentations-ziegler-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Lamentations-ziegler-300x300.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Lamentations-ziegler-768x767.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":767,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Lamentations-ziegler-1024x1024.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Lamentations-ziegler.jpg","1536x1536-width":1500,"1536x1536-height":1499,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Lamentations-ziegler.jpg","2048x2048-width":1500,"2048x2048-height":1499,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Lamentations-ziegler-1200x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Lamentations-ziegler-420x420.jpg","home_baner-width":420,"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,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Writings","book":"Lamentations","chapter":false,"chapter_main_number":false,"date":false,"wall_id":"2032"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":3,"id":"96203","color":"#effaea","size":"1","name":"Jeremiah\u2019s Lament ","post_title":"Jeremiah\u2019s Lament","slug":"jeremiahs-lament","old_id":"96203","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":"803","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Was this the scroll that Jehoiakim burned?\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

The Talmud identified the Prophet Jeremiah as the author of Lamentations (which it calls <\/span>Kinot<\/em> <\/span>and we call <\/span>Eikha<\/span><\/em>), along with the Book of Kings and the book that bears his name (Baba Batra 14b). Rashi elaborated on that tradition, writing here (1:1): \u201cJeremiah wrote the book of Lamentations. This is the scroll that Jehoiakim burned on the hearth.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

In order to get the people to repent, God had instructed Jeremiah, \u201cGet a scroll and write upon it all the words that I have spoken to you\u2014concerning Israel and Judah and all the nations\u2014from the time I first spoke to you in the days of Josiah to this day\u201d (Jeremiah 36:2). Jeremiah dictated the contents to his scribe, Baruch (4), who wrote them down and then read them aloud to the people assembled in the Temple on a fast day (8-10). When parts of the scroll were read to King Jehoiakim, however, \u201c[he] would cut it up with a scribe\u2019s knife and throw it into the fire in the brazier, until the entire scroll was consumed by the fire in the brazier\u201d (23).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Ibn Ezra, though, disagreed, writing in his introduction:<\/span><\/p>\r\n

This is not the scroll that Jehoiakim burned because it does not contain the words of God that are inscribed in the Book of Jeremiah. He was instructed to \u201cGet a scroll and write upon it all the words that I have spoken to you\u2014concerning Israel and Judah and all the nations\u201d (36:2), and, furthermore, it is written: \u201cAnd concerning King Jehoiakim of Judah you shall say: Thus said the LORD: You burned that scroll, saying, \u201cHow dare you write in it that the king of Babylon will come and destroy this land\u201d (36:29) and in Lamentations there is nary a word about Babylonia or its king.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Also noteworthy in that same introduction\u2014which he composed in rhymed prose\u2014Ibn Ezra also shared with us his skeptical attitude towards aggadic <\/span>midrashim<\/span><\/em>. \u201cThe meanings of scriptural verses resemble bodies; midrashim are like clothes that garb the bodies. Some are as fine as silk, but others are as coarse as burlap.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Image: Horace Vernet, Jeremiah on the ruins of Jerusalem, 1844 \/ wikimedia<\/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":"Introduction to Lamentations","tile_main_caption":"Jeremiah\u2019s Lament","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Was this the scroll that Jehoiakim burned?","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":96204,"alt":"","title":"lam1-jeremiah 1844","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/lam1-jeremiah-1844.jpg","width":410,"height":547,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/lam1-jeremiah-1844-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/lam1-jeremiah-1844-225x300.jpg","medium-width":225,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/lam1-jeremiah-1844.jpg","medium_large-width":410,"medium_large-height":547,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/lam1-jeremiah-1844.jpg","large-width":410,"large-height":547,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/lam1-jeremiah-1844.jpg","1536x1536-width":410,"1536x1536-height":547,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/lam1-jeremiah-1844.jpg","2048x2048-width":410,"2048x2048-height":547,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/lam1-jeremiah-1844.jpg","post_full_size-width":410,"post_full_size-height":547,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/lam1-jeremiah-1844-315x420.jpg","home_baner-width":315,"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,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Writings","book":"Lamentations","chapter":"1","chapter_main_number":"803","date":"20280926","wall_id":"803"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":4,"id":"96220","color":"#effaea","size":"1","name":"Tish\u2019a B\u2019Av ","post_title":"Tish\u2019a B\u2019Av","slug":"tisha-bav-2","old_id":"96220","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":"803","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Jerusalem, Your days are drowned with night\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

The City, once great with people, now sits alone, like a widow<\/em>
\r\nLamentations 1:1<\/p>\r\n

