{"id":79323,"date":"2018-07-09T17:49:09","date_gmt":"2018-07-09T14:49:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wall\/wall-1112\/"},"modified":"2022-02-02T19:42:38","modified_gmt":"2022-02-02T17:42:38","slug":"wall-1112","status":"publish","type":"wall","link":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wall\/wall-1112\/","title":{"rendered":"weekend-from-20240324-to-20240330"},"parent":0,"template":"","acf":{"type":"weekend","wall_id":"1112","date_from":"20240324","date_to":"20240330","book":"Zechariah","books_group":"Prophets","posts":[{"order":1,"id":"51672","color":"#f8ebe3","size":"2","name":"Ki Tavo\u2019 - First Fruits: Where, What, Why? ","post_title":"Ki Tavo\u2019 - First Fruits: Where, What, Why?","slug":"ki-tavo-first-fruits-where-what-why","old_id":"51672","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":"179","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"My father was a fugitive, and I have entered the Land","post_main_content_content":"

\u201cWhen you enter the land that the Lord your God is giving you as a heritage, and you possess it and settle in it, you shall take some of every first fruit of the soil, which you harvest from the land that the Lord your God is giving you, put it in a basket and go to the place where the Lord your God will choose to establish His name. You shall go to the priest in charge at that time and say to him: I acknowledge this day before the Lord your God that I have entered the land that the Lord swore to our fathers to assign us\u201d (Deut. 26:1\u20133). The word \u201cyou\u201d here is in the second person singular for all the verbs, implying that each man, as an individual, had to bring the first fruits of his produce to the priest. The priest then took the basket, the symbol of gratitude to God, and laid it down on the altar of the Lord.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Why did each farmer individually have to bring his first fruits to the Temple to be distributed among the priests in Jerusalem rather than giving them directly to the priest in his own community? Which kinds of produce were brought as <\/span>bikurim<\/span><\/i>? What was the real purpose of having the farmers repeat the ceremony each year?<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Avner Moriah visualizes the <\/span>bikurim<\/span><\/i> ritual in a minimalistic manner, figuring the farmer and the priest on one side of the picture and the first fruits on the altar on the other. <\/span><\/p>\r\n

The artist\u2019s depictions of the first fruits<\/span> reflect the tradition of the <\/span>bikurim <\/span><\/i>being selected from the seven unique kinds of produce named in the promise we read in <\/span>Parashat Ekev<\/span><\/i> in connection with God bringing the Israelites to the Promised Land: \u201ca land of wheat and barley, of vines, figs and pomegranates, a land of olive trees and honey\u201d (Deut. 8:8). <\/span><\/p>\r\n

Under the altar we see jugs of olive oil amid clusters of grapes, and on the top there are three baskets, one each of pomegranates, figs, and dates, as well as a sheaf of wheat and another of barley. <\/span><\/p>\r\n

Repeating the <\/span>bikurim<\/span><\/i> ritual every year in the Temple, \u201cwhere the Lord your God will choose to establish His name,\u201d rather than giving their first fruits to their community priests helped the farmers to see themselves as part of the generation that God brought to the Promised Land. Moreover, it was an opportunity to worship the one God in a way that differed markedly from the Canaanite rituals in which the first fruits were offered to please their many local gods. Each year the Israelite farmer recited the following words: \u201cMy father was a fugitive Aramean. He went down to Egypt\u2026\u201d (Deut. 26:5), after which he declared his faith in the God of Israel: \u201cWherefore I now bring the first fruits of the soil which You O Lord have given me\u201d (Deut. 26:10). <\/span><\/p>\r\n

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

Text by: Dr. Shulamit Laderman, PhD in Art History, publications on Jewish and Christian influences on biblical interpretive illustration.<\/span><\/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":51673,"alt":"","title":"50 Ki tavo","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/50-Ki-tavo.jpg","width":2001,"height":2500,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/50-Ki-tavo-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/50-Ki-tavo-240x300.jpg","medium-width":240,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/50-Ki-tavo-768x960.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":960,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/50-Ki-tavo-820x1024.jpg","large-width":820,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/50-Ki-tavo.jpg","1536x1536-width":1229,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/50-Ki-tavo.jpg","2048x2048-width":1639,"2048x2048-height":2048,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/50-Ki-tavo-960x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":960,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/50-Ki-tavo-336x420.jpg","home_baner-width":336,"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":"Ki Tavo' - ","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"My father was a fugitive, and I have entered the Land","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":51673,"alt":"","title":"50 Ki tavo","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/50-Ki-tavo.jpg","width":2001,"height":2500,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/50-Ki-tavo-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/50-Ki-tavo-240x300.jpg","medium-width":240,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/50-Ki-tavo-768x960.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":960,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/50-Ki-tavo-820x1024.jpg","large-width":820,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/50-Ki-tavo.jpg","1536x1536-width":1229,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/50-Ki-tavo.jpg","2048x2048-width":1639,"2048x2048-height":2048,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/50-Ki-tavo-960x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":960,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/50-Ki-tavo-336x420.jpg","home_baner-width":336,"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":"Deuteronomy","chapter":"26","chapter_main_number":"179","date":"20260506","wall_id":"179"},"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":"79550","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"Ki Tavo - Be Silent And Listen ","post_title":"Ki Tavo - Be Silent And Listen","slug":"ki-tavo-be-silent-and-listen","old_id":"79550","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":42813,"post_title":"Covenant & Conversation","slug":"covenant-conversation","old_id":"42813","first_name":"","last_name":"Covenant & Conversation","description":"Covenant & Conversation: Family Edition is a new and exciting initiative from The Office of Rabbi Jonathan Sacks. 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":"1112","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"","post_main_content_content":"

In Ki Tavo Moses reaches the end of his speech explaining all the details of the covenant. The last set of commands he discusses involve bringing first fruits to the central Sanctuary, as well as the various agricultural tithes (like taxes), giving 10 per cent of all produce to the poor, the Levites, or bringing the food to Jerusalem to eat. These rules rotate around a seven-year cycle).<\/p>\r\n

Moses then reminds the Israelites again that a covenant is a two-way promise between the people and God. The people are to give God their total loyalty. God, in turn, will always have a special relationship with the people.<\/p>\r\n

