Illustration for Chapter 32:<\/p>\r\n
The tribes of Reuben and Gad approached Moses, saying: \u201cThe land that the Lord has conquered for the community of Israel is cattle country and your servants have cattle. It would be a favor to us, they continued, if this land were given to your servants as a holding; do not move us across the Jordan\u201d (32:4\u20135). Though these tribes did own much cattle, Moses understood that, being primarily concerned with own possessions and wealth, they wanted to acquire lands without having to cross the Jordan and fight in the ensuing battles. Moses countered angrily: \u201cAre your brothers to go to war while you stay here?\u201d (32:6). Upon hearing his wrathful response, the two tribes realized their mistake and hastened to assure Moses that they would not forsake the other tribes but would cross over the Jordan to help conquer the land of Canaan.<\/span><\/p>\r\n Do we have here a hint that Moses did not understand the new generation that grew up in the wilderness or does the story serve to reveal Moses\u2019 still brilliant leadership, where, remembering the faults of the previous generation, he was able to prevent injustices among the tribes?<\/span><\/p>\r\n Avner Moriah\u2019s painting speaks to the answer. In the center of the picture we see three bearded figures, representing . \u201cthe Gadites, the Reuvenites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh son of Joseph\u201d (32:33). This central group is marked with two red triangular shapes that seem to point toward Moses on the left standing with Elazar, the High Priest; Joshua son of Nun; and the other Israelite chieftains, portrayed against a yellow mountain.<\/span><\/p>\r\n To the right we see the other tribes with their spears behind them, figured as a firmly united assembly, also set against a yellow mountain, which marks \u201c\u2026the land that the Lord has conquered for the community of Israel\u201d (32:4). In contrast, the center group is shown against a gap between the two mountains, which points to the way from the east to the west of the Jordan. At the top of the picture we see a hieroglyphic inset, alluding to the promise the two tribes made to Moses: \u201cWe will build here sheepfolds for our flocks and towns for our children. And we will hasten as shock-troops in the van of the Israelites until we have established them in their home.\u2026We will not return to our homes until every one of the Israelites is in possession of his portion\u201d (32:17\u201318).<\/span><\/p>\r\n The rightmost symbol represents sheepfolds for their flocks and only the next symbol is the town for their children. Moses, aware of their blatant materialism, soon corrects them, saying: \u201cBuild towns for your children and sheepfolds for your flocks\u201d (32:24), which is indeed what they do in the end. <\/span><\/p>\r\n This chapter reveal Moses\u2019 stature and ability as a leader who knew his people and knew well how to ensure that one group would not exploit the others so that justice would prevail.<\/span><\/p>\r\n <\/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":48726,"alt":"","title":"Num32-Matot","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Num32-Matot.jpg","width":2500,"height":1616,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Num32-Matot-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Num32-Matot-300x194.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":194,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Num32-Matot-768x496.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":496,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Num32-Matot-1024x662.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":662,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Num32-Matot.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":993,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Num32-Matot.jpg","2048x2048-width":2048,"2048x2048-height":1324,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Num32-Matot-1200x776.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":776,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Num32-Matot-650x420.jpg","home_baner-width":650,"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 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all","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":48726,"alt":"","title":"Num32-Matot","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Num32-Matot.jpg","width":2500,"height":1616,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Num32-Matot-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Num32-Matot-300x194.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":194,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Num32-Matot-768x496.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":496,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Num32-Matot-1024x662.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":662,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Num32-Matot.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":993,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Num32-Matot.jpg","2048x2048-width":2048,"2048x2048-height":1324,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Num32-Matot-1200x776.