{"id":75412,"date":"2018-07-09T17:48:03","date_gmt":"2018-07-09T14:48:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wall\/wall-1100\/"},"modified":"2023-12-28T15:10:01","modified_gmt":"2023-12-28T13:10:01","slug":"wall-1100","status":"publish","type":"wall","link":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wall\/wall-1100\/","title":{"rendered":"weekend-from-20231231-to-20240106"},"parent":0,"template":"","acf":{"type":"weekend","wall_id":"1100","date_from":"20231231","date_to":"20240106","book":"Ezekiel","books_group":"Prophets","posts":[{"order":1,"id":"46958","color":"#f8ebe3","size":"2","name":"Israelites On The March ","post_title":"Israelites On The March","slug":"israelites-on-the-march","old_id":"46958","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":46171,"post_title":"Avner Moriah","slug":"avner-moriah","old_id":"46171","first_name":"Avner ","last_name":"Moriah ","description":"Avner Moriah is a prolific Israel artist who has addressed a wide range of Jewish and Israeli themes during the four decades of his artistic journey. Currently, Avner is completing a singular artistic and spiritual feat of illuminating the entire Chumash. The unique illuminated books contain hundreds of original drawings that offer a profound, provocative and humorous perspective. \r\nFor the entire weekly portion series, visit: https:\/\/avnermoriahprints.com\/collections\/parasha\r\nFor more of his work visit: https:\/\/avnermoriah.com\/\r\n","short_description":"Avner Moriah is a prolific Israel artist who is illuminating the entire Chumash.","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":46173,"alt":"","title":"avner moriah","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/avner-moriah-e1545511134679.jpg","width":1387,"height":1425,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/avner-moriah-e1545511134679-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/avner-moriah-e1545511134679-292x300.jpg","medium-width":292,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/avner-moriah-e1545511134679-768x789.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":789,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/avner-moriah-e1545511134679-997x1024.jpg","large-width":997,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/avner-moriah-e1545511134679.jpg","1536x1536-width":1387,"1536x1536-height":1425,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/avner-moriah-e1545511134679.jpg","2048x2048-width":1387,"2048x2048-height":1425,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/avner-moriah-e1545511134679-1168x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":1168,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/avner-moriah-e1545511134679-409x420.jpg","home_baner-width":409,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"127","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"","post_main_content_content":"

Parashat Be-ha\u2019alotkha <\/span><\/i>takes us back to the Israelites\u2019 journey in the wilderness: \u201cIn the second year, on the twentieth day of the second month, the cloud lifted from the Tabernacle of the Pact and the Israelites set out on their journeys\u201d (10:11\u201312). This text, which marks the onset of the Israelites\u2019 wanderings, also describes their order of march. We then come to two verses that are enclosed by the letter <\/span>nun<\/span><\/i>, large and inverted, on either side, seemingly like parentheses. \u201cWhen the Ark was to set out, Moses would say: \u2018Advance O Lord. May your enemies be scattered! And may Your foes flee before You.\u2019 And when it halted, he would say: \u2018Return O Lord, You who are Israel\u2019s myriads of thousands\u2019\u201d (10: 35\u201336).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Why is this particular passage uniquely marked and inserted at this point in the Israelites\u2019 travel log?<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The painting represents a model of the Israelites\u2019 march, which reflects the passage: \u201cWhen the Ark was to set out.\u201d The picture is divided into two registers to be followed from right to left, top to bottom. We see the marching tribes advancing on a very narrow brown band, alluding to the transitory nature of their wanderings. They have left the safety of their encampment and are now moving on \u201ceach in position\u201d much more exposed to all the dangers of travel in the hostile lands of the wilderness. Moreover, they are out of sight of the Tabernacle and the other tribes. The bearded figures are seen in profile, figured in a minimalistic fashion, wearing sleeveless striped gowns, holding their tribal flags in a procession reminiscent of Assyrian- and Babylonian-style parades.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The portrayal on the top far right is the Tabernacle with the cloud of God rising above it. The tribe of Judah is leading the march; then we see four priests dressed in red-striped gowns, which distinguish the Levites from the other tribes, followed by the tribe of Reuven. The priests are carrying the Ark on their shoulders by means of the permanently attached staves (<\/span>badim<\/span><\/i>). The winged cherubim on the Ark cover are facing each other. The lower register continues the procession showing the tribes of Ephraim and Dan ahead and behind two wagons with the other Tabernacle furnishings being pulled by oxen..<\/span><\/p>\r\n

This scene of the procession hints at Moses\u2019 prayer as the journey begins and the need for God\u2019s protection for the people marching with the Ark. Moses approaches the holy Ark and entreats God to \u201crise up\u201d \u2013 <\/span>kuma<\/span><\/i> \u2013 along with the cloud and scatter the Israelites\u2019 enemies, who are also the Lord\u2019s enemies. The passage\u2019s concluding verse implores God again to \u201creturn\u201d (<\/span>shuva<\/span><\/i>), that is, to rest and reside among the nation of the many thousands of Israelites, who, with His help, will swell in numbers. <\/span><\/p>\r\n

