{"id":72898,"date":"2018-07-09T17:47:25","date_gmt":"2018-07-09T14:47:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wall\/wall-1092\/"},"modified":"2023-11-09T16:32:00","modified_gmt":"2023-11-09T14:32:00","slug":"wall-1092","status":"publish","type":"wall","link":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wall\/wall-1092\/","title":{"rendered":"weekend-from-20231105-to-20231111"},"parent":0,"template":"","acf":{"type":"weekend","wall_id":"1092","date_from":"20231105","date_to":"20231111","book":"Ezekiel","books_group":"Prophets","posts":[{"order":1,"id":"37613","color":"#effaea","size":"1","name":"Sarah Finally Understands the Suffering She Caused","post_title":"Sarah Finally Understands the Suffering She Caused","slug":"sarah-finally-understands-the-suffering-she-caused","old_id":"37613","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":36154,"post_title":"Jane Kanarek","slug":"jane-kanarek","old_id":"36154","first_name":"Jane ","last_name":"Kanarek ","description":"Rabbi Jane Kanarek, Ph.D. is Associate Professor of Rabbinics at Hebrew College. She is the author of Biblical Narrative and the Formation of Rabbinic Law and the co-editor of Learning to Read Talmud: What It Looks Like and How it Happens and Mothers in the Jewish Cultural Imagination, both of which were finalists for the National Jewish Book Award. ","short_description":"Rabbi Jane Kanarek is an associate professor of rabbinics and an associate dean in the Rabbinical School of Hebrew College.\r\n\r\n","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":36155,"alt":"","title":"jane kanarek","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/jane-kanarek-e1534019475111.jpeg","width":228,"height":243,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/jane-kanarek-e1534019475111-150x150.jpeg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/jane-kanarek-215x300.jpeg","medium-width":215,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/jane-kanarek-e1534019475111.jpeg","medium_large-width":228,"medium_large-height":243,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/jane-kanarek-e1534019475111.jpeg","large-width":228,"large-height":243,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/jane-kanarek-e1534019475111.jpeg","1536x1536-width":228,"1536x1536-height":243,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/jane-kanarek-e1534019475111.jpeg","2048x2048-width":228,"2048x2048-height":243,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/jane-kanarek-e1534019475111.jpeg","post_full_size-width":228,"post_full_size-height":243,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/jane-kanarek-e1534019475111.jpeg","home_baner-width":228,"home_baner-height":243}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"23","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Sarah dies not only because of her husband\u2019s actions, but also because of her own","post_main_content_content":"

Why does the Torah tell us of Sarah\u2019s death right after it tells us the story of the Akedah, the binding of her son Isaac? Rashi answers that when Sarah received the news that her son was almost slaughtered, her soul flew from her and she died. <\/span><\/p>\r\n

Rashi\u2019s draws his brief answer from earlier midrashic traditions. In one of these traditions, when Isaac returns from the Akedah, Sarah asks him where he has been. He replies that his father took him on a journey and was about to kill him when an angel interceded. On hearing Isaac\u2019s answer, Sarah cries out six times, cries which correspond to the shofar sounds, and then she dies (Leviticus Rabbah 20:2). \u00a0The midrash from Leviticus Rabbah focuses on the effect of Abraham\u2019s actions on Sarah. She dies from shock, from the news of what her <\/span>husband <\/span><\/i>was about to do to their son. <\/span><\/p>\r\n

But Rashi\u2019s briefer comment, one that does not name Abraham, offers us another possibility. Genesis 23:1 concludes with the words \u201c<\/span>sh'nei hayyei sarah<\/span><\/em>,\u201d most easily translated as, \u201cthe years of Sarah\u2019s life.\u201d But the word \u201c<\/span>sh'nei<\/span><\/em>\u201d (years) can also be understood midrashically as \u201ctwo.\u201d Sarah had two lives, or rather two understandings of her life: one from before the Akedah and one after. When Sarah receives the news of her son Isaac\u2019s near slaughter by his father, she finally understands what <\/span>she<\/em> <\/span>did to Hagar in casting her out with her son Ishmael to almost death in the desert. She dies not only because of her husband\u2019s actions, but also because of her own. <\/span><\/p>\r\n

Sarah dies after the Akedah from a deep and tragic sadness, knowing now the suffering she caused another mother like her.<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":56733,"alt":"","title":"isam1-sarah_hagar","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam1-sarah_hagar.jpg","width":345,"height":210,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam1-sarah_hagar-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam1-sarah_hagar-300x183.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":183,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam1-sarah_hagar.jpg","medium_large-width":345,"medium_large-height":210,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam1-sarah_hagar.jpg","large-width":345,"large-height":210,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam1-sarah_hagar.jpg","1536x1536-width":345,"1536x1536-height":210,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam1-sarah_hagar.jpg","2048x2048-width":345,"2048x2048-height":210,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam1-sarah_hagar.jpg","post_full_size-width":345,"post_full_size-height":210,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam1-sarah_hagar.jpg","home_baner-width":345,"home_baner-height":210}},"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":"Sarah Finally Understands the Suffering She Caused","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Sarah dies not only because of her husband\u2019s actions, but also because of her own","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":56733,"alt":"","title":"isam1-sarah_hagar","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam1-sarah_hagar.jpg","width":345,"height":210,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam1-sarah_hagar-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam1-sarah_hagar-300x183.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":183,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam1-sarah_hagar.jpg","medium_large-width":345,"medium_large-height":210,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam1-sarah_hagar.jpg","large-width":345,"large-height":210,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam1-sarah_hagar.jpg","1536x1536-width":345,"1536x1536-height":210,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam1-sarah_hagar.jpg","2048x2048-width":345,"2048x2048-height":210,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam1-sarah_hagar.jpg","post_full_size-width":345,"post_full_size-height":210,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/isam1-sarah_hagar.jpg","home_baner-width":345,"home_baner-height":210}},"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":"","old_create_date":"","tile_link_for_pay":"0","links":false,"send_noty":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Torah","book":"Genesis","chapter":"23","chapter_main_number":"23","date":"20250930","wall_id":"23"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"391","name":"In\/Justice","old_id":"791"},{"term_id":"427","name":"Sarah","old_id":"827"},{"term_id":"428","name":"Parent","old_id":"828"}]},{"order":2,"id":"37618","color":"#effaea","size":"1","name":"Ownership and Humility: Then And Now","post_title":"Ownership and Humility: Then And Now","slug":"ownership-and-humility","old_id":"37618","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":33859,"post_title":"Avidan Freedman","slug":"avidan-freedman","old_id":"33859","first_name":"Avidan","last_name":"Freedman","description":"Rabbi Avidan Freedman is the Rabbi of Hevruta, the Shalom Hartman Institute's post high school program for Israelis and North Americans, and an educator in the institute's high school. He is an activist advocating for moral limits on Israeli arms exports, and on behalf of African refugees, and a proud husband and father of 5. He received his rabbinical ordination from Yeshivat Chovevei Torah in New York, and from the Israeli chief rabbinate.","credit":"","image_url":"","short_description":"Rabbi Avidan Freedman is the Rabbi of Hevruta, the Shalom Hartman Institute's post high school program for Israelis and North Americans, and an educator in the institute's high school. 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Whatever your position on Israeli politics may be, it's hard to escape the irony that some of the places where Jewish ownership and sovereignty are most called into question today are precisely the places where \u00a0the Torah goes out of its way to detail the story of their purchase. First among these purchases is the cave of Machpela in chapter 23.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

But alongside this irony, it is fascinating to note that the very act of Abraham's purchase highlights his refusal to fully act as owner of the land that he has been promised. Although the residents of Het call him a Prince of God, Abraham acts in a manner so humble as to border on the servile, bowing to the people, and insisting on paying full price for land that he is offered for free, and that he has been promised by God. <\/span><\/p>\r\n