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":776,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Num32-Matot-650x420.jpg","home_baner-width":650,"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","chapter_info":{"books_group":"Torah","book":"Numbers","chapter":"32","chapter_main_number":"149","date":"20260325","wall_id":"149"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"368","name":"Parasha","old_id":"768"},{"term_id":"369","name":"Visual 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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":"150","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"To enshrine a memory of divine love amidst trials, travels, travails, and tribulations","post_main_content_content":" Illustration for Chapter 33:<\/p>\r\n The last reading in the Book of Numbers, summarizes the book by recording the Israelites\u2019 journeys in the wilderness. The chapter begins by noting: \u201cThese were the marches (<\/span>mase\u2019ei<\/span><\/i>) of the Israelites who started out from the land of Egypt troop by troop in the charge of Moses and Aaron\u201d (Num. 33:1). The forty-two names listed are the places where the Israelites encamped for longer or shorter periods during the many years that they wandered in the desert.<\/span><\/p>\r\n Why is it so significant that Moses, now near the end of his long years of arduous leadership, felt compelled to detail the Israelites\u2019 journeys as they traveled from place to place, emphasizing that these marches were enjoined by God?<\/span><\/p>\r\n This painting visualizes the travels recorded in the text in a colorful template made up of eleven registers, inviting the viewer to follow the Israelites\u2019 journey, station by station, reading from the top right to the bottom left. Each register shows a light-colored strip, alluding to the desert where the Israelites traveled and encamped. Desert hills sit atop the sand and above the hills we see blue skies. Images of the Egyptian pyramids at the far right of the top register mark the Israelites\u2019 point of departure. <\/span><\/p>\r\n The names of the various places where they rested appear on the strips of desert sand: The Hebrew names inscribed in the picture are: Rameses, Succoth, Eitam (marked as the edge of the wilderness), Hiroth (where the blue sea is shown), Marah, Elim, Dophkah, Alush, Rephidim, the wilderness of Sinai, Kibroth, Hazeroth, Rithmah, Rimon-Perez, Libnah, Rissah, Kehelah, Mount Shepher, Haradah, Makheloth, Tahath, Terah, Mithkah, the <\/span>mountains of Abarim, the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho, and finally to Beth-Jeshimoth, and Abel-Shittim. <\/span><\/p>\r\n Both the biblical text of <\/span>Mase\u2019ei<\/span><\/i> and the artist\u2019s visualization clearly accent the importance of the people\u2019s memory of its past and its history. There is no doubt that recalling the long years that they survived in the wilderness and its many tribulations enhanced the recognition of what they had endured along with the knowledge of the protection they had enjoyed at God\u2019s hands. Moses was convinced that the recollection of their years in the desert had to be kept alive so that the Israelites would always remember all that God did for them and would follow Him forever, as voiced so eloquently in the later verse that entered Jewish liturgy: \u201cThus said the LORD: I accounted your favor, the devotion of your youth, your love as a bride \u2013 how you followed Me in the wilderness, in a land not sown\u201d (Jer. 2:2). The Israelites were never to forget that their journey was a manifestation of the Lord\u2019s direct involvement with His chosen people. <\/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":48726,"alt":"","title":"Num32-Matot","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Num32-Matot.jpg","width":2500,"height":1616,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Num32-Matot-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Num32-Matot-300x194.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":194,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Num32-Matot-768x496.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":496,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Num32-Matot-1024x662.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":662,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Num32-Matot.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":993,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Num32-Matot.jpg","2048x2048-width":2048,"2048x2048-height":1324,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Num32-Matot-1200x776.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":776,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Num32-Matot-650x420.jpg","home_baner-width":650,"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 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Written as an accompaniment to Rabbi Sacks\u2019 weekly Covenant & Conversation essay, the Family Edition is aimed at connecting older children and teenagers with his ideas and thoughts on the parsha. Each element of the Family Edition is progressively more advanced; The Core Idea is appropriate for all ages and the final element, From The Thought of Rabbi Sacks, is the most advanced section. Each section includes Questions to Ponder, aimed at encouraging discussion between family members in a way most appropriate to them. We have also included a section called Around the Shabbat Table with a few further questions on the parsha to think about. The final section is an Educational Companion which includes suggested talking points in response to the questions found throughout the Family Edition.","short_description":"Covenant & Conversation: Family Edition is a new and exciting initiative from The Office of Rabbi Jonathan Sacks","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":42814,"alt":"","title":"CCfamilylogo-693x457","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/CCfamilylogo-693x457.jpg","width":693,"height":457,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/CCfamilylogo-693x457-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/CCfamilylogo-693x457-300x198.