In today\u2019s synagogue services, the first verse is recited when a Torah scroll is taken out of the Ark and the second verse is said when the scroll is returned.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Artwork by: Avner Moriah, by courtesy of the artist<\/p>\r\n

Text by: Dr. Shulamit Laderman, who holds a\u00a0<\/span>PhD in Art History and has published extensively on Jewish and Christian influences on biblical interpretive illustration.<\/p>\r\n

For the entire weekly portion series, please visit: <\/span>https:\/\/avnermoriahprints.com\/collections\/parasha<\/span><\/a><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":47021,"alt":"","title":"Num10-Be-ha\u2019alotkha","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Num10-Be-ha\u2019alotkha.jpg","width":2500,"height":1587,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Num10-Be-ha\u2019alotkha-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Num10-Be-ha\u2019alotkha-300x190.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":190,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Num10-Be-ha\u2019alotkha-768x488.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":488,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Num10-Be-ha\u2019alotkha-1024x650.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":650,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Num10-Be-ha\u2019alotkha.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":975,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Num10-Be-ha\u2019alotkha.jpg","2048x2048-width":2048,"2048x2048-height":1300,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Num10-Be-ha\u2019alotkha-1200x762.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":762,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Num10-Be-ha\u2019alotkha-662x420.jpg","home_baner-width":662,"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":"The Chapter Illustrated","tile_main_caption":"Israelites On The March","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"The origin of a contemporary ritual in a special ancient text","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":47021,"alt":"","title":"Num10-Be-ha\u2019alotkha","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Num10-Be-ha\u2019alotkha.jpg","width":2500,"height":1587,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Num10-Be-ha\u2019alotkha-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Num10-Be-ha\u2019alotkha-300x190.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":190,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Num10-Be-ha\u2019alotkha-768x488.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":488,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Num10-Be-ha\u2019alotkha-1024x650.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":650,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Num10-Be-ha\u2019alotkha.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":975,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Num10-Be-ha\u2019alotkha.jpg","2048x2048-width":2048,"2048x2048-height":1300,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Num10-Be-ha\u2019alotkha-1200x762.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":762,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Num10-Be-ha\u2019alotkha-662x420.jpg","home_baner-width":662,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"tile_link_for_pay":"0","send_noty":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Torah","book":"Numbers","chapter":"10","chapter_main_number":"127","date":"20260223","wall_id":"127"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"368","name":"Parasha","old_id":"768"},{"term_id":"369","name":"Visual Arts","old_id":"769"}]},{"order":2,"id":"75637","color":"#f6f5de","size":"1","name":"All Judgments are Weighty ","post_title":"All Judgments are Weighty","slug":"all-judgments-are-weighty","old_id":"75637","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":66417,"post_title":"Maor Greene","slug":"maor-greene","old_id":"66417","first_name":"Maor ","last_name":"Greene ","description":"Maor Greene is a rabbinical student and doctoral student in Hebrew Bible at Jewish Theological Seminary. They are writing their dissertation on metaphors of violent speech in Psalms. They currently accompany others on their spiritual journeys through their work as a Jewish spiritual director. They hold degrees from Duke University (BS), Princeton Theological Seminary (M Div), Hebrew University (MA), and JTS (M Phil). ","short_description":"Maor Greene is a rabbinical student and doctoral student in Hebrew Bible at Jewish Theological Seminary.","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":66418,"alt":"","title":"maor greene","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/maor-greene.jpg","width":240,"height":240,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/maor-greene-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/maor-greene.jpg","medium-width":240,"medium-height":240,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/maor-greene.jpg","medium_large-width":240,"medium_large-height":240,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/maor-greene.jpg","large-width":240,"large-height":240,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/maor-greene.jpg","1536x1536-width":240,"1536x1536-height":240,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/maor-greene.jpg","2048x2048-width":240,"2048x2048-height":240,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/maor-greene.jpg","post_full_size-width":240,"post_full_size-height":240,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/maor-greene.jpg","home_baner-width":240,"home_baner-height":240}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"497","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"And must uphold justice from the smallest to the largest\u00a0\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

In Chapter 45, God continues instructing Ezekiel about the laws of the rebuilt Temple. In verse 9, God\u2019s attention turns to the princes of Israel, Israel\u2019s political leaders. God commands: \u201cEnough, princes of Israel! Make an end to lawlessness and rapine, and do what is right and just! Put a stop to your evictions of My people\u2014declares the Lord God.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Immediately following this command, God describes proper weights and measures. In verse 10, God instructs, \u201cHave honest balances, an honest <\/span>ephah<\/span><\/em>, and an honest <\/span>bath<\/span><\/em>.\u201d NJPS helpfully explains that these are both measurements of volume, with the <\/span>ephah<\/span><\/em> used for dry goods and the <\/span>bath<\/span><\/em> for liquid goods. Verse 12 describes proper units of weight.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