Jerusalem, no more do you cast your light.
\r\nNo more a pinnacle of joy in men\u2019s eyes,
\r\nYour days are drowned with night.<\/p>\r\n

No longer a bride bedecked in white,
\r\nNo longer the world\u2019s bejeweled prize,
\r\nJerusalem, no more do you cast your light.<\/p>\r\n

No longer do your lover\u2019s arms invite.
\r\nYou lie alone, a widow who stifles her sighs,
\r\nYour days are drowned with night.<\/p>\r\n

Gone are your praises that princes would recite.
\r\nVanished \u2013 your prophets and your wise.
\r\nJerusalem, no more do you cast your light.<\/p>\r\n

Shattered \u2013 your vials of perfume, once sealed tight.
\r\nScattered \u2013 your purple, blue and scarlet dyes.
\r\nYour days are drowned with night.<\/p>\r\n

No longer do your cymbals and drums delight,
\r\nNo harps, nor blasts from your trumpets rise.
\r\nJerusalem, no more do you cast your light,
\r\nYour days are drowned with night.<\/p>\r\n


\r\nThis poem appears in Ruth\u2019s book, Jerusalem Awaking<\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":64572,"alt":"","title":"Destruction of Jerusalem by Ercole de' 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Madness, and Eros: The Zohar's Eichah ","post_title":"Mourning, Madness, and Eros: The Zohar's Eichah","slug":"mourning-madness-and-eros-the-zohars-eichah-2","old_id":"96376","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":"2032","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"with Nathaniel Berman of Brown University","post_main_content_content":"","post_main_content_image":"","post_main_content_embedded_video":"https:\/\/youtu.be\/_4U_8YppLw8","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"Reflections on Lamentations","tile_main_caption":"Mourning, Madness, and Eros: The Zohar's Eichah","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"with Nathaniel Berman of Brown University","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":"","tile_preview_video":"https:\/\/youtu.be\/_4U_8YppLw8","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","chapter_info":{"books_group":"Writings","book":"Lamentations","chapter":false,"chapter_main_number":false,"date":false,"wall_id":"2032"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"332","name":"24 in 24","old_id":"732"}]},{"order":6,"id":"116797","color":"#f6edf6","size":"1","name":"Just A Trial Separation? ","post_title":"Just A Trial Separation?","slug":"just-a-trial-separation","old_id":"116797","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":"384","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"But the God-Israel relationship is definitely on the rocks\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

The people are in exile or about to be exiled (depending on when this prophecy takes place), so life looks quite grim. It would not be wrong of the people to feel that God has abandoned them. In the context of the familiar metaphor of God and Israel as husband and wife, then this looks like divorce. God was so angry with his people that he severed their relationship.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

This is the background to the opening verse of chapter 50, which is God\u2019s response to this \u2018counter-metaphor:\u2019<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Thus said GOD: Where is the bill of divorce Of your mother whom I dismissed? And which of My creditors was it To whom I sold you off? You were only sold off for your sins, And your mother dismissed for your crimes\u201d (verse 1).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

God addresses this theoretical claim head on. Yes, the people were unworthy partners, but they have merely been kicked out. God has only separated from his people, not fully divorced them.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

There is one odd twist to the divorce metaphor. Usually the relationship between God and the people is likened to a husband and wife. In verse 1, however, Isaiah refers to \u201cyour mother.\u201d Who is this mother? Ibn Ezra explains that the mother here is the nation as a whole and the individuals are the children. Isaiah wants the people to know that they may be expelled individually, but the idea of the nation will never be separated from God.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

There is possibly another marriage \u2018easter egg\u2019 at the end of the chapter:<\/span><\/p>\r\n