The Torah now turns to the next feature of ancient covenants: the blessings and curses that will result if the people are faithful on the one hand, or disloyal on the other. The parsha ends with Moses summoning the people, at the end of their forty-year journey and in sight of the Promised Land, to renew the covenant their parents made with God at Mount Sinai.<\/p>\r\n

Download the Family Edition for Ki Tavo as a PDF<\/strong><\/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":"Be Silent And Listen","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"for Parashat Ki Tavo","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":"Zechariah","chapter":false,"chapter_main_number":false,"date":false,"wall_id":"1112"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":3,"id":"79370","color":"#f6f5de","size":"1","name":"Four Chariots, Four Kingdoms, Four Winds ","post_title":"Four Chariots, Four Kingdoms, Four Winds","slug":"four-chariots-four-kingdoms-four-winds","old_id":"79370","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":"556","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"And a few theories\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

Zechariah saw four chariots emerging from between two copper mountains (1). One was drawn by red horses, one by black, the third by white, and the fourth by strong spotted horses (2-3). Rashi identified them with four kingdoms: Babylon, Medea, Greece, and Rome that\u2014successively\u2014subjugated the Land of Israel, the last of whose downfall was to usher in the era of the Messiah. This concept originated in Nebuchadnezzar\u2019s dream (Daniel 2) of a statue composed of different elements (head of gold, torso of silver, loins of bronze, legs of iron and feet of clay). Daniel identified the head as Babylon; Persia-Medea succeeded Babylon, so it was the torso; and Greece succeeded Persia so it was the loins. The identity of the fourth kingdom, however, remained moot throughout the middle ages, as exegetes in the Christian world\u2014such as Rashi\u2014assumed it was Rome-Byzantium-Christendom, while those in the Middle East, North Africa, and Spain assumed it was Islam.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Rashi associated the colors, too, with these kingdoms. Gold (the precious metal) often casts a reddish hue, hence it suited Babylon, the golden head. Medea was black because \u201cthe faces of Israel were blackened\u201d by Haman, who served Ahasuerus, a Medan king. White, symbolizing goodness, belonged to Persia, whose King Darius allowed the Temple to be rebuilt. The spotted horses stood for Greece \u201cwho tortured Israel with various decrees and persecutions,\u201d and the adjective strong applied to Edom (Rome). (The appearance here of \u201cIshmael\u201d in many editions of Rashi is erroneous).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Another approach to the color scheme was offered by Mordechai Zer Kavod in his commentary on Zechariah in the Da`at Mikra series (Jerusalem: Mosad HaRav Kook, 1976). Basing himself on the Angel\u2019s explanation, \u201cThose are the four winds of heaven\u201d (5), he connected red with the east, on account of the color of sunrise, black with north, where the sun shines least, white with the sand on the shore of the Mediterranean Sea to the west, and spotted for the color of the rocks in the southern desert.<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":79371,"alt":"","title":"zech6-chariots2","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/zech6-chariots2.jpg","width":1140,"height":570,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/zech6-chariots2-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/zech6-chariots2-300x150.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":150,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/zech6-chariots2-768x384.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":384,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/zech6-chariots2-1024x512.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":512,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/zech6-chariots2.jpg","1536x1536-width":1140,"1536x1536-height":570,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/zech6-chariots2.jpg","2048x2048-width":1140,"2048x2048-height":570,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/zech6-chariots2.jpg","post_full_size-width":1140,"post_full_size-height":570,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/zech6-chariots2-840x420.jpg","home_baner-width":840,"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":"Four Chariots, Four Kingdoms, Four Winds","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"And a few theories","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":79371,"alt":"","title":"zech6-chariots2","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/zech6-chariots2.jpg","width":1140,"height":570,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/zech6-chariots2-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/zech6-chariots2-300x150.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":150,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/zech6-chariots2-768x384.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":384,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/zech6-chariots2-1024x512.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":512,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/zech6-chariots2.jpg","1536x1536-width":1140,"1536x1536-height":570,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/zech6-chariots2.jpg","2048x2048-width":1140,"2048x2048-height":570,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/zech6-chariots2.jpg","post_full_size-width":1140,"post_full_size-height":570,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/zech6-chariots2-840x420.jpg","home_baner-width":840,"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":"Zechariah","chapter":"6","chapter_main_number":"556","date":"20271017","wall_id":"556"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":4,"id":"79373","color":"#efefef","size":"1","name":"What Is The Strongest Thing In The Kingdom? ","post_title":"What Is The Strongest Thing In The Kingdom?","slug":"what-is-the-strongest-thing-in-the-kingdom","old_id":"79373","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":73524,"post_title":"Yaakov Beasley","slug":"yaakov-beasley","old_id":"73524","first_name":"Yaakov ","last_name":"Beasley ","description":"Yaakov Beasley is the Tanakh Coordinator at Yeshivat Hesder Lev haTorah, the host of the TanachTalks podcast, and the author of Nahum, Habakkuk, and Zephaniah: Lights in the Valley (Maggid Press, 2020). ","short_description":"Yaakov Beasley is the Tanakh Coordinator at Yeshivat Hesder Lev haTorah, podcast host and author. ","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":73525,"alt":"","title":"yaakov beasley","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/yaakov-beasley.jpg","width":409,"height":484,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/yaakov-beasley-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/yaakov-beasley-254x300.jpg","medium-width":254,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/yaakov-beasley.jpg","medium_large-width":409,"medium_large-height":484,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/yaakov-beasley.jpg","large-width":409,"large-height":484,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/yaakov-beasley.jpg","1536x1536-width":409,"1536x1536-height":484,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/yaakov-beasley.jpg","2048x2048-width":409,"2048x2048-height":484,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/yaakov-beasley.jpg","post_full_size-width":409,"post_full_size-height":484,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/yaakov-beasley-355x420.jpg","home_baner-width":355,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"556","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Zerubbabel answers the riddle, and disappears\u00a0\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