This is not the first instance where the Bible is concerned with weights and measures. In Leviticus 19:35-36, God commands Israel that \u201cYou shall not falsify measures of length, weight, or capacity. You shall have an honest balance, honest weights, an honest <\/span>ephah<\/span><\/em>, and an honest <\/span>hin<\/span><\/em>. I the LORD am your God who freed you from the land of Egypt.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Why is it so important that the people of Israel and especially its leaders have honest instruments of measurement? At first glance it might seem that a missing ounce (or gram or two) would not make a huge difference in the grand scheme of things.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

One approach to answering this question comes from Rashi\u2019s comment on the beginning of Leviticus 19:35 (more literally translated as \u201cyou shall not do unrighteousness in judgement\u201d). Rashi draws on Sifra to note that the beginning of the verse may not simply refer to falsifying measures, but to executing unfair judgments more broadly (cf Lev 19:15).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Unfair judgments often have a tendency to favor the rich over the poor. As Israel\u2019s political leaders, the princes have a responsibility to make sure that their measures are honest so that they do not defraud the poor, whether intentionally or by accident. If they are careless in matters of small importance, they may also be careless in matters of greater importance.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Having honest measures is not only important for taking care of the poor in society. In our chapter in Ezekiel, verses 13-16 describe the exact measurements required in temple sacrifices. If Israel\u2019s political leaders do not have honest measures, they will not only defraud the poor, but also God.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Having honest measures is not simply about apportioning a precise quantity of solids and liquids, but instead about upholding the moral fabric of society. A leader who does not act justly brings negative consequences not only upon themselves, but upon all of Israel.<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":75638,"alt":"","title":"ez45-weights","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/ez45-weights.jpg","width":1920,"height":1443,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/ez45-weights-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/ez45-weights-300x225.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":225,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/ez45-weights-768x577.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":577,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/ez45-weights-1024x770.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":770,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/ez45-weights.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1154,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/ez45-weights.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":1443,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/ez45-weights-1200x902.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":902,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/ez45-weights-559x420.jpg","home_baner-width":559,"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":"All Judgments are Weighty","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"And must uphold justice from the smallest to the largest\u00a0","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":75638,"alt":"","title":"ez45-weights","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/ez45-weights.jpg","width":1920,"height":1443,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/ez45-weights-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/ez45-weights-300x225.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":225,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/ez45-weights-768x577.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":577,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/ez45-weights-1024x770.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":770,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/ez45-weights.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1154,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/ez45-weights.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":1443,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/ez45-weights-1200x902.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":902,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/ez45-weights-559x420.jpg","home_baner-width":559,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_link_for_pay":"0","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"Ezekiel","chapter":"45","chapter_main_number":"497","date":"20270726","wall_id":"497"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":3,"id":"75640","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"Gerah, Shekel, Maneh, and Zuzim ","post_title":"Gerah, Shekel, Maneh, and Zuzim","slug":"gerah-shekel-maneh-and-zuzim","old_id":"75640","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":"497","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Not your father\u2019s goat...\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

