{"id":76714,"date":"2018-07-09T17:48:20","date_gmt":"2018-07-09T14:48:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wall\/wall-516\/"},"modified":"2020-07-06T22:23:24","modified_gmt":"2020-07-06T19:23:24","slug":"wall-516","status":"publish","type":"wall","link":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wall\/wall-516\/","title":{"rendered":"chapter-Prophets-Joel-2"},"parent":0,"template":"","acf":{"type":"chapter","wall_id":"516","date":"20270822","book":"Joel","chapter":"2","chapter_main_number":"516","books_group":"Prophets","posts":[{"order":1,"id":"76738","color":"#f8ebe3","size":"1","name":"JPS Audio Bible - Joel Chapter 2 ","post_title":"JPS Audio Bible - Joel Chapter 2","slug":"jps-audio-bible-joel-chapter-2","old_id":"76738","type":"user","iframe":"","writer":{"id":34686,"post_title":"Soundcloud","slug":"soundcloud","old_id":"34686","first_name":"","last_name":"","description":"","short_description":"","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":34656,"alt":"","title":"491","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","width":300,"height":300,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","medium_large-width":300,"medium_large-height":300,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","large-width":300,"large-height":300,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","1536x1536-width":300,"1536x1536-height":300,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","2048x2048-width":300,"2048x2048-height":300,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","post_full_size-width":300,"post_full_size-height":300,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","home_baner-width":300,"home_baner-height":300}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"516","type_929":"4","show_author_image":true,"old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"","post_main_content_content":"","post_main_content_image":"","post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"JPS Audio Bible","tile_main_caption":"Joel Chapter 2","tile_main_caption_size":"2","tile_sub_caption":"Hear the daily chapter","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":"","tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"https:\/\/soundcloud.com\/user-753876298\/jps_audio_bible_joel_chapter_2","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","old_create_date":"","links":false,"tile_link_for_pay":"0","chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"Joel","chapter":"2","chapter_main_number":"516","date":"20270822","wall_id":"516"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":2,"id":"76837","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"Rend Your Hearts: To Deal With Evil And Chaos ","post_title":"Rend Your Hearts: To Deal With Evil And Chaos","slug":"rend-your-hearts-to-deal-with-evil-and-chaos","old_id":"76837","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":47905,"post_title":"Natasha Mann","slug":"natasha-mann","old_id":"47905","first_name":"Natasha ","last_name":"Mann ","description":"Rabbi Natasha Mann serves as a rabbi at New London Synagogue and Hatch End\/Mosaic Masorti. Natasha hails from the grassy hills of Hertfordshire, England, and has spent most of her adult life between Los Angeles and the Holy City of Jerusalem. Natasha has worked in Jewish education and the non-profit world, promoting better education and legislation on human trafficking issues. ","short_description":"Rabbi Natasha Mann serves as a rabbi at New London Synagogue and Hatch End\/Mosaic Masorti.","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":47906,"alt":"","title":"natasha mann","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/natasha-mann-e1548150986169.jpg","width":735,"height":954,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/natasha-mann-e1548150986169-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/natasha-mann-e1548150986169-231x300.jpg","medium-width":231,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/natasha-mann-768x568.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":568,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/natasha-mann-1024x757.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":757,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/natasha-mann-e1548150986169.jpg","1536x1536-width":735,"1536x1536-height":954,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/natasha-mann-e1548150986169.jpg","2048x2048-width":735,"2048x2048-height":954,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/natasha-mann-1200x887.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":887,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/natasha-mann-e1548150986169-324x420.jpg","home_baner-width":324,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"516","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Teshuvah changes the world by changing us\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

The tearing of garments is symbolic of (and responsive to) overwhelming grief. It is an outward display of internal turmoil. In the midst of Joel\u2019s call to repentance, he shares the words of the Divine (2:13): \u201cRend your hearts, not your garments, and turn back (<\/span>v\u2019shuvu<\/span><\/em>) to the Eternal your God.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