But you are all kindlers of fire, Girding on firebrands. Walk by the blaze of your fire, By the brands that you have lit! This has come to you from My hand: You shall lie down in pain\" (verse 12).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The word in Hebrew for firebrand and brand is <\/span>zika<\/span><\/i>. In the Talmud, this word is used to describe an inherent bond that is automatically created prior to the enactment of the Levirate marriage (see e.g., Yevamot 18a). It is possible that Isaiah uses this word here as another reminder that even if there is no official marriage document between the people and God, there exists an automatic unbreakable bond between them.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":92756,"alt":"","title":"pro18-marriage speech","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/pro18-marriage-speech.jpg","width":1278,"height":637,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/pro18-marriage-speech-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/pro18-marriage-speech-300x150.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":150,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/pro18-marriage-speech-768x383.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":383,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/pro18-marriage-speech-1024x510.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":510,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/pro18-marriage-speech.jpg","1536x1536-width":1278,"1536x1536-height":637,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/pro18-marriage-speech.jpg","2048x2048-width":1278,"2048x2048-height":637,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/pro18-marriage-speech-1200x598.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":598,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/pro18-marriage-speech-843x420.jpg","home_baner-width":843,"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":"Just A Trial Separation?","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"But the God-Israel relationship is definitely on the rocks","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":92756,"alt":"","title":"pro18-marriage speech","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/pro18-marriage-speech.jpg","width":1278,"height":637,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/pro18-marriage-speech-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/pro18-marriage-speech-300x150.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":150,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/pro18-marriage-speech-768x383.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":383,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/pro18-marriage-speech-1024x510.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":510,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/pro18-marriage-speech.jpg","1536x1536-width":1278,"1536x1536-height":637,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/pro18-marriage-speech.jpg","2048x2048-width":1278,"2048x2048-height":637,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/pro18-marriage-speech-1200x598.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":598,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/pro18-marriage-speech-843x420.jpg","home_baner-width":843,"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":"50","chapter_main_number":"384","date":"20270217","wall_id":"384"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"384","name":"God","old_id":"784"},{"term_id":"400","name":"Sin","old_id":"800"},{"term_id":"522","name":"Marriage","old_id":"922"},{"term_id":"539","name":"Israel","old_id":"939"}]},{"order":7,"id":"67913","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"2","name":"Prophets of Today: Natan Sharansky ","post_title":"Prophets of Today: Natan Sharansky","slug":"prophets-of-today-natan-sharansky","old_id":"67913","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":65645,"post_title":"Van \"Zeev\" Wallach","slug":"van-zeev-wallach","old_id":"65645","first_name":"Van \"Zeev\" ","last_name":"Wallach ","description":"Van \"Zeev\" Wallach is a writer in Katonah, New York. He's a native of Mission, Texas and a graduate of Princeton University. He is a blogger for the Times of Israel and the author of \"A Kosher Dating Odyssey: One Former Texas Baptist's Quest for a Naughty & Nice Jewish Girl.\" ","short_description":"Van \"Zeev\" Wallach is a writer in Katonah, New York","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":65646,"alt":"","title":"Van Wallach","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Van-Wallach.jpg","width":156,"height":171,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Van-Wallach-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Van-Wallach.jpg","medium-width":156,"medium-height":171,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Van-Wallach.jpg","medium_large-width":156,"medium_large-height":171,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Van-Wallach.jpg","large-width":156,"large-height":171,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Van-Wallach.jpg","1536x1536-width":156,"1536x1536-height":171,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Van-Wallach.jpg","2048x2048-width":156,"2048x2048-height":171,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Van-Wallach.jpg","post_full_size-width":156,"post_full_size-height":171,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Van-Wallach.jpg","home_baner-width":156,"home_baner-height":171}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"384","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"\u201cNext year in Jerusalem!\u201d\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

Natan Sharansky always struck me as a fearless prophet of our times, ready to speak his mind and declare his faith even when gripped in the claws of the KGB. As a refusenik in the 1970s, he incurred the wrath of the Soviet Union when he applied to move to Israel. Not only was his application denied, but the Soviets put him on trial for spurious charges of passing secrets to the West. To tempt him to help break the dissident movement, Soviet officials said he\u2019d be released to join his wife Avital in Israel.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

In my chumash, I carry a clipping from the New York Times of July 15, 1978, with Sharansky\u2019s closing statement at his trial in Moscow. I didn\u2019t know it at the time, but before the trial Avital gave him a Book of Tehillim (Psalms), which featured prominently in the aftermath of his trial. Sharansky concludes,<\/span><\/p>\r\n

For more than 2,000 years the Jewish people, my people, have been dispersed. But wherever they are, every year they have repeated, \u201cNext year in Jerusalem.\u201d Now, when I am further than ever from my people, from Avital, facing many arduous years of imprisonment, I say, turning to my people, my Avital: Next year in Jerusalem.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n

Now I turn to you, the court, who were required to confirm a predetermined sentence: to you I have nothing to say.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n

With his strong faith, Sharansky channeled what I call the \u201ckish mir in tuchas\u201d voice of Daniel and friends\u00a0 when facing down Babylonian officials who demanded they bow before Nebuchadnezzar.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