This chapter is linked to its predecessor both thematically and literarily. On the one hand, it continues with the subject of the Temple and the priests, and, on the other hand, it repeats the key words \u201cportion\u201d (<\/span>achuzah<\/span><\/em>) and \u201cgift\u201d (<\/span>terumah<\/span><\/em>; see 44:28,31 and 45:1,4,6,7.) Since the role of the prince (<\/span>nasi<\/span><\/em>) will be greatly expanded in the future Temple (16-17), Ezekiel described how his property holdings (the \u201cportion\u201d, 7) and share of the Temple offerings (the \u201cgift\u201d 13-15) would be similarly enlarged in order to meet those increased responsibilities.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The context in which these changes would occur is the future reapportionment of the land, whose details continue in Chapter 48. It would be divided\u2014as it was under Joshua\u2014into portions for each tribe, with two significant differences: (1) Rather than duplicating their original portions of varying sizes, all the new portions would be identical--\u201can area 25,000 [cubits] long and 10,000 wide\u201d (45:1) and (2) It would be divided into 13 portions rather than 12, the extra portion to be designated for the priests, Levites, and the prince.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Next, Ezekiel moved to caution the princes to \u201cmake an end of lawlessness and rapine, and do what is right and just,\u201d and, specifically, \u201cput a stop to your evictions of My people\u201d (9). The royalty was in the habit of imposing heavy taxes on the people and in the (likely?) event that they could not pay, they would evict them from their ancestral lands. They were also enjoined to maintain true weights, measures (10-11), and coinage. Apropos of the coinage, Ezekiel stipulated: \u201cThe shekel shall weigh 20 gerahs. 20 shekels, 25 shekels [and] 10 plus 5 shekels [totaling 60 shekels] shall count with you as a mina\u201d (12). (The value of the shekel at 20 gerahs was established by the Torah (Exodus 30:13) and has been estimated by modern scholars to be 9.6 grams of silver.)<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Radak, however, spotted a contradiction. Since there were 4 zuzim to a shekel, 60 shekels would translate into 240 zuzim, yet a minah (or: maneh), according to the Talmud, equals only 100 zuzim. His resolution was that Ezekiel was introducing a new unit of currency, \u201cthe sacred maneh\u201d (<\/span>maneh shel kodesh<\/span><\/em>), which was twice the value of the \u201cordinary maneh\u201d (<\/span>shel chol<\/span><\/em>). That raised its value to 200 zuzim; the remaining 40 represent an additional 1\/6<\/span>th<\/span> that was tacked on to the sacred maneh as an act of piety. (If you are wondering how 40 is 1\/6<\/span>th<\/span> of 200, it is 1\/6 of the total of 240 and, as such, is called \u201can outer sixth\u201d [sh\u2019tut mil\u2019bar<\/em>].)<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":75641,"alt":"","title":"ez45-two zuz2","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/ez45-two-zuz2.jpg","width":767,"height":430,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/ez45-two-zuz2-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/ez45-two-zuz2-300x168.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":168,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/ez45-two-zuz2.jpg","medium_large-width":767,"medium_large-height":430,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/ez45-two-zuz2.jpg","large-width":767,"large-height":430,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/ez45-two-zuz2.jpg","1536x1536-width":767,"1536x1536-height":430,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/ez45-two-zuz2.jpg","2048x2048-width":767,"2048x2048-height":430,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/ez45-two-zuz2.jpg","post_full_size-width":767,"post_full_size-height":430,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/ez45-two-zuz2-749x420.jpg","home_baner-width":749,"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":"Gerah, Shekel, Maneh, and Zuzim","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Not your father\u2019s goat...","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":75641,"alt":"","title":"ez45-two zuz2","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/ez45-two-zuz2.jpg","width":767,"height":430,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/ez45-two-zuz2-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/ez45-two-zuz2-300x168.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":168,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/ez45-two-zuz2.jpg","medium_large-width":767,"medium_large-height":430,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/ez45-two-zuz2.jpg","large-width":767,"large-height":430,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/ez45-two-zuz2.jpg","1536x1536-width":767,"1536x1536-height":430,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/ez45-two-zuz2.jpg","2048x2048-width":767,"2048x2048-height":430,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/ez45-two-zuz2.jpg","post_full_size-width":767,"post_full_size-height":430,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/ez45-two-zuz2-749x420.jpg","home_baner-width":749,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_link_for_pay":"0","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"Ezekiel","chapter":"45","chapter_main_number":"497","date":"20270726","wall_id":"497"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":4,"id":"75646","color":"#f2e9df","size":"1","name":"The Importance Of Strict Standards ","post_title":"The Importance Of Strict Standards","slug":"the-importance-of-strict-standards","old_id":"75646","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":70717,"post_title":"Benjamin Schmitz","slug":"benjamin-schmitz","old_id":"70717","first_name":"Benjamin ","last_name":"Schmitz ","description":"Benjamin Schmitz is a second year rabbinical student at the Jewish Theological Seminary. He graduated from the University of Iowa with a degree in Physics and Astronomy and is passionate about the intersection of science and religion. ","short_description":"Benjamin Schmitz is a second year rabbinical student at JTS, passionate about the intersection of science and religion.","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":70718,"alt":"","title":"Benjamin Schmitz","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Benjamin-Schmitz.jpg","width":768,"height":980,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Benjamin-Schmitz-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Benjamin-Schmitz-235x300.jpg","medium-width":235,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Benjamin-Schmitz-768x980.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":980,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Benjamin-Schmitz.jpg","large-width":768,"large-height":980,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Benjamin-Schmitz.jpg","1536x1536-width":768,"1536x1536-height":980,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Benjamin-Schmitz.jpg","2048x2048-width":768,"2048x2048-height":980,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Benjamin-Schmitz.jpg","post_full_size-width":768,"post_full_size-height":980,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Benjamin-Schmitz-329x420.jpg","home_baner-width":329,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"497","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"So that yesterday\u2019s unimaginable act does not become today\u2019s \u201cnot that bad\u201d\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

An area 25,000 cubits long and 10,000 wide; the bath a tenth of a homer and the ephah a tenth of a homer; the shekel shall weigh 20 gerahs: Ezekiel 45 is full to the brim with exact and precise measurements. Other than providing opportunities for elementary school math problems, what is the purpose of the exact details for the measurements?<\/span><\/p>\r\n

\u201cThus said the Lord God: Enough, princes of Israel\u2014remove violence and ruin and act with justice and righteousness. Cease your acts of expulsion against my people. Have honest balances and an honest ephah, and an honest bath\u201d (vv. 9-10). God provides the future princes with a general outline of how to deal with the Israelites, and it seems fairly simple: act justly and righteously and do not commit violence or deception. Yet the next few verses are occupied with the specific details of the measurements rather than the larger issues of how to behave justly and righteously.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