Zechariah has a new vision - emerging from two copper mountains are four chariots pulled by four horses, colored red, black, white, and speckled respectively. Once again, the angel explains to Zechariah the symbolism of the vision. This time, the four chariots represent the four winds of heaven, represent God's spirit of judgment, and now this spirit is spreading out to the four corners of the world. Many commentaries understand that the four chariots represent Divine forces that will gain dominion over the four kingdoms that have historically ruled over the Jews, and now they themselves are envisioned as coming under God's dominion. God singles out the black chariot, travelling northward, for commendation, which most commentators interpret as symbolizing the defeat of the Babylonians.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

After this series of eight visions, God instructs Zechariah to make a crown of silver and a crown of gold. Zechariah is to place both crowns on the head of Joshua, the high priest; but immediately afterwards, Zechariah is to inform Joshua that \u201cTzemach\u201d (presumably Zerubbabel), named such because \"he will flourish\" (in Hebrew \u2013 yiTZMaCH), will be the one to build the Temple and sit on his throne, and will wear the gold crown. However, \u201ca harmonious understanding shall prevail between them\u201d (6:13).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Zechariah concludes chapter 6 with optimistic pictures of the exiles returning to the land to rebuild the Temple.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

What ever happened to Zerubbabel? Radak here suggests that he did rule over the people briefly, yet not only does the promised great redemption never come to pass, but Zerubbabel disappears mysteriously. Some scholars suggest that he was removed from his office (or even executed) by the Persians, suspicious of any charismatic leader that could lead the nascent community in Judea to rebel against them.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Later non-canonical works added to his legend. 1 Esdras describes the young Zerubbabel as one of the wisest men in Persia. Chapter 3 tells how Zerubbabel and two other courtiers of King Darius agree to a public dispute regarding the identity of the strongest thing in the kingdom. The king approves, promising to grant the winner great honor and royal favors.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The first debater suggests that wine is the strongest, because of its ability to \"lead astray all who drink it, making equal king and orphan, slave and freeman, poor and rich.\" The second declares that men are the strongest, because they rule over both land and sea. He adds that makes the king even stronger, because \"he is their lord and master\". If so, argues Zerubbabel logically then women are the strongest, since they give birth to men and kings alike, and men leave their parents to serve women.\" He then argues that truth is even stronger than women, for \"Truth endures and is strong forever.\"<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The king concurs with Zerubbabel, and appoints him to lead the first wave of Jewish exiles back to Jerusalem to complete the Temple's restoration. Sadly, Zerubbabel was fated to become his generation's symbol \u2013 filled with potential, but ultimately coming to naught.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":79374,"alt":"","title":"zech6-truth","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/zech6-truth.jpg","width":5900,"height":1853,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/zech6-truth-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/zech6-truth-300x94.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":94,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/zech6-truth-768x241.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":241,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/zech6-truth-1024x322.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":322,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/zech6-truth.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":482,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/zech6-truth.jpg","2048x2048-width":2048,"2048x2048-height":643,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/zech6-truth-1200x377.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":377,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/zech6-truth-1337x420.jpg","home_baner-width":1337,"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":"What Is The Strongest Thing In The Kingdom?","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Zerubbabel answers the riddle, and disappears\u00a0","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":79374,"alt":"","title":"zech6-truth","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/zech6-truth.jpg","width":5900,"height":1853,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/zech6-truth-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/zech6-truth-300x94.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":94,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/zech6-truth-768x241.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":241,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/zech6-truth-1024x322.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":322,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/zech6-truth.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":482,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/zech6-truth.jpg","2048x2048-width":2048,"2048x2048-height":643,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/zech6-truth-1200x377.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":377,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/zech6-truth-1337x420.jpg","home_baner-width":1337,"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":"Zechariah","chapter":"6","chapter_main_number":"556","date":"20271017","wall_id":"556"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":5,"id":"79448","color":"#f2e9df","size":"1","name":"Abolishing The Fasts ","post_title":"Abolishing The Fasts","slug":"abolishing-the-fasts","old_id":"79448","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":62571,"post_title":"Yaakov Bieler","slug":"yaakov-bieler","old_id":"62571","first_name":"Yaakov ","last_name":"Bieler ","description":"Rabbi Yaakov Bieler has been involved in Jewish education and the synagogue Rabbinate in New York, NY and Silver Spring, MD since being ordained by Yeshiva University in 1974. He has lectured and written extensively on Modern Orthodoxy, and blogs daily at https:\/\/yaakovbieler.wordpress.com ","short_description":"Rabbi Yaakov Bieler has been involved in Jewish education and the synagogue Rabbinate in New York, NY and Silver Spring, MD since being ordained by Yeshiva University. ","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":62572,"alt":"","title":"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/yaakov-bieler.jpg","width":141,"height":180,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/yaakov-bieler-141x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":141,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/yaakov-bieler.jpg","medium-width":141,"medium-height":180,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/yaakov-bieler.jpg","medium_large-width":141,"medium_large-height":180,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/yaakov-bieler.jpg","large-width":141,"large-height":180,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/yaakov-bieler.jpg","1536x1536-width":141,"1536x1536-height":180,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/yaakov-bieler.jpg","2048x2048-width":141,"2048x2048-height":180,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/yaakov-bieler.jpg","post_full_size-width":141,"post_full_size-height":180,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/yaakov-bieler.jpg","home_baner-width":141,"home_baner-height":180}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"557","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"A question for then - and now\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

Chapter 7 describes how the prophet Zechariah was asked a pointed question by residents of the Diaspora (v. 3) that has repercussions to the present day: \u201c\u2026Shall I weep and practice abstinence in the fifth month, as I have been doing all these years?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

They queried: now that the Second Temple has begun to be rebuilt in Jerusalem, and some of the Jews originally exiled to Babylonia have returned to their homeland, invigorating the Jewish presence in Israel, people wished to know whether the Ninth of Av (\u201cthe fifth month,\u201d counting from Nisan) marking the destruction of the First Temple, along with other communal fasts associated with this date, e.g., the 3<\/span>rd<\/span> of Tishrei (<\/span>Tzom Gedalia<\/span><\/em>; \u201cthe seventh month,\u201d v. 5) should continue to be observed.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Zechariah responds in the name of God, that these dates and the events that correspond to them (v. 9-10) should remind the people not of the actual destruction of Jerusalem, but mainly of the deep moral shortcomings and wide-spread resistance to improvement (v. 11-3) that led up to the profound tragedy of ruin and exile. God suggests that without annual reminders of what has already occurred, and can again take place as the result of insensitivity to the plight of the oppressed, human nature will allow for similar conditions to once more take root, leading to the terrible events of the past repeating themselves. Assuming the acceptance of God\u2019s response, i.e., the importance of the continuation of the observance of these terrible days, the lesson apparently went unlearned, resulting in several hundred years later, the destruction of the Second Temple, and the exile of vast numbers of Jews yet again.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