\u2026If you will not worship, you shall at once be thrown into a burning fiery furnace, and what god is there that can save you from my power?\u201d Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego said in reply to the king, \u201cO Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter, our God will save us from your power. But even if He does not, O king, we will not serve your god or worship the statue of gold that you have set up.\" <\/span><\/i>(Daniel 3:15-18).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Sharansky was released in 1986 as part of a spy swap, strolling across the Glieneke Bridge, the fabled \u201cBridge of Spies\u201d spanning the Havel River between West Berlin and East Germany\u2019s Potsdam. He left the USSR with the Tehillim that Avital had given him, a book that sustained him through the gulag years. He had to<\/span> fight the KGB<\/span><\/a> in his very last moments in the USSR, refusing to leave until agents returned the book to him. He moved to Israel, changed his name and built a family with Avital.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Once in Israel, Sharansky wasn\u2019t content to sit on his prophetic laurels. Instead, he formed a political party to acclimate Russian immigrants to Israeli life and served in several governments. The prophet\u2019s day jobs enabled him to put his values into action.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The Genesis Prize shows that Sharansky is a prophet with honor in his times. He exemplifies action driven and articulated by faith. He put his life on the line to speak to his jailers in explicitly religious terms, asserting \u201cnext year in Jerusalem;\u201d he never gave an inch to them. Sharansky still carries the battered volume of Tehillim with him, a sign of the Jewish faith that protected him in the fiery furnace of a vanished empire.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Image: Sharansky with his wife Avital, and with Shimon Peres and Yitzchak Shamir<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":67914,"alt":"","title":"is50-sharansky","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is50-sharansky.jpg","width":384,"height":256,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is50-sharansky-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is50-sharansky-300x200.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":200,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is50-sharansky.jpg","medium_large-width":384,"medium_large-height":256,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is50-sharansky.jpg","large-width":384,"large-height":256,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is50-sharansky.jpg","1536x1536-width":384,"1536x1536-height":256,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is50-sharansky.jpg","2048x2048-width":384,"2048x2048-height":256,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is50-sharansky.jpg","post_full_size-width":384,"post_full_size-height":256,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is50-sharansky.jpg","home_baner-width":384,"home_baner-height":256}},"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":"Prophets Of Today","tile_main_caption":"Natan Sharansky","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"\u201cNext year in Jerusalem!\u201d","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":67914,"alt":"","title":"is50-sharansky","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is50-sharansky.jpg","width":384,"height":256,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is50-sharansky-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is50-sharansky-300x200.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":200,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is50-sharansky.jpg","medium_large-width":384,"medium_large-height":256,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is50-sharansky.jpg","large-width":384,"large-height":256,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is50-sharansky.jpg","1536x1536-width":384,"1536x1536-height":256,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is50-sharansky.jpg","2048x2048-width":384,"2048x2048-height":256,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is50-sharansky.jpg","post_full_size-width":384,"post_full_size-height":256,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is50-sharansky.jpg","home_baner-width":384,"home_baner-height":256}},"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":"50","chapter_main_number":"384","date":"20270217","wall_id":"384"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"327","name":"Today's Prophets","old_id":"727"},{"term_id":"413","name":"Freedom","old_id":"813"},{"term_id":"438","name":"Slavery","old_id":"838"},{"term_id":"479","name":"Activities","old_id":"879"},{"term_id":"697","name":"Character","old_id":"1097"}]},{"order":8,"id":"67910","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"The Hidden Holiness Of The Secular New Year ","post_title":"The Hidden Holiness Of The Secular New Year","slug":"the-hidden-holiness-of-the-secular-new-year","old_id":"67910","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":"384","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"The light is there to be found","post_main_content_content":"

The celebration of the secular new year has always been among my favorite occasions. I loved it when I was an atheist, I loved it when I discovered God and religion, and I love it still. Its rampant secularity, raucous parties, loud horns, gaudy streamers and pointless parades of dazzling loveliness lend it a \"Cinderella-at-the-ball\" wonder.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

What could be more carnal and compelling than champagne's popping corks, the dropping ball at midnight?<\/span><\/p>\r\n

New Year's celebrations don't recall any great event, any moral virtue, or noble hero. Yet I and countless millions are drawn each year to celebrate for the sake of sheer celebration.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

In a world of relentless violence, racism, global destruction of the biosphere, an ongoing war against women, marginalization of those with special needs, suspicion of anyone different, and a growing and pernicious gap between the richest 1% and everyone else, maybe we can see some deep and subterranean light to be refracted in our coming together, in affirming this occasion to rejoice in each other, in our still being alive, in remembering to savor the passing of time.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