These values are not only meant for the prince, or the king, or those in power, but are guidelines for all of us. Radak relates on verse 10 that \u201cWhat the nation does is the transgression of the kings for they do not protest it.\u201d In order to have an equitable and just society each of us must hold ourselves to a precise standard, and we must make sure that those around us are also behaving justly.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Modern psychological studies have found that small ethical transgressions (whether financial transgressions, cheating on a test, or lying) can over time lead to larger and larger transgressions as people become comfortable with the small transgressions and rationalize them. None of us sets out to do something terrible. We are good people, we tell ourselves, so this small thing we are doing is really okay. It\u2019s not <\/span>that<\/span><\/em> bad. Yet, soon enough we may find ourselves doing things that we would never have imagined we would do. Yesterday\u2019s unimaginable act has become today\u2019s \u201cnot <\/span>that<\/span><\/em> bad\u201d.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The exacting measurements in Ezekiel 45 give us the signposts, the warnings that we have crossed the line. They give us the opportunity to turn ourselves around before minor transgressions snowball into larger ones, before we let ourselves become someone we don\u2019t even recognize. So next time we think about crossing an ethical boundary just a little bit, let\u2019s remember that the exact boundary is there to keep us on the path of righteousness and justice.<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":75647,"alt":"","title":"ez45-lines","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/ez45-lines.jpg","width":1920,"height":1279,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/ez45-lines-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/ez45-lines-300x200.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":200,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/ez45-lines-768x512.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":512,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/ez45-lines-1024x682.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":682,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/ez45-lines.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1023,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/ez45-lines.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":1279,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/ez45-lines-1200x799.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":799,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/ez45-lines-630x420.jpg","home_baner-width":630,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"The Importance Of Strict Standards","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"So that yesterday\u2019s unimaginable act does not become today\u2019s \u201cnot that bad\u201d","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":75647,"alt":"","title":"ez45-lines","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/ez45-lines.jpg","width":1920,"height":1279,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/ez45-lines-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/ez45-lines-300x200.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":200,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/ez45-lines-768x512.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":512,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/ez45-lines-1024x682.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":682,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/ez45-lines.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1023,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/ez45-lines.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":1279,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/ez45-lines-1200x799.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":799,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/ez45-lines-630x420.jpg","home_baner-width":630,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_link_for_pay":"0","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"Ezekiel","chapter":"45","chapter_main_number":"497","date":"20270726","wall_id":"497"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":5,"id":"75669","color":"#f6edf6","size":"1","name":"The Door To Spiritual Awareness ","post_title":"The Door To Spiritual Awareness","slug":"the-door-to-spiritual-awareness","old_id":"75669","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":"498","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Don\u2019t leave the same way you entered","post_main_content_content":"

Following the description of technical plans for building the third Temple, Ezekiel continues his prophecy with technical requirements for using the Temple. This building is meant to be far more than a mere structure in which to execute service of God \u2013 we\u2019d gone that route already, and it failed.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The commandment to make three annual pilgrimages to the Temple \u2013 on Pesach, Shavuot and Sukkot, initially given in Deuteronomy 16, is referenced again in Ezekiel 46:9, this time with the following additional instruction:<\/span><\/p>\r\n

\u201cWhen the people come before God, whoever enters by the north gate shall leave by the south, and whoever enters by the south gate shall leave by the north. They shall not go back through the gate by which they came in but shall go out by the opposite gate.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Historically, the pilgrimage festivals, by ensuring a regularly scheduled time to stop all regular activity and come together in the service of God, had both spiritual and pragmatic benefits. It was a thrice-yearly major communal event that stimulated a consistent economic cycle for Jerusalem. The predictable national gathering to collectively reaffirm our covenant with God brought significant travel and agricultural industry that served to underpin the Jerusalem economy. But of course, the economic spinoff was secondary to the spiritual purpose.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Our sages have a few explanations for the odd direction to enter and exit the Temple on opposite sides. Some of our sages describe this behavior as emphasizing one\u2019s love for the Temple and Temple service. By walking the full breadth of the Temple from north to south or vice-versa, one delays their departure for as long as possible. The Talmud (Berachot 62B) extends this practice to anyone entering a synagogue.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Perhaps there\u2019s another message in this exercise of physically entering the temple, or our synagogues one way and leaving another. The doors we go through matter. We kiss our mezuzahs to elevate and remember the holiness of the places we enter. So too we need to ensure that when we engage in prayer, be it in the Holy Temple or in our synagogues today, we leave differently than we arrived. Prayer is meant to change us. It\u2019s not meant to be a rote practice that we walk into, dispense with, and \u201cgo back by the gate through which (we) came.\u201d Just as we leave through a different door, we should merit to leave with a different demeanor \u2013 an elevated spirituality and sense of community.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