From the outset, Abraham defines his relationship to the land which dictates his self-effacing attitude as that of a 'stranger and resident', not as a lord. With this phrase, Abraham anticipates the attitude to the land that God aims to impress upon the Jewish people as a whole when we enter and conquer it. With the very same phrase, 'for you are strangers and residents' (Lev. 25:23), God explains the rationale behind the institutions of shmita<\/em> and yovel<\/em> (the sabbatical and jubilee years), whose purpose is to ensure that, no matter how much sovereignty and ownership we enjoy, we must always remember to act with the humility of the stranger and resident, for the whole land is God's. <\/span><\/p>\r\n

In today's chapter, Abraham is the first one to teach us this first principle of sovereignty, a principle all the more relevant in our days of renewed Jewish sovereignty: you are only ready to possess this land when you are prepared to act, not as an owner, but as a humble 'stranger and resident' within it. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

image: Michal Ben Hamu<\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":102722,"alt":"","title":"-6225e8623add2--6225e8623add4gen23-abraham hebron 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Written as an accompaniment to Rabbi Sacks\u2019 weekly Covenant & Conversation essay, the Family Edition is aimed at connecting older children and teenagers with his ideas and thoughts on the parsha. Each element of the Family Edition is progressively more advanced; The Core Idea is appropriate for all ages and the final element, From The Thought of Rabbi Sacks, is the most advanced section. Each section includes Questions to Ponder, aimed at encouraging discussion between family members in a way most appropriate to them. We have also included a section called Around the Shabbat Table with a few further questions on the parsha to think about. The final section is an Educational Companion which includes suggested talking points in response to the questions found throughout the Family Edition.","short_description":"Covenant & Conversation: Family Edition is a new and exciting initiative from The Office of Rabbi Jonathan Sacks","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":42814,"alt":"","title":"CCfamilylogo-693x457","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/CCfamilylogo-693x457.jpg","width":693,"height":457,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/CCfamilylogo-693x457-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/CCfamilylogo-693x457-300x198.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":198,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/CCfamilylogo-693x457.jpg","medium_large-width":693,"medium_large-height":457,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/CCfamilylogo-693x457.jpg","large-width":693,"large-height":457,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/CCfamilylogo-693x457.jpg","1536x1536-width":693,"1536x1536-height":457,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/CCfamilylogo-693x457.jpg","2048x2048-width":693,"2048x2048-height":457,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/CCfamilylogo-693x457.jpg","post_full_size-width":693,"post_full_size-height":457,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/CCfamilylogo-693x457-637x420.jpg","home_baner-width":637,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"24","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"","post_main_content_content":"

Family study materials on Parashat Chayei Sarah from \"Covenant and Conversation\"<\/a><\/p>\r\n

 <\/p>","post_main_content_image":"","post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"Family Study Materials","tile_main_caption":"On Judaism and Islam","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"for Parashat Chayei Sarah","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":42816,"alt":"","title":"covenant and conversation - Sacks","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/covenant-and-conversation-Sacks.jpg","width":723,"height":426,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/covenant-and-conversation-Sacks-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/covenant-and-conversation-Sacks-300x177.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":177,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/covenant-and-conversation-Sacks.jpg","medium_large-width":723,"medium_large-height":426,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/covenant-and-conversation-Sacks.jpg","large-width":723,"large-height":426,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/covenant-and-conversation-Sacks.jpg","1536x1536-width":723,"1536x1536-height":426,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/covenant-and-conversation-Sacks.jpg","2048x2048-width":723,"2048x2048-height":426,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/covenant-and-conversation-Sacks.jpg","post_full_size-width":723,"post_full_size-height":426,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/covenant-and-conversation-Sacks-713x420.jpg","home_baner-width":713,"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":"","old_create_date":"","tile_link_for_pay":"0","links":false,"send_noty":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Torah","book":"Genesis","chapter":"24","chapter_main_number":"24","date":"20251001","wall_id":"24"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"368","name":"Parasha","old_id":"768"},{"term_id":"446","name":"Islam","old_id":"846"}]},{"order":4,"id":"102764","color":"#effaea","size":"1","name":"Intro To Laban: Not So Black And White","post_title":"Intro To Laban: Not So Black And White","slug":"intro-to-laban-not-so-black-and-white","old_id":"102764","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":"24","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"But is he in fact the evil mastermind that others purport him to be?\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

Embedded in this very long repetitive chapter is our introduction to Laban, Rebecca\u2019s brother. Laban will play a much more central role in a few chapters, with Jacob. Laban is almost universally vilified by commentators and would probably make a \u201ctop-five worst people in Torah\u201d list for anyone who learned the stories in elementary school. He is painted as a blackguard, implying that his name \u201cLaban\u201d (literally, \u201cwhite\u201d) is cynically hypocritical.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

But the text is ambiguous:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Now Rebekah had a brother whose name was Laban. Laban ran out to the man at the spring, when he saw the nose-ring and the bands on his sister\u2019s arms, and when he heard his sister Rebekah say, \u2018Thus the man spoke to me.\u2019 He went up to the man, who was still standing beside the camels at the spring. \u2018Come in, O blessed of God\u2019 he said, \u2018why do you remain outside, when I have made ready the house and a place for the camels\u2019\u201d(verses 29-31).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Rashi comments that Laban ran to Eliezer because he saw the gold rings and wanted to extract more money from this wealthy visitor. Sforno even adds that Laban had no intention of hosting Eleazer; he just wanted to swindle him.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

But the text does not say this at all. Laban sees that his sister is wearing new jewelry and Rebecca explains that this man appeared at a well and gave her gifts saying he was the servant of their cousin. Laban then rushes to greet the guest and invites him and his camels to stay in their home! That does not seem evil.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Eliezer then repeats the whole tale, and immediately Laban and his father say that this is ordained by God and that Rebecca should go with him to marry Isaac. Laban even says twice that this is ordained by God. Again, very reasonable and even noble. Rashi interjects that Laban is listed first so it shows he was rude to speak to before his father. However, Laban is the first family member to run and greet Eliezer.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Laban and his mother then ask for a ten day delay. This seems reasonable and gives Rebecca a chance to say her goodbyes etc. When Eliezer protests, Laban offers to ask Rebecca what she wants. Rebecca wishes to leave right away and Laban agrees. Laban seems very respectful here. He defers to his sister\u2019s request and allows her to go, despite his desire that she stay a little longer.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Laban\u2019s last words here are a very nice blessing that ends in a similar way to God\u2019s blessing to Abraham in 22:17: \u201cyour descendants shall seize the gates of their foes.\u201d\u00a0 All in all, Laban does not come across as some evil mastermind. More on this in chapters 29-31\u2026\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

