{"id":68853,"date":"2018-07-09T17:45:57","date_gmt":"2018-07-09T14:45:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wall\/wall-401\/"},"modified":"2023-08-20T14:09:24","modified_gmt":"2023-08-20T11:09:24","slug":"wall-401","status":"publish","type":"wall","link":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wall\/wall-401\/","title":{"rendered":"chapter-Prophets-Jeremiah-1"},"parent":0,"template":"","acf":{"type":"chapter","wall_id":"401","date":"20270314","book":"Jeremiah","chapter":"1","chapter_main_number":"401","books_group":"Prophets","posts":[{"order":1,"id":"68961","color":"#f8ebe3","size":"1","name":"JPS Audio Bible - Jeremiah Chapter 1 ","post_title":"JPS Audio Bible - Jeremiah Chapter 1","slug":"jps-audio-bible-jeremiah-chapter-1","old_id":"68961","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":"401","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":"Jeremiah Chapter 1","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_jeremiah_chapter_1","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":"Jeremiah","chapter":"1","chapter_main_number":"401","date":"20270314","wall_id":"401"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":2,"id":"117215","color":"#f6edf6","size":"1","name":"Jeremiah v. Moses ","post_title":"Jeremiah v. Moses","slug":"jeremiah-v-moses","old_id":"117215","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":62571,"post_title":"Yaakov Bieler","slug":"yaakov-bieler","old_id":"62571","first_name":"Yaakov ","last_name":"Bieler ","description":"Rabbi Yaakov Bieler has been involved in Jewish education and the synagogue Rabbinate in New York, NY and Silver Spring, MD since being ordained by Yeshiva University in 1974. He has lectured and written extensively on Modern Orthodoxy, and blogs daily at https:\/\/yaakovbieler.wordpress.com ","short_description":"Rabbi Yaakov Bieler has been involved in Jewish education and the synagogue Rabbinate in New York, NY and Silver Spring, MD since being ordained by Yeshiva University. ","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":62572,"alt":"","title":"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/yaakov-bieler.jpg","width":141,"height":180,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/yaakov-bieler-141x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":141,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/yaakov-bieler.jpg","medium-width":141,"medium-height":180,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/yaakov-bieler.jpg","medium_large-width":141,"medium_large-height":180,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/yaakov-bieler.jpg","large-width":141,"large-height":180,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/yaakov-bieler.jpg","1536x1536-width":141,"1536x1536-height":180,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/yaakov-bieler.jpg","2048x2048-width":141,"2048x2048-height":180,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/yaakov-bieler.jpg","post_full_size-width":141,"post_full_size-height":180,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/yaakov-bieler.jpg","home_baner-width":141,"home_baner-height":180}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"401","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Comparing and contrasting two of the greats\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

Jeremiah\u2019s beginnings call to mind how Moses was enlisted by God. Jeremiah is described as initially being deeply reluctant: \u201cI (<\/span>Jeremiah<\/span><\/em>) replied: Ah, Lord GOD! I don\u2019t know how to speak, for I am still a boy\u201d (1:6).<\/span> While Moses makes no claims about his age, he does state that he too will be unable to speak in public (see Exodus 4:10).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

In contrast to the \u201cfather of prophets,\u201d who presents five arguments over the course of Exodus 3-4\u00a0 as to why God should send someone else, Jeremiah appears to immediately accept God\u2019s insistence that he serve in the role that He proposes. Could it be that Moses\u2019 earlier example of unsuccessfully attempting to resist God\u2019s plan, influenced later prophets to accept their calling, after only nominal objections?<\/span><\/p>\r\n

A second parallel is God\u2019s offering symbolic encouragement in order to overcome the two men\u2019s respective reticence. In Exodus 4:2-4, 6-7, and 9, God equips Moses with signs involving: 1) a staff becoming a serpent, 2) a hand that turns leprous, and 3) river water transformed into blood, to be performed before Pharaoh and the Jews in order to convince them of Moses\u2019 being a \u201ctrue\u201d prophet.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Jeremiah, too, is given a sign directly from God, but, rather than as something to be performed before\u00a0 skeptics, it is intended to convince\u00a0 the prophet that God will be continually dictating to him what to say:<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The LORD put out His hand and touched my mouth, and the LORD said to me: Herewith I put My words into your mouth (1:9).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Perhaps the most profound contrast between Moses and Jeremiah is when it came to understanding a vision. Throughout the Torah, Moses is always able to understand whatever God was telling him. Moses\u2019 prophecy is described as: \u201cWith him I speak mouth to mouth, plainly and not in riddles, and he beholds the likeness of <\/span>God<\/span><\/a>\u201d (Num. 12:8).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

But in Jeremiah 1:11-15, God finds it necessary to explain twice to Jeremiah the vision that the prophet perceives:<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The word of the LORD came to me: What do you see, Jeremiah? I replied: I see a branch of an almond tree.<\/span> The LORD said to me: You have seen right, for I am watchful<\/span> to bring My word to pass (1:11-12).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

And the word of the LORD came to me a second time: What do you see? I replied: I see a steaming pot, tipped away from the north.<\/span>- <\/span>14 And the LORD said to me: From the north shall disaster break loose upon all the inhabitants of the land! (1:13-14).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

In the words of Maimonides (<\/span>Mishneh Torah, Hilchot Yesodei HaTorah <\/span><\/em>7:6<\/span><\/i>):<\/span><\/p>\r\n

(<\/span>Prophets aside from Moses<\/span><\/em>) perceive only metaphoric imagery and allegories\u2026 (<\/span>Moses<\/span><\/em>) would perceive the matter in its fullness, without metaphor or allegory\u2026 His appreciation of prophecy would not be through metaphor, but through open revelation\u2026<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Image: Moses, Jeremiah, Daniel, David, Joel and Isaiah, in Athlone, Westmeath, Ireland \/ Niall McAuley, 2007<\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":72849,"alt":"","title":"","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/jer52-jeremiah-moses.jpg","width":2249,"height":2386,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/jer52-jeremiah-moses-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/jer52-jeremiah-moses-283x300.jpg","medium-width":283,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/jer52-jeremiah-moses-768x815.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":815,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/jer52-jeremiah-moses-965x1024.jpg","large-width":965,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/jer52-jeremiah-moses.jpg","1536x1536-width":1448,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/jer52-jeremiah-moses.jpg","2048x2048-width":1930,"2048x2048-height":2048,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/jer52-jeremiah-moses-1131x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":1131,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/jer52-jeremiah-moses-396x420.jpg","home_baner-width":396,"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":"Jeremiah v. Moses","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Comparing and contrasting two of the greats","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":72849,"alt":"","title":"","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/jer52-jeremiah-moses.jpg","width":2249,"height":2386,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/jer52-jeremiah-moses-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/jer52-jeremiah-moses-283x300.jpg","medium-width":283,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/jer52-jeremiah-moses-768x815.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":815,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/jer52-jeremiah-moses-965x1024.jpg","large-width":965,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/jer52-jeremiah-moses.jpg","1536x1536-width":1448,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/jer52-jeremiah-moses.jpg","2048x2048-width":1930,"2048x2048-height":2048,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/jer52-jeremiah-moses-1131x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":1131,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/jer52-jeremiah-moses-396x420.jpg","home_baner-width":396,"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":"Jeremiah","chapter":"1","chapter_main_number":"401","date":"20270314","wall_id":"401"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"397","name":"Moses","old_id":"797"},{"term_id":"506","name":"Prophecy","old_id":"906"},{"term_id":"840","name":"Jeremiah","old_id":"1240"},{"term_id":"854","name":"Metaphor","old_id":"1254"}]},{"order":3,"id":"117224","color":"#f6edf6","size":"1","name":"The Words Of Jeremiah ","post_title":"The Words Of Jeremiah","slug":"the-words-of-jeremiah","old_id":"117224","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":33877,"post_title":"Marc Bregman","slug":"marc-bregman","old_id":"33877","first_name":"Marc","last_name":"Bregman","description":"Marc Bregman received his Ph.D. from The Hebrew University in Jerusalem in 1991. He taught at the Hebrew Union College (Jerusalem), The Hebrew University in Jerusalem, the Schechter Institute for Judaic Studies in Jerusalem, and at the Ben-Gurion University in Beer Sheba, Israel. During 1993 he was Visiting Associate Professor at Yale University, and during 1996 he was the Stroum Professor of Jewish Studies and Visiting Research Fellow at the University of Washington in Seattle. During 2005, Bregman served as the Harry Starr Fellow in Judaica at Harvard University and was awarded a Teaching Fellowship at the Center for Advanced Judaic Studies at the University of Pennsylvania. He also has served as Forchheimer Visiting Professor in the Faculty of Humanities at The Hebrew University in Jerusalem. He is the author of The Tanhuma-Yelammedenu Literature: Studies in the Evolution of the Versions (Gorgias Press, 2003). In 2006, Bregman was appointed the Herman and Zelda Bernard Distinguished Professor of Jewish Studies at the University of North Carolina in Greensboro, where he also headed the program in Jewish Studies, until 2013. Bregman retired from UNCG as of July 31, 2017. He has now returned to Jerusalem where he is continuing his research and teaching activities.","credit":"","image_url":"","short_description":"Marc Bregman is the Herman and Zelda Bernard Distinguished Professor of Jewish Studies emeritus, at the University of North Carolina in Greensboro.","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":33878,"alt":"Marc Bregman","title":"Marc Bregman","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman.jpg","width":361,"height":488,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman-222x300.jpg","medium-width":222,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman.jpg","medium_large-width":361,"medium_large-height":488,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman.jpg","large-width":361,"large-height":488,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman.jpg","1536x1536-width":361,"1536x1536-height":488,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman.jpg","2048x2048-width":361,"2048x2048-height":488,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman.jpg","post_full_size-width":361,"post_full_size-height":488,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman-311x420.jpg","home_baner-width":311,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"401","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"In the eyes of six proems, a midrashic homily and a messianic peroration\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