 <\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":51429,"alt":"","title":"dt23-open-door","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt23-open-door-1.png","width":1920,"height":1295,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt23-open-door-1-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt23-open-door-1-300x202.png","medium-width":300,"medium-height":202,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt23-open-door-1-768x518.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":518,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt23-open-door-1-1024x691.png","large-width":1024,"large-height":691,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt23-open-door-1.png","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1036,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt23-open-door-1.png","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":1295,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt23-open-door-1-1200x809.png","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":809,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt23-open-door-1-623x420.png","home_baner-width":623,"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 Door To Spiritual Awareness","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Don\u2019t leave the same way you 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Divine Wrongs Of Kings ","post_title":"The Divine Wrongs Of Kings","slug":"the-divine-wrongs-of-kings","old_id":"75679","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":64460,"post_title":"Vincent Calabrese","slug":"vincent-calabrese","old_id":"64460","first_name":"Vincent ","last_name":"Calabrese ","description":"Vincent Calabrese is a doctoral student in Jewish thought at the University of Toronto and a rabbinical student at the Hadar Institute","short_description":"Vincent Calabrese is a doctoral student in Jewish thought at the University of Toronto and a rabbinical student at the Hadar Institute","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":64461,"alt":"","title":"vincent calabrese","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/vincent-calabrese.jpg","width":2117,"height":2504,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/vincent-calabrese-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/vincent-calabrese-254x300.jpg","medium-width":254,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/vincent-calabrese-768x908.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":908,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/vincent-calabrese-866x1024.jpg","large-width":866,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/vincent-calabrese.jpg","1536x1536-width":1299,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/vincent-calabrese.jpg","2048x2048-width":1731,"2048x2048-height":2048,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/vincent-calabrese-1015x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":1015,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/vincent-calabrese-355x420.jpg","home_baner-width":355,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"498","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Regal privilege bows before the Torah\u2019s egalitarian ideal\u00a0\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

The Hebrew Bible is notoriously ambivalent about monarchy. The idea of a sacral kingship tied to the line of David coexists with a deep skepticism about rule by any power other than God and a practical cynicism about the tendencies of kings. Deuteronomy imagines a king who seems largely subordinate to the priests and whose ability to engage in politics is curtailed. Ezekiel 46 represents a continuation of this tendency. Here the text no longer even speaks of a king, but of a <\/span>nasi<\/span><\/em> or \u201cprince.\u201d While a number of the prince\u2019s positive obligations are detailed, these are mostly of a cultic nature \u2014 he is to make special offerings on the Sabbath, the day of the new moon, and the festivals. Ezekiel attends to the political role of the prince largely in order to say what he <\/span>cannot<\/span><\/i> do. One very telling moment occurs at verse 18: \u201cBut the prince shall not take property away from any of the people and rob them of their holdings. Only out of his own holdings shall he endow his sons, in order that My people may not be dispossessed of their holdings.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The Torah\u2019s system of land ownership is perhaps its most daring and creative foray into political thought. The land is divided into tribal territories, and each family is given an allotment within their tribe. This allotment can never be sold, but only leased for a period of up to 50 years, when the Jubilee restores all land to its original owner. The message at the core of this system is that the land belongs in the first place to God; insofar as the Israelites are permitted to use it, each person has an equal and inalienable stake in the land. In the book of Ezekiel, this idea is underscored further by redrawing the tribal boundaries in a way which is much more equal than the configuration to be found in the Book of Joshua.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

In earlier books of the Bible we find a frequent anxiety that the king will disrupt this system and treat the land as personal property for his own enrichment. In Samuel\u2019s warning to the people about the practical reality of the monarchy they demand, he declares that a king \u201cwill seize your choice fields, vineyards, and olive groves, and give them to his courtiers\u201d (1 Samuel 8:14). The downfall of King Ahab comes when he and Jezebel seize the vineyard of Naboth. Though the king at first offers to buy the land, Naboth declares \u201cThe LORD forbid that I should give up to you what I have inherited from my fathers!\u201d (1 Kings 21:3), for he understands that according to the Torah\u2019s system, the land is sacred and cannot be treated as mere private property.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

By forbidding the prince to acquire land from the people, Ezekiel emphasizes, once again, the egalitarian ideal which is at the heart of the Torah\u2019s system of land ownership.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

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They are writing their dissertation on metaphors of violent speech in Psalms. They currently accompany others on their spiritual journeys through their work as a Jewish spiritual director. They hold degrees from Duke University (BS), Princeton Theological Seminary (M Div), Hebrew University (MA), and JTS (M Phil). 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In the first half of our chapter, God shows Ezekiel beautiful streams of water that flow out from the Temple providing life to everything in their path. The source of the water may seem small at first, but it will quickly turn into a gushing river large enough to bring the Dead Sea and all of the desolate desert area surrounding it back to life.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Up until this point, Ezekiel\u2019s vision had largely been concerned with measurements of the new Temple design and the laws surrounding its functioning. Here we see something different. We have hints of apocalyptic redemption.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

In his vision of this divine river, Ezekiel sees that is not just the people of Israel who will be restored, but the very land itself. The future Temple is to become a kind of new Eden, with a river flowing out of it to water the garden of the world (cf Genesis 2:10).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Jewish mystical tradition has long used the imagery of a divine river flowing out from Eden as a way of understanding God\u2019s divine vitality flowing into creation. This flow is constant and yet ever-changing.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

I cannot read this passage without thinking of my own experiences along my beloved Hudson River in NYC. I have taken mindful walks almost every day for several years along its banks. Recently, I witnessed its latest explosion into spring. The river is a place of water and of life.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

One day during a walk along the river, I noticed myself having the following meditation:<\/span><\/p>\r\n

By the morning light<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>I go outside to play with the river<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>We spend all day together<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>delightful time<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>Then evening begins to fall<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>\u201cRiver, I have to go inside. Darkness is coming.\u201d<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>My heart beats in my chest<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>\u201cWill you be here tomorrow?\u201d<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>\u201cAlmost certainly. However, I won\u2019t be the same.\u201d<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>\u201cThat\u2019s okay. Neither will I.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