But what about now? Particularly following the Six-day War in 1967, there has been an ongoing debate regarding the contemporary validity of the observance of these fasts, exemplified by the paragraph that is added to the Silent Devotion on Tisha B\u2019Av afternoon:<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Oh Hashem, our God, console the mourner of Zion and the mourners of Jerusalem and the city that is mournful, ruined, scorned and desolate: mournful without her children, ruined without her abodes, scorned without her glory, and desolate without inhabitants...\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Shouldn\u2019t modern-day, \u201chustling, bustling\u201d Jerusalem, as well as Israeli society in general, no longer should be thought of in such incredibly sad, desperate terms? On the other hand, no one says that this wasn\u2019t an apt description of the Jewish settlement in its homeland in the past, and, God forbid, couldn\u2019t become pertinent once again in the future.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The ultimate question, similar to what was posed to Zechariah, becomes: should we recall the past in order to remind ourselves of what must be avoided in the present in an attempt to head off a disastrous future? Or, should the present reality determine how we relate to all current and future possibilities, with the operative principle to avoid misrepresenting a rosy present? Should God\u2019s answer via Zechariah to his ancient inquirers inform present-day policy, or is it time to break with the biblical past? Discuss.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Image: Shlomi Kakon, Tish\u2019a B\u2019av at the Western Wall, c. Aug 2015 \/ pikiwiki<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":79449,"alt":"","title":"zech7-Tisha_BAv_at_the_Western_Wall","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/zech7-Tisha_BAv_at_the_Western_Wall.jpg","width":800,"height":536,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/zech7-Tisha_BAv_at_the_Western_Wall-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/zech7-Tisha_BAv_at_the_Western_Wall-300x201.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":201,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/zech7-Tisha_BAv_at_the_Western_Wall-768x515.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":515,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/zech7-Tisha_BAv_at_the_Western_Wall.jpg","large-width":800,"large-height":536,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/zech7-Tisha_BAv_at_the_Western_Wall.jpg","1536x1536-width":800,"1536x1536-height":536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/zech7-Tisha_BAv_at_the_Western_Wall.jpg","2048x2048-width":800,"2048x2048-height":536,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/zech7-Tisha_BAv_at_the_Western_Wall.jpg","post_full_size-width":800,"post_full_size-height":536,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/zech7-Tisha_BAv_at_the_Western_Wall-627x420.jpg","home_baner-width":627,"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":"Abolishing The Fasts","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"A question for then - and now","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":79449,"alt":"","title":"zech7-Tisha_BAv_at_the_Western_Wall","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/zech7-Tisha_BAv_at_the_Western_Wall.jpg","width":800,"height":536,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/zech7-Tisha_BAv_at_the_Western_Wall-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/zech7-Tisha_BAv_at_the_Western_Wall-300x201.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":201,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/zech7-Tisha_BAv_at_the_Western_Wall-768x515.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":515,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/zech7-Tisha_BAv_at_the_Western_Wall.jpg","large-width":800,"large-height":536,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/zech7-Tisha_BAv_at_the_Western_Wall.jpg","1536x1536-width":800,"1536x1536-height":536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/zech7-Tisha_BAv_at_the_Western_Wall.jpg","2048x2048-width":800,"2048x2048-height":536,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/zech7-Tisha_BAv_at_the_Western_Wall.jpg","post_full_size-width":800,"post_full_size-height":536,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/zech7-Tisha_BAv_at_the_Western_Wall-627x420.jpg","home_baner-width":627,"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":"Zechariah","chapter":"7","chapter_main_number":"557","date":"20271018","wall_id":"557"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":6,"id":"79440","color":"#f6edf6","size":"1","name":"Getting The Question Right ","post_title":"Getting The Question Right","slug":"getting-the-question-right","old_id":"79440","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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\u201cShall I continue to weep and fast in the fifth month?\u201d So asks the delegation of Jews who have returned to Jerusalem to begin rebuilding the Holy Temple after 70 years of exile in Babylonia.<\/p>\r\n

During the time the Jews were in exile, four fast days were established in memory of the destruction of the First Temple: the seventeenth of Tammuz to mourn the day the walls of Jerusalem were breached; the ninth of Av (Tisha B\u2019Av) mourning the loss of the Holy Temple itself; the fast of Gedaliah in Tishrei in memory of the assassination of the leader Gedaliah; and the tenth of Tevet mourning the siege of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Though our sages agree that implicit in the question posed by this delegation was the inclusion of all four of these fasts, they also question why Tisha B\u2019Av was the fast specified in this question to Zechariah. Abarbanel suggests the uniqueness of the source of mourning on Tisha B\u2019Av from the other three fasts. While all four mourn the loss of something physical, Tisha B\u2019Av mourns more than the loss of the Temple structure. Says Abarbanel, the people recognized that this Second Temple would be different from the First, with the most significant difference being that, indeed, the divine presence would not be apparent as it was previously. So, their question makes some sense. Will the Second Temple really make up for the loss of the First Temple or have we lost something that will remain forever irreplaceable such that we should continue mourning its loss?<\/span><\/p>\r\n