This opening <\/span>chapter<\/span><\/a>, which begins with the<\/span> superscription<\/span><\/a> \u201cThe words of Jeremiah\u2026\u201d, serves as the first of the three<\/span> Haftarot of Rebuke<\/span><\/a> read on the shabbatot leading up to Tisha Be-Av.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Pesiqta de-Rav Kahana<\/span><\/a> preserves an extensive composite homily (composed of<\/span> proems<\/span><\/a>, exegetical \u201cbody\u201d and messianic peroration) on this haftara reading.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The first proem relates \u201cTake up the cry, Anathoth!\u201d (<\/span>Isaiah 10:13<\/span><\/a>) to Jeremiah, who was \u201cfrom the priests who are in Anathoth\u201d (<\/span>Jeremiah 1:1<\/span><\/a>). Jeremiah the \u201cAnathothian\u201d comes and prophecies against you (Israel) words of rebuke. For this reason, Scripture needed to record \u201cThe Words of Jeremiah\u2026\u201d. Each of the following five proems opens with a different verse but ends with the same concluding statement.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The second proem opens with the verse: \u201cYou are indifferent to my rebuke\u2026\u201d (<\/span>Proverbs 1:23<\/span><\/a>). This is understood to be spoken by Jeremiah chastising Israel for their indifference to his prophecies.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The third proem opens with the verse: \u201cDid the prophets live forever?\u201d (<\/span>Zechariah 1:5<\/span><\/a>) which is understood as spoken by God asking, Even though the prophets do indeed die, do their prophecies not continue to exist?! Jeremiah\u2019 words will continue to exist long after his death.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The fourth proem opens with: \u201cA capable servant will dominate an incompetent son\u2026\u201d (<\/span>Proverbs 17:2<\/span><\/a>), applied to Jeremiah who dominated Israel who shamed themselves with idolatry.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The fifth proem opens with: \u201cBut if you do not dispossess the inhabitants of the land, those whom you allow to remain shall be stings in your eyes and thorns in your sides\u201d (<\/span>Numbers 33:55<\/span><\/a>). The is applied to Jeremiah whose words shall be stings in your eyes and thorns in your sides.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The sixth proem opens with: \u201cI will raise up for them from among their own people a prophet like yourself [Moses]\u201d (<\/span>Deuteronomy 18:18<\/span><\/a>). This leads to a comparison of Moses and Jeremiah. Both prophesied for 40 years. Both prophesied concerning Judah and Israel. Each had the people of his own tribe rise up against him. One was cast into a river and the other was cast into a pit. One was saved by a maidservant and the other was saved by a manservant. Finally, both came with words of rebuke [for Israel].<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The \u201cbody\u201d of the composite homily is a midrashic exegesis of each of the first words of Jeremiah 1:1.<\/span> For example<\/span><\/a>, the name \u201cJeremiah\u201d is related to a Greek word meaning \u201cdesolation\u201d, for in Jeremiah\u2019s days the Jerusalem Temple became a \u201cdesolation\u201d (<\/span>erimon<\/span><\/i>).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The messianic peroration notes that according to<\/span> Jeremiah 1:3<\/span><\/a>: \u201cJerusalem went into exile in the fifth month.\u201d This month was later called \u201cAv\u201d and identified with the zodiacal sign<\/span> Aryeh<\/span><\/a> (\u201cthe Lion,\u201d Leo). But in this same Month of the Lion , God, the \u201cLion\u201d (see<\/span> Amos 3:8<\/span><\/a>) will return and rebuild<\/span> Ariel<\/span><\/a> (\u201clion of God,\u201d i.e. Jerusalem). And when \u201cthe Lord rebuilds Jerusalem, He will gather in the exiles of Israel\u201d (<\/span>Psalms 147:2<\/span><\/a>).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

 <\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":98207,"alt":"","title":"ez7-midrash","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/ez7-midrash.jpeg","width":1361,"height":1116,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/ez7-midrash-150x150.jpeg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/ez7-midrash-300x246.jpeg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":246,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/ez7-midrash-768x630.jpeg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":630,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/ez7-midrash-1024x840.jpeg","large-width":1024,"large-height":840,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/ez7-midrash.jpeg","1536x1536-width":1361,"1536x1536-height":1116,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/ez7-midrash.jpeg","2048x2048-width":1361,"2048x2048-height":1116,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/ez7-midrash-1200x984.jpeg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":984,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/ez7-midrash-512x420.jpeg","home_baner-width":512,"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 Words Of Jeremiah","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"In the eyes of six proems, a midrashic homily and a messianic peroration","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":98207,"alt":"","title":"ez7-midrash","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/ez7-midrash.jpeg","width":1361,"height":1116,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/ez7-midrash-150x150.jpeg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/ez7-midrash-300x246.jpeg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":246,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/ez7-midrash-768x630.jpeg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":630,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/ez7-midrash-1024x840.jpeg","large-width":1024,"large-height":840,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/ez7-midrash.jpeg","1536x1536-width":1361,"1536x1536-height":1116,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/ez7-midrash.jpeg","2048x2048-width":1361,"2048x2048-height":1116,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/ez7-midrash-1200x984.jpeg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":984,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/ez7-midrash-512x420.jpeg","home_baner-width":512,"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":"Jeremiah","chapter":"1","chapter_main_number":"401","date":"20270314","wall_id":"401"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"363","name":"Midrash","old_id":"763"},{"term_id":"506","name":"Prophecy","old_id":"906"},{"term_id":"840","name":"Jeremiah","old_id":"1240"}]},{"order":4,"id":"117226","color":"#f6edf6","size":"1","name":"Jeremiah Receives Divine Protection ","post_title":"Jeremiah Receives Divine Protection","slug":"jeremiah-receives-divine-protection","old_id":"117226","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":"401","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Jerusalem - not so much\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

\u00a0<\/span>The opening prophecy of Isaiah can be compared to Moses; likewise, the opening prophecy of Jeremiah can as well. God gives both Jeremiah and Moses signs as part of their initial encounter. The difference between the two is that Moses\u2019s signs did not have any prophetic meaning according to the text. Moses\u2019s signs were simply a way for God to show Moses - and eventually the people and Pharoah - that God was real.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Jeremiah's signs are mixed. The first sign was an almond staff, similar to the staff of Moses that turns to a snake and later the staff of Aaron that grows almonds. This staff is meant to show that God keeps his word. To Moses that meant that God had the power to save the people and to Jeremiah it means that God will keep his word and punish the people.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Next, Jeremiah is shown a boiling pot pointing north. God explains that the boiling pot symbolizes the destruction that is coming from the north. Moses\u2019s sign of turning water to blood and a leprous hand clean do not have a specific message. They are merely further signs meant to convince Pharaoh that God sent Moses.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Moses and Jeremiah are ultimately tasked with diametrically opposed directives. Moses is tasked with saving the people. Jeremiah is tasked with overseeing their destruction. Moses is told that the people and Pharoah will not listen, but eventually they will be saved. Jeremiah is also told the people will not listen, but eventually they will be destroyed. God promises both Moses and Jeremiah that God will protect them on their mission. Pharaoh, the most powerful ruler in the world, will not harm Moses. The kings and inhabitants of Jerusalem will not harm Jeremiah, although they will try.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

There is also a bit of irony in God's ending promise to Jeremiah:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

I make you this day a fortified city, and an iron pillar, and bronze walls against the whole land\u2014against Judah\u2019s kings and officers, and against its priests and citizens.\u201d (verse 18).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Jeremiah is told he will fail, but God will make sure no harm will come to him because God will set him up like a fortified city with iron pillars. Jeremiah\u2019s symbolic fortified city will be protected, but Jerusalem, the actual fortified city will ultimately receive no such protection.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Image: Horace Vernet, Jeremiah on the ruins of Jerusalem, 1844 \/ wikimedia<\/p>\r\n

 <\/p>","post_main_content_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}},"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":"Jeremiah Receives Divine Protection","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Jerusalem - not so much","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,"send_noty":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"Jeremiah","chapter":"1","chapter_main_number":"401","date":"20270314","wall_id":"401"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":5,"id":"69058","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"Jeremiah: A Historical Overview ","post_title":"Jeremiah: A Historical Overview","slug":"jeremiah-a-historical-overview","old_id":"69058","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":44114,"post_title":"Shalom Holtz","slug":"shalom-holtz","old_id":"44114","first_name":"Shalom ","last_name":"Holtz ","description":"Shalom E. Holtz is Professor of Bible at Yeshiva University. He is the author of numerous comparative studies of biblical and ancient Near Eastern law. His most recent book is Praying Legally (2019), which examines courtroom metaphors in Hebrew prayer. ","short_description":"Shalom E. Holtz is Professor of Bible at Yeshiva University.","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":44115,"alt":"","title":"shalom holtz","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/shalom-holtz.jpg","width":200,"height":200,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/shalom-holtz-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/shalom-holtz.jpg","medium-width":200,"medium-height":200,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/shalom-holtz.jpg","medium_large-width":200,"medium_large-height":200,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/shalom-holtz.jpg","large-width":200,"large-height":200,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/shalom-holtz.jpg","1536x1536-width":200,"1536x1536-height":200,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/shalom-holtz.jpg","2048x2048-width":200,"2048x2048-height":200,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/shalom-holtz.jpg","post_full_size-width":200,"post_full_size-height":200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/shalom-holtz.jpg","home_baner-width":200,"home_baner-height":200}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"401","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Jeremiah stakes positions that put him at odds with his compatriots","post_main_content_content":"