 <\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":95036,"alt":"","title":"job30-pawn white black","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/job30-pawn-white-black.jpg","width":1920,"height":1341,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/job30-pawn-white-black-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/job30-pawn-white-black-300x210.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":210,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/job30-pawn-white-black-768x536.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":536,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/job30-pawn-white-black-1024x715.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":715,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/job30-pawn-white-black.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1073,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/job30-pawn-white-black.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":1341,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/job30-pawn-white-black-1200x838.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":838,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/job30-pawn-white-black-601x420.jpg","home_baner-width":601,"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":"Intro To Laban: Not So Black And White","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"But is he in fact the evil mastermind that others purport him to be?","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":95036,"alt":"","title":"job30-pawn white black","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/job30-pawn-white-black.jpg","width":1920,"height":1341,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/job30-pawn-white-black-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/job30-pawn-white-black-300x210.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":210,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/job30-pawn-white-black-768x536.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":536,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/job30-pawn-white-black-1024x715.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":715,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/job30-pawn-white-black.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1073,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/job30-pawn-white-black.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":1341,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/job30-pawn-white-black-1200x838.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":838,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/job30-pawn-white-black-601x420.jpg","home_baner-width":601,"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":"Torah","book":"Genesis","chapter":"24","chapter_main_number":"24","date":"20251001","wall_id":"24"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"363","name":"Midrash","old_id":"763"},{"term_id":"481","name":"Laban","old_id":"881"}]},{"order":5,"id":"73312","color":"#efefef","size":"1","name":"This Is REALLY The Bread Of Affliction ","post_title":"This Is REALLY The Bread Of Affliction","slug":"this-is-really-the-bread-of-affliction","old_id":"73312","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":73310,"post_title":"Steven Zeitchik","slug":"steven-zeitchik","old_id":"73310","first_name":"Steven ","last_name":"Zeitchik","description":"Steven Zeitchik, a staff writer at The Washington Post, has spent the past 15 years covering culture and entertainment. He thinks some of it is even as rich as ancient Hebrew texts.","short_description":"Steven Zeitchik, a staff writer at The Washington Post, has spent the past 15 years covering culture and entertainment. ","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":73567,"alt":"","title":"steven zeitchik","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/steven-zeitchik-1.jpg","width":1778,"height":2058,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/steven-zeitchik-1-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/steven-zeitchik-1-259x300.jpg","medium-width":259,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/steven-zeitchik-1-768x889.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":889,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/steven-zeitchik-1-885x1024.jpg","large-width":885,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/steven-zeitchik-1.jpg","1536x1536-width":1327,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/steven-zeitchik-1.jpg","2048x2048-width":1769,"2048x2048-height":2048,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/steven-zeitchik-1-1037x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":1037,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/steven-zeitchik-1-363x420.jpg","home_baner-width":363,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"459","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"One last message about the holiday, our limitations and anxieties \u2013and dreams for next year.\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

Noble message aside, the Aramaic prayer Ha Lachma Anya<\/em> (\"This is the bread of affliction\") \u00a0recited dutifully and often mechanically near the start of the seder, has always been a bit of a head-scratcher.<\/p>\r\n

An ostensible invitation to the vagabond hungry (\"let all who are ravenous come and eat\"), the prayer seems designed for failure. It is said in a language now unknown, recited only to the people already at the table and hours away from the actual meal.<\/p>\r\n

Maimonides appears not to have included the prayer in the Haggadah liturgy of Israel. Noting the omission, the 16th-century physician and scholar Eliezer ben Elijah Ashkenazi offers that the prayer was conceived at the start of the exile that followed the destruction of the Second Temple circa 70 A.D.<\/p>\r\n

This leads to a radical reinterpretation. The prayer's claim that \"this is the bread of affliction our forefathers ate in Egypt\" is no longer a callback to the Exodus but a sharp comment on a new reality \u2013 a bitter reminder that after the Temple's destruction the Jewish people have reverted to a sad state of diasporan servitude. \u201cThis <\/em>is the bread of affliction.\" Don\u2019t be surprised if it tastes a little more sour this year.<\/p>\r\n

And the invitation for everyone to come and eat? It\u2019s not a half-hearted callout to stray passersby of acute hearing, but a heartfelt pining for the camaraderie of Jewish settlement in Israel. It was there, after all, that Passover offered not only ritual but community -- families bringing their Paschal lambs to the Temple essentially formed a giant block party. The call is an attempt to re-create that moment of socialization and even one-up it; while Jerusalem gatherings were segmented by family, the composers in this new Temple-less world poignantly beseech any and all to join them -- to recreate the community, to relieve the loneliness. At heart the prayer was an attempt by newly exiled Jews to silver-line their way to better days.<\/p>\r\n

The echoes to our own affliction are loud. This Passover--with Seders reduced to immediate families or individuals atomized and singing to themselves around the world \u2013 we\u2019ve lost the holiday\u2019s communal joy. We\u2019ve become slaves, not to a king but to anxiety, and geography. In a sense we've flipped the narrative of the early Ha Lachma-ites: many Jews live in Israel, but we can\u2019t be together.<\/p>\r\n

Still, our own light peeks through. Cut off from families, we dial in to communal seders, meet new teachers, celebrate with friends we\u2019d never ordinarily connect with. Robbed of our ability to move, we are nonetheless afforded the chance to zoom.<\/p>\r\n

The prayer concludes with a rueful wish. \"Now we are here, next year we are in Israel.\u201d The composers are expressing not an abstract Zionist aspiration but a concrete yearning for a return to social times. It is a statement that vibrates with relevance. Now, with the pandemic, we are here, in a lonely state. Next year may we enter a better one.<\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":73313,"alt":"","title":"matza","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/matza.jpg","width":600,"height":398,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/matza-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/matza-300x199.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":199,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/matza.jpg","medium_large-width":600,"medium_large-height":398,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/matza.jpg","large-width":600,"large-height":398,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/matza.jpg","1536x1536-width":600,"1536x1536-height":398,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/matza.jpg","2048x2048-width":600,"2048x2048-height":398,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/matza.jpg","post_full_size-width":600,"post_full_size-height":398,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/matza.jpg","home_baner-width":600,"home_baner-height":398}},"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":"Passover in Times of Pandemic","tile_main_caption":"This Is REALLY The Bread Of Affliction","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"One last message about the holiday, our limitations and anxieties \u2013and dreams for next year.","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":73313,"alt":"","title":"matza","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/matza.jpg","width":600,"height":398,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/matza-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/matza-300x199.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":199,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/matza.jpg","medium_large-width":600,"medium_large-height":398,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/matza.jpg","large-width":600,"large-height":398,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/matza.jpg","1536x1536-width":600,"1536x1536-height":398,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/matza.jpg","2048x2048-width":600,"2048x2048-height":398,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/matza.jpg","post_full_size-width":600,"post_full_size-height":398,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/matza.jpg","home_baner-width":600,"home_baner-height":398}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"Ezekiel","chapter":"7","chapter_main_number":"459","date":"20270602","wall_id":"459"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":6,"id":"73178","color":"#f2e9df","size":"1","name":"Kusemet! ","post_title":"Kusemet!","slug":"kusemet","old_id":"73178","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":64450,"post_title":"David Curwin","slug":"david-curwin","old_id":"64450","first_name":"David ","last_name":"Curwin ","description":"David Curwin is a writer living in Efrat, and the author of the Balashon blog www.balashon.com","short_description":"David Curwin is a writer living in Efrat, and the author of the Balashon blog www.balashon.com","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":64452,"alt":"","title":"david curwin","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/david-curwin.png","width":427,"height":464,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/david-curwin-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/david-curwin-276x300.png","medium-width":276,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/david-curwin.png","medium_large-width":427,"medium_large-height":464,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/david-curwin.png","large-width":427,"large-height":464,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/david-curwin.png","1536x1536-width":427,"1536x1536-height":464,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/david-curwin.png","2048x2048-width":427,"2048x2048-height":464,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/david-curwin.png","post_full_size-width":427,"post_full_size-height":464,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/david-curwin-387x420.png","home_baner-width":387,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"456","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Now how is that spelt?\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

In chapter 4, Ezekiel is commanded to take symbolic action to mirror the siege on Jerusalem. He is told to lie on his side for 390 days, and to eat bread made up of six different grains. This type of bread would echo the way people under siege would bake with whatever ingredients they could find.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

\u00a0Looking at the verse we find an interesting view into the grains that were used at that time:<\/span><\/p>\r\n

\u201cFurther, take wheat, barley, beans, lentils, millet, and emmer. Put them into one vessel and bake them into bread. Eat it as many days as you lie on your side: three hundred and ninety.\u201d (Ezekiel 4:9)<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The last grain mentioned is <\/span>kusmim<\/span><\/em>\u00a0\u2013 <\/span>kusemet<\/span><\/em>\u00a0in the singular (as in Exodus 9:32). The translation above renders it as \u201cemmer.\u201d Emmer is a kind of wheat and was one of the first crops to be domesticated in the ancient Near East. However, in the Middle Ages, the rabbis (such as Rashi on Ezekiel 4:9) began to identify it with spelt, a grain not found in Israel or Egypt in biblical times.\u00a0 And in Modern Hebrew, spelt is known by the Talmudic form of its plural: <\/span>kusmin<\/span><\/em>.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