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":198,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/CCfamilylogo-693x457.jpg","medium_large-width":693,"medium_large-height":457,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/CCfamilylogo-693x457.jpg","large-width":693,"large-height":457,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/CCfamilylogo-693x457.jpg","1536x1536-width":693,"1536x1536-height":457,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/CCfamilylogo-693x457.jpg","2048x2048-width":693,"2048x2048-height":457,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/CCfamilylogo-693x457.jpg","post_full_size-width":693,"post_full_size-height":457,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/CCfamilylogo-693x457-637x420.jpg","home_baner-width":637,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"1105","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"","post_main_content_content":" Parshat Matot begins with Moses teaching the people about promises - vows and oaths \u2013 how they should be kept and how they can be cancelled.<\/p>\r\n Two tribes, Reuven and Gad, together with half the tribe of Menashe, then ask permission to dwell on the east side of the River Jordan where the land is ideal pasture for their cattle. Moses is disappointed that they are choosing to live outside of the Land of Israel, but eventually he says yes, as long as they first join in all the battles for the Promised Land, west of the Jordan, helping the rest of the Israelites.<\/p>\r\n Parshat Masei gives us a list of the 42 stopping-points of the Israelites\u2019 forty-year journey through the wilderness. Their final stop is on the plains of Moab, where they will stay until the death of Moses. Then the parsha sets out the borders of the Promised Land, as well as highlighting which places will become cities of refuge (where people guilty of accidental murder can live safely, protected from the relatives of the person who has died).<\/p>\r\n Matot and Masei, often read together, are the final parshiot in the book of Bamidbar. This book is full of the stories of what happened while the people lived in the desert, as well as the laws that the people were taught during this time. Moses taught them, (and us), about: the laws of purity, of the Mishkan, Lashon Hara, and future laws for the Land. Sometimes the people rebelled against Moses and against God Himself, sometimes they complained or broke the laws. Every time they made a mistake, God forgave them and Moses tried to show them a better way to behave.<\/p>\r\n Download the Family Edition for Matot-Mas'ei\u00a0<\/a><\/p>","post_main_content_image":"","post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"Family Study Materials","tile_main_caption":"My Teacher, In Memoriam","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"for Parashot Matot-Mas'ei","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":42816,"alt":"","title":"covenant and conversation - Sacks","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/covenant-and-conversation-Sacks.jpg","width":723,"height":426,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/covenant-and-conversation-Sacks-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/covenant-and-conversation-Sacks-300x177.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":177,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/covenant-and-conversation-Sacks.jpg","medium_large-width":723,"medium_large-height":426,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/covenant-and-conversation-Sacks.jpg","large-width":723,"large-height":426,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/covenant-and-conversation-Sacks.jpg","1536x1536-width":723,"1536x1536-height":426,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/covenant-and-conversation-Sacks.jpg","2048x2048-width":723,"2048x2048-height":426,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/covenant-and-conversation-Sacks.jpg","post_full_size-width":723,"post_full_size-height":426,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/covenant-and-conversation-Sacks-713x420.jpg","home_baner-width":713,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","old_create_date":"","links":false,"tile_link_for_pay":"0","chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"Amos","chapter":false,"chapter_main_number":false,"date":false,"wall_id":"1105"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":4,"id":"77172","color":"#e0e9ef","size":"1","name":"Fortresses and Storehouses ","post_title":"Fortresses and Storehouses","slug":"fortresses-and-storehouses","old_id":"77172","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":39778,"post_title":"Aliza Libman Baronofsky","slug":"aliza-libman-baronofsky","old_id":"39778","first_name":"Aliza Libman ","last_name":"Baronofsky ","description":"Aliza Libman Baronofsky is a first-year student in the Advanced Kollel at Yeshivat Maharat and teaches at Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School, in Rockville, MD. She studied Tanach at Midreshet Lindenbaum and York University and previously taught Tanach and math at the Maimonides School in Brookline, MA. Aliza is the creator of www.chumashandmath.blogspot.com, a repository of interdisciplinary lesson plans. ","short_description":"Aliza Libman Baronofsky is a student in the Advanced Kollel at Yeshivat Maharat and teaches at Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School, in Rockville, MD. ","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":39779,"alt":"","title":"aliza baronofsky","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/aliza-baronofsky.jpg","width":1425,"height":1794,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/aliza-baronofsky-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/aliza-baronofsky-238x300.jpg","medium-width":238,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/aliza-baronofsky-768x967.