The opening verses of the Book of Jeremiah (1:1\u20133) inform us about its historical background. The prophet Jeremiah son of Hilkiah, a priest from the town of Anathoth (just north of Jerusalem), prophesied from the thirteenth year of King Josiah of Judah until the exile of Jerusalem in the eleventh year of King Zedekiah (626\u2013586 BCE). On the international scene, these years saw the meteoric rise of the Neo-Babyonian, or Chaldean, Empire; Judah's fate is inversely proportional to this rise. During the earliest years, the once mighty Assyrian Empire, known in the Hebrew Bible for destroying the northern Kingdom of Israel, collapsed as the Babylonians reasserted themselves in Mesopotamia (modern Iraq). With foreign powers occupied far away, the Kingdom of Judah flourished under Josiah, who consolidated worship in the Jerusalem Temple. Josiah's death in battle (609 BCE) and, soon afterwards, the Babylonians' rapid westward expansion under their king, Nebuchadnezzar, created the perfect storm to which Judah succumbed in 586 BCE. The Book of Jeremiah witnesses and responds to the successes and ultimate decline.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The exile of Jerusalem is the critical event to which many of the prophecies are understood to refer. A narrative account of this event (chapter 52) stands at the end of the book as a coda meant to confirm the veracity of Jeremiah's predictions. Two other events\u2014Nebuchadnezzar's defeat of the Egyptians at Carchemish (605 BCE) and the exile of King Jehoiachin (597 BCE)\u2014are crucial to understanding Jeremiah's prophecies. The Babylonian victory at Carchemish marks a turning point in Judah's history, indeed in the history of the entire region. According to chapter 36, it inspired Jeremiah to produce the first version of the book before us. The organization of the Book of Jeremiah reflects the event's pivotal status. Prior to the main prophecy about the Battle of Carchemish (chapter 25, practically the book's mid-point), prophecies of doom do not, for the most part, explicitly name Babylon; after this point, the identity of the agent of Judah's destruction becomes clear. Nebuchadnezzar's deposal and exile of Jehoiachin, the next-to-last Judean king, creates two communities of Judeans, one in Babylonia and the other in Judah proper, ruled by Zedekiah, a puppet installed by the Babylonians. It is in the exiled group, rather than in the Judeans on native soil, that Jeremiah sees the hope for continued communal existence under foreign hegemony.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The Book of Jeremiah paints the prophet's portrait in rich detail. A quasi-biography (chapters 37\u201345) narrates his interactions with the community in the besieged Jerusalem and afterwards in exile. In these chapters and elsewhere, Jeremiah stakes positions that put him at odds with his compatriots. Politically, his advocacy of submission to Babylon rather than resistance with Egyptian support, lands him in jail. His critiques of Judah's social and religious flaws do not receive warm welcomes, either. Several laments (found in chapters 11\u201320) give first-person voice to a soul in emotional pain, not only about its own conflicted state, but, more profoundly, angry at the source of frustration, God.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Image by: Ben Schachter<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Jeremiah Historical Overview - downloadable PDF<\/span><\/a><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":69060,"alt":"","title":"Jer1-Schachter1","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Jer1-Schachter1.jpg","width":1317,"height":766,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Jer1-Schachter1-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Jer1-Schachter1-300x174.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":174,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Jer1-Schachter1-768x447.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":447,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Jer1-Schachter1-1024x596.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":596,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Jer1-Schachter1.jpg","1536x1536-width":1317,"1536x1536-height":766,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Jer1-Schachter1.jpg","2048x2048-width":1317,"2048x2048-height":766,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Jer1-Schachter1-1200x698.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":698,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Jer1-Schachter1-722x420.jpg","home_baner-width":722,"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":"Jeremiah: A Historical Overview","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Jeremiah stakes positions that put him at odds with his compatriots","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":69060,"alt":"","title":"Jer1-Schachter1","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Jer1-Schachter1.jpg","width":1317,"height":766,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Jer1-Schachter1-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Jer1-Schachter1-300x174.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":174,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Jer1-Schachter1-768x447.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":447,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Jer1-Schachter1-1024x596.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":596,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Jer1-Schachter1.jpg","1536x1536-width":1317,"1536x1536-height":766,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Jer1-Schachter1.jpg","2048x2048-width":1317,"2048x2048-height":766,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Jer1-Schachter1-1200x698.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":698,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Jer1-Schachter1-722x420.jpg","home_baner-width":722,"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":"Jeremiah","chapter":"1","chapter_main_number":"401","date":"20270314","wall_id":"401"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"444","name":"History","old_id":"844"},{"term_id":"635","name":"Jerusalem","old_id":"1035"},{"term_id":"840","name":"Jeremiah","old_id":"1240"}]},{"order":6,"id":"69062","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"Jeremiah: A Literary Overview ","post_title":"Jeremiah: A Literary Overview","slug":"jeremiah-a-literary-overview","old_id":"69062","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":44114,"post_title":"Shalom Holtz","slug":"shalom-holtz","old_id":"44114","first_name":"Shalom ","last_name":"Holtz ","description":"Shalom E. Holtz is Professor of Bible at Yeshiva University. He is the author of numerous comparative studies of biblical and ancient Near Eastern law. His most recent book is Praying Legally (2019), which examines courtroom metaphors in Hebrew prayer. ","short_description":"Shalom E. Holtz is Professor of Bible at Yeshiva University.","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":44115,"alt":"","title":"shalom holtz","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/shalom-holtz.jpg","width":200,"height":200,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/shalom-holtz-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/shalom-holtz.jpg","medium-width":200,"medium-height":200,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/shalom-holtz.jpg","medium_large-width":200,"medium_large-height":200,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/shalom-holtz.jpg","large-width":200,"large-height":200,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/shalom-holtz.jpg","1536x1536-width":200,"1536x1536-height":200,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/shalom-holtz.jpg","2048x2048-width":200,"2048x2048-height":200,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/shalom-holtz.jpg","post_full_size-width":200,"post_full_size-height":200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/shalom-holtz.jpg","home_baner-width":200,"home_baner-height":200}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"401","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Style, rather than strict chronology, is the main organizing principle","post_main_content_content":"

In today's Jewish bibles, the Book of Jeremiah is the sixth of the books of the prophets, and the second of the \"latter prophets\" (<\/span>nevi'im aharonim<\/span><\/em>) between Isaiah and Ezekiel. This order reflects the understanding that Jeremiah prophesied after Isaiah and before Ezekiel.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Viewed broadly, the Book of Jeremiah consists of three basic units held together between chapters 1 (Jeremiah's call to prophecy), 25 (the pivotal chapter that announces the role of Nebuchadnezzar and Babylon), and 52 (the prose conclusion that confirms Jeremiah's prediction of Judah's destruction). The first unit (chapters 2\u201324) contains mainly prophecies written in poetry. The second unit (chapters 26\u201345) contains mainly narrative prose, including both prophecies and biographical stories. The third unit (46\u201351) contains only poetic prophecies about foreign nations. Chronological notices occur throughout the book, indeed more than in any of the other books of the \"literary prophets.\" Nevertheless, style, rather than strict chronology, is the main organizing principle.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

There are subunits that may have circulated independently before their incorporation into the book as we have it. For example, the polemics against false prophecy in chapters 27\u201329 are marked by idiosyncratic language, such as the use of the name Nebuchadnezzar (with \/n\/) instead of Jeremiah's typical \"Nebuchadrezzar\" (with \/r\/). Similarly, the introduction to prophecies of consolation in chapters 30\u201333 designates the unit as a separate \"scroll\" (30:2\u20133). The story of the book's history (36) suggests that other versions preceded the current text.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The book shares themes with other books of prophecy. These include: the prophet's \"call\" (1); God's \"lawsuit\" against Israel (2); a critique of the sacrificial cult (7); satire of idolatry (10); prophetic intercessory prayer (14); prophetic symbolic actions and visions (18\u201319; 24; 28; 32); and critiques of leadership (22\u201323). Unique to the Book of Jeremiah is the nearly overwhelming shadow cast by the Kingdom of Judah's impending downfall. Thus, Jewish tradition remembers Jeremiah as a book that is \"entirely about destruction\" (BT Baba Batra 14b).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The book vividly depicts the prophet himself. God's promise at Jeremiah's commission-- \"They will attack you, but they will not succeed, for I am with you to save you\" (1:19), foretells the antagonism between the prophet and his fellow Judeans. To the kings, he is a traitor because he counsels submission, rather than resistance, to Babylon. The community, for its part, cannot ignore Judah's decline from its last highpoint under King Josiah, remembered for his religious reform. This historical trajectory leads them, quite understandably, to question religious commitments to God, and, consequently, faith in Jeremiah, God's prophet (44). Even God rejects Jeremiah's attempts to defend the nation (14:11, 14; 15:1\u20134).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Social ostracism combine with communal trauma to make Jeremiah a bitter man. He is angry at God for commissioning him, for \"overpowering\" and \"enticing\" him into being a prophet (20:7). Jeremiah's complaint-prayers resemble those of Job, with allusion to a lawsuit against God (12:1\u20133) and lines like \"Accursed be the day I was born\" (20:14).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Image by: Ben Schachter<\/span><\/p>\r\n

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Her BA is from Brandeis University, where she studied Psychology and Near Eastern and Judaic Studies. Rachael is the rabbinic intern for the Central Conference of American Rabbis' Task Force on the Experience of Women in the Rabbinate. ","short_description":"Rachael Pass is a fourth-year rabbinical student at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in New York. 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\u201cBefore I formed you in the womb, I knew you.\u201d (Jer. 1:5)\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Plastered on a giant yellow billboard, these words hovered heavily over I-64 on the drive between my parents\u2019 houses my entire childhood. Next to the quotation was a computer-created image of a fully formed fetus visible through a transparent womb; at the bottom, a phone number in white print next to the bolded words \u201cPregnancy Help.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

This was the first passage of Tanakh I ever knew by heart.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Years later, walking the short distance from Hebrew Union College to the Margaret Sanger Planned Parenthood of New York City, this verse would ring in my mind. Not the plethora of responsa permitting the abortion I had chosen to have. Not the lifetime of pro-choice voices I had been surrounded by. Not even the sound of Debbie Friedman\u2019s voice in my headphones, \u201cthose who sow\u2026\u201d I could only hear these words: \u201cBefore I formed you in the womb...\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

This is the problem with the anti-choice movement \u201cowning\u201d the religious argument on abortion. It distorts our perception of our own values.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

It was as if, on that short walk, I left my liberal religious principles behind. By the time I entered that Planned Parenthood, I was no longer a Reform rabbinical student, and instead, only a secular, privileged woman exercising her right to choose.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

When a doctor who looked just like me placed the small, round pill in my hand, I grasped for the only comfort I could: \u201c<\/span>asher yatzar oti b\u2019chochmah\u2026<\/span><\/i>\u201d [\u201cwho has made me in wisdom\u201d]. But my whispered words were no strong wind against that yellow billboard.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

How much more autonomy I would have felt on that walk knowing Rabbi Mordecai Winkler\u2019s 1913 responsum arguing that a woman could terminate a pregnancy in the event that it posed a mental health risk for her, as mine did for me.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

How much more empowered I would have been on that walk had I been equipped with Rabbi Hara Person\u2019s invocation of<\/span> choosing life<\/span><\/a>--the safety and well-being of the pregnant person\u2019s life--as a primary religious argument supporting abortion.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

How much easier a necessary decision like mine would have been for unknowable numbers of Jews with uteruses had the religious rhetoric on abortion not been co-opted by anti-choice voices.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Two weeks later, the bleeding stopped. I traveled again, a longer walk across town to the mikveh, where I met a mikveh guide from<\/span> ImmerseNYC<\/span><\/a>. My pocket held a crumpled, photocopied ritual for a post-abortion immersion. That piece of paper, stained by indistinguishable droplets from the mikveh and my eyes, finally replaced that yellow billboard.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