However, the singular form <\/span>kusemet<\/span><\/em>\u00a0refers to a different grain in Hebrew: buckwheat. Since buckwheat is not a grass, not only is not related to wheat, it\u2019s not even a grain. It is a fruit seed, which originated in China, and only arrived in Europe about 500 years ago. So how did it come to be identified with the grain that Ezekiel was ordered to eat?<\/span><\/p>\r\n

There is no clear answer to this question. One clue, however, is that the European translations of the Bible that first began translating <\/span>kusemet<\/span><\/em> as buckwheat were in the Low German language, which was spoken in Northern Germany and Holland. And Holland had two popular legends at the time about buckwheat. One was that it was brought to Europe from the Holy Land, and the other was that the Dutch form, \"<\/span>boek weit\"<\/span><\/i>, was so named to honor its origin in the Bible (i.e. they understood it as \u201cbook wheat\u201d).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Neither of those legends were true. It was called buckwheat because it looked similar to the seeds of beech trees, and while it may have been brought to Europe by Arabs and Turks, it did not grow in the Land of Israel.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

But legends have a strength of their own, and if people believed that buckwheat was a biblical grain from Israel, then it wasn\u2019t too long before they began translating <\/span>kusemet<\/span><\/em>\u00a0as buckwheat. Eventually this association spread to the Jews of Europe as well, and we arrived at the unusual situation where in Modern Hebrew <\/span>kusemet<\/span><\/em>\u00a0<\/span><\/i>means \u201cbuckwheat\u201d, <\/span>kusmin<\/span><\/em>\u00a0means \u201cspelt,\u201d and neither refer to the grain Ezekiel ate: emmer wheat.<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":73179,"alt":"","title":"emmer - spelt","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/emmer-spelt.jpg","width":1280,"height":375,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/emmer-spelt-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/emmer-spelt-300x88.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":88,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/emmer-spelt-768x225.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":225,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/emmer-spelt-1024x300.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":300,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/emmer-spelt.jpg","1536x1536-width":1280,"1536x1536-height":375,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/emmer-spelt.jpg","2048x2048-width":1280,"2048x2048-height":375,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/emmer-spelt-1200x352.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":352,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/emmer-spelt.jpg","home_baner-width":1280,"home_baner-height":375}},"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":"Kusemet!","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Now how is that spelt?","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":73179,"alt":"","title":"emmer - spelt","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/emmer-spelt.jpg","width":1280,"height":375,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/emmer-spelt-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/emmer-spelt-300x88.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":88,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/emmer-spelt-768x225.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":225,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/emmer-spelt-1024x300.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":300,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/emmer-spelt.jpg","1536x1536-width":1280,"1536x1536-height":375,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/emmer-spelt.jpg","2048x2048-width":1280,"2048x2048-height":375,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/emmer-spelt-1200x352.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":352,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/emmer-spelt.jpg","home_baner-width":1280,"home_baner-height":375}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"Ezekiel","chapter":"4","chapter_main_number":"456","date":"20270530","wall_id":"456"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":7,"id":"73181","color":"#f6edf6","size":"1","name":"Ezekiel\u2019s Performance Art ","post_title":"Ezekiel\u2019s Performance Art","slug":"ezekiels-performance-art","old_id":"73181","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":46656,"post_title":"Molly Morris","slug":"molly-morris","old_id":"46656","first_name":"Molly ","last_name":"Morris ","description":"Molly Morris holds a Masters degree in Leadership and Community Engagement. Her particular area of interest is biblical leadership. Molly participates in the 929 initiative with a dedicated group from the Beth Avraham Yoseph of Toronto congregation. \r\n\r\n","short_description":"Molly Morris holds a Masters degree in Leadership and Community Engagement. Molly participates in the 929 initiative with a dedicated group from the Beth Avraham Yoseph of Toronto congregation. \r\n\r\n","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":92561,"alt":"","title":"molly morris","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/molly-morris.jpg","width":2192,"height":2488,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/molly-morris-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/molly-morris-264x300.jpg","medium-width":264,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/molly-morris-768x872.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":872,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/molly-morris-902x1024.jpg","large-width":902,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/molly-morris.jpg","1536x1536-width":1353,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/molly-morris.jpg","2048x2048-width":1804,"2048x2048-height":2048,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/molly-morris-1057x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":1057,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/molly-morris-370x420.jpg","home_baner-width":370,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"456","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Build a diorama, lie on your side for a year and a half, and eat weird bread\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

If the elusiveness of Ezekiel Chapter 1 caught me by surprise it was nothing compared to how far my jaw dropped while reading Chapter 4. Funnily enough I had just seen a documentary about a very strange Canadian performance artist when I encountered this strange piece of biblical performance art.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

It\u2019s evident that simply speaking to the people about the impending doom and their need to repent hasn\u2019t been successful. Not for Isaiah nor for Jeremiah. Writing it down in scrolls was also unsuccessful. So, as any good leader or teacher knows, you need to find a new approach. And God chooses an unlikely medium. This time, Ezekiel is to deliver the prophecy by enacting the coming destruction of the Temple and siege of Jerusalem, and its impact on those left behind, through a wild performance with several acts.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Act 1 involves sculpture. Ezekiel is to take a brick and engrave an image of Jerusalem on it.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

In Act 2, Ezekiel is directed to enact the siege of Jerusalem through a depiction that includes ramparts, battling rams and iron griddles standing in as walls.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Act 3 begins the intense performance of the prophecy. Ezekiel is to lay on his left side for 390 days, representing the number of years that the tribes of Israel had sinned against God. Following that he\u2019s to turn over to his right side and continue laying another 40 days, representing the years of iniquity by the tribe of Judah.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Finally, in Act 4, Ezekiel asks for a change in direction. God instructed him to take wheat, barley, beans, lentils, millet and spelt and bake bread\u2026over a dung fire made from human excrement. Ezekiel could sculpt, create dioramas, even lie on his side for 430 days, but he argued against the human excrement and God allowed him the creative license to use cattle dung instead.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