God\u2019s response, in true Jewish form, is to answer the question of continued fasting with another question: Why have you been fasting? To this reply, Zechariah adds a reminder of what God has said all along He wants from His people: execute true justice, deal loyally and compassionately with one another, look after the disadvantaged and marginalized and don\u2019t plot against each other (7:9-10).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The fact that the question had to be asked was indicative of the answer they already knew. If they were fasting on Tisha B\u2019Av to remember what happened, then the question makes sense. But if they were fasting to remember <\/span>why<\/span><\/i> it happened, as they should be, then they were asking the wrong question. Rather than \u201cshould we stop fasting\u201d the question should have been: \u201cW<\/span>hat should we do differently this time around to ensure our redemption is deserved?\u201d That was the question God answered.<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":"","post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"Getting The Question Right","tile_main_caption":"Rather than \u201cshould we stop fasting\u201d the question should have been: \u201cWhat should we do differently this time around to ensure our redemption is deserved?\u201d","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":"","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":"Zechariah","chapter":"7","chapter_main_number":"557","date":"20271018","wall_id":"557"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":7,"id":"79435","color":"#e0e9ef","size":"1","name":"The Call To True Justice ","post_title":"The Call To True Justice","slug":"the-call-to-true-justice","old_id":"79435","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":33877,"post_title":"Marc Bregman","slug":"marc-bregman","old_id":"33877","first_name":"Marc","last_name":"Bregman","description":"Marc Bregman received his Ph.D. from The Hebrew University in Jerusalem in 1991. He taught at the Hebrew Union College (Jerusalem), The Hebrew University in Jerusalem, the Schechter Institute for Judaic Studies in Jerusalem, and at the Ben-Gurion University in Beer Sheba, Israel. During 1993 he was Visiting Associate Professor at Yale University, and during 1996 he was the Stroum Professor of Jewish Studies and Visiting Research Fellow at the University of Washington in Seattle. During 2005, Bregman served as the Harry Starr Fellow in Judaica at Harvard University and was awarded a Teaching Fellowship at the Center for Advanced Judaic Studies at the University of Pennsylvania. He also has served as Forchheimer Visiting Professor in the Faculty of Humanities at The Hebrew University in Jerusalem. He is the author of The Tanhuma-Yelammedenu Literature: Studies in the Evolution of the Versions (Gorgias Press, 2003). In 2006, Bregman was appointed the Herman and Zelda Bernard Distinguished Professor of Jewish Studies at the University of North Carolina in Greensboro, where he also headed the program in Jewish Studies, until 2013. Bregman retired from UNCG as of July 31, 2017. 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Our chapter opens with a precise superscription: \u201cIn the fourth year of King Darius, on the fourth day of the ninth month, Kislev, the word of the Lord came to Zechariah\u201d. This date is equivalent to December 7, 518 BCE, two years after Zechariah\u2019s preceding eight visions (see Zechariah 1:1 and 1:7). In the first part of our chapter (verses 2-3), Zechariah is asked whether mourning and fasting for the destruction of the First Temple should continue. Zechariah\u2019s answer echoes the words of previous prophets (see Isaiah 1:16-17, Amos 5:14-15 and particularly Jeremiah 14:12 who speaks specifically about the uselessness of fasting): \u201cThereupon the word of the Lord of Hosts came to me: Say to all the people of the land and to the priests: When you fasted and lamented in the fifth and seventh months all these seventy years, did you fast for my benefit?...Look, this is the message that the Lord proclaimed through the earlier prophets\u2026\u201d (verses 4-7). Zechariah continues with a specific statement of what God does require: \u201cThus said the Lord of Hosts: Execute true justice; deal loyally and compassionately with one another. Do not defraud the widow, the orphan, the stranger, and the poor; and do not plot evil against one another\u201d (verses 9-10).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Midrash Exodus Rabbah 30:15 interprets these verses with a parable about a king who told his son to serve a certain man whom he also instructed not to mistreat the king\u2019s son. Nevertheless, the man did treat the son harshly. When the king learned of this, he commanded that all those who had mistreated his son should be killed. Similarly, when God decreed that Israel should be enslaved in Egypt, he intended that they should not be mistreated by the Egyptians. Nevertheless, the Egyptians treated the Israelites with brutality. Therefore, God punished the Egyptians with the Ten Plagues. Subsequently, God warned the Israelites not to behave brutally as did the Egyptians, but rather to: \u201cExecute true justice; deal loyally and compassionately with one another. Do not defraud the widow, the orphan, the stranger, and the poor; and do not plot evil against one another\u201d (7:9-10).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Zechariah\u2019s call for \u201ctrue justice (<\/span>mishpat \u2018emet<\/span><\/em>)\u201d recalls what the Israelites were commanded after receiving the Ten Commandments at Mount Sinai: \u201cYou shall not wrong a stranger or oppress him, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt. You shall not mistreat any widow or orphan\u2026\u201d (Exodus 22:20-24). Mekhilta (Nezikin 18) elaborates on these verses. \u201cIf for avoiding injustice your reward will be that your wives will not become widows and your children will not be fatherless, how much greater will be your reward when you actively pursue justice. As Zechariah says: \u2018Execute true justice\u2026 Do not defraud the widow, the orphan, the stranger, and the poor\u2019 (7:9-10). For if you do so, your days in this world will be prolonged and you will live to see children and grandchildren and then you will merit life in the world to come.\u201d<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":51124,"alt":"","title":"dt19-justice","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt19-justice.jpg","width":1920,"height":1216,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt19-justice-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt19-justice-300x190.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":190,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt19-justice-768x486.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":486,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt19-justice-1024x649.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":649,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt19-justice.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":973,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt19-justice.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":1216,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt19-justice-1200x760.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":760,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt19-justice-663x420.jpg","home_baner-width":663,"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 Call To True Justice","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Actively pursuing justice for all \u00a0","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":51124,"alt":"","title":"dt19-justice","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt19-justice.jpg","width":1920,"height":1216,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt19-justice-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt19-justice-300x190.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":190,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt19-justice-768x486.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":486,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt19-justice-1024x649.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":649,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt19-justice.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":973,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt19-justice.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":1216,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt19-justice-1200x760.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":760,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt19-justice-663x420.jpg","home_baner-width":663,"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":"Zechariah","chapter":"7","chapter_main_number":"557","date":"20271018","wall_id":"557"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":8,"id":"79475","color":"#faeed8","size":"1","name":"Squares And Streets; Roads And\u00a0 - Pickles? ","post_title":"Squares And Streets; Roads And\u00a0 - Pickles?","slug":"squares-and-streets-roads-and-pickles","old_id":"79475","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":64450,"post_title":"David Curwin","slug":"david-curwin","old_id":"64450","first_name":"David ","last_name":"Curwin ","description":"David Curwin is a writer living in Efrat, and the author of the Balashon blog www.balashon.com","short_description":"David Curwin is a writer living in Efrat, and the author of the Balashon blog www.balashon.com","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":64452,"alt":"","title":"david curwin","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/david-curwin.png","width":427,"height":464,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/david-curwin-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/david-curwin-276x300.png","medium-width":276,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/david-curwin.png","medium_large-width":427,"medium_large-height":464,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/david-curwin.png","large-width":427,"large-height":464,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/david-curwin.png","1536x1536-width":427,"1536x1536-height":464,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/david-curwin.png","2048x2048-width":427,"2048x2048-height":464,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/david-curwin.png","post_full_size-width":427,"post_full_size-height":464,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/david-curwin-387x420.png","home_baner-width":387,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"558","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Many Hebrew pathways\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