There is a conundrum in the Creation story, namely that first light was created (Genesis 1:2-5), while the sun, moon and stars were created three cosmic creation days later (Genesis 1: 14 - 19). Three days of mystery light, which emerges from nothing in particular yet bathes the entire cosmos in its fecund glow. We might well be tempted to call that light \"cosmic background radiation.\"<\/span><\/p>\r\n

According to the medieval Kabbalists, this primordial, cosmic light was hidden away with the arrival of the stars and the sun, and is now only visible with an inner eye, to those who look for it. Our job is to locate those hidden sparks of supernal light, and to set them free. Light, in order to illuminate, must be free to bounce off of something!<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Maybe that's the spiritual message lurking just under the surface of the raucous and pointless celebrations of the New Year. We don't need a reason to rejoice. We need each other. We don't need to define a specific event to celebrate; life is sufficient. One night a year, humanity hoists a lantern which we all can share, an elation that sweeps global humanity like a wave at a stadium of planetary proportions.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Lurking just beneath the surface of the scientific account of the universe pulses a living light, made visible in the emerging consciousness of a cosmos groping toward expression, toward greater compassion and heightened experience. God's lure, the invitation to optimal living, is that hidden light, just beneath the facts of our objective world.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Joy for its own sake, laughter and conviviality without pretext, meeting time's advance with friends and unapologetic delight \u2013 these are the eruption of the hidden light cracking the conventional crust of our mature good sense, our dehumanizing obsession with control, our idolatrous reliance on possession as salvation.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

In this most secular of celebrations lies hidden the most vital of religious purposes. The light is there to be found.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Party on!<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":67922,"alt":"","title":"is50-new year","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is50-new-year.jpg","width":1920,"height":1152,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is50-new-year-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is50-new-year-300x180.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":180,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is50-new-year-768x461.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":461,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is50-new-year-1024x614.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":614,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is50-new-year.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":922,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is50-new-year.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":1152,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is50-new-year-1200x720.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":720,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is50-new-year-700x420.jpg","home_baner-width":700,"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 Hidden Holiness Of The Secular New Year","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"The light is there to be found","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":67922,"alt":"","title":"is50-new year","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is50-new-year.jpg","width":1920,"height":1152,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is50-new-year-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is50-new-year-300x180.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":180,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is50-new-year-768x461.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":461,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is50-new-year-1024x614.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":614,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is50-new-year.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":922,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is50-new-year.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":1152,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is50-new-year-1200x720.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":720,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is50-new-year-700x420.jpg","home_baner-width":700,"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":"50","chapter_main_number":"384","date":"20270217","wall_id":"384"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"629","name":"Light","old_id":"1029"},{"term_id":"632","name":"Calendar","old_id":"1032"},{"term_id":"743","name":"Joy","old_id":"1143"}]},{"order":9,"id":"67924","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"Qualifying as a Prophet ","post_title":"Qualifying as a Prophet","slug":"qualifying-as-a-prophet","old_id":"67924","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":"384","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Nature, nurture and more","post_main_content_content":"

Maimonides wrote that prophecy was the perfection of virtues of intellect and imagination, but the perfect person still had to be chosen by God (<\/span>Guide for the Perplexed <\/span><\/i>2:32 ff.), while Judah Halevi thought that divine selection alone was enough. Malbim, in his commentary on Jeremiah 1:5, approximated the Maimonidean position, writing that there are two preconditions for prophecy: natural and selective.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

In vss. 4-5 of this chapter, Isaiah appears to have listed some of the qualifications for prophecy that accompanied his selection: \u201cThe Lord GOD gave me a skilled tongue, to know how to speak timely words to the weary. Morning by morning, He rouses, He rouses my ear to give heed like disciples. The Lord GOD opened my ears, and I did not disobey, I did not run away.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Malbim,* here, went into greater detail, describing some of the practical qualifications of a successful prophet:<\/span><\/p>\r\n