One reading is that we can, at times, be guilty of performative emotional measures, the same way that we can be guilty of performative worship. In Joel\u2019s example, it is simply not good enough to perform repentance (<\/span>teshuvah<\/span><\/em>); it must come from within. However, this reading does not address the fact that Joel tells us to rend our hearts <\/span>instead of our garments<\/span><\/em>. Here, Rashi suggests that the text could mean that if we rend our hearts, we will no longer need to rend our garments. If we do <\/span>teshuvah<\/em> <\/span>properly, in our hearts, we will no longer be in a situation that requires the tearing of garments.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The problem with this reading is that it doesn\u2019t ring true to the world. We know that some of the best people in the world live through situations which would induce garment-rending emotional turmoil. One of the primary themes of the Book of Job is that good religious practice and ethical behavior do not save us from heartbreak. I\u2019m reminded of one of the most intense moments of prayer on the High Holy Days: the <\/span>Unetaneh Tokef<\/span><\/em>.<\/em>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

In the liturgical poem, we admit to a startling lack of power: we cannot know who will live and who will die in this coming year; who by fire, and who by water, and so on. And then, in an incredible moment, the poetry turns around and apparently grants us some modicum of power. <\/span>\u2018Ut\u2019shuvah, utefillah, utzedakah<\/span><\/em>,\u2019<\/span><\/i> it says, <\/span>\u2018<\/span><\/i>ma\u2019avirin et-ro\u2019a hag\u2019zeira.<\/span><\/em>\u2019<\/span><\/i> This is usually translated with some slight of hand into something like: \u2018But repentance, prayer, and just deeds can annul the evil decree.\u2019 However, a better translation would read: \u2018Repentance, prayer, and just deeds can <\/span>cause the evil of the decree<\/em> <\/span>to pass away.\u2019 Nothing is annulled; it passes by. And that which passes by is not \u2018the evil decree\u2019, but rather the evil <\/span>of<\/em> <\/span>the decree. It is not the decree that changes; our fates remain unchanged, but the evil passes over us.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