In chapter 8, Zechariah describes what will happen when the people return to their land, after years of exile: \u201cThus said the LORD of Hosts: There shall yet be old men and women in the squares of Jerusalem, each with staff in hand because of their great age\u201d (8:4).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

It\u2019s a beautiful image, but looking at the Hebrew, something seems a bit strange. The prophet says the people will sit in the <\/span>rechovot<\/span><\/em>\u00a0of Jerusalem. We\u2019ve translated it above as \u201csquares,\u201d but in the Hebrew spoken today, <\/span>rechov<\/span><\/em>\u00a0means \u201cstreet.\u201d So were they sitting in the streets or in the squares?<\/span><\/p>\r\n

In Biblical Hebrew, this was not confusing. <\/span>Rechov<\/span><\/em>\u00a0always meant a broad open place (in a city), like the town square. The angels tell Lot that they will \u201cspend the night in the square\u201d (Genesis 19:2) and Haman paraded Mordechai \u201cthrough the city square\u201d (Esther 6:11). Both verses use the word <\/span>rechov<\/span><\/em>.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n

Only in Medieval Hebrew did the word come to mean \u201cstreet.\u201d Today the city square, once called <\/span>rechov<\/span><\/em>, is called a <\/span>rechava<\/span><\/em>. The word <\/span>rachav<\/span><\/em>, meaning \u201cbroad, wide,\u201d derives from the same root.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

What about the Hebrew word for \u201croad\u201d \u2013 <\/span>kvish<\/span><\/em>? That is an entirely new word, coined by the author and historian Zeev Yaavetz at the end of the 19<\/span>th<\/span> century. He wanted to coin a word to refer to a \u201cpaved\u201d road, and therefore used the root <\/span>kavash<\/span><\/em>, meaning \u201cto tread down, subdue, press.\u201d It also gives us such words as <\/span>kibush<\/span><\/em>\u00a0\u2013<\/span><\/i> \u201cconquest,\u201d <\/span>kavush<\/span><\/em>\u00ad <\/span><\/i>\u2013 \u201cpickled,\u201d and <\/span>kevesh<\/span><\/em>\u00a0\u2013 \u201cramp.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Another root with the same meaning is <\/span>darach<\/span><\/em>\u00a0\u2013 \u201cto tread.\u201d This finally gives us a biblical word for a kind of root: <\/span>derech<\/span><\/em>. <\/span><\/i>Today it means \u201cpath\u201d or in a more metaphorical sense, \u201cway\u201d, but in the Bible it could refer to a road, like the king\u2019s highway, <\/span>derech hamelech<\/span><\/em>, as in Numbers 20:17.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

That root has given us many words. In the causative form, <\/span>hidrich<\/span><\/em>, it means to \u201clead (literally to cause someone to tread).\u201d This gives us the word for training \u2013 <\/span>hadracha<\/span><\/em>, <\/span><\/i>and trainer (or counselor) \u2013 <\/span>madrich<\/span><\/em>. A modern word relating to travel with the same root is <\/span>darkon<\/span><\/em>\u00a0<\/span><\/i>\u2013 \u201cpassport.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

So just as Zechariah\u2019s words might seem strange to us today, our Hebrew probably at times would seem odd to him. But I\u2019m sure if he saw the daily sight of \u201cold men and women in the squares of Jerusalem\u201d, he would be comforted.<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":79476,"alt":"","title":"zech8-roads","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/zech8-roads.jpg","width":4000,"height":2250,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/zech8-roads-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/zech8-roads-300x169.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":169,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/zech8-roads-768x432.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":432,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/zech8-roads-1024x576.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":576,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/zech8-roads.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":864,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/zech8-roads.jpg","2048x2048-width":2048,"2048x2048-height":1152,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/zech8-roads-1200x675.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":675,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/zech8-roads-747x420.jpg","home_baner-width":747,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"Squares And Streets; Roads And\u00a0 - Pickles?","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Many Hebrew pathways","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":79476,"alt":"","title":"zech8-roads","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/zech8-roads.jpg","width":4000,"height":2250,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/zech8-roads-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/zech8-roads-300x169.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":169,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/zech8-roads-768x432.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":432,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/zech8-roads-1024x576.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":576,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/zech8-roads.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":864,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/zech8-roads.jpg","2048x2048-width":2048,"2048x2048-height":1152,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/zech8-roads-1200x675.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":675,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/zech8-roads-747x420.jpg","home_baner-width":747,"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":"Zechariah","chapter":"8","chapter_main_number":"558","date":"20271019","wall_id":"558"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":9,"id":"79472","color":"#e6f5f3","size":"1","name":"Fringe Benefits ","post_title":"Fringe Benefits","slug":"fringe-benefits","old_id":"79472","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":33877,"post_title":"Marc Bregman","slug":"marc-bregman","old_id":"33877","first_name":"Marc","last_name":"Bregman","description":"Marc Bregman received his Ph.D. from The Hebrew University in Jerusalem in 1991. He taught at the Hebrew Union College (Jerusalem), The Hebrew University in Jerusalem, the Schechter Institute for Judaic Studies in Jerusalem, and at the Ben-Gurion University in Beer Sheba, Israel. During 1993 he was Visiting Associate Professor at Yale University, and during 1996 he was the Stroum Professor of Jewish Studies and Visiting Research Fellow at the University of Washington in Seattle. During 2005, Bregman served as the Harry Starr Fellow in Judaica at Harvard University and was awarded a Teaching Fellowship at the Center for Advanced Judaic Studies at the University of Pennsylvania. He also has served as Forchheimer Visiting Professor in the Faculty of Humanities at The Hebrew University in Jerusalem. He is the author of The Tanhuma-Yelammedenu Literature: Studies in the Evolution of the Versions (Gorgias Press, 2003). In 2006, Bregman was appointed the Herman and Zelda Bernard Distinguished Professor of Jewish Studies at the University of North Carolina in Greensboro, where he also headed the program in Jewish Studies, until 2013. Bregman retired from UNCG as of July 31, 2017. He has now returned to Jerusalem where he is continuing his research and teaching activities.","credit":"","image_url":"","short_description":"Marc Bregman is the Herman and Zelda Bernard Distinguished Professor of Jewish Studies emeritus, at the University of North Carolina in Greensboro.","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":33878,"alt":"Marc Bregman","title":"Marc Bregman","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman.jpg","width":361,"height":488,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman-222x300.jpg","medium-width":222,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman.jpg","medium_large-width":361,"medium_large-height":488,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman.jpg","large-width":361,"large-height":488,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman.jpg","1536x1536-width":361,"1536x1536-height":488,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman.jpg","2048x2048-width":361,"2048x2048-height":488,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman.jpg","post_full_size-width":361,"post_full_size-height":488,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman-311x420.jpg","home_baner-width":311,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"558","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"The nations will ride in on the coattails\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