In a world where the religious rhetoric of the anti-choice movement shouts louder than the religious values of pro-choice Jewish leanings, ritual has the power to restore our values to our voices. Ritual was my access point back to Judaism after my abortion, as it will be more many more after me.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Before <\/span>I<\/span><\/em> form anything in <\/span>my<\/span><\/em> womb, I now know that there is space in Judaism for my reproductive choice.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":69053,"alt":"","title":"jer1-womb","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-womb.jpg","width":410,"height":181,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-womb-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-womb-300x132.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":132,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-womb.jpg","medium_large-width":410,"medium_large-height":181,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-womb.jpg","large-width":410,"large-height":181,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-womb.jpg","1536x1536-width":410,"1536x1536-height":181,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-womb.jpg","2048x2048-width":410,"2048x2048-height":181,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-womb.jpg","post_full_size-width":410,"post_full_size-height":181,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-womb.jpg","home_baner-width":410,"home_baner-height":181}},"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":"Before I Form Anything In My Womb","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Reclaiming Jewish reproductive choice","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":69053,"alt":"","title":"jer1-womb","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-womb.jpg","width":410,"height":181,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-womb-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-womb-300x132.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":132,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-womb.jpg","medium_large-width":410,"medium_large-height":181,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-womb.jpg","large-width":410,"large-height":181,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-womb.jpg","1536x1536-width":410,"1536x1536-height":181,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-womb.jpg","2048x2048-width":410,"2048x2048-height":181,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-womb.jpg","post_full_size-width":410,"post_full_size-height":181,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-womb.jpg","home_baner-width":410,"home_baner-height":181}},"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":"Jeremiah","chapter":"1","chapter_main_number":"401","date":"20270314","wall_id":"401"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"448","name":"Ritual","old_id":"848"},{"term_id":"449","name":"Religion","old_id":"849"},{"term_id":"600","name":"Women","old_id":"1000"},{"term_id":"995","name":"Reproduction","old_id":"1395"}]},{"order":9,"id":"69046","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"The Prophet\u2019s Speech\u00a0 ","post_title":"The Prophet\u2019s Speech\u00a0","slug":"the-prophets-speech","old_id":"69046","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":39778,"post_title":"Aliza Libman Baronofsky","slug":"aliza-libman-baronofsky","old_id":"39778","first_name":"Aliza Libman ","last_name":"Baronofsky ","description":"Aliza Libman Baronofsky is a first-year student in the Advanced Kollel at Yeshivat Maharat and teaches at Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School, in Rockville, MD. She studied Tanach at Midreshet Lindenbaum and York University and previously taught Tanach and math at the Maimonides School in Brookline, MA. Aliza is the creator of www.chumashandmath.blogspot.com, a repository of interdisciplinary lesson plans. ","short_description":"Aliza Libman Baronofsky is a student in the Advanced Kollel at Yeshivat Maharat and teaches at Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School, in Rockville, MD. ","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":39779,"alt":"","title":"aliza baronofsky","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/aliza-baronofsky.jpg","width":1425,"height":1794,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/aliza-baronofsky-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/aliza-baronofsky-238x300.jpg","medium-width":238,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/aliza-baronofsky-768x967.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":967,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/aliza-baronofsky-813x1024.jpg","large-width":813,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/aliza-baronofsky.jpg","1536x1536-width":1220,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/aliza-baronofsky.jpg","2048x2048-width":1425,"2048x2048-height":1794,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/aliza-baronofsky-953x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":953,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/aliza-baronofsky-334x420.jpg","home_baner-width":334,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"401","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"A divine dose of speech therapy\u00a0\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

The book of Jeremiah opens with a series of verses that in superhero parlance would be called an \u2018origin story.\u2019 God comes to Jeremiah and tells him: \"Before I created you in the womb, I knew you; Before you were born, I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet for the nations\u201d (verse 5).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

How does Jeremiah react to this appointment? His first recorded quotation demurs: \u201cAh, Lord GOD! I don\u2019t know how to speak\u201d (verse 6).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

If you\u2019re suddenly reminded of the tale of Moses, you are not far off. In his book, <\/span>The God of Old<\/span><\/i>, Professor James Kugel identifies a number of prophets as having an experience known as \u2018prophetic call narrative\u2019 (the aforementioned \u2018origin story\u2019.)<\/span> We\u2019ve previously discussed Isaiah\u2019s prophetic call narrative<\/span><\/a> as having connections to Moses.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Jeremiah\u2019s experience includes motifs seen in stories about Isaiah, Moses, and Samuel. Most significantly, he mentions difficulty with speech when he tries to decline God\u2019s offer.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

God responds with a symbolic action: \u201cThe LORD put out His hand and touched my mouth, and the LORD said to me: Herewith I put My words into your mouth.\u201d (verse 9).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

We believe, of course, that God has no hands, and we know enough about human physiology to know that touching the mouth cannot put words in it. This touching of the mouth establishes Jeremiah as the spiritual heir of Isaiah, who was touched in the mouth with a fiery coal.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Jeremiah\u2019s experience here is one where the symbolic touch prepares him to use his mouth to speak for God, and also lets us know that his journey will involve a number of symbolic actions. In our chapter, God shows Jeremiah a rod made of the wood of an almond tree and a boiling pot. Both of these are symbols that evil will befall the Jews of the southern kingdom.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

God must tell Jeremiah to be strong: his message, we shall see, will be unpopular. The first king in Jeremiah\u2019s lifetime, Josiah, is in fact the most zealous for God and worthy king in many generations. Though Josiah tries to rid the land of all of the false gods and evil practices, he does not succeed in forestalling God\u2019s anger, which II Kings 23:26 explains is a result of the evil that preceded him: \u201cHowever, the LORD did not turn away from His awesome wrath which had blazed up against Judah because of all the things Manasseh did to vex Him.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Jeremiah is thus set up with a task that will be tremendously draining: he is young, he arises in an era of spiritual renewal, and his job is to watch the Jewish people as they falter and their society goes up in flames. He must explain to the people why these misfortunes are befalling them. In Jeremiah\u2019s 40 years as a prophet in Jerusalem he will return often to demonstrations and symbolic actions, but his protestations will fall on deaf ears.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

 <\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":69047,"alt":"","title":"jer1-hand on mouth","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-hand-on-mouth.jpg","width":1039,"height":1257,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-hand-on-mouth-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-hand-on-mouth-248x300.jpg","medium-width":248,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-hand-on-mouth-768x929.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":929,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-hand-on-mouth-846x1024.jpg","large-width":846,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-hand-on-mouth.jpg","1536x1536-width":1039,"1536x1536-height":1257,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-hand-on-mouth.jpg","2048x2048-width":1039,"2048x2048-height":1257,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-hand-on-mouth-992x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":992,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-hand-on-mouth-347x420.jpg","home_baner-width":347,"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 Prophet\u2019s Speech\u00a0","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"A divine dose of speech therapy\u00a0","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":69047,"alt":"","title":"jer1-hand on mouth","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-hand-on-mouth.jpg","width":1039,"height":1257,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-hand-on-mouth-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-hand-on-mouth-248x300.jpg","medium-width":248,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-hand-on-mouth-768x929.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":929,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-hand-on-mouth-846x1024.jpg","large-width":846,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-hand-on-mouth.jpg","1536x1536-width":1039,"1536x1536-height":1257,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-hand-on-mouth.jpg","2048x2048-width":1039,"2048x2048-height":1257,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-hand-on-mouth-992x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":992,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-hand-on-mouth-347x420.jpg","home_baner-width":347,"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":"Jeremiah","chapter":"1","chapter_main_number":"401","date":"20270314","wall_id":"401"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"390","name":"Prophets","old_id":"790"},{"term_id":"406","name":"Youth","old_id":"806"},{"term_id":"680","name":"Symbolism","old_id":"1080"},{"term_id":"840","name":"Jeremiah","old_id":"1240"},{"term_id":"942","name":"Josiah","old_id":"1342"}]},{"order":10,"id":"69034","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"A New Jeremiad ","post_title":"A New Jeremiad","slug":"a-new-jeremiad","old_id":"69034","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":68344,"post_title":"Alicia Jo Rabins","slug":"alicia-jo-rabins","old_id":"68344","first_name":"Alicia Jo ","last_name":"Rabins ","description":"Alicia Jo Rabins is a writer, musician, performer and Torah teacher. She is the author of Divinity School (2015 APR\/Honickman First Book Prize) and Fruit Geode (finalist for the 2018 Jewish Book Award). As a musician and performer, Rabins has released three albums and tours internationally with Girls in Trouble, her indie-folk song cycle about women in Torah, and is in post-production on A Kaddish for Bernie Madoff: The Film, a mystical Jewish feminist rock opera about the largest financial crime in history. Rabins lives in Portland, Oregon with her husband and their two children. ","short_description":"Alicia Jo Rabins is a writer, musician, performer and Torah teacher.","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":68346,"alt":"","title":"Alicia Jo Rabins","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Alicia-Jo-Rabins-1.jpg","width":1042,"height":1115,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Alicia-Jo-Rabins-1-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Alicia-Jo-Rabins-1-280x300.jpg","medium-width":280,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Alicia-Jo-Rabins-1-768x822.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":822,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Alicia-Jo-Rabins-1-957x1024.jpg","large-width":957,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Alicia-Jo-Rabins-1.jpg","1536x1536-width":1042,"1536x1536-height":1115,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Alicia-Jo-Rabins-1.jpg","2048x2048-width":1042,"2048x2048-height":1115,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Alicia-Jo-Rabins-1.jpg","post_full_size-width":1042,"post_full_size-height":1115,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Alicia-Jo-Rabins-1-393x420.jpg","home_baner-width":393,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"401","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"If you got it, baby, flaunt it!\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

The words of Alicia, daughter of Karen, one of the poets in Portland in the territory of Oregon:<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The word of the Goddess came to her in the third year of the reign of King Donald, son of Fred, when the people contemplated exile.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The word of the Goddess came to me, saying, \u201cIf you got it, flaunt it, baby. And by \u2018got it,\u2019 I mean, have a conscience and are alive. And by flaunt it, I mean, take to the streets.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

But I said to the Goddess, \u201cI cannot tell whether I got it or not. Sometimes I think I am just a drudge for biology.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

But the Goddess said to me, \"Do not doubt yourself. Rather write your representatives, eat less meat, and disrobe on public transit as an act of civil disobedience against the violence perpetrated on your gender.\"<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Then the Goddess reached out her hand and touched my heart and said, \u201cThe words are inside you. You have everything you need.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The word of the Goddess came to me: \u201cWhat do you see, Alicia?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

\u201cI see a woman\u2019s body,\u201d I replied.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The Goddess said to me, \u201cYou are correct, I am watching over you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The word of the Goddess came to me again: \u201cWhat else do you see?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

\u201cI see a melting glacier,\u201d I answered. \u201cIt is tilting toward us from the north.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The Goddess said to me, \u201cFrom the north disaster will be poured out on all who live in the land, it is true, and also from the rising seas at every coastline, and the burning oilfields and the flooded farmlands.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

\u201cThen the queens of each people will come and set up their altars on the bridges of New York City; they will come to all the interstate exchanges, and to the cities and farmland and exurbs across America. I will open the hearts of my people and teach them kindness.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