This is a deliberate shift from the original text (which is from Genesis Rabbah 44:12), which states that these three acts \u2018annul evil decrees\u2019 (<\/span>mevatlim gezerot ra\u2019ot<\/span><\/em>)<\/span><\/i>. The anonymous author of the <\/span>Unetaneh Tokef<\/span><\/em>, however, shifted this idea into a stunningly theologically sophisticated statement. If we engage in repentance, and prayer, and acts of justice, we can cause the evil of the decree to pass us by. What changes is not the chaos. It\u2019s us. Perhaps this is what Joel is trying to teach us: If we rend our hearts by doing <\/span>teshuvah<\/span><\/em>, we will be better able to handle the situations which cause people to rend garments.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Teshuvah<\/em> <\/span>does change the world - but it does so by changing us.<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":76838,"alt":"","title":"joel2-rend heat 3d","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/joel2-rend-heat-3d.jpg","width":1443,"height":1920,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/joel2-rend-heat-3d-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/joel2-rend-heat-3d-225x300.jpg","medium-width":225,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/joel2-rend-heat-3d-768x1022.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":1022,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/joel2-rend-heat-3d-770x1024.jpg","large-width":770,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/joel2-rend-heat-3d.jpg","1536x1536-width":1154,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/joel2-rend-heat-3d.jpg","2048x2048-width":1443,"2048x2048-height":1920,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/joel2-rend-heat-3d-902x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":902,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/joel2-rend-heat-3d-316x420.jpg","home_baner-width":316,"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":"I\u2764Teshuvah-1","tile_main_caption":"Rend Your Hearts: To Deal With Evil And Chaos","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Teshuvah changes the world by changing us","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":76838,"alt":"","title":"joel2-rend heat 3d","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/joel2-rend-heat-3d.jpg","width":1443,"height":1920,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/joel2-rend-heat-3d-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/joel2-rend-heat-3d-225x300.jpg","medium-width":225,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/joel2-rend-heat-3d-768x1022.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":1022,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/joel2-rend-heat-3d-770x1024.jpg","large-width":770,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/joel2-rend-heat-3d.jpg","1536x1536-width":1154,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/joel2-rend-heat-3d.jpg","2048x2048-width":1443,"2048x2048-height":1920,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/joel2-rend-heat-3d-902x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":902,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/joel2-rend-heat-3d-316x420.jpg","home_baner-width":316,"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":"Joel","chapter":"2","chapter_main_number":"516","date":"20270822","wall_id":"516"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":3,"id":"76830","color":"#f6f5de","size":"1","name":"Rend Your Hearts, Not (And?) Your Clothes ","post_title":"Rend Your Hearts, Not (And?) Your Clothes","slug":"rend-your-hearts-not-and-your-clothes","old_id":"76830","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":36277,"post_title":"Yedidya Sinclair","slug":"yedidya-sinclair","old_id":"36277","first_name":"Yedidya","last_name":"Sinclair","description":"Rabbi Yedidya Sinclair serves as Senior Rabbinic Scholar at Hazon, the leading US Jewish environmental organization. From 2011-16 he was Vice President for Research and Senior Economist at Energiya Global, a Jerusalem-based solar energy company focused on the developing world and he continues to consult on renewable energy and climate change preparedness. In 2014 he published together with Hazon, a translation of Rabbi Abraham Isaac Kook's great work on shmitta, the Sabbatical year, \"Introduction to Shabbat Ha'aretz.\" Yedidya holds a BA from Oxford University, an MPA from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard and lives with his family in Jerusalem.","short_description":"Yedidya Sinclair is a Jerusalem-based rabbi and economist, and is Senior Rabbinic Scholar at Hazon. ","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":36278,"alt":"","title":"yedidya sinclair","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/yedidya-sinclair.jpg","width":200,"height":200,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/yedidya-sinclair-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/yedidya-sinclair.jpg","medium-width":200,"medium-height":200,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/yedidya-sinclair.jpg","medium_large-width":200,"medium_large-height":200,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/yedidya-sinclair.jpg","large-width":200,"large-height":200,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/yedidya-sinclair.jpg","1536x1536-width":200,"1536x1536-height":200,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/yedidya-sinclair.jpg","2048x2048-width":200,"2048x2048-height":200,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/yedidya-sinclair.jpg","post_full_size-width":200,"post_full_size-height":200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/yedidya-sinclair.jpg","home_baner-width":200,"home_baner-height":200}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"516","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Inner transformation is the essence of teshuvah\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

When an all-devouring locust storm engulfs the land, Joel urges the people to fast saying: \u201cYet even now, says the Lord, turn back to me with all your hearts, and with fasting weeping and lamenting. Rend your hearts, rather than your garments, and turn back to the Lord your God\" (2:12-13).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Joel\u2019s call becomes a model for the Jewish fast days that respond to calamity. Fasts commemorating historic national disasters are fixed in our calendar, while the leaders of each generation may call fasts in the face of famine, war or plague.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

These verses crystallize from Joel the question of what fast days are for. Are they mainly days of mourning when we grieve our losses and mourn our misfortune? Or are fasts a time for <\/span>teshuvah<\/span><\/em>, to examine our actions, and resolve to do better in the future, so that God may take away our suffering?<\/span><\/p>\r\n

This issue runs through the rabbinic writings on fasts. Joel\u2019s words, \u201crend your hearts rather than your garments,\u201d are a paradoxical particular point of focus. On the one hand, \u201crending\u201d \u2013 <\/span>keriyah<\/span><\/em> in Hebrew \u2013 is a mark of mourning. The bereaved rends her clothing for close relatives who have died.\u00a0 The Talmud (Mo\u2019ed Katan 28a) reads our verse as teaching how much of your garment you have to tear \u2013 as far as your heart.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

On the other hand, we\u2019re supposed to rend our hearts, <\/span>not<\/span><\/i> our garments. The Mishnah in <\/span>Ta\u2019anit<\/span> (2:1) cites our verse as part of the exhortation to <\/span>teshuvah<\/em> <\/span>that was delivered on a public fast day: rend your hearts not your clothes; go through an inner process of change, don\u2019t just put on the outer trappings of mourning.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