One who addresses the public and is a prophet unto the nations must have perfection in three areas: [A] The power of persuasion, to offer sound advice on all important subjects; to wit: \u201ca skilled tongue, to know how to speak timely words to the weary\u201d \u2026 [B] He must possess this faculty at all times and not intermittently, to wit: \u201cMorning by morning, He rouses.\u201d [C] He must speak clearly and not in riddles and choose his words according to the intellect and comprehension of his audience, to wit: \u201cHe rouses my ear to give heed like disciples.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Let it also not be said that despite God granting me a skilled tongue I [Isaiah] failed in my mission and did not address you with God\u2019s word, because as soon as He \u201copened my ears\u201d even minimally \u201cI did not disobey\u201d and I went on my mission. Do not say [further] that even if I went from place to place until arriving at the audience that I was afraid to speak to them and retreated; not so, \u201cI did not run away\u201d and I feared no one.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Radak, who also took a Maimonidean position on prophecy (see Jeremiah 1:5), noted that not only prophecy required a combination of natural ability, self-improvement, and divine selection, but also anything at which a person excels. We tend to recognize the first two (we even call them nature and nurture) but often overlook the third.<\/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":67925,"alt":"","title":"is50-prophet","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is50-prophet.jpg","width":1114,"height":1920,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is50-prophet-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is50-prophet-174x300.jpg","medium-width":174,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is50-prophet-594x1024.jpg","medium_large-width":594,"medium_large-height":1024,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is50-prophet-594x1024.jpg","large-width":594,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is50-prophet.jpg","1536x1536-width":891,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is50-prophet.jpg","2048x2048-width":1114,"2048x2048-height":1920,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is50-prophet-696x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":696,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is50-prophet-244x420.jpg","home_baner-width":244,"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":"Qualifying as a Prophet","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Nature, nurture and more","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":67925,"alt":"","title":"is50-prophet","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is50-prophet.jpg","width":1114,"height":1920,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is50-prophet-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is50-prophet-174x300.jpg","medium-width":174,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is50-prophet-594x1024.jpg","medium_large-width":594,"medium_large-height":1024,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is50-prophet-594x1024.jpg","large-width":594,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is50-prophet.jpg","1536x1536-width":891,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is50-prophet.jpg","2048x2048-width":1114,"2048x2048-height":1920,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is50-prophet-696x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":696,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is50-prophet-244x420.jpg","home_baner-width":244,"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":"50","chapter_main_number":"384","date":"20270217","wall_id":"384"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"506","name":"Prophecy","old_id":"906"},{"term_id":"648","name":"Choseness","old_id":"1048"},{"term_id":"770","name":"Perfection","old_id":"1170"}]},{"order":10,"id":"116838","color":"#f6edf6","size":"1","name":"The Tanakh Podcast-Isaiah50","post_title":"The Tanakh Podcast-Isaiah50","slug":"the-tanakh-podcast-isaiah50","old_id":"116838","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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In our chapter, Isaiah says: \u201cThe Lord God gave me a tongue of teaching (lashon limudim<\/em>)\u2026The Lord God opened my ears\u201d (50:4-5). The prophet here seems to suggest that the prophetic \u201ctongue of teaching\u201d requires also open ears for learning.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Seder Eliyyahu Rabbah 18 cites these verses to urge the study of Torah in the synagogue: Everyone who sits and occupies himself privately with the mystical mysteries of God, should at least on occasion put aside his individual study and go to the synagogue or the house of study \u2013 indeed, to any place where new insights into Torah are discovered together with others. Because whenever one goes to the synagogue or to the house of study, invariably joy is renewed for him. This is the meaning of the tradition proclaimed by the prophet Isaiah ben Amotz: \u201cThe Lord God gave me a tongue of teaching, to know how to speak timely words to the weary. Each morning\u2026He rouses my ear to hear like those who learn\u201d (50:4) -- these words the Prophet Isaiah spoke referring to one\u2019s going to the House of Study. And about the House of Study and the insights into Torah that one may gain there, Scripture goes on to say: \u201cThey are renewed every morning\u2026\u201d (Lamentations 3:23).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Seder Eliyyahu Zuta 14 interprets the two parts of the verse \u201cThe Lord God gave me a tongue of teaching\u2026The Lord God opened my ears\u201d to refer first to the exertion and then to the reward for the Study of Torah. There are those who consume themselves with the voracious reading of Scripture and reciting of Mishnah. To such an extent that they may seem like those of whom it is said: \u201cFor guzzlers and gluttons will be wearied. And drowsing will leave you in tatters\u201d (Proverbs 23:21). For this reason, it says: \u201cDo not love sleep\u2026Rather, keep your eyes open and you will have plenty of bread\u201d (Proverbs 20:13). \u201cBread\u201d here means Torah, which proclaims: \u201cCome, eat my bread\u2026 and walk in the way of understanding\u201d (Proverbs 9:5-6).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