A human being is constant and yet ever-changing, just like a river. We are constantly sustained by a divine flow that animates our existence. Still, there are surely dry, desolate lands in our own hearts that are waiting for a deeper experience of this divine flow to wash over them, redeeming them and giving them new life. Change is not only possible, but inevitable.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

However, human beings need not only be passive beneficiaries of this flowing divine vitality. Over time, we can learn to play with this flow, merging with it and becoming transformed into active participants of God\u2019s unfolding redemption. We can help to bring the dry, desolate parts of our entire world back to life. We can participate in the creation of a new Eden.<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":75718,"alt":"","title":"ez47-water","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/ez47-water.jpg","width":1920,"height":1280,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/ez47-water-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/ez47-water-300x200.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":200,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/ez47-water-768x512.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":512,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/ez47-water-1024x683.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":683,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/ez47-water.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1024,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/ez47-water.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":1280,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/ez47-water-1200x800.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":800,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/ez47-water-630x420.jpg","home_baner-width":630,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"Go 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calabrese","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/vincent-calabrese.jpg","width":2117,"height":2504,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/vincent-calabrese-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/vincent-calabrese-254x300.jpg","medium-width":254,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/vincent-calabrese-768x908.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":908,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/vincent-calabrese-866x1024.jpg","large-width":866,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/vincent-calabrese.jpg","1536x1536-width":1299,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/vincent-calabrese.jpg","2048x2048-width":1731,"2048x2048-height":2048,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/vincent-calabrese-1015x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":1015,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/vincent-calabrese-355x420.jpg","home_baner-width":355,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"499","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"A radical example of prophetic universalism\u00a0\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

In the last chapter, we saw how Ezekiel\u2019s vision of the role of the post-restoration leader shows a concern that the egalitarian ethos of the Torah\u2019s system of land ownership might be disrupted by the prince\u2019s greed. In the 47th chapter of Ezekiel, we find, rather than a conservative impulse regarding that system, a surprising reform \u2014 one with radical implications for Israelite identity.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Political belonging in the Israelite commonwealth is defined primarily by descent. The people as a whole claims descent from the Patriarchs, and are further defined by a tribal identity derived from their descent from one of the twelve sons of Jacob. The sense that a familial bond grounds the political structure of the nation is strong; fellow Israelites are referred to as \u201cbrothers.\u201d Alongside natives (<\/span>ezrachim<\/span><\/em>)<\/span><\/i>, born into the Israelite people, many places in the Bible speak of a class of people called <\/span>gerim<\/span><\/em>,<\/span><\/i> variously translated as strangers or sojourners. These are apparently people who are not of Israelite descent but, for economic or other reasons, find themselves living in the Israelite commonwealth. Because they are not Israelites, they lack access to the basic means of maintenance which are available to Israelites living in the patriarchal clans which are the basic social units of this society; the stranger is habitually mentioned alongside other classes of vulnerable people, such as windows and orphans, for whom special care is commanded. A number of texts (e.g. Exodus 12:49, Numbers 15:16) indicate that the distinctions between such \u2018permanent residents\u2019 and native-born Israelites ought to be deemphasized or minimized. Nevertheless, the distinction apparently remains in some sense indelible; the <\/span>gerim<\/span><\/i> simply cannot acquire different ancestors.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