\u201cPrepare yourself for the change! Train to act from your own wisdom. Be brave, even if you are afraid. For this is how I made you: with a strong heart, a compassionate spirit and a discerning mind which knows when to set barriers and boundaries. Do not tolerate cruelty, yet always act with love, I am with you and within you, I am you,\u201d whispers the Goddess.<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":69044,"alt":"","title":"jer1-goddess","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-goddess.jpg","width":1920,"height":1887,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-goddess-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-goddess-300x295.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":295,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-goddess-768x755.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":755,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-goddess-1024x1006.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":1006,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-goddess.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1510,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-goddess.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":1887,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-goddess-1200x1179.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":1179,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-goddess-427x420.jpg","home_baner-width":427,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"A New Jeremiad","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"If you got it, baby, flaunt it!","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":69044,"alt":"","title":"jer1-goddess","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-goddess.jpg","width":1920,"height":1887,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-goddess-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-goddess-300x295.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":295,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-goddess-768x755.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":755,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-goddess-1024x1006.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":1006,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-goddess.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1510,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-goddess.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":1887,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-goddess-1200x1179.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":1179,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-goddess-427x420.jpg","home_baner-width":427,"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":"Jeremiah","chapter":"1","chapter_main_number":"401","date":"20270314","wall_id":"401"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"327","name":"Today's Prophets","old_id":"727"},{"term_id":"360","name":"Nature\/Environment","old_id":"760"},{"term_id":"373","name":"Literature","old_id":"773"},{"term_id":"600","name":"Women","old_id":"1000"}]},{"order":11,"id":"69068","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"Introduction To The Commentary Of Shmuel David Luzzato (Shadal) ","post_title":"Introduction To The Commentary Of Shmuel David Luzzato (Shadal)","slug":"introduction-to-the-commentary-of-shmuel-david-luzzato-shadal","old_id":"69068","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":"401","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Tradition, grammar, common sense\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

Our comments on Isaiah regularly featured the commentary of Malbim (Meir Leibush ben Yechiel Mikhel Weiser; Rumania, 1809-1879). For Jeremiah, we are shifting our focus to his slightly older contemporary, Shadal, Shmuel David Luzzatto (Italy, 1800-1865), who, like Malbim, wrote commentaries on most of the books of Tanakh and\u2014again, like Malbim\u2014also served as a pulpit rabbi, lending to their commentaries an air of practical homiletics that is absent in the more \u201cacademic\u201d commentaries of most of the medieval exegetes.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

To gain a preliminary acquaintance with Shadal, here is a brief excerpt from the introduction to his Torah commentary.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The first foundation of biblical exegesis is, without doubt, tradition. Tanakh was written in a language that expired hundreds of years ago that is not spoken by any known nation. Therefore, anything that we can know about it today relies on the information transmitted to us, orally, by our predecessors, from father to son. Without this information, Tanakh would be a sealed book; even the alphabetic characters are known to us only from Tradition.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The second foundation of exegesis is a knowledge of philology and grammar, which, itself, can be divided in two. The first part deals largely with the rules of vocalization... and relies on the authority of the Masoretes\u2026 The second part deals with the properties of the language itself [including] the conjugation of verbs\u2026 and syntax.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The third foundation of exegesis is the very foundation of all human endeavors: common sense. Here, I would like to point out some of the deviations from common sense that are frequent amongst exegetes. The first abrogation of common sense is to be satisfied with the superficial [literal] meaning of words, which is the error of the Karaites\u2026 We will stipulate that the original and true meaning of Scripture is not always that which is closest to the definitions of its [individual] words. Moreover, the literal sense is frequently misleading and erroneous.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

One of our objectives throughout our own comments on this book will be to determine whether Shadal remains true to these fundamental principles, and, as with Malbim on Isaiah, we will often highlight the featured commentary via comparisons with the classic medieval exegetes as well as modern historical, philological, and literary scholarship.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Note: As there is no published English translation of Shadal on Jeremiah, all the citations used here are my own. I might also add that my focus on individual exegetes here and in Isaiah (and, foreseeably, in Ezekiel and Minor Prophets) is undertaken in large measure as a learning experience. By obliging myself to find something suitable in every chapter, I have had to pay very close attention to these exegetes\u2014considerably more so than in the ordinary course of textual study.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Image: Samuel David Luzzato, d. 1865 \/ wikimedia<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":69069,"alt":"","title":"jer1-Shadal","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-Shadal.jpg","width":222,"height":304,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-Shadal-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-Shadal-219x300.jpg","medium-width":219,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-Shadal.jpg","medium_large-width":222,"medium_large-height":304,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-Shadal.jpg","large-width":222,"large-height":304,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-Shadal.jpg","1536x1536-width":222,"1536x1536-height":304,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-Shadal.jpg","2048x2048-width":222,"2048x2048-height":304,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-Shadal.jpg","post_full_size-width":222,"post_full_size-height":304,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-Shadal.jpg","home_baner-width":222,"home_baner-height":304}},"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":"Introduction To The Commentary Of Shmuel David Luzzato (Shadal)","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Tradition, grammar, common sense","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":69069,"alt":"","title":"jer1-Shadal","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-Shadal.jpg","width":222,"height":304,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-Shadal-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-Shadal-219x300.jpg","medium-width":219,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-Shadal.jpg","medium_large-width":222,"medium_large-height":304,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-Shadal.jpg","large-width":222,"large-height":304,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-Shadal.jpg","1536x1536-width":222,"1536x1536-height":304,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-Shadal.jpg","2048x2048-width":222,"2048x2048-height":304,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-Shadal.jpg","post_full_size-width":222,"post_full_size-height":304,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-Shadal.jpg","home_baner-width":222,"home_baner-height":304}},"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":"Jeremiah","chapter":"1","chapter_main_number":"401","date":"20270314","wall_id":"401"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"366","name":"Commentators","old_id":"766"}]},{"order":12,"id":"69071","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"Before I Created You In The Womb, I Selected You ","post_title":"Before I Created You In The Womb, I Selected You","slug":"before-i-created-you-in-the-womb-i-selected-you","old_id":"69071","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":"401","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Nature or Nurture? Nature AND Nurture\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

The contents of the Book of Jeremiah are, overall, so gloomy that they gave birth to the noun \u201cjeremiad,\u201d defined by the Oxford English Dictionary, as: \u201cA lamentation; a doleful complaint; a complaining tirade; a lugubrious effusion.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

This \u201clugubrious\u201d description is entirely consistent with the rabbinic view of the book. In their discussion of the sequence of the books of Tanakh and attributions of their authorship, the Sages delineated a canon different in its arrangement from our own. While we have Isaiah immediately following Kings, and then Jeremiah and Ezekiel, which is their proper chronological order, the Talmud placed Jeremiah first followed by Ezekiel, with Isaiah last, explaining:<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Isaiah preceded Jeremiah and Ezekiel; shouldn\u2019t it go first? [Rather,] Kings ends with catastrophe and Jeremiah is all catastrophe. Ezekiel starts with catastrophe and ends with consolation, and Isaiah is all consolation. (Baba Batra 14 b)<\/span><\/p>\r\n

In contrast to Isaiah, whose inauguration as a prophet first appears in chapter six of his book, Jeremiah\u2019s initiation is narrated right in the opening chapter. In order to overcome his reservations -he attributed to his youth (6)\u2014God told him that he was destined to be a prophet from birth. \u201cBefore I created you in the womb, I selected you; before you were born, I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet concerning the nations\u201d (5). Shadal* explained:<\/span><\/p>\r\n

God foresaw that Jeremiah would decline his mission, so He informed him that he was prepared for it prenatally. God could not have done the same with Moses since he was not prepared for [prophecy] naturally, as he said, \u201cI am not a man of words\u201d (Exodus 4:10). Furthermore, [Moses] was not a youth but an old man.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Shadal acknowledged his debt here to Radak, and his paraphrase of Maimonides:<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The great sage Moses ben Maimon wrote [in the Guide for the Perplexed] that this applies to every prophet. None can succeed without a natural predisposition towards prophecy along with practice\u2026 This does not apply to prophecy alone; any knowledge or disposition that a person excels in must have some preparation in his natural composition that gets better as he practices.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

So, in the perennial debate over nature vs. nurture, Maimonides\u2014and, in his wake, a slew of rationalists from Radak through Shadal\u2014offered a neat compromise. Every successful trait or characteristic can be attributed to a combination of a natural predisposition and acquired knowledge and practice.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Also worth noting is that our translation departs from the literal meaning of the last phrase, rendering it as \u201ca prophet concerning the nations\u201d (<\/span>navi la-goyim<\/span><\/em>) rather than the more literal \u201ca prophet to the nations.\u201d Shadal understood it similarly, writing: \"Not that he was to go and address the nations, but that in speaking to Israel he would mention what had transpired to some of the nations.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Here we have clear evidence of Shadal\u2019s consistency with his own third principle of exegesis (detailed in our introduction) that \u201cthe literal sense is frequently misleading and erroneous.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

*For an explanation of our objectives in studying Shadal\u2019s commentary, see the\u00a0 introduction on this page.<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":69072,"alt":"","title":"jer1-nature nurture","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-nature-nurture.png","width":1920,"height":1920,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-nature-nurture-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-nature-nurture-300x300.png","medium-width":300,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-nature-nurture-768x768.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":768,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-nature-nurture-1024x1024.png","large-width":1024,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-nature-nurture.png","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-nature-nurture.png","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":1920,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-nature-nurture-1200x1200.png","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-nature-nurture-420x420.png","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":"","tile_main_caption":"Before I Created You In The Womb, I Selected You","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Nature or Nurture? Nature AND Nurture","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":69072,"alt":"","title":"jer1-nature nurture","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-nature-nurture.png","width":1920,"height":1920,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-nature-nurture-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-nature-nurture-300x300.png","medium-width":300,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-nature-nurture-768x768.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":768,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-nature-nurture-1024x1024.png","large-width":1024,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-nature-nurture.png","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-nature-nurture.png","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":1920,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-nature-nurture-1200x1200.png","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-nature-nurture-420x420.png","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":"Jeremiah","chapter":"1","chapter_main_number":"401","date":"20270314","wall_id":"401"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"366","name":"Commentators","old_id":"766"},{"term_id":"506","name":"Prophecy","old_id":"906"},{"term_id":"840","name":"Jeremiah","old_id":"1240"}]},{"order":13,"id":"69041","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"2","name":"To Destroy And Overthrow, To Build And To Plant ","post_title":"To Destroy And Overthrow, To Build And To Plant","slug":"to-destroy-and-overthrow-to-build-and-to-plant","old_id":"69041","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":"401","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"","post_main_content_content":"