And of the teaching and study of the Torah, Isaiah says: \u201cThe Lord God gave me a tongue of teaching, to know how to speak timely words to the weary. Every morning\u2026He rouses my ear to listen like those who learn\u201d (50:4). This suggests that the words of Torah are taken to heart (nivla\u2019im be-lev ha-adam<\/em>) only by those who consume themselves in studying Torah. So, the Holy Spirit announces to the sages: Though I have given you the great good of My Torah in this world, in the world to come I will double your reward. Indeed, it is Isaiah who prophecies: \u201cyou will receive a double portion\u2026and everlasting joy will be yours\u201d (61:7)! Behold, we have learned that we will receive a double portion of Torah with the coming of the Messiah.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Image: Rabbi Joseph Soloveitchik teaching Torah at Stern College<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":67908,"alt":"","title":"is50-torah study","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is50-torah-study.jpg","width":320,"height":234,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is50-torah-study-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is50-torah-study-300x219.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":219,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is50-torah-study.jpg","medium_large-width":320,"medium_large-height":234,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is50-torah-study.jpg","large-width":320,"large-height":234,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is50-torah-study.jpg","1536x1536-width":320,"1536x1536-height":234,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is50-torah-study.jpg","2048x2048-width":320,"2048x2048-height":234,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is50-torah-study.jpg","post_full_size-width":320,"post_full_size-height":234,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is50-torah-study.jpg","home_baner-width":320,"home_baner-height":234}},"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":"Study In The Synagogue","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Tongue of teaching, and ears for learning","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":67908,"alt":"","title":"is50-torah study","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is50-torah-study.jpg","width":320,"height":234,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is50-torah-study-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is50-torah-study-300x219.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":219,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is50-torah-study.jpg","medium_large-width":320,"medium_large-height":234,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is50-torah-study.jpg","large-width":320,"large-height":234,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is50-torah-study.jpg","1536x1536-width":320,"1536x1536-height":234,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is50-torah-study.jpg","2048x2048-width":320,"2048x2048-height":234,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is50-torah-study.jpg","post_full_size-width":320,"post_full_size-height":234,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is50-torah-study.jpg","home_baner-width":320,"home_baner-height":234}},"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":"50","chapter_main_number":"384","date":"20270217","wall_id":"384"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"410","name":"Torah","old_id":"810"},{"term_id":"730","name":"Learning","old_id":"1130"},{"term_id":"775","name":"Study","old_id":"1175"}]},{"order":12,"id":"67944","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"Light From Darkness ","post_title":"Light From Darkness","slug":"light-from-darkness","old_id":"67944","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":49926,"post_title":"Binyamin Cohen","slug":"binyamin-cohen","old_id":"49926","first_name":"Binyamin ","last_name":"Cohen ","description":"Binyamin Cohen is a Jewish Studies teacher at Rochelle Zell Jewish High School in Deerfield, IL. 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This chapter has two distinct parts: a short, violent message from God; and the prophet describing some of the struggles of his mission. The first part, the message from God, is angry, turbulent, and graphic. God expresses feelings of abandonment and rejection by Israel (v.1-2). It closes with images of God\u2019s destructive power, God\u2019s ability to turn the order of nature upside-down (v.2-3).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