We know that even the medium of this very visceral performance art didn\u2019t change the outcome of destruction and exile for the Jewish people. God had a different ending in mind and used every method available to get His message across.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Aside from the biblical lessons in this chapter about the Ultimate Director, there is a rather quirky modern-day carryover.<\/span> Ezekiel 4:9 bread<\/span><\/a> is popular among health-conscious and whole food consumers - and kosher to boot - and now we know<\/span> the story behind Ezekiel Bread<\/span><\/a> (from Huffington Post). Thankfully dung of any kind is not part of that narrative.<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":73182,"alt":"","title":"ez4-ezekiel bread","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez4-ezekiel-bread.jpg","width":300,"height":378,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez4-ezekiel-bread-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez4-ezekiel-bread-238x300.jpg","medium-width":238,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez4-ezekiel-bread.jpg","medium_large-width":300,"medium_large-height":378,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez4-ezekiel-bread.jpg","large-width":300,"large-height":378,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez4-ezekiel-bread.jpg","1536x1536-width":300,"1536x1536-height":378,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez4-ezekiel-bread.jpg","2048x2048-width":300,"2048x2048-height":378,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez4-ezekiel-bread.jpg","post_full_size-width":300,"post_full_size-height":378,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez4-ezekiel-bread.jpg","home_baner-width":300,"home_baner-height":378}},"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":"Ezekiel\u2019s Performance Art","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Build a diorama, lie on your side for a year and a half, and eat weird bread","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":73182,"alt":"","title":"ez4-ezekiel bread","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez4-ezekiel-bread.jpg","width":300,"height":378,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez4-ezekiel-bread-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez4-ezekiel-bread-238x300.jpg","medium-width":238,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez4-ezekiel-bread.jpg","medium_large-width":300,"medium_large-height":378,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez4-ezekiel-bread.jpg","large-width":300,"large-height":378,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez4-ezekiel-bread.jpg","1536x1536-width":300,"1536x1536-height":378,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez4-ezekiel-bread.jpg","2048x2048-width":300,"2048x2048-height":378,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez4-ezekiel-bread.jpg","post_full_size-width":300,"post_full_size-height":378,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez4-ezekiel-bread.jpg","home_baner-width":300,"home_baner-height":378}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"Ezekiel","chapter":"4","chapter_main_number":"456","date":"20270530","wall_id":"456"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":8,"id":"73213","color":"#e0e9ef","size":"1","name":"Beyond Masculine And Feminine, Good And Evil ","post_title":"Beyond Masculine And Feminine, Good And Evil","slug":"beyond-masculine-and-feminine-good-and-evil","old_id":"73213","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":38928,"post_title":"Genevieve Greinetz","slug":"genevieve-greinetz","old_id":"38928","first_name":"Genevieve ","last_name":"Greinetz","description":"Genevieve Greinetz is currently in her third year at Hebrew College Rabbinical School. In her undergraduate at Colorado State University, she studied eastern religion, philosophy, and literature. After graduating, she spent a year studying yoga and living at an ashram in the Santa Cruz mountains in CA. She worked as an organic farmer and studied Chinese tea with a master for several years before beginning her Master\u2019s in Jewish Studies at the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, CA, which she completed in 2016. \r\n","short_description":"Genevieve Greinetz is currently in her third year at Hebrew College Rabbinical School.","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":38933,"alt":"","title":"Genevieve Greinetz","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Genevieve-Greinetz-e1535526296437.jpg","width":848,"height":864,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Genevieve-Greinetz-e1535526296437-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Genevieve-Greinetz-e1535526296437-294x300.jpg","medium-width":294,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Genevieve-Greinetz-e1535526296437-768x782.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":782,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Genevieve-Greinetz-768x1024.jpg","large-width":768,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Genevieve-Greinetz-e1535526296437.jpg","1536x1536-width":848,"1536x1536-height":864,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Genevieve-Greinetz-e1535526296437.jpg","2048x2048-width":848,"2048x2048-height":864,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Genevieve-Greinetz-900x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":900,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Genevieve-Greinetz-e1535526296437-412x420.jpg","home_baner-width":412,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"456","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Non-kabbalistic symbolism of right and left in Ezekiel\u2019s bizarre tasks\u00a0\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

In Ezekiel 4:4, God asks Ezekiel to lie on his left side for 390 days to atone for the House of Israel, and then asks him to turn over and lay on his right side for another 40 days to atone for the House of Judah. The only explanation for the bizarre request is that the 390 days correspond to the 390 years of punishment that would have been enacted on Israel, and the 40 days to the 40 years of punishment for Judah. The midrash explains that God is being merciful by punishing one person instead of an entire nation, which is true, and yet the sheer oddity of the passage stands.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Since the medieval period, when Kabbalistic interpretations became more common, there developed accepted symbolic connotations of the left and right sides. The left correlates with the quality of judgement and is the side from which all evil comes, while the right side is associated with love and a potential overabundance of goodness. Furthermore, the left side is associated with the feminine, and the right with the masculine. This association of feminine, evil, and left side, and the parallel association of masculine, goodness, and right side is not original to Kabbalah and dates back to the ancient Greek conception of the body where it was theorized that males were birthed from semen that issued from the right testicle, and females from the left testicle. The entirety of the Greek conception of the body including the 5 humors is obviously outdated, and yet still remaining in the Jewish imagination is the problematic association between the left side, the \u201cfeminine,\u201d and evil.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Here, in Ezekiel 4, as well as later in chapter 16, we see that the left and right are associated with north and south; the left being associated with north and Jerusalem, the right being associated with south and Judah. This left and right formation predates Greek ideas of the body, as well as Kabbalah, and here, there are no assumptions or associations regarding good and evil, or feminine and masculine. Perhaps these lines, and Ezekiel\u2019s odd prescribed means to atone, can open our imagination beyond the strictures of ancient Greek and medieval theories of good, evil, masculine, and feminine.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Image: Ardon Windows (detail) at the Natrional Library in Jerusalem, Mordechai Ardon, 1984 \/ wikipedia<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":73214,"alt":"","title":"ez4-sephirot","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez4-sephirot.jpg","width":800,"height":600,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez4-sephirot-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez4-sephirot-300x225.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":225,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez4-sephirot-768x576.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":576,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez4-sephirot.jpg","large-width":800,"large-height":600,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez4-sephirot.jpg","1536x1536-width":800,"1536x1536-height":600,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez4-sephirot.jpg","2048x2048-width":800,"2048x2048-height":600,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez4-sephirot.jpg","post_full_size-width":800,"post_full_size-height":600,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez4-sephirot-560x420.jpg","home_baner-width":560,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"Beyond Masculine And Feminine, Good And Evil","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Non-kabbalistic symbolism of right and left in Ezekiel\u2019s bizarre tasks\u00a0","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":73214,"alt":"","title":"ez4-sephirot","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez4-sephirot.jpg","width":800,"height":600,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez4-sephirot-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez4-sephirot-300x225.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":225,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez4-sephirot-768x576.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":576,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez4-sephirot.jpg","large-width":800,"large-height":600,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez4-sephirot.jpg","1536x1536-width":800,"1536x1536-height":600,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez4-sephirot.jpg","2048x2048-width":800,"2048x2048-height":600,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez4-sephirot.jpg","post_full_size-width":800,"post_full_size-height":600,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez4-sephirot-560x420.jpg","home_baner-width":560,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"Ezekiel","chapter":"4","chapter_main_number":"456","date":"20270530","wall_id":"456"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":9,"id":"73227","color":"#faeed8","size":"1","name":"Hair Today\u2014but Gone Tomorrow ","post_title":"Hair Today\u2014but Gone Tomorrow","slug":"hair-today-but-gone-tomorrow","old_id":"73227","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":"457","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Dead, dispersed or otherwise\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

Once again, the prophet was commanded to engage in a series of strange activities. This time, he was to shave his head and beard (1) and distribute the shorn hair in three different ways (3) symbolizing the three different fates that were in store for the Jewish people: a third would die of plague or famine, a third by the sword, and a third would be dispersed to the four winds (12).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Ezekiel was also instructed to leave a small amount of hair wrapped up in the ends of his garment (3); since no explicit reason was given for this activity, the exegetes differed on its symbolism. Rashi wrote that it represented \u201cthe very few, who would be exiled to Babylon and survive.\u201d Eliezer of Beaugency, however, identified it with \u201cthose who would remain in the land [of Israel] and not go into exile.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Interestingly, Radak agreed with Rashi, while Malbim interpreted as Eliezer had. Radak wrote:<\/span><\/p>\r\n

This symbolizes those who were exiled to Babylon, which is why it says \u201ctie them up in your skirts,\u201d where they would remain guarded until they returned to their land, like something that is bound up in the skirt of a garment.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