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":967,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/aliza-baronofsky-813x1024.jpg","large-width":813,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/aliza-baronofsky.jpg","1536x1536-width":1220,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/aliza-baronofsky.jpg","2048x2048-width":1425,"2048x2048-height":1794,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/aliza-baronofsky-953x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":953,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/aliza-baronofsky-334x420.jpg","home_baner-width":334,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"521","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"","post_main_content_content":" (This post is the third in a series on social justice in Amos)\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n In Amos 3, the prophet\u2019s great rhetorical opener of the first 8 verses serves to focus the listener\u2019s attention on God\u2019s might and the clear need to listen to the message. The message itself is less clear:<\/span><\/p>\r\n \u201cProclaim in the fortresses of Ashdod And in the fortresses of the land of Egypt! Say: Gather on the hill of Samaria And witness the great outrages within her And the oppression in her midst. They are incapable of doing right \u2014declares the LORD; They store up lawlessness and rapine In their fortresses. Assuredly, Thus said my Lord GOD: An enemy, all about the land! He shall strip you of your splendor, And your fortresses shall be plundered.\u201d (Amos 3:9-11)<\/span><\/p>\r\n What are these fortresses (<\/span>armonot<\/span><\/em>) that are mentioned four times in this verse? What is their function? What crimes are taking place that are so severe they necessitate the ultimate destruction of the fortresses of the Northern Kingdom?<\/span><\/p>\r\n Previously, we acknowledged that the first half of the 8<\/span>th<\/span> century was seen by scholars to be a time of economic prosperity. In her book, \u201cAmos and the Officialdom of the Kingdom of Israel,\u201d Prof. Izabela Jaruzelska uses academic and archaeological sources to posit that there was increased population in both the Northern Kingdom of Israel and neighboring Phonecia, necessitating an increase in oil and grain production in the Northern Kingdom.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n The Northern Kingdom, producing more agricultural products, needed more sophisticated ways to store, protect and export all of this oil and grain. An industry was needed to support this \u2013 fortresses need to be constructed that include storehouses (<\/span>otzarim<\/span><\/em>). Officials were hired to manage and maintain these facilities. However, instead of storing grain and oil, the prophet tells us: \u201cThey store up lawlessness and rapine In their fortresses\u201d (3:10).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n What were these officials doing? Logically, Jaruzelska suggests, they were using their positions to enrich themselves. The classical commentaries interpret these words as meaning \u201ctheft.\u201d Are they skimming a bit off the top? The details can\u2019t be known but the prophet\u2019s words make it easy to imagine.<\/span><\/p>\r\n In this time of prosperity, the population grew and agricultural products increased. Yet the gains of this time accrued only to those with plum jobs in palace storehouses \u2013 an elite class who are the targets of these prophecies. This elite class was not just making a fair wage \u2013 they were abusing their access to enrich themselves while the people below them suffered.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n As a consequence of the misdeeds described in verses 10 and 11, we can understand that the historical enemies of the Israelites (the Philistines and Egyptians) referenced in verse 9 are mentioned because of an idea of Israelite exceptionalism that persists among the people. All is not well, says the prophet, and you are no better than them. Your fortresses are no more noble than theirs, and will be destroyed without mercy.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n Image: John Day, Gentleman giving alms to a beggar, woodcut, 1569 \/ wikipedia<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":77178,"alt":"","title":"Amos3-Giving_Alms_to_a_Beggar","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Amos3-Giving_Alms_to_a_Beggar.jpg","width":695,"height":600,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Amos3-Giving_Alms_to_a_Beggar-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Amos3-Giving_Alms_to_a_Beggar-300x259.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":259,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Amos3-Giving_Alms_to_a_Beggar.jpg","medium_large-width":695,"medium_large-height":600,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Amos3-Giving_Alms_to_a_Beggar.jpg","large-width":695,"large-height":600,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Amos3-Giving_Alms_to_a_Beggar.jpg","1536x1536-width":695,"1536x1536-height":600,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Amos3-Giving_Alms_to_a_Beggar.jpg","2048x2048-width":695,"2048x2048-height":600,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Amos3-Giving_Alms_to_a_Beggar.jpg","post_full_size-width":695,"post_full_size-height":600,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Amos3-Giving_Alms_to_a_Beggar-487x420.jpg","home_baner-width":487,"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":"Social 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Religiosity And A Culture of Conspicuous Consumption ","post_title":"Faux Religiosity And A Culture of Conspicuous Consumption","slug":"faux-religiosity-and-a-culture-of-conspicuous-consumption","old_id":"77267","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":39778,"post_title":"Aliza Libman Baronofsky","slug":"aliza-libman-baronofsky","old_id":"39778","first_name":"Aliza Libman ","last_name":"Baronofsky ","description":"Aliza Libman Baronofsky is a first-year student in the Advanced Kollel at Yeshivat Maharat and teaches at Charles E. 