A profound teaching from the Talmud <\/span>Yerushalmi Ta\u2019anit<\/span> interprets this verse to trace the common spiritual roots of both <\/span>teshuvah<\/em> <\/span>and mourning.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

\u201cRabbi Yehoshua Ben Levi said, if you rend your hearts in <\/span>teshuvah<\/span><\/em>, you will not need to rend your clothes over your sons and daughters, but only over God. Why? Because he is gracious and merciful.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Teshuvah,<\/em> <\/span>rending our hearts in inner transformation, will avert the punishment that may cause us to rend our clothing in mourning, says Yehoshua Ben Levi. But beyond that, <\/span>teshuvah<\/em> <\/span>is a rending of our hearts in grief at separation from God. Unlike the permanent loss of bereavement, the loss of closeness to God may be assuaged and overcome, because God is merciful.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":76844,"alt":"","title":"joel2-rend_heart-statue2","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/joel2-rend_heart-statue2-1.jpg","width":2178,"height":1920,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/joel2-rend_heart-statue2-1-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/joel2-rend_heart-statue2-1-300x264.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":264,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/joel2-rend_heart-statue2-1-768x677.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":677,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/joel2-rend_heart-statue2-1-1024x903.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":903,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/joel2-rend_heart-statue2-1.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1354,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/joel2-rend_heart-statue2-1.jpg","2048x2048-width":2048,"2048x2048-height":1805,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/joel2-rend_heart-statue2-1-1200x1058.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":1058,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/joel2-rend_heart-statue2-1-476x420.jpg","home_baner-width":476,"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":"I\u2764Teshuvah-2","tile_main_caption":"Rend Your Hearts, Not (And?) 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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":"516","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"A sound that resonates in our souls\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

Beginning at Mount Sinai on the threshold of receiving the Ten Commandments, the shofar has been used to announce the new moon and the jubilee year, to signify the start of battle and celebrate victory, to anoint kings and install new Israeli presidents, and of course, to stir us to repentance on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur as we pray for inscription in the book of life.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

What makes the shofar so significant to Jews and so emotionally stirring that hearing it can lead us to repentance? As a musical instrument it doesn\u2019t have the harmonious sounds of a violin. There are no lyrics that emanate from a shofar like beautiful poetry. And yet, while a passer-by might hear a cacophonous noise coming from a synagogue, as Jews, that singular sound of a shofar blast makes us stand still and silent, speaks to our inner core and deepens our prayer.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

In an article by Dr. Gila Flam (Hebrew University of Jerusalem), she reviewed a 1919 paper authored by psychoanalyst and anthropologist Theodor Reik, entitled \u201cThe Shofar\u201d. In it, Reik postulated that the sound of the shofar \u201cwas no less than the voice of God.\u201d In support of his argument, Reik points to the story from Exodus when \u201cthe voice of the shofar sounded louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God answered him by a voice (<\/span>kol<\/span><\/em>) (Exodus 19:19).\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

\u201c<\/span>Kol shofar<\/span><\/em>\u201d<\/span><\/i> \u2013 the voice of the shofar \u2013 was also present along with thunder and lightning in Exodus 19:16. In Exodus 20:15 we read that all the people heard <\/span>\u201c<\/span><\/i>kol hashofar<\/span><\/em> \u2013 the voice of the shofar\u201d and asked Moses, \u201cYou speak to us, but let not God speak to us\u201d, because the sound of God\u2019s voice was overwhelming. And finally, in Exodus 20:19, God says to Moses, \u201cI spoke to you from the heavens.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The shofar as the voice of God is reiterated in a pivotal moment in Joel Chapter 2. God\u2019s call for repentance through the words \u201cBlow the shofar in Zion\u201d (2:1 and 15), bookend the words \u201cThe LORD gave His voice (<\/span>kolo<\/span><\/em>) to His army (2:11).\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Perhaps the reason that the shofar stirs us is embedded in our collective memory of God speaking to us. 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Join Torah in Motion and 929 for an exciting initiative to learn each book in the Tanach over the course of 8 short weeks.<\/p>\r\n

Starting on July 6, each Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday at 11 am EST, you will have the opportunity to learn a different book of Tanach with a different educator.<\/p>\r\n