While Malbim wrote:<\/span><\/p>\r\n

This symbolizes the few of the poorest of the land who remained [in Judea], who were left by Nebuzaradan to care for the vineyards and fields [see Jeremiah 39:10] under Gedaliah. This is symbolized by \u201ctie them up.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Regarding the threatened catastrophes of plague, famine, and sword, the closing verses echo that portion of the Torah that has been designated \u201cthe rebuke\u201d (tochekhah), thus demonstrating the argument made in our introduction for the special association of Ezekiel with the Torah. Compare:<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Ezekiel 5:16-17: \u201cI will heap more famine upon you and break your staff of bread\u2026 pestilence and bloodshed shall sweep through you, and I will bring the sword upon you. I the LORD have spoken.\"<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Leviticus 26: 25-26: \u201cI will bring a sword against you to wreak vengeance for the covenant; and if you withdraw into your cities, I will send pestilence among you, and you shall be delivered into enemy hands.\u00a0 When I break your staff of bread\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

 <\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":73228,"alt":"","title":"ez5-hesekiel-hair","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez5-hesekiel-hair.jpg","width":489,"height":640,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez5-hesekiel-hair-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez5-hesekiel-hair-229x300.jpg","medium-width":229,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez5-hesekiel-hair.jpg","medium_large-width":489,"medium_large-height":640,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez5-hesekiel-hair.jpg","large-width":489,"large-height":640,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez5-hesekiel-hair.jpg","1536x1536-width":489,"1536x1536-height":640,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez5-hesekiel-hair.jpg","2048x2048-width":489,"2048x2048-height":640,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez5-hesekiel-hair.jpg","post_full_size-width":489,"post_full_size-height":640,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez5-hesekiel-hair-321x420.jpg","home_baner-width":321,"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":"Hair Today\u2014but Gone Tomorrow","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Dead, dispersed or otherwise","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":73228,"alt":"","title":"ez5-hesekiel-hair","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez5-hesekiel-hair.jpg","width":489,"height":640,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez5-hesekiel-hair-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez5-hesekiel-hair-229x300.jpg","medium-width":229,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez5-hesekiel-hair.jpg","medium_large-width":489,"medium_large-height":640,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez5-hesekiel-hair.jpg","large-width":489,"large-height":640,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez5-hesekiel-hair.jpg","1536x1536-width":489,"1536x1536-height":640,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez5-hesekiel-hair.jpg","2048x2048-width":489,"2048x2048-height":640,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez5-hesekiel-hair.jpg","post_full_size-width":489,"post_full_size-height":640,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez5-hesekiel-hair-321x420.jpg","home_baner-width":321,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"Ezekiel","chapter":"5","chapter_main_number":"457","date":"20270531","wall_id":"457"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":10,"id":"73224","color":"#e6f5f3","size":"1","name":"The Angels Plead With God To Spare Jerusalem ","post_title":"The Angels Plead With God To Spare Jerusalem","slug":"the-angels-plead-with-god-to-spare-jerusalem","old_id":"73224","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":"457","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"But even they fail\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

In our Chapter, God \u2013 surprisingly \u2013 laments the very centrality of Jerusalem: \u201cI set this Jerusalem in the midst of nations, with countries round about her. But she rebelled against My rules and My laws, acting more wickedly than the nations and the countries round about her\u2026\u201d (Ezekiel 5:5-6, compare Ezekiel 38:12).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

This verse provides the opening of a dramatic midrashic dialogue (Pesiqta Rabbati 27\/28). The angels said, O Master of the World, is it not Jerusalem about which you said: \u201cI set this Jerusalem in the midst of nations\u201d? God answered them: \u201cBut she rebelled against My rules and My laws, acting more wickedly than the nations\u201d. The angels then said: \u201cYet they are Your very own people\u201d (Deuteronomy 9:29). God replied: \u201cYet My people have forgotten Me\u2026\u201d (Jeremiah 18:15).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The angels then pleaded with God: Redeem Jerusalem for the sake of the fathers. But God replied to them: \u201c\u2026the fathers build the fire\u2026and they pour libations to other gods to vex Me\u201d (Jeremiah 7:18). The angels then pleaded, redeem Israel for the sake of the sons. But God replied: \u201cBut the sons rebelled against Me\u201d (Ezekiel 20:21). Then do it for the sake of the great ones (ha-gedolim), cried out the angels! But God said: \u201cHer rulers judge for gifts. Her priests give rulings for a fee. And her prophets divine for pay\u201d (Micah 3:11). Do it for the sake of the disciples, said the angels. God replied to them: \u201cThose who cling to the Torah do not know me\u201d (Jeremiah 2:8). In desperation, the angels pleaded with God, redeem Israel for our sake! But God recalled that the fathers had \u201cscorned the angels of God\u201d (2 Chronicles 36:16).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Finally, the angels said to God, then redeem Israel for the sake of Israel upon whom Your name has been called (see Genesis 32:28, 35:9). God replied: \u201cThey caused My holy name to be profaned\u201d (Ezekiel 36:20). The angels then said to God, if You are not willing to be appeased, why is the image of the Patriarch of Israel, Jacob, engraved on high? (see Genesis Rabbah 68:12). [But not since] \u201cThe Lord in His wrath\u2026 cast down from heaven to earth the majesty of Israel\u201d (Lamentations 2:1)...The angels carried on saying, Lord of the Worlds, is it not Jerusalem of whom You said: \u201cSee, I have engraved you on the palms of My hands\u201d (Isaiah 49:16)? God replied to them: \u201cI, too, will strike hand against hand and will satisfy My fury upon you; I the Lord have spoken\u201d (Ezekiel 31:22).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Image: God and Angels, Pietro Perugino (1448-1523), Stanza dell'Incendio di Borgo, medallion, part of the ceiling, Vatican City \/ wikipedia<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":73225,"alt":"","title":"ez5-Pietro_Perugino 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Angels Plead With God To Spare Jerusalem","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"But even they fail","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":73225,"alt":"","title":"ez5-Pietro_Perugino 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And Pain, The Joy Of Pain ","post_title":"Joy And Pain, The Joy Of Pain","slug":"joy-and-pain-the-joy-of-pain","old_id":"73252","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":34250,"post_title":"Sarah Rudolph","slug":"sarah-rudolph","old_id":"34250","first_name":"Sarah ","last_name":"Rudolph","description":"Sarah Rudolph is a freelance Jewish educator, writer, and editor. She has been sharing her passion for Jewish texts of all kinds for over 15 years, with students of all ages. Sarah\u2019s essays have been published in a variety of internet and print media, including Times of Israel, Kveller, Jewish Action, OU Life, The Lehrhaus, TorahMusings, and more. Sarah lives in Cleveland with her husband and four children, but is privileged to learn online with students all over the world through www.TorahTutors.org and www.WebYeshiva.org. \r\n\r\n","short_description":"Sarah Rudolph is a freelance Jewish educator, writer, and editor.","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":34251,"alt":"","title":"Sarah R","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Sarah-R.jpg","width":2824,"height":4246,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Sarah-R-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Sarah-R-200x300.jpg","medium-width":200,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Sarah-R-681x1024.jpg","medium_large-width":681,"medium_large-height":1024,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Sarah-R-681x1024.jpg","large-width":681,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Sarah-R.jpg","1536x1536-width":1022,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Sarah-R.jpg","2048x2048-width":1362,"2048x2048-height":2048,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Sarah-R-798x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":798,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Sarah-R-279x420.jpg","home_baner-width":279,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"458","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"The complex emotions at seeing divine justice done\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

According to the Metzudat Tzion commentary, one exclaims \u201cach\u201d (\u05d0\u05d7) over both joy and pain.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