With the Book of Jeremiah, the tone and context shift. Isaiah was speaking from the fulness of Judah\u2019s monarchy, when the possibility of making choices that could strengthen the moral fiber of the nation remained a real possibility. He was the prophet of hope, speaking in a time of hope. A few hundred years later, Jeremiah speaks when it is too late, and what remained possible was more constricted because of the series of poor choices that Israel and its monarchs had made. Jeremiah is the prophet of consequences, forcing the people to see the link between the series of poor decisions and the disastrous outcome that followed in their wake.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

And yet\u2026<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Jeremiah isn\u2019t entirely giving in to tragedy and crisis. Even in the worst moments, there remain glimmerings of goodness, potential for decency to gain ground and eventually to burst forth again in triumph. In the sorrow of defeat and exile, Jeremiah remains to remind the children of Israel that all is not lost. Not if they fix their vision on the long term. Not if they take ownership of their immorality and greed and make the kinds of priorities that reflect their mission as children of God.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Even in the charge he is given, that underlying identity emerges. God tells Jeremiah that the Divine Word has been placed in Jeremiah\u2019s mouth, and appointed him \u201cto uproot and to smash, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Because there are times when the most constructive act is to uproot and to smash. In the face of stubborn evil and barbarous hate, resistance is the path toward righteousness. But resistance cannot be the only tool in the box. At some point, the containment of evil must give way to the establishment of goodness, compassion, and justice. There is a time to build and to plant.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

We are called to discern in both instances: when is resistance and combat the necessary response to the venality of a place or time, and when is coalition building and transformation the call of the age?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Jeremiah is here to chew us out for the narcissism, greed, and lack of vision that brought us to this precipice. But he is also the prophetic leader to shake us out of our sloth, stand us on our feet, and get us to work again for that age old goal of redemption.<\/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":"To Destroy And Overthrow, To Build And To Plant:","tile_main_caption":"When is resistance and combat the necessary response to the venality of our time, and when is coalition building and transformation the call of the age?","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":"","tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"tile_link_for_pay":"0","send_noty":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"Jeremiah","chapter":"1","chapter_main_number":"401","date":"20270314","wall_id":"401"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"840","name":"Jeremiah","old_id":"1240"},{"term_id":"873","name":"Warning","old_id":"1273"}]},{"order":14,"id":"69038","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"Psychoanalysis and The Prophet ","post_title":"Psychoanalysis and The Prophet","slug":"psychoanalysis-and-the-prophet","old_id":"69038","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":64462,"post_title":"Analia Bortz","slug":"analia-bortz","old_id":"64462","first_name":"Analia ","last_name":"Bortz ","description":"Rabbi Dr. Analia Bortz is a medical doctor with postdoctoral studies in Bioethics. She is the first female Latin American rabbi, and is a AJWS Global Justice Fellow in 2019-2020 She and her husband Rabbi Mario Karpuj founded Congregation Or Hadash in Sandy Springs, Georgia. She is the author of The Voice of Silence: A Rabbi's Journey into a Trappist Monastery and Other Contemplation (2017)","short_description":"Rabbi Dr. Analia Bortz is a medical doctor and with her husband Rabbi Mario Karpuj founded Congregation Or Hadash in Sandy Springs, Georgia. ","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":64463,"alt":"","title":"analia bortz","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/analia-bortz.jpg","width":225,"height":225,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/analia-bortz-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/analia-bortz.jpg","medium-width":225,"medium-height":225,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/analia-bortz.jpg","medium_large-width":225,"medium_large-height":225,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/analia-bortz.jpg","large-width":225,"large-height":225,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/analia-bortz.jpg","1536x1536-width":225,"1536x1536-height":225,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/analia-bortz.jpg","2048x2048-width":225,"2048x2048-height":225,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/analia-bortz.jpg","post_full_size-width":225,"post_full_size-height":225,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/analia-bortz.jpg","home_baner-width":225,"home_baner-height":225}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"401","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Dr. Freud, is Jeremiah an introvert or an extrovert?\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

Sigmund Freud hears a knock on his door. Dr. Freud opens the door and to his surprise sees the Prophet Jeremiah standing on the threshold of his workplace. His patient doesn\u2019t look good. His disheveled, scruffy hair and sloppy clothes give the impression that Mr. Jeremiah son of Hilkiah has been wandering for a long time, and finally got the right place. Dr. Freud will listen to him.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Sigmund invites him to get comfortable on his couch and Jeremiah begins: \u201cI am confused\u201d. Dr. Freud is ready to bring up his layers of personality. The different aspects of Jeremiah\u2019s id, ego and superego would start to emerge soon, but Jeremiah looks at his therapist and says \u201cdo not bother about my Oedipal complex, I don\u2019t even know my mother\u2019s name\u201d.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The words of Jeremiah son of Hilkiah, one of the priests at Anathoth in the territory of Benjamin (1:1).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Astonished by Jeremiah\u2019s reaction, Dr. Freud inquires why is he there. If it\u2019s not about his mother or father, what would be the purpose of his visit? Jeremiah answers: \u201c\u2026it is all about God.\u201d Freud smiles, if it is about God, he might indeed have a new patient for the long run. Freud, who is addicted to tobacco, lights up a cigar and listens as the prophets pours out an extensive list of events.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Jeremiah quotes from his own book, the one he had dictated to his disciple and secretary, Baruch Ben Neriah, and cathartically cries to Dr. Sigmund, \u201cGod has chosen me even before I was able to choose my own destiny.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Before I created you in the womb, I selected you; Before you were born, I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet concerning the nations (1:5).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The prophet continues his discourse, \u201cI was a boy (1:7), a tender creature without self-confidence. I was looking forward to playing outside with my friends in the territory of Benjamin, but God showed me strange images of almond trees and steaming pots (Jer. 1:11, 13) perplexing my childhood. I did not know what to do. Ignoring God\u2019s call could have been devastating for many reasons, especially by exposing my people and my beloved city of Jerusalem to demoralizing consequences. So, I decided to follow God\u2019s voice and vision and accepted the challenge. That\u2019s why I am here, struggling between the responsibility of belonging to my people and the asphyxiating realization of my lack of free will.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Dr. Sigmund Freud writes down each word, and reflects: \u201cno parapraxis, nor a dynamically repressed subdued wish, all is well-defined, Jeremiah is bemused\u201d. Dr. Freud closes his notebook and calls his colleague Carl Jung, looking for a second opinion. <\/span><\/p>\r\n

Psychoanalysis is not enough. Was Jeremiah an introvert or an extrovert?\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":69039,"alt":"","title":"jer1-freud2","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-freud2.jpg","width":964,"height":710,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-freud2-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-freud2-300x221.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":221,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-freud2-768x566.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":566,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-freud2.jpg","large-width":964,"large-height":710,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-freud2.jpg","1536x1536-width":964,"1536x1536-height":710,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-freud2.jpg","2048x2048-width":964,"2048x2048-height":710,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-freud2.jpg","post_full_size-width":964,"post_full_size-height":710,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-freud2-570x420.jpg","home_baner-width":570,"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":"Psychoanalysis and The Prophet","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Dr. Freud, is Jeremiah an introvert or an extrovert?","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":69039,"alt":"","title":"jer1-freud2","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-freud2.jpg","width":964,"height":710,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-freud2-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-freud2-300x221.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":221,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-freud2-768x566.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":566,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-freud2.jpg","large-width":964,"large-height":710,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-freud2.jpg","1536x1536-width":964,"1536x1536-height":710,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-freud2.jpg","2048x2048-width":964,"2048x2048-height":710,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-freud2.jpg","post_full_size-width":964,"post_full_size-height":710,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-freud2-570x420.jpg","home_baner-width":570,"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":"Jeremiah","chapter":"1","chapter_main_number":"401","date":"20270314","wall_id":"401"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"386","name":"Psychology","old_id":"786"},{"term_id":"840","name":"Jeremiah","old_id":"1240"},{"term_id":"997","name":"Freud","old_id":"1397"}]},{"order":15,"id":"69055","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"Jewish Immortality ","post_title":"Jewish Immortality","slug":"jewish-immortality","old_id":"69055","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":69033,"post_title":"Chaim Strauchler","slug":"chaim-strauchler","old_id":"69033","first_name":"Chaim ","last_name":"Strauchler ","description":"Rabbi Chaim Strauchler serves as senior rabbi of Shaarei Shomayim Congregation in Toronto. He is also vice-president of the Rabbinical Council of America, an executive member of the Rabbinical Vaad HaKashruth of COR, and an associate editor for Tradition. Rabbi Strauchler is married to Avital. They have five children: Tehilla, Adir, Atara, Zvi and Freda.","short_description":"Rabbi Chaim Strauchler serves as senior rabbi of Shaarei Shomayim Congregation in Toronto.","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":69076,"alt":"","title":"Chaim Strauchler","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Chaim-Strauchler.jpg","width":435,"height":505,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Chaim-Strauchler-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Chaim-Strauchler-258x300.jpg","medium-width":258,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Chaim-Strauchler.jpg","medium_large-width":435,"medium_large-height":505,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Chaim-Strauchler.jpg","large-width":435,"large-height":505,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Chaim-Strauchler.jpg","1536x1536-width":435,"1536x1536-height":505,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Chaim-Strauchler.jpg","2048x2048-width":435,"2048x2048-height":505,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Chaim-Strauchler.jpg","post_full_size-width":435,"post_full_size-height":505,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Chaim-Strauchler-362x420.jpg","home_baner-width":362,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"401","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Jeremiah, the prophet of survival: how to endure destruction and exile\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

In his 1895 <\/span>Harper\u2019s <\/span><\/i>essay, \u201cConcerning the Jews,\u201d Mark Twain poetically concludes with a question:<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The Egyptian, the Babylonian, and the Persian rose, filled the planet with sound and splendor, then faded to dream-stuff and passed away; the Greek and the Roman followed, and made a vast noise, and they are gone; other peoples have sprung up and held their torch high for a time, but it burned out, and they sit in twilight now, or have vanished. The Jew saw them all, beat them all, and is now what he always was, exhibiting no decadence, no infirmities of age, no weakening of his parts, no slowing of his energies, no dulling of his alert and aggressive mind. All things are mortal but the Jew; all other forces pass, but he remains. What is the secret of his immortality?<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The events of the 125 years since the essay\u2019s publication only underscore Twain\u2019s wonderment.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