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","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":39779,"alt":"","title":"aliza baronofsky","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/aliza-baronofsky.jpg","width":1425,"height":1794,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/aliza-baronofsky-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/aliza-baronofsky-238x300.jpg","medium-width":238,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/aliza-baronofsky-768x967.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":967,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/aliza-baronofsky-813x1024.jpg","large-width":813,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/aliza-baronofsky.jpg","1536x1536-width":1220,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/aliza-baronofsky.jpg","2048x2048-width":1425,"2048x2048-height":1794,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/aliza-baronofsky-953x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":953,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/aliza-baronofsky-334x420.jpg","home_baner-width":334,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"522","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"The money has to come from somewhere...\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":" (This post is the fourth in a series on social justice in Amos)\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n In our series examining income inequality in the Northern Kingdom as described in the book of Amos, we have noted that there are a number of officials and public servants who are misusing their positions to enrich themselves.<\/span><\/p>\r\n Today\u2019s chapter helps us understand why. The prophet opens with the words \u201cHear this word, you cows of Bashan On the hill of Samaria\u2014 Who defraud the poor, Who rob the needy; Who say to your husbands, \u201cBring [wine], and let\u2019s carouse!\u201d\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n The cows of the Bashan symbolize wealth and luxury: only a person who can afford more than they need has the luxury of being fat.<\/span><\/p>\r\n Many commentaries suggest that \u201ccows of the Bashan\u201d refers to the wives of the officials we discussed yesterday.\u00a0 In case the reader thought they were not party to the sins of their husbands, the opening verse here singles them out as perpetrators. Malbim explains that they demanded fine things from their husbands and therefore bear partial responsibility for their subsequent suffering. Radak adds that if their husbands didn\u2019t deliver, they would personally go and wring the necessary cash from the poor themselves. Metzudat David even adds that they\u2019d personally beat the poor if they tried to refuse.<\/span><\/p>\r\n Verses 4-5 describe the people\u2019s sacrificial habits in derogatory terms. In chapter 2, the altar was mentioned as a place where the targets of these prophecies enjoyed their ill-gotten gains.<\/span><\/p>\r\n There is a false religiosity here \u2013 a religiosity of luxury. Verse 5 says \u201cAnd burn a thank offering of leavened bread\u201d though most sacrifices were brought without leavened bread. Instead, types of matza and simple crackers made with oil were used. These people are bringing the \u201cTodah,\u201d a sacrifice traditionally accompanied by forty loaves, only their loaves are made out of leavened bread. The Todah\u2019s traditional rules require the offerer to eat all the meat within a day and a night of offering it. This law, known as <\/span>piggul<\/span><\/em>, can be seen as a way of enabling sharing of the meat with others. However, they have perverted the spirit of these laws and turned them simply into a vehicle for excessive consumption of meat and bread.<\/span><\/p>\r\n These verses describe religious practice done only for show \u2013 the verse says \u201cproclaim freewill offerings loudly,\u201d because they bring these sacrifices only for the purpose of others seeing their virtue.<\/span><\/p>\r\n We can imagine a world where you got invited to someone else\u2019s Todah sacrifice party and thus feel compelled to throw your own, to keep up with the neighbors. This requires bringing your own bull, along with accompanying bread and wine. The costs would add up \u2013 and the money has to come from somewhere.<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":77268,"alt":"","title":"amos4-money","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/amos4-money.jpg","width":1920,"height":1324,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/amos4-money-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/amos4-money-300x207.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":207,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/amos4-money-768x530.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":530,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/amos4-money-1024x706.