A moment in our chapter seems to call the finality of this distinction into question. After detailing the boundaries of the tribal territories (in a manner which is strikingly different and apparently much more equal than the division detailed in Joshua), Ezekiel says: \u201cThis land you shall divide for yourselves among the tribes of Israel. You shall allot it as a heritage for yourselves and for the strangers who reside among you, who have begotten children among you. You shall treat them as Israelite citizens; they shall receive allotments along with you among the tribes of Israel. You shall give the stranger an allotment within the tribe where he resides\u2014declares the Lord GOD\u201d (47:21-23).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The incorporation of people of non-Israelite heritage into the system of tribal land tenure, a system apparently inextricably bound to descent, is a remarkable reform, one which would seem to destabilize the principles on which the system is founded. This moment is one of the most radical examples of prophetic universalism, sitting alongside Isaiah\u2019s vision of a Temple in which non-Israelites serve as priests. The idea, eventually radicalized by Christianity, that God\u2019s covenant with Israel could be expanded to include the nations, that in the words of the Apostle Paul, gentiles could become \u2018grafted\u2019 into Abraham\u2019s family tree, may have its source in moments like this.<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":75715,"alt":"","title":"ez47-equality","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/ez47-equality.jpg","width":1461,"height":1354,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/ez47-equality-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/ez47-equality-300x278.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":278,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/ez47-equality-768x712.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":712,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/ez47-equality-1024x949.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":949,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/ez47-equality.jpg","1536x1536-width":1461,"1536x1536-height":1354,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/ez47-equality.jpg","2048x2048-width":1461,"2048x2048-height":1354,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/ez47-equality-1200x1112.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":1112,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/ez47-equality-453x420.jpg","home_baner-width":453,"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":"Establishing The Absolute Equality of the Foreigner","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"A radical example of prophetic universalism\u00a0","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":75715,"alt":"","title":"ez47-equality","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/ez47-equality.jpg","width":1461,"height":1354,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/ez47-equality-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/ez47-equality-300x278.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":278,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/ez47-equality-768x712.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":712,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/ez47-equality-1024x949.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":949,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/ez47-equality.jpg","1536x1536-width":1461,"1536x1536-height":1354,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/ez47-equality.jpg","2048x2048-width":1461,"2048x2048-height":1354,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/ez47-equality-1200x1112.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":1112,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/ez47-equality-453x420.jpg","home_baner-width":453,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_link_for_pay":"0","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"Ezekiel","chapter":"47","chapter_main_number":"499","date":"20270728","wall_id":"499"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":9,"id":"75743","color":"#effaea","size":"1","name":"Ezekiel Renames Jerusalem ","post_title":"Ezekiel Renames Jerusalem","slug":"ezekiel-renames-jerusalem","old_id":"75743","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":38322,"post_title":"James A. 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Diamond holds the Joseph and Wolf Lebovic Chair of Jewish Studies at the University of Waterloo.","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":38323,"alt":"","title":"James Diamond","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/James-Diamond-e1534858914913.jpg","width":1186,"height":1386,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/James-Diamond-e1534858914913-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/James-Diamond-e1534858914913-257x300.jpg","medium-width":257,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/James-Diamond-e1534858914913-768x898.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":898,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/James-Diamond-e1534858914913-876x1024.jpg","large-width":876,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/James-Diamond-e1534858914913.jpg","1536x1536-width":1186,"1536x1536-height":1386,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/James-Diamond-e1534858914913.jpg","2048x2048-width":1186,"2048x2048-height":1386,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/James-Diamond-e1534858914913-1027x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":1027,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/James-Diamond-e1534858914913-359x420.jpg","home_baner-width":359,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"500","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"And from a national capital it becomes the spiritual fulcrum of the world\u00a0\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

Ezekiel\u2019s finale begins with a topography of the land of Israel as it is divided between the tribes, separated by clearly defined borders. It ends by narrowing down its scope to Jerusalem, confined specifically to the outer limits of the city, three at every direction with gates named after each tribe. A summarizing verse marks the transition between the geographic allotment to each tribe and these gates which designates all the bounded shares in the land \u201cas an inheritance (<\/span>nachalah<\/span><\/em>) for the tribes of Israel and their portions (<\/span>machlekotam<\/span><\/em>)\u201d (29).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Both terms express a potential danger inherent in territorial boundaries. Though intending an equitable distribution within a unified federation, they can easily fragment into a disunion of autonomously non-aligned states. Apportionment can contribute to unity or divisiveness-\u00a0<\/span>machlekotam<\/span><\/em> (their portions) can deteriorate into <\/span>machloket<\/span><\/em> (argument\/schism)<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Machlekot<\/span><\/em> appears once as a place name, the Rock of Separation (1 Sam 23:28), commemorating a pivotal moment in the conflict between David and Saul that captures its unity\/disunity ambiguity at a formative moment in Israel\u2019s political history. Saul was about to encircle David when an enemy threat on another front diverted his attention and he abandoned his pursuit. The general consensus among commentators is that the name memorializes their departure from each other at that critical interval. Thus, the term\u2019s association with geography captures its positive and negative sense. It is a monument to both a schism within the Israelite state and the historical moment ensuring David\u2019s survival and the future of the Davidic kingship line.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The original apportionment of Israel involved an unequal distribution with Jerusalem spanning both Benjamin and Judah. However, difficult as it is to map, Ezekiel\u2019s reimagined utopia envisions Jerusalem as neutral territory sandwiched between all the other tribes occupying precisely equal areas to the north and south of it.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Machlekot<\/span><\/i> signifies the thin line between unity and disintegration. Its strategic position in the chapter capping off the partitioning of the land among the tribes and introducing the twelve tribal gates of Jerusalem identifies the firewall preventing a collective of mutual interests from dissolving into an assortment of self-interests. The twelve gates occupying the city\u2019s extremities from every direction and bearing the names of each tribe reflects Jerusalem\u2019s equally belonging to all in a sense that transcends borders and geography. That is why Ezekiel ends of the entire book anticipating a new name for Jerusalem, like Isaiah\u2019s \u201c<\/span>chefzi-bah<\/span><\/em>\u201d (\u201cespoused\u201d 62:4), and Jeremiah\u2019s \u201cthe Lord is our righteousness\u201d (<\/span>tzidkenu,<\/span><\/em> 33:16).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

In the ideal future the holy city will not be identified by a name that is always associated with a certain country or nation but rather by a much broader principle or idea that transcends time, place, and ownership. Thus no longer will it be known as Jerusalem, a city located in Judah and Benjamin, but by what it should represent which is the spiritual fulcrum of the world: \u201cand the name of the city from that day on shall be \u2018The Lord is There (<\/span>yhvh shamah<\/span><\/em>)\u2019\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

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