If it can be found anywhere, the secret to Jewish immortality can be discovered in the book of Jeremiah. Jeremiah introduces into the Jewish story a means by which destruction might be endured and exile weathered. Whereas a common land-based identity grounds almost all national stories, Jeremiah innovates a method by which national identity can survive upon foreign soil. The divine covenant with the Jewish people, argues Jeremiah, does not require the Temple in Jerusalem or a commonwealth in the land of Israel. Political reversals must be understood as reflections of divine justice and not as proofs against God\u2019s power to deliver God\u2019s people.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Jeremiah, often labelled as a prophet of doom, is ultimately a prophet of survival. In challenging the false prophets who predicted Jewish victory and celebrated the Temple\u2019s permanence, Jeremiah lowers expectations, thereby tempering the despair that accompanied the full realization of the Temple\u2019s finitude. In prophesying and explaining the First Commonwealth\u2019s end, Jeremiah provides the survivors with a narrative through which they might weather the cataclysm. It is with this goal that God consecrates Jeremiah, \u201cSee, I appoint you this day over nations and kingdoms: to uproot and to pull down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant<\/span>.<\/b>\u201d (1:10)<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Whereas the theology of his day saddled a deity\u2019s truth to the success of the people who worshiped it, Jeremiah builds national resilience by arguing that the universal God might use God\u2019s people as an embodiment of a covenant (5:19). In a commonwealth\u2019s destruction, proof to God\u2019s commitment to a people might be recognized and not its opposite. In championing that durable covenant, Jeremiah preserves the agency of the Jews as they become a subject people, establishing a distinct story from those who would wield power over them.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

In accepting responsibility for their own destruction and not accepting a state of victimhood, those people might repent and witness a rebuilding of their state.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Images: 1934 title page (https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?curid=26905592 - fair use) and + public domain vector<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":69056,"alt":"","title":"jer1-twain3","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-twain3.jpg","width":807,"height":618,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-twain3-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-twain3-300x230.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":230,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-twain3-768x588.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":588,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-twain3.jpg","large-width":807,"large-height":618,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-twain3.jpg","1536x1536-width":807,"1536x1536-height":618,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-twain3.jpg","2048x2048-width":807,"2048x2048-height":618,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-twain3.jpg","post_full_size-width":807,"post_full_size-height":618,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-twain3-548x420.jpg","home_baner-width":548,"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":"Jewish Immortality","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Jeremiah, the prophet of survival: how to endure destruction and exile","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":69056,"alt":"","title":"jer1-twain3","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-twain3.jpg","width":807,"height":618,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-twain3-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-twain3-300x230.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":230,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-twain3-768x588.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":588,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-twain3.jpg","large-width":807,"large-height":618,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-twain3.jpg","1536x1536-width":807,"1536x1536-height":618,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-twain3.jpg","2048x2048-width":807,"2048x2048-height":618,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-twain3.jpg","post_full_size-width":807,"post_full_size-height":618,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-twain3-548x420.jpg","home_baner-width":548,"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":"Jeremiah","chapter":"1","chapter_main_number":"401","date":"20270314","wall_id":"401"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"421","name":"Peoplehood","old_id":"821"},{"term_id":"840","name":"Jeremiah","old_id":"1240"},{"term_id":"996","name":"Mark 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word for \u201cnorth\u201d en-compasses a lot in Hebrew\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

The book of Jeremiah opens with God showing the young Jeremiah a number of visions, and after properly recognizing them, God informs him what they represent. In the second vision there is an ominous prediction:<\/span><\/p>\r\n

And the word of the LORD came to me a second time: What do you see? I replied: I see a steaming pot, tipped away from the north. And the LORD said to me: From the north shall disaster break loose Upon all the inhabitants of the land! (1:13-14).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Throughout much of Biblical history, enemies came from the north. In Isaiah\u2019s time it was the Assyrians, and in Jeremiah\u2019s time it would be the Babylonians. Even though these nations lived to the east (as the crow flies), the entrance to the land of Israel was from the north. And Jerusalem was most vulnerable on its northern side as well.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The Hebrew word for north is <\/span>tzafon<\/span><\/em>. What is its etymology? It likely comes from the root <\/span>tz-f-n<\/span><\/em>, meaning \u201cto hide\u201d, and so could be understood as the \u201chidden or dark region.\u201d This may be because (in the Northern hemisphere) the northern side gets the least amount of sun.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Two similar sounding words have their origin in that root. One is <\/span>matzpun<\/span><\/em> \u2013 \u201cconscience\u201d. What is in our conscience is concealed from others.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The other word is <\/span>matzpen<\/span><\/em> \u2013 \u201ccompass\u201d. This word derives from <\/span>tzafon<\/span><\/em>, <\/span><\/i>and literally means \u201cthat which points north.\u201d You can tell it is a modern word (coined by David Yellin in the 20<\/span>th<\/span> century), because in Biblical times, people didn\u2019t face north when they wanted to get oriented. They faced east (and that is hinted at in the verb \u201corient\u201d as well).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

One of the Hebrew words for east is <\/span>kedem<\/span><\/em>, which also means \u201cforward.\u201d And so if someone is facing east, what direction is north? On their left. Which leads us to another biblical word for north \u2013 <\/span>smol<\/span><\/em>. In modern Hebrew it only means \u201cleft\u201d, but in the Bible it could also mean \u201cnorth\u201d, and it is cognate with the Arabic word for north \u2013 <\/span>shamal<\/span><\/em>.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Based on that Arabic word, Ernest Klein points out that both the Hebrew and Arabic words derive from a root that meant \u201cunlucky\u201d (see the Arabic word <\/span>shama<\/span><\/em> meaning \u201cwas unlucky\u201d.) The left side was considered unlucky in many cultures, and considering the history of invasions from the north, that perception was probably common in ancient Israel as well.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

 <\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":69066,"alt":"","title":"jer1-compass","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-compass.jpg","width":1920,"height":1357,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-compass-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-compass-300x212.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":212,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-compass-768x543.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":543,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-compass-1024x724.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":724,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-compass.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1086,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-compass.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":1357,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-compass-1200x848.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":848,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-compass-594x420.jpg","home_baner-width":594,"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":"Beware Of The North","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"The word for \u201cnorth\u201d en-compasses a lot in Hebrew","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":69066,"alt":"","title":"jer1-compass","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-compass.jpg","width":1920,"height":1357,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-compass-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-compass-300x212.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":212,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-compass-768x543.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":543,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-compass-1024x724.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":724,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-compass.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1086,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-compass.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":1357,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-compass-1200x848.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":848,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-compass-594x420.jpg","home_baner-width":594,"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":"Jeremiah","chapter":"1","chapter_main_number":"401","date":"20270314","wall_id":"401"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"361","name":"Hebrew language","old_id":"761"},{"term_id":"950","name":"Arabic","old_id":"1350"}]},{"order":17,"id":"69255","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"A Prophet Concerning The Nations ","post_title":"A Prophet Concerning The Nations","slug":"a-prophet-concerning-the-nations","old_id":"69255","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":38552,"post_title":"Benny Lau","slug":"benny-lau","old_id":"38552","first_name":"Benny","last_name":"Lau ","description":"Rav Benny Lau is the founder and co-head of the Israeli initiative 929 along with Gal Gabbai. In addition, he is the rabbi of the Ramban synagogue in Jerusalem and is a community leader, activist, author, and public speaker.","short_description":"Rav Benny Lau is the founder and co-head of the Israeli initiative 929 along with Gal Gabbai.","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":1708,"alt":"","title":"","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/8-1.jpg","width":150,"height":150,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/8-1.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/8-1.jpg","medium-width":150,"medium-height":150,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/8-1.jpg","medium_large-width":150,"medium_large-height":150,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/8-1.jpg","large-width":150,"large-height":150,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/8-1.jpg","1536x1536-width":150,"1536x1536-height":150,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/8-1.jpg","2048x2048-width":150,"2048x2048-height":150,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/8-1.jpg","post_full_size-width":150,"post_full_size-height":150,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/8-1.jpg","home_baner-width":150,"home_baner-height":150}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"401","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"The defining moment of Jeremiah's life\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

Jeremiah becomes aware of his prophetic message during the thirteenth year of Josiah's reign, or 626 BCE. Josiah's reformation is already under way, and the king is busy purging Assyrian culture from Israel and Judah. Jeremiah, a young man of about thirteen, is fully aware of the spiritual implications of the events unfolding in the vicinity. News of the demise of the Assyrian king and the rise of the Babylonian kingdom has already reached Anathoth. The balance of power remains unclear, the roles of heroes and villains have not yet been assigned, and the implications of the fall of one empire and the rise of another have yet to be discerned. Jeremiah, presumably, receives his first prophecy in Anathoth. God tells him: \"Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you; before you were born, I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations\" (Jer. 1:5).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The expression \"to the nations\" does not mean, specifically, non-Israelites, but rather indicates that Jeremiah will be speaking to a much wider target audience. He will not be confined to the role of local prophet, concerning himself solely with the moral edification of his coreligionists. The map of the world will be forever before him, and he will prophesy the acts of God toward the nations.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Already here, in Jeremiah's prophetic initiation, we see that prophecy has been branded upon his being, irrespective of his free will. In response to his evasion of God's word \u2014 \"I do not know how to speak, for I am still a boy\" (1:6) \u2014 God touches his mouth, saying: \"Herewith I put My words into your mouth\" (1:9). This is the defining moment of Jeremiah's life. The insertion of God's word into Jeremiah's mouth makes prophecy an inextricable part of his being, whether he likes it or not. God then expounds upon Jeremiah's role as \"a prophet concerning the nations\":\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

\u201cI appoint you this day over nations and kingdoms: to uproot and tear down, to obliterate and destroy, to build and plant\u201d (1:10).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The boy is appointed prophet at a fateful moment, as massive upheavals shake the known world. He does not yet know the names of these empires to be obliterated and built, uprooted and planted. He knows only that his hour has come, and that God controls the playing field.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Lau, Binyamin. <\/span>Jeremiah: The Fate of a Prophet<\/span><\/em>. Maggid Books, 2013, \u201cJeremiah\u2019s Prophetic Initiation.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":69252,"alt":"","title":"jer-lau2","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer-lau2.jpg","width":884,"height":635,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer-lau2-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer-lau2-300x215.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":215,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer-lau2-768x552.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":552,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer-lau2.jpg","large-width":884,"large-height":635,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer-lau2.jpg","1536x1536-width":884,"1536x1536-height":635,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer-lau2.jpg","2048x2048-width":884,"2048x2048-height":635,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer-lau2.jpg","post_full_size-width":884,"post_full_size-height":635,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer-lau2-585x420.jpg","home_baner-width":585,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"A Prophet Concerning The Nations","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"The defining moment of Jeremiah's life","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":69252,"alt":"","title":"jer-lau2","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer-lau2.jpg","width":884,"height":635,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer-lau2-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer-lau2-300x215.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":215,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer-lau2-768x552.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":552,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer-lau2.jpg","large-width":884,"large-height":635,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer-lau2.jpg","1536x1536-width":884,"1536x1536-height":635,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer-lau2.jpg","2048x2048-width":884,"2048x2048-height":635,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer-lau2.jpg","post_full_size-width":884,"post_full_size-height":635,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer-lau2-585x420.jpg","home_baner-width":585,"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":"Jeremiah","chapter":"1","chapter_main_number":"401","date":"20270314","wall_id":"401"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"840","name":"Jeremiah","old_id":"1240"},{"term_id":"942","name":"Josiah","old_id":"1342"}]},{"order":18,"id":"117214","color":"#f6edf6","size":"1","name":"The Tanakh Podcast-Jeremiah1 ","post_title":"The Tanakh Podcast-Jeremiah1","slug":"the-tanakh-podcast-jeremiah1","old_id":"117214","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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\u201cBefore I created you in the womb, I knew you; before you exited the womb, I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet concerning the nations\u201d (1:5). And before God confers this weighty task upon Jeremiah, He tells him all this.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