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":706,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/amos4-money.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1059,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/amos4-money.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":1324,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/amos4-money-1200x828.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":828,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/amos4-money-609x420.jpg","home_baner-width":609,"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":"Social Justice in Amos","tile_main_caption":"Faux Religiosity And A Culture of Conspicuous Consumption","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"The money has to come from somewhere...","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":77268,"alt":"","title":"amos4-money","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/amos4-money.jpg","width":1920,"height":1324,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/amos4-money-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/amos4-money-300x207.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":207,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/amos4-money-768x530.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":530,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/amos4-money-1024x706.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":706,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/amos4-money.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1059,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/amos4-money.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":1324,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/amos4-money-1200x828.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":828,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/amos4-money-609x420.jpg","home_baner-width":609,"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":"Amos","chapter":"4","chapter_main_number":"522","date":"20270830","wall_id":"522"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":6,"id":"77369","color":"#f7f7f5","size":"1","name":"The Culpability Of The Judges ","post_title":"The Culpability Of The Judges","slug":"the-culpability-of-the-judges","old_id":"77369","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":39778,"post_title":"Aliza Libman Baronofsky","slug":"aliza-libman-baronofsky","old_id":"39778","first_name":"Aliza Libman ","last_name":"Baronofsky ","description":"Aliza Libman Baronofsky is a first-year student in the Advanced Kollel at Yeshivat Maharat and teaches at Charles E. 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","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":39779,"alt":"","title":"aliza baronofsky","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/aliza-baronofsky.jpg","width":1425,"height":1794,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/aliza-baronofsky-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/aliza-baronofsky-238x300.jpg","medium-width":238,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/aliza-baronofsky-768x967.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":967,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/aliza-baronofsky-813x1024.jpg","large-width":813,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/aliza-baronofsky.jpg","1536x1536-width":1220,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/aliza-baronofsky.jpg","2048x2048-width":1425,"2048x2048-height":1794,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/aliza-baronofsky-953x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":953,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/aliza-baronofsky-334x420.jpg","home_baner-width":334,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"523","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"And they will be punished\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":" (This post is the fifth in a series on social justice in Amos)<\/span><\/p>\r\n In Chapter 2, we first raised the possibility that the community\u2019s judges were perpetuating the system of economic inequality. In today\u2019s chapter, the prophet returns to the judicial system with a lengthy statement in verses 7-13 contrasting the evil of the judges with the power of God.<\/span><\/p>\r\n Verse 10 reads: \u201cThey hate the rebuker [or arbiter] in the gate, And detest him whose plea is just.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n Biblical scenes of court cases are classically situated in the gates of the city (most famously in the fourth chapter of the book of Ruth.) The prophet tells us: \u201cThey hate the <\/span>mochiach, <\/span><\/i>rebuker in the gate.\u201d The use of the root word for rebuke leads the commentaries to say that the prophet went to the gate to rebuke the judges for their contribution to the injustice in society. There, the prophet would have found quite a crowd of judges, litigants and other parties. These judges are not receptive to the call to change their ways.<\/span><\/p>\r\n What have these judges done? In every society, disputes arise and judges adjudicate them. In a time of increased oil and grain production, someone has to do the producing. History is full of cases where rich landowners laid out impossible conditions for their serfs. Droughts, pests and other factors could give a particular farmer a bad season \u2013 who bears the loss? If the landowner demands a specific yield, a farmer could toil endlessly without getting out of debt. The poor could bring landowners to court for a better deal \u2013 but more likely the landowner brought his serf to court to seek a legal judgement for monies not repaid. After all, farmers constantly need equipment and supplies and often have to borrow to get them.