Do not miss out on the chance to hear from 24 Torah scholars, leaders, and public intellectuals, who will each provide unique insight and thought-provoking ideas on their chosen book.<\/p>\r\n

Leaders & Speakers:
\r\nRabbi Alex Israel
\r\nDr. Erica Brown
\r\nRabbi Dr. Martin Lockshin
\r\nRabbi Zvi Grumet
\r\nDr. Rebecca Winter
\r\nRachel Sharansky Danziger
\r\nRabbi Nathaniel Helfgot
\r\nRabbi Chaim Strauchler
\r\nRabbi Joshua Berman
\r\nDr. Tammy Jacobowitz
\r\nDr. Beni Gesundheit
\r\nMiriam Krupka
\r\nRabbi Menachem Leibtag
\r\nDr. Dov Zakheim
\r\nRabbi Allen Schwartz
\r\nRabbanit Dena Freundlich
\r\nRabbanit Channa Lockshin Bob
\r\nDr. Aaron Koller
\r\nDr. Orit Avnery
\r\nRabbi Yaakov Beasley
\r\nRabbi Joshua Berman PhD
\r\nRabbi David Silber
\r\nDr. Moshe Sokolow<\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":76788,"alt":"","title":"joel1-time for tanach","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/joel1-time-for-tanach.jpg","width":822,"height":417,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/joel1-time-for-tanach-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/joel1-time-for-tanach-300x152.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":152,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/joel1-time-for-tanach-768x390.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":390,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/joel1-time-for-tanach.jpg","large-width":822,"large-height":417,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/joel1-time-for-tanach.jpg","1536x1536-width":822,"1536x1536-height":417,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/joel1-time-for-tanach.jpg","2048x2048-width":822,"2048x2048-height":417,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/joel1-time-for-tanach.jpg","post_full_size-width":822,"post_full_size-height":417,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/joel1-time-for-tanach.jpg","home_baner-width":822,"home_baner-height":417}},"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":"Torah In Motion together with 929 present:","tile_main_caption":"Time For Tanach","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"24 Teachers 24 Books 24 Classes","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":76788,"alt":"","title":"joel1-time for tanach","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/joel1-time-for-tanach.jpg","width":822,"height":417,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/joel1-time-for-tanach-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/joel1-time-for-tanach-300x152.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":152,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/joel1-time-for-tanach-768x390.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":390,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/joel1-time-for-tanach.jpg","large-width":822,"large-height":417,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/joel1-time-for-tanach.jpg","1536x1536-width":822,"1536x1536-height":417,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/joel1-time-for-tanach.jpg","2048x2048-width":822,"2048x2048-height":417,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/joel1-time-for-tanach.jpg","post_full_size-width":822,"post_full_size-height":417,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/joel1-time-for-tanach.jpg","home_baner-width":822,"home_baner-height":417}},"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":"Joel","chapter":"1","chapter_main_number":"515","date":"20270819","wall_id":"515"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":6,"id":"76825","color":"#e0e9ef","size":"1","name":"Sanctify, Purify, Solemnize, Assemble ","post_title":"Sanctify, Purify, Solemnize, Assemble","slug":"sanctify-purify-solemnize-assemble","old_id":"76825","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":"516","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"And fast together to elevate the communal spirit\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

In Chapter 1, Joel predicted the approach of hordes of locusts in consecutive waves of ever greater devastation: \u201cWhat the cutter has left, the locust has devoured; What the locust has left, the grub has devoured; And what the grub has left, the hopper has devoured\u201d (1:4). Just as Eskimos are said to have many words for snow, farmers who regularly faced plagues of locusts knew their different varieties.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

In Chapter 2, the prophet continued with his description of the impending desolation, comparing the swarms of locusts to a vast approaching army (see the use of the word <\/span>chayil<\/span><\/em>, \u201carmy,\u201d in vs. 11 and 25), dense enough to block the sunlight (10).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

What remedy did he prescribe? Two recommendations repeat themselves in the opening chapters: fasting and assembling.<\/span><\/p>\r\n