It is an exclamation Ezekiel is instructed to let loose as part of a physical expression of emotion with odd echoes in a well-known song. God tells him in 6:11 to \u201cclap your hands, and stamp your feet, and shout\u2026\u201d \u2013 not \u201churray,\u201d but \u201cach!\u201d So, is he happy or sad? (Does he know it?)<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The context being fairly negative \u2013 \u201cvile abominations of the house of Israel,\u201d and the various punishments to be meted out for those abominations \u2013 we might assume the emotion here is one of pain. Malbim, however, sees joy in this \u201cach,\u201d as part of a larger picture of emotional complexity: \u201cstrike his hand and stamp his foot on the ground in anger over the vile abominations of the house of Israel \u2013 but on the other hand, he should say \u2018ach\u2019 and joy over the fact that God will punish them\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Focusing solely on the suffering, one might express pain through hands, feet, and voice. But for Malbim, the prophet is redirected to think of the sins that brought it on \u2013 to be upset about the sins themselves, and also <\/span>glad <\/span><\/i>for the impending punishment.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Seems harsh, though perhaps understandable for God\u2019s representative in the very moment of divine retribution.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

We might, however, suggest a further nuance based on the other instances of the word \u201cach\u201d that Malbim cites to support his contention:<\/span><\/p>\r\n

1)<\/span>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>Isaiah 44:16 describes various uses for wood: \u201cPart of it he burns in a fire\u2026 roasts meat, he eats the roast and is sated; he also warms himself and cries, \u2018Ach, I am warm! I can feel the heat!\u2019\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

2)<\/span>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>Psalms 35:21 tells how David\u2019s enemies rejoice when he suffers just as they\u2019d wanted: \u201cThey open wide their mouths at me, saying, \u201cAch, ach, we have seen it!\u201d\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Maybe \u201cach\u201d doesn\u2019t express joy in the general sense, but a sense of satisfaction at finally perceiving what one had been hoping for \u2013 heat, revenge, or in the case of Ezekiel, knowledge of God (as in verses 10, 13, and 14).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

We don\u2019t often get to see things work out in the world just as we\u2019d like, with everyone getting what we think should be coming to them; life and God are too complex for anyone to claim that knowledge. But within the books of the Bible, particularly the Prophets, things are outlined in much simpler terms: people act, and God rewards or punishes; within the closed framework of the biblical text, reward and punishment are often quite clear. Perhaps Ezekiel\u2019s \u201cach\u201d is intended as a dramatic sigh of contentment at seeing God\u2019s justice play out, and at the accompanying sense of certainty about Him.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Maybe the point is to be able to feel it all at once: pain on behalf of his people who are suffering, alongside some sense of satisfaction that God is God and (to echo the song) you know it.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

 <\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":73253,"alt":"","title":"ez6-justice","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez6-justice.jpg","width":1920,"height":927,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez6-justice-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez6-justice-300x145.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":145,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez6-justice-768x371.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":371,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez6-justice-1024x494.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":494,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez6-justice.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":742,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez6-justice.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":927,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez6-justice-1200x579.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":579,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez6-justice-870x420.jpg","home_baner-width":870,"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":"Joy And Pain, The Joy Of Pain","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"The complex emotions at seeing divine justice done","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":73253,"alt":"","title":"ez6-justice","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez6-justice.jpg","width":1920,"height":927,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez6-justice-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez6-justice-300x145.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":145,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez6-justice-768x371.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":371,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez6-justice-1024x494.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":494,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez6-justice.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":742,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez6-justice.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":927,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez6-justice-1200x579.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":579,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez6-justice-870x420.jpg","home_baner-width":870,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"Ezekiel","chapter":"6","chapter_main_number":"458","date":"20270601","wall_id":"458"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":12,"id":"73263","color":"#f7f7f5","size":"1","name":"Bonds That Bind ","post_title":"Bonds That Bind","slug":"bonds-that-bind","old_id":"73263","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":"459","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Let not the buyer rejoice nor the seller mourn\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

Wall Street and its representation might be frightening for some investors. We have lived through periods of wealth and others of economic depression and financial crises. While the overall idea is rather straightforward, there are great risks involved in the stock market.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

A short explanation: Investors purchase shares in a business, which allows the company to raise money for its operation. Those investors then buy and sell these shares, creating a supply and demand for each stock. Via computer algorithms, the supply and demand help determine the price for the stocks. While there is a certain gap between the \u201cbid\u201d (what the buyer is offering) and the \u201cask\u201d (what the seller would like to receive), a trade occurs when they are able to come to an agreement.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Now comes the Prophet Ezekiel and voicing the words of God states:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

\u201cThe time has come, the day has arrived. Let not the buyer rejoice nor the seller mourn\u2014for divine wrath shall overtake all her multitude. For the seller shall not return to what he sold so long as they remain among the living. For the vision concerns all her multitude, it shall not be revoked. And because of his guilt, no man shall hold fast to his life\u201d (7:12-13).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Unquestionably Ezekiel is speaking about a different kind of investment from the stock market. These ventures call for spiritual and theological paths. Surrounded by an exilic society the people of Israel might have fallen into temptations and some have abandoned God. It is the voice of the Prophet who calls them back as a warning. It\u2019s easy to be seduced by foreign lures and hard to strengthen your own identity when aroused by external attractions. In exilic Babylon, where connection to the Land, ritual timing, language, garments were disconnected from the core of YHWH\u2019s commandments, the ability to maintain a strong Jewish connection was jeopardized by external factors.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Like the investor who buys stocks, the risks and the uncertainty prevails, and that\u2019s when Prophet Ezekiel screams. Ezekiel invites the reader to buy <\/span>bonds, <\/span><\/i>ties that bind the Israelites with their tradition.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

image: by Ben Schachter, Charging Bull, Wall Street by Carloss g, licensed CCBY-NC-SA2.0<\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":73361,"alt":"","title":"ez7-bonds","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez7-bonds.jpg","width":1070,"height":512,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez7-bonds-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez7-bonds-300x144.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":144,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez7-bonds-768x367.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":367,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez7-bonds-1024x490.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":490,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez7-bonds.jpg","1536x1536-width":1070,"1536x1536-height":512,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez7-bonds.jpg","2048x2048-width":1070,"2048x2048-height":512,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez7-bonds.jpg","post_full_size-width":1070,"post_full_size-height":512,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez7-bonds-878x420.jpg","home_baner-width":878,"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":"Bonds 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Schachter","old_id":"701"}]},{"order":13,"id":"73323","color":"#f8ebe3","size":"1","name":"Accept No Substitutes ","post_title":"Accept No Substitutes","slug":"accept-no-substitutes","old_id":"73323","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":37561,"post_title":"Deena Cowans","slug":"deena-cowans","old_id":"37561","first_name":"Deena ","last_name":"Cowans","description":"Deena Cowans is a rabbinical student at JTS and alumnus of the Master's in Public Administration- Development Practice at Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA). \r\nDeena is the Director of Education (Rosh Chinuch) at Camp Ramah in the Rockies since January 2016, and was the Youth and Family Programs at Congregation Ansche Chesed in 2016-2017.","short_description":"Deena Cowans is a rabbinical student at JTS, and the Director of Education at Camp Ramah in the Rockies","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":37562,"alt":"","title":"deena cowans","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/deena-cowans-e1534076835642.jpg","width":181,"height":207,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/deena-cowans-e1534076835642-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/deena-cowans-e1534076835642.jpg","medium-width":181,"medium-height":207,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/deena-cowans-e1534076835642.jpg","medium_large-width":181,"medium_large-height":207,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/deena-cowans-e1534076835642.jpg","large-width":181,"large-height":207,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/deena-cowans-e1534076835642.jpg","1536x1536-width":181,"1536x1536-height":207,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/deena-cowans-e1534076835642.jpg","2048x2048-width":181,"2048x2048-height":207,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/deena-cowans-e1534076835642.jpg","post_full_size-width":181,"post_full_size-height":207,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/deena-cowans-e1534076835642.jpg","home_baner-width":181,"home_baner-height":207}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"460","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"When we lose access to something we love and want - do we live with our longing, and suffer the pain of absence? Ezekiel, and God, say yes...\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