Our chapter preserves a series of prophecies on the restoration of Jerusalem in the end of days. This concludes with a vivid description of how the Nations of the World will be drawn to the Holy City: \u201cThus said the Lord of Hosts: Peoples and the inhabitants of many cities shall yet come\u2014the inhabitants of one shall go to the other and say, \u2018Let us go and entreat the favor of the Lord, let us seek the Lord of Hosts; I will go, too\u2019. The many peoples and the multitude of nations shall come to seek the Lord of Hosts in Jerusalem and to entreat the favor of the Lord. Thus said the Lord of Hosts: In those days, ten men from nations of every tongue will take hold\u2014they will take hold of every Jew (<\/span>ish Yehudi<\/span><\/em>) by a corner of his cloak and say, \u2018Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you\u2019\u201d (Zechariah 8:20-23). The term Jew (<\/span>ish Yehudi<\/span><\/em>) here is typical of late Biblical Hebrew (compare Esther 2:5).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Midrash Tanhuma Bamidbar 3<\/a> elaborates on the final verse of our chapter: \u201cIn the future, the Nations of the World shall see how the Holy One, blessed be He, clings to Israel <\/span>and they too shall cling to them saying: \u201c\u2018Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you\u201d (Zechariah 8:23).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The Rabbinic Sages were particularly attracted to the prophetic description of the non-Jews clinging to the corner of the \u201ccloak\u201d of the \u201cJewish man\u201d <\/span>recalling that the \u201cfringes\" (<\/span>tzitzit<\/span><\/em>) are attached to the corners of the cloak <\/span>(see Numbers 15:38).\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\r\n

Midrash Sifre Bamibar 115 states that of one who fulfills the mitzvah of <\/span>tzitzit<\/span><\/em> is said: \u201cIn those days, ten men from nations of every tongue will take hold\u2014they will take hold of every Jew by a corner of his cloak and say, \u2018Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you\u201d (Zechariah 8:23).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Talmud Bavli Shabbat 32b elaborates on this early midrashic tradition by promising that anyone who is careful in performing the mitzvah of <\/span>tzitzit<\/span><\/em> merits that 2,800 servants will serve him in the World to Come. For it says: \u201cThus said the Lord of Hosts: In those days, ten men from nations of every tongue will take hold\u2014they will take hold of every Jew by a corner of his cloak and say, \u2018Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you\u2019\u201d (8:23). Rashi explains that ten individuals of each of the 70 Nations of the World will take hold each of the four corners of each Jew\u2019s cloak, so that each Jew will have 2,800 (10\u00a0 x 7 x 4 = 2,800) servants in the World to Come.<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":79473,"alt":"","title":"zech8-fringes","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/zech8-fringes.jpg","width":1140,"height":570,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/zech8-fringes-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/zech8-fringes-300x150.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":150,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/zech8-fringes-768x384.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":384,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/zech8-fringes-1024x512.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":512,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/zech8-fringes.jpg","1536x1536-width":1140,"1536x1536-height":570,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/zech8-fringes.jpg","2048x2048-width":1140,"2048x2048-height":570,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/zech8-fringes.jpg","post_full_size-width":1140,"post_full_size-height":570,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/zech8-fringes-840x420.jpg","home_baner-width":840,"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":"Fringe Benefits","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"The nations will ride in on the coattails","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":79473,"alt":"","title":"zech8-fringes","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/zech8-fringes.jpg","width":1140,"height":570,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/zech8-fringes-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/zech8-fringes-300x150.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":150,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/zech8-fringes-768x384.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":384,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/zech8-fringes-1024x512.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":512,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/zech8-fringes.jpg","1536x1536-width":1140,"1536x1536-height":570,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/zech8-fringes.jpg","2048x2048-width":1140,"2048x2048-height":570,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/zech8-fringes.jpg","post_full_size-width":1140,"post_full_size-height":570,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/zech8-fringes-840x420.jpg","home_baner-width":840,"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":"Zechariah","chapter":"8","chapter_main_number":"558","date":"20271019","wall_id":"558"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":10,"id":"79489","color":"#f7e9e9","size":"1","name":"A City Full Of Old And Young ","post_title":"A City Full Of Old And Young","slug":"a-city-full-of-old-and-young","old_id":"79489","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":78133,"post_title":"Josh Blechner","slug":"josh-blechner","old_id":"78133","first_name":"Josh ","last_name":"Blechner ","description":"Josh first finished the Tanach during Yeshiva in Mevaseret Zion. He and his daughter studied the Tanach again for her bat mitzvah. Josh has taught many classes on Tanach throughout the years and currently in the New Rochelle 929 group. When not studying for 929, Josh works as an in-house lawyer in New Jersey.","short_description":"Josh has taught many classes on Tanach throughout the years and currently in the New Rochelle 929 group, and is an in-house attorney in New Jersey. ","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":78134,"alt":"","title":"josh blechner","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","width":276,"height":351,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner-236x300.jpg","medium-width":236,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","medium_large-width":276,"medium_large-height":351,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","large-width":276,"large-height":351,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","1536x1536-width":276,"1536x1536-height":351,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","2048x2048-width":276,"2048x2048-height":351,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","post_full_size-width":276,"post_full_size-height":351,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","home_baner-width":276,"home_baner-height":351}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"558","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"No longer brides and grooms - now a multi-generational family\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