He tells him He knew him even before he was him.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

He tells him he was a prophet even before he was born as a person.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

God knows Jeremiah so well that He knows he needs this reassurance at the outset.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

And He probably knows that even with this reassurance, even with the embrace of God\u2019s intimate knowledge and selection of his very essence, Jeremiah will hesitate: \u201cI don\u2019t know how to speak, for I am a youth.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

God doesn\u2019t get angry; He gets it. He knows Jeremiah, and He knows that indeed, the young prophet has a rough road ahead of him. \u201cAnd the Lord said to me: Do not say, \u2018I am a youth\u2019 \u2026. Have no fear of them, for I am with you to save you \u2014 declares the LORD\u201d (vs. 6-7).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

From whom will Jeremiah need saving? Who should he not fear?<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Maybe those who won\u2019t like his prophecies, and will seek to do him harm. And maybe the job itself scares him: the challenge of formulating his words effectively, the responsibility of serving as God\u2019s mouthpiece. \u201cI don\u2019t know how to speak.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Jeremiah\u2019s resistance is not unique among prophets and other biblical leaders: Moses, Gideon, Saul, Jonah. Each had their own reasons for reluctance, and each received a different divine response, ranging from patience to anger. Saul, for instance, is rebuked sharply by Samuel for not asserting his authority over his people to faithfully fulfill God\u2019s mandate: \u201cYou may be small in your own eyes, but you are the head of the tribes of Israel!\u201d (I Samuel 15:17).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Jeremiah, too, sees himself as small. Young. But God doesn\u2019t yell at him. \u201cTeach the youth according to his way\u201d (Proverbs 22:6) \u2013 and with His most intimate knowledge of Jeremiah, God knows the soft touch this youth needs.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

He reaches out a [metaphorical] hand and touches Jeremiah. \u201cSee? I\u2019ve put my words in your mouth\u201d (v. 9) \u2013 reminiscent, perhaps, of how a parent might give a child a hug to hold onto during time apart, a tangible sense of connection that can be carried within. God\u2019s presence is no longer \u201cjust\u201d the warm embrace of being intimately known, but a force within Jeremiah.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Even if he doesn\u2019t know it, God knows it. \u201cDon\u2019t say \u2018I am a youth!\u2019\u201d Because he\u2019s not? Or because it doesn\u2019t matter? If God is with him, a baby could do this job.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

\u201c\u2019What do you see, Jeremiah?\u2019... and I said\u2026 \u2018You have seen well\u2019\u201d (vs. 11-12).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The road of prophecy will be rough, but with the soft, intimate touch of God\u2019s own hand, Jeremiah will travel it well.<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":69050,"alt":"","title":"jer1-hand","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-hand.jpg","width":1920,"height":1271,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-hand-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-hand-300x199.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":199,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-hand-768x508.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":508,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-hand-1024x678.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":678,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-hand.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1017,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-hand.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":1271,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-hand-1200x794.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":794,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-hand-634x420.jpg","home_baner-width":634,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"A Little Help From God\u2019s Hand","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"At the beginning of a lonely journey... ","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":69050,"alt":"","title":"jer1-hand","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-hand.jpg","width":1920,"height":1271,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-hand-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-hand-300x199.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":199,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-hand-768x508.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":508,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-hand-1024x678.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":678,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-hand.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1017,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-hand.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":1271,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-hand-1200x794.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":794,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/jer1-hand-634x420.jpg","home_baner-width":634,"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":"Jeremiah","chapter":"1","chapter_main_number":"401","date":"20270314","wall_id":"401"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"384","name":"God","old_id":"784"},{"term_id":"390","name":"Prophets","old_id":"790"},{"term_id":"840","name":"Jeremiah","old_id":"1240"}]},{"order":20,"id":"69020","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"Northern Exposure ","post_title":"Northern Exposure","slug":"northern-exposure","old_id":"69020","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. 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Norton & Co., 2019.","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":54357,"alt":"","title":"robert alter","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/robert-alter.jpg","width":184,"height":275,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/robert-alter-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/robert-alter.jpg","medium-width":184,"medium-height":275,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/robert-alter.jpg","medium_large-width":184,"medium_large-height":275,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/robert-alter.jpg","large-width":184,"large-height":275,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/robert-alter.jpg","1536x1536-width":184,"1536x1536-height":275,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/robert-alter.jpg","2048x2048-width":184,"2048x2048-height":275,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/robert-alter.jpg","post_full_size-width":184,"post_full_size-height":275,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/robert-alter.jpg","home_baner-width":184,"home_baner-height":275}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"401","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"An ominous prediction","post_main_content_content":"

1:14 \u201cand the LORD said to me, \u201cFrom the north shall the evil be broached on all the dwellers of the land. For I am about to call forth all the clans of the kingdoms of the north,\u201d said the LORD, \u201cand they shall come and each set his throne at the entrance of the gates of Jerusalem and against its walls all round and against all the towns of Judah.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The ominous nature of this prediction is enhanced by the vagueness of the formulation. The enemy in the later sixth century B.C.E. would have to be Babylonia, which is definitely more to the east than to the north, though perhaps a northern invasion route is envisaged. The destroyer from the north also invokes the dire memory of Assyria, which a century earlier descended from the north and annihilated the kingdom of Israel.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

From: Robert Alter, The Hebrew Bible<\/em>, vol. 2: Prophets, W. W. Norton & Co., 2019, ad loc. By permission of the author.<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":54890,"alt":"","title":"Alter-Cover","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover.jpg","width":1200,"height":693,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-300x173.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":173,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-768x444.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":444,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-1024x591.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":591,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover.jpg","1536x1536-width":1200,"1536x1536-height":693,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover.jpg","2048x2048-width":1200,"2048x2048-height":693,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-1200x693.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":693,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-727x420.jpg","home_baner-width":727,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"From Robert Alter's Bible Translation and Commentary","tile_main_caption":"Northern Exposure","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"An ominous prediction","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":"Jeremiah","chapter":"1","chapter_main_number":"401","date":"20270314","wall_id":"401"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"434","name":"War","old_id":"834"}]},{"order":21,"id":"68982","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"A Lesson on the Daily Chapter- Jeremiah 1 ","post_title":"A Lesson on the Daily Chapter- Jeremiah 1","slug":"a-lesson-on-the-daily-chapter-jeremiah-1","old_id":"68982","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":40936,"post_title":"David Silber","slug":"david-silber-2","old_id":"40936","first_name":"David ","last_name":"Silber ","description":"Rabbi David Silber is the Founder and Dean of Drisha Institute for Jewish Education. 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\u201cSolar Eclipses and other Natural Phenomena in Tanach\u201d<\/a> by Tzvi Pittinsky: Explore Biblical texts about the natural world.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n

\u201cThe Prophets and Jerusalem\u201d<\/a> by Samuel Stern: What do the Prophets have to say about the holy city?<\/p>","post_main_content_image":"","post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"Go deeper into the chapter....","tile_main_caption":"Source Sheets - Jeremiah 1","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Links to learning resources","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":42232,"alt":"","title":"sefaria-words-sunburst","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst.png","width":608,"height":395,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst-300x195.png","medium-width":300,"medium-height":195,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst.png","medium_large-width":608,"medium_large-height":395,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst.png","large-width":608,"large-height":395,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst.png","1536x1536-width":608,"1536x1536-height":395,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst.png","2048x2048-width":608,"2048x2048-height":395,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst.png","post_full_size-width":608,"post_full_size-height":395,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst.png","home_baner-width":608,"home_baner-height":395}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"Sefaria word sunburst visualization","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","old_create_date":"","links":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"Jeremiah","chapter":"1","chapter_main_number":"401","date":"20270314","wall_id":"401"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":23,"id":"69035","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"Points to Ponder - Jeremiah 1 ","post_title":"Points to Ponder - Jeremiah 1","slug":"points-to-ponder-jeremiah-1","old_id":"69035","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":"401","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"","post_main_content_content":"

    \r\n\t
  1. Anathoth.<\/em> Anathoth is a village in Benjamin, at the edge of the desert, very close to Nachal Prat (Wadi Kelt). This biographical detail, with its unique landscape and natural environment, is one of the sources of inspiration for Jeremiah. Remember that. Another important biographical tidbit is that Jeremiah is from a family of priests. What are priests doing out in Anathoth? His is a priestly family that was ousted back in the days of King Solomon, 112 chapters ago (1 Kings, 2). Does this history affect Jeremiah? Stay with us\u2026.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t
  2. This isn\u2019t the end<\/em>. According to verse 3, Jeremiah acts from 627 BCE until slightly after the Exile. That is, the month of Av, 586 BCE. That already is 41 whole years. But in the rest of the book, we\u2019ll meet him still active and prophesying after the destruction, to those who stayed in the Land, with Gedalya, son of Achikam (chapter 42), and even in Egypt, after th murder of Gedalya (chapters 43-44).<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t
  3. The riddle of opposites.<\/em> Verse 10 suggests opposite types of prophetic activities: \u201cSee, I appoint you this day Over nations and kingdoms: To uproot and to pull down, To destroy and to overthrow, To build and to plant.\u201d How will these be expressed in his prophetic career? When is \u201cthe time to destroy\u201d and when \u201cthe time to plant\u201d? And where? These are questions worth thinking about throughout the book. There\u2019s more than one answer.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t
  4. Bullet-proof vest<\/em>. That\u2019s what Jeremiah gets as basic equipment for his prophetic mission: \u201cI make you this day A fortified city, And an iron pillar, And bronze walls Against the whole land\u2014 Against Judah\u2019s kings and officers, And against its priests and citizens. They will attack you, But they shall not overcome you; For I am with you\u2014declares the LORD\u2014to save you\u201d (verses 18-19). In other words: be strong! The strongest. Good luck! (We\u2019re with you, all the way to chapter 52).<\/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":"Jeremiah 1","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":"Jeremiah","chapter":"1","chapter_main_number":"401","date":"20270314","wall_id":"401"},"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\/68853"}],"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=68853"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}