Way back in the Book of Exodus, the Israelites were afraid when Moses was on the mountain longer than they expected, and they made a Golden Calf to replace a God they couldn\u2019t see and a leader who they felt abandoned them. At the time, God and Moses were livid at their lack of faith. How could these people, who so recently witnessed God\u2019s miracles during the exodus, forget the God who saved them?<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Yet it is human instinct to forget what we once knew in favor of what is in front of us.<\/span> Researchers Ayelet Fishbach and Xianchi Dai show<\/span><\/a> that \u201cdesire depends on the length of non-consumption of a good and the presence of salient alternatives.\u201d Meaning, if we really want something but we have a suitable alternative, our desire for the original thing we wanted wanes over time; but if there is no substitute for what we wanted, then our desire tends to grow over time. And, of course, it is in our nature to seek substitutes. Most of us don\u2019t want to suffer from unfulfilled desires when we could find something to fill our lives.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The Israelites easily fall into this trap, and Ezekiel spends much of this chapter observing their abhorrent substitutes in shock and horror. In place of worship to God in the Temple, Ezekiel sees the Israelites worshipping creeping creatures and worshipping the sun and the Mesopotamian god Tammuz. God is furious with the Israelites, and Ezekiel himself is stunned.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Yet God understands their actions, even if God abhors them. In verse 12, God speaks for the Israelites, saying \u201cThe Lord does not see us, the Lord has abandoned the country.\u201d Apparently, the Israelites have not learned their lesson from the Golden Calf, and once again take an \u201cout of sight, out of mind\u201d approach to God. Though God and Ezekiel consider bugs and celestial objects a sorely inadequate substitute for the One True God of Israel, the Israelites do not, or they have convinced themselves that their substitute is adequate.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The problem is that when we lose access to something we love and want, we face a terrible conundrum. Do we live with our longing, and suffer the pain of absence? Or do we turn to a substitute, knowing full well it may not be good or good for us? This chapter would have us wait, relying on our faith and imagining the sweetness of our eventual reunion to get us through hard times. We should take solace in knowing that, just as God will eventually reconcile with the Israelites, we can pray to eventually be reunited with what we have lost, and we will savor the sweetness of the reunion when it happens.<\/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":"Accept No Substitutes","tile_main_caption":"When we lose access to something we love and want - do we live with our longing, and suffer the pain of absence? Ezekiel, and God, say yes...","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,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"Ezekiel","chapter":"8","chapter_main_number":"460","date":"20270603","wall_id":"460"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":14,"id":"73329","color":"#eceffa","size":"1","name":"The Secrets Of Chashmal ","post_title":"The Secrets Of Chashmal","slug":"the-secrets-of-chashmal","old_id":"73329","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":70715,"post_title":"Judry Subar","slug":"judry-subar","old_id":"70715","first_name":"Judry ","last_name":"Subar","description":"Judry Subar, who lives in Potomac, Maryland, spent most of his professional career as a lawyer with the federal government in Washington, DC. Since his retirement, Jud has been involved in various writing and educational projects.","short_description":"Judry Subar spent most of his professional career as a lawyer with the federal government in Washington. Since his retirement, he has been involved in various writing and educational projects.","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":70716,"alt":"","title":"judry subar","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/judry-subar.jpg","width":400,"height":400,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/judry-subar-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/judry-subar-300x300.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/judry-subar.jpg","medium_large-width":400,"medium_large-height":400,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/judry-subar.jpg","large-width":400,"large-height":400,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/judry-subar.jpg","1536x1536-width":400,"1536x1536-height":400,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/judry-subar.jpg","2048x2048-width":400,"2048x2048-height":400,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/judry-subar.jpg","post_full_size-width":400,"post_full_size-height":400,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/judry-subar.jpg","home_baner-width":400,"home_baner-height":400}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"460","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Burns with a pulsating, electric form - ephemeral, well-grounded and utterly strong\u00a0\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

Figures of flame and amber. Resplendent angels. In Chapter 8, Ezekiel renews his acquaintance with the strange creatures he met in Chapter 1, beings that allow him to perceive the goings on in the heavenly court. But maybe the multi-eyed beasts he got to know in Chapter 1\u2019s celestial drama are members of a different species than the one Ezekiel encounters here. After all, in Chapter 1, we\u2019re told explicitly that the flying things had the form of humans, while the Chapter 8 fellow (there\u2019s just one of him) isn\u2019t given anything like an animal identity for another couple of chapters, and maybe not even then. For all our chapter tells us, at least according to its traditional reading, this figure is just a mix of fire and \u201cchashmal,\u201d a curious ingredient that we met earlier in the book. Maybe what we have here is an entity that burns with a pulsating, electric form, but that seems to lack the substantiality that Ezekiel seeks as he receives a divine communication.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Let\u2019s consider the two elements that make up Ezekiel\u2019s new friend. On the one hand, we have what verse 2 terms \u201ceish,\u201d fire. The lower half of this disembodied body, we\u2019re told, is nothing but fire. T.S. Eliot\u2019s <\/span>Little Gidding<\/span><\/i> says that \u201cthe fire and the rose are one,\u201d hinting at a parallel between flame that consumes and warms even as we cannot hold it in our hands and the subtle but powerful notes of a flower\u2019s scent. Perhaps, then, the creature described here wafts but does not fly, hovers but never touches the world below.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

And then we have <\/span>chashmal <\/span><\/i>-- the top half of our creature\u2019s figure is the same color as <\/span>chashmal<\/span><\/i>. JPS translates this term as \u201camber,\u201d the super-hard resin that can preserve eons-old organic matter. Because rubbing amber produces static electricity, and because amber in ancient Greek was <\/span>elektron, <\/span><\/i>the relationship between <\/span>chashmal <\/span><\/i>meaning amber and <\/span>chashmal <\/span><\/i>meaning electricity in Modern Hebrew makes sense. (This connection is explained further <\/span>here<\/span><\/a>). Various rabbinic sources understand chashmal as referring to a category in the taxonomy of angels. So we have a figure partly composed of something that might be unchangeable, or maybe is constantly changing, or perhaps is simply out of this world.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Does this then mean that the Chapter 8 being is ephemeral, well-grounded and utterly strong all at once? The Septuagint offers another perspective, understanding the appearance of the creature not as \u201ceish,\u201d fire, but as man, \u201cish.\u201d We can wonder, then, whether Ezekiel had a fundamentally human experience when the creature facilitated his vision, described later in our chapter, of the human error about which he prophesied.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":73330,"alt":"","title":"ez8-electricity","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez8-electricity.jpg","width":1280,"height":720,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez8-electricity-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez8-electricity-300x169.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":169,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez8-electricity-768x432.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":432,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez8-electricity-1024x576.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":576,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez8-electricity.jpg","1536x1536-width":1280,"1536x1536-height":720,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez8-electricity.jpg","2048x2048-width":1280,"2048x2048-height":720,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez8-electricity-1200x675.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":675,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez8-electricity-747x420.jpg","home_baner-width":747,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"The Secrets Of Chashmal","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Burns with a pulsating, electric form - ephemeral, well-grounded and utterly strong\u00a0","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":73330,"alt":"","title":"ez8-electricity","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez8-electricity.jpg","width":1280,"height":720,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez8-electricity-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez8-electricity-300x169.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":169,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez8-electricity-768x432.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":432,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez8-electricity-1024x576.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":576,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez8-electricity.jpg","1536x1536-width":1280,"1536x1536-height":720,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez8-electricity.jpg","2048x2048-width":1280,"2048x2048-height":720,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez8-electricity-1200x675.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":675,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez8-electricity-747x420.jpg","home_baner-width":747,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"Ezekiel","chapter":"8","chapter_main_number":"460","date":"20270603","wall_id":"460"},"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":"","link_teaser":"","listen_link":"","other_title":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/wall\/72898"}],"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=72898"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}