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n In the second half of verse 10, the judge is said to \u201cdetest the one whose speech is unblemished.\u201d JPS renders this \u201cdetest him whose plea is just.\u201d In other words, though judges are empowered to use their rulings to promote justice and fairness, they unjustly side with the wealthy landowners.<\/span><\/p>\r\n Nestled between verse 10 and 12, verse 11 might initially seem to be about the wealthy officials and landowners we have discussed in previous chapters:<\/span><\/p>\r\n Assuredly, Because you impose a tax on the poor And exact from him a levy of grain, You have built houses of hewn stone, But you shall not live in them; You have planted delightful vineyards, But shall not drink their wine.<\/span><\/p>\r\n From the context it is clear this verse is talking about the judges castigated in the verses that precede and follow it. They have used their judicial powers to uphold the system of taxation to their own gain; as a result, they will be punished alongside the landowners when the time comes.<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":77370,"alt":"","title":"amos5-judges","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/amos5-judges.png","width":1280,"height":906,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/amos5-judges-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/amos5-judges-300x212.png","medium-width":300,"medium-height":212,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/amos5-judges-768x544.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":544,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/amos5-judges-1024x725.png","large-width":1024,"large-height":725,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/amos5-judges.png","1536x1536-width":1280,"1536x1536-height":906,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/amos5-judges.png","2048x2048-width":1280,"2048x2048-height":906,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/amos5-judges-1200x849.png","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":849,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/amos5-judges-593x420.png","home_baner-width":593,"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":"Social Justice in Amos","tile_main_caption":"The Culpability Of The Judges","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"And they will be punished","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":77370,"alt":"","title":"amos5-judges","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/amos5-judges.png","width":1280,"height":906,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/amos5-judges-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/amos5-judges-300x212.png","medium-width":300,"medium-height":212,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/amos5-judges-768x544.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":544,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/amos5-judges-1024x725.png","large-width":1024,"large-height":725,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/amos5-judges.png","1536x1536-width":1280,"1536x1536-height":906,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/amos5-judges.png","2048x2048-width":1280,"2048x2048-height":906,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/amos5-judges-1200x849.png","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":849,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/amos5-judges-593x420.png","home_baner-width":593,"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":"Amos","chapter":"5","chapter_main_number":"523","date":"20270831","wall_id":"523"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":7,"id":"77393","color":"#e8ecf6","size":"1","name":"An 8th century BCE Gilded Age ","post_title":"An 8th century BCE Gilded Age","slug":"an-8th-century-bce-gilded-age","old_id":"77393","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":39778,"post_title":"Aliza Libman Baronofsky","slug":"aliza-libman-baronofsky","old_id":"39778","first_name":"Aliza Libman ","last_name":"Baronofsky ","description":"Aliza Libman Baronofsky is a first-year student in the Advanced Kollel at Yeshivat Maharat and teaches at Charles E. 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","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":39779,"alt":"","title":"aliza baronofsky","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/aliza-baronofsky.jpg","width":1425,"height":1794,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/aliza-baronofsky-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/aliza-baronofsky-238x300.jpg","medium-width":238,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/aliza-baronofsky-768x967.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":967,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/aliza-baronofsky-813x1024.jpg","large-width":813,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/aliza-baronofsky.jpg","1536x1536-width":1220,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/aliza-baronofsky.jpg","2048x2048-width":1425,"2048x2048-height":1794,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/aliza-baronofsky-953x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":953,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/aliza-baronofsky-334x420.jpg","home_baner-width":334,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"524","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"And as with modern economic crashes - too few listened until it was too late\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":" (This post is the sixth in a series on social justice in Amos)<\/span><\/p>\r\n In the late 19<\/span>th<\/span> century, Gilded Age mansions constructed on Fifth Avenue in New York and on similar streets elsewhere housed the tycoons of the era while many thousands of others toiled in sweatshops and lived in tenements. The lifestyle characterized by opulent surroundings and succulent foods takes a page out of Amos 6, where the wealthy are criticized for their excessive lifestyle:<\/span><\/p>\r\n Verse 4 tell us: \u201cThey lie on ivory beds.