In the second part, the prophet paints a picture of his struggle to carry out God\u2019s mission. The prophet tells us that God gave him the necessary skills and abilities to complete his task, specifically \u201ca skilled tongue\u201d (v.4), and the ability to hear. Nevertheless, he is abused by his peers, physically assaulted and downgraded. But his faith that God will help him (v.7, 9), will sustain him. He knows that his prophecies will be proven true, that those who deride him will be punished.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The prophet concludes with a message to the people that employs an interesting metaphor. He exhorts those who \u201cwalk in darkness\u201d (v.10) to have faith in God, to \u201ctrust in the name of the LORD And rely upon his God\u201d (v.10). in contrast, he describes the nonbelievers as \u201ckindlers of fire\u201d (v.11), who walk by their own light, and whose destiny is pain. The prophet is saying that God and faith are a light in the darkness, but when humans create their own light, trust only in that, and ignore the light that God provides them, they ultimately fail.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The two parts of this chapter seem somewhat disconnected, but the bridge can be found in this metaphor of light. The first part tells us that God can turn the order of nature on its head. In many ways, light is just such a phenomenon. Most of the universe is darkness. The tiny points of light that seem to fill the heavens really only occupy a tiny fraction of space. Light is the aberration; darkness is the norm. But, says the prophet, God is that light, God fills the darkness for us, if we only put our faith in the right place. The prophet knows this: the light fills him and gives him the skilled tongue. The light shines on\/in him, his ears are opened (v.5) and he can <\/span>hear<\/span><\/i> it.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The prophet concludes by telling us that humanity\u2019s own fires are a pale flicker compared to the light God provides. But we seem them so brightly, because they are so close and easy to see, that they often lead us astray. We forget that \u201cthis has come to you from My hand\u201d (v.11). It is when we remember that everything in our universe is a blessing from God that we can truly see the light.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":61080,"alt":"","title":"2sam22-divine light","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/2sam22-divine-light.jpg","width":1920,"height":1086,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/2sam22-divine-light-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/2sam22-divine-light-300x170.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":170,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/2sam22-divine-light-768x434.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":434,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/2sam22-divine-light-1024x579.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":579,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/2sam22-divine-light.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":869,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/2sam22-divine-light.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":1086,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/2sam22-divine-light-1200x679.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":679,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/2sam22-divine-light-743x420.jpg","home_baner-width":743,"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":"Light From Darkness","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Humanity\u2019s own fires are but a pale flicker in comparison","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":61080,"alt":"","title":"2sam22-divine light","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/2sam22-divine-light.jpg","width":1920,"height":1086,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/2sam22-divine-light-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/2sam22-divine-light-300x170.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":170,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/2sam22-divine-light-768x434.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":434,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/2sam22-divine-light-1024x579.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":579,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/2sam22-divine-light.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":869,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/2sam22-divine-light.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":1086,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/2sam22-divine-light-1200x679.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":679,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/2sam22-divine-light-743x420.jpg","home_baner-width":743,"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":"50","chapter_main_number":"384","date":"20270217","wall_id":"384"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"384","name":"God","old_id":"784"},{"term_id":"629","name":"Light","old_id":"1029"},{"term_id":"854","name":"Metaphor","old_id":"1254"}]},{"order":13,"id":"67900","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"Abasement And Spittle ","post_title":"Abasement And Spittle","slug":"abasement-and-spittle","old_id":"67900","type":"event","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":"384","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"The prophet\u2019s visions open him up to ridicule\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

50:6 \u201cMy back I gave to the floggers and my cheeks to those who plucked my beard. My face I did not hide from abasement and spittle.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

There is a long tradition of Christian interpretation that refers this entire verse to Christ. What the prophet is speaking about is his own experience: while most of his prophetic message has been a discourse of consolation, it is easy enough to imagine that his soaring vision of a splendid restoration to Zion would have been seen by many in his audiences as an outrageous pipe dream, an insult to their continuing plight as exiles, and some would have responded by mocking, insulting, even roughing up the prophet as he tried to address them.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

From: Robert Alter, <\/span>The Hebrew Bible<\/span><\/em>, <\/span><\/i>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":"Abasement And Spittle","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"The prophet\u2019s visions open him up to ridicule","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":"50","chapter_main_number":"384","date":"20270217","wall_id":"384"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"478","name":"Christianity","old_id":"878"}]},{"order":14,"id":"67898","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"Points to Ponder - Isaiah 50 ","post_title":"Points to Ponder - Isaiah 50","slug":"points-to-ponder-isaiah-50","old_id":"67898","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":"384","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"","post_main_content_content":"

    \r\n\t
  1. A writ of divorce<\/em>. The opening verse gives us a peek into family court. For a divorce there is a need for a bill of divorce - a written document. If there isn\u2019t one, the marriage can\u2019t be annulled.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t
  2. Debts and servitude.<\/em> In the reality of the ancient world debtors who couldn\u2019t adequately pay their debt, would sometimes sell their children to the creditors as slaves. That\u2019s almost what happened to the wife of one of the disciples of the prophets 71 chapters ago (2 Kings 4). That\u2019s what will happen to many impoverished people in the time of Nehemiah (in 472 more chapters, Neh. 5). And that\u2019s what the prophet says has NOT happened between God and the people.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t
  3. Who is God\u2019s servant?<\/em> In the previous two pronouncements (chapters 42 and 49), God\u2019s servant was identified as the people of Israel. Here, there is no clear identification, and there is room for interpretation. Is the divine servant the nation? The prophet? A particular prophet?<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t
  4. Study hard!<\/em> No matter how we understand the servant of God and their identity, it\u2019s clear that their learning is critical. They need to be talented and devoted.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t
  5. Sacrifice?<\/em> The willingness of the servant to suffer, and the verbs that describe how he gives his back and cheeks to his abusers (verse 6), create a sense of discomfort which will only grow with the next proclamation. Only two more chapters - stay tuned. <\/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 50","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":"50","chapter_main_number":"384","date":"20270217","wall_id":"384"},"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\/67761"}],"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=67761"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}