\u201d Ivory brings to mind the worst excesses of recent centuries \u2013 the widespread massacre of elephants for their tusks \u2013 but in the era of 8<\/span>th<\/span> century BCE, it must have been even more difficult and expensive to acquire and transport enough ivory to the Middle East to make a bed of sufficient size.<\/span><\/p>\r\n Later in the verse, we are told that they feast on lambs and calves. Then comes the musical entertainment: \u201cthey hum snatches of song to the tune of the lute.\u201d Though these people think of themselves like David, they are much closer to Goliath, with his reliance on his power and his scorn for the weak. These verses illustrate parties with food, music, wine, and oil for anointing.<\/span><\/p>\r\n Verse 6 warns \u201cBut they are not concerned about the ruin of Joseph.\u201d The prophet is warning about the destruction of the Northern Kingdom but these rich people are impervious to his warnings. We can understand their blindness: we\u2019ve seen it so many times throughout history.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n Too few listened until it was too late.<\/span><\/p>\r\n It is easy to confuse tangibility with permanence. The house you own, the ivory bed you sleep on, the well-stocked wine cellar feel permanent because you can touch (or taste) them. In every era, there are wealthy people who believe that it is through their own virtue that they have great wealth, which will never run out.\u00a0 Nothing material is permanent, the prophet reminds us. Not the house of the private citizen, which can be seized by the bank, the government or invading armies, and not the fortresses and palaces which <\/span>we discussed in chapter 3<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\r\n What is permanent and enduring? Only God, God\u2019s power, and hopefully, the relationship God has with the remnant of God\u2019s people.<\/span><\/p>\r\n Image: Heinrich Merz, Destruction of Jerusalem (detail) \/ picryl<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":77394,"alt":"","title":"amos6-mertz destruction","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/amos6-mertz-destruction.jpeg","width":1000,"height":653,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/amos6-mertz-destruction-150x150.jpeg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/amos6-mertz-destruction-300x196.jpeg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":196,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/amos6-mertz-destruction-768x502.jpeg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":502,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/amos6-mertz-destruction.jpeg","large-width":1000,"large-height":653,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/amos6-mertz-destruction.jpeg","1536x1536-width":1000,"1536x1536-height":653,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/amos6-mertz-destruction.jpeg","2048x2048-width":1000,"2048x2048-height":653,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/amos6-mertz-destruction.jpeg","post_full_size-width":1000,"post_full_size-height":653,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/amos6-mertz-destruction-643x420.jpeg","home_baner-width":643,"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":"Social Justice in Amos","tile_main_caption":"An 8th century BCE Gilded Age","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"And as with modern economic crashes - too few listened until it was too late","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":77394,"alt":"","title":"amos6-mertz destruction","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/amos6-mertz-destruction.jpeg","width":1000,"height":653,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/amos6-mertz-destruction-150x150.jpeg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/amos6-mertz-destruction-300x196.jpeg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":196,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/amos6-mertz-destruction-768x502.jpeg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":502,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/amos6-mertz-destruction.jpeg","large-width":1000,"large-height":653,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/amos6-mertz-destruction.jpeg","1536x1536-width":1000,"1536x1536-height":653,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/amos6-mertz-destruction.jpeg","2048x2048-width":1000,"2048x2048-height":653,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/amos6-mertz-destruction.jpeg","post_full_size-width":1000,"post_full_size-height":653,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/amos6-mertz-destruction-643x420.jpeg","home_baner-width":643,"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":"Amos","chapter":"6","chapter_main_number":"524","date":"20270901","wall_id":"524"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":8,"id":"77180","color":"#effaea","size":"1","name":"Ultimate Accountability ","post_title":"Ultimate Accountability","slug":"ultimate-accountability","old_id":"77180","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. 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