A constant refrain we heard through the book of Jeremiah was \"The sound of happiness and joy, the sound of the bride and groom will resonate in the streets of Jerusalem\". (cf. Jeremiah 7:34, 16:9, 25:10, 33:11).\u00a0 Zechariah mimics this promise in Chapter 8: \"Thus said the LORD of Hosts: There shall yet be old men and women in the squares of Jerusalem, each with staff in hand because of their great age. And the squares of the city shall be crowded with boys and girls playing in the squares. (8:4-5).\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The promise in the time of Jeremiah was for the bride and group, a symbol of new love and ultimate joy. Now, during the precarious times of the beginning of the Second Temple Zechariah builds on this by promises that these happy couples will not only grow old, but that they will have children playing in the streets. The promise of a new relationship becomes a large family and extended generations.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":79490,"alt":"","title":"zech8-old and young","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech8-old-and-young.jpg","width":6000,"height":3298,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech8-old-and-young-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech8-old-and-young-300x165.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":165,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech8-old-and-young-768x422.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":422,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech8-old-and-young-1024x563.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":563,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech8-old-and-young.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":844,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech8-old-and-young.jpg","2048x2048-width":2048,"2048x2048-height":1126,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech8-old-and-young-1200x660.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":660,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech8-old-and-young-764x420.jpg","home_baner-width":764,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"A City Full Of Old And Young","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"No longer brides and grooms - now a multi-generational family","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":79490,"alt":"","title":"zech8-old and young","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech8-old-and-young.jpg","width":6000,"height":3298,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech8-old-and-young-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech8-old-and-young-300x165.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":165,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech8-old-and-young-768x422.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":422,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech8-old-and-young-1024x563.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":563,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech8-old-and-young.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":844,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech8-old-and-young.jpg","2048x2048-width":2048,"2048x2048-height":1126,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech8-old-and-young-1200x660.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":660,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech8-old-and-young-764x420.jpg","home_baner-width":764,"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":"Zechariah","chapter":"8","chapter_main_number":"558","date":"20271019","wall_id":"558"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":11,"id":"79505","color":"#f7f7f5","size":"1","name":"Riding On A Donkey ","post_title":"Riding On A Donkey","slug":"riding-on-a-donkey","old_id":"79505","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":33877,"post_title":"Marc Bregman","slug":"marc-bregman","old_id":"33877","first_name":"Marc","last_name":"Bregman","description":"Marc Bregman received his Ph.D. from The Hebrew University in Jerusalem in 1991. He taught at the Hebrew Union College (Jerusalem), The Hebrew University in Jerusalem, the Schechter Institute for Judaic Studies in Jerusalem, and at the Ben-Gurion University in Beer Sheba, Israel. During 1993 he was Visiting Associate Professor at Yale University, and during 1996 he was the Stroum Professor of Jewish Studies and Visiting Research Fellow at the University of Washington in Seattle. During 2005, Bregman served as the Harry Starr Fellow in Judaica at Harvard University and was awarded a Teaching Fellowship at the Center for Advanced Judaic Studies at the University of Pennsylvania. He also has served as Forchheimer Visiting Professor in the Faculty of Humanities at The Hebrew University in Jerusalem. He is the author of The Tanhuma-Yelammedenu Literature: Studies in the Evolution of the Versions (Gorgias Press, 2003). In 2006, Bregman was appointed the Herman and Zelda Bernard Distinguished Professor of Jewish Studies at the University of North Carolina in Greensboro, where he also headed the program in Jewish Studies, until 2013. Bregman retired from UNCG as of July 31, 2017. He has now returned to Jerusalem where he is continuing his research and teaching activities.","credit":"","image_url":"","short_description":"Marc Bregman is the Herman and Zelda Bernard Distinguished Professor of Jewish Studies emeritus, at the University of North Carolina in Greensboro.","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":33878,"alt":"Marc Bregman","title":"Marc Bregman","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman.jpg","width":361,"height":488,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman-222x300.jpg","medium-width":222,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman.jpg","medium_large-width":361,"medium_large-height":488,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman.jpg","large-width":361,"large-height":488,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman.jpg","1536x1536-width":361,"1536x1536-height":488,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman.jpg","2048x2048-width":361,"2048x2048-height":488,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman.jpg","post_full_size-width":361,"post_full_size-height":488,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman-311x420.jpg","home_baner-width":311,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"559","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"A miraculous ass\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

Our chapter includes a joyous description of the coming of the ideal Messianic king: \u201cRejoice greatly, Fair Zion! Raise a shout, Fair Jerusalem! Lo, your king is coming to you. He is victorious, triumphant, yet humble, riding on an ass, on a donkey foaled by a she-ass\u201d (9:9).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The Rabbinic Sages interpreted this donkey as having a remarkable history. According to <\/span>Pirkei de-Rabbi Eliezer 31<\/span><\/a>, the donkey which accompanied Abraham and Isaac to the Aqedah (Gen. 22:8) was among those miraculous handiworks of God created at sunset on the last day of Creation (see Avot 5:6). It was this very same donkey that accompanied Moses to Egypt (Ex. 4:20). And it is this donkey that the Davidic Messiah will ride upon at the end of days, as it says: \u201cLo, your king is coming to you. He is victorious, triumphant, yet humble, riding on an ass, on a donkey foaled by a she-ass\u201d (9:9; see also Rashi on Exodus 4:20).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

This timeless donkey became so identified with the coming of the Messiah that according to Talmud Bavli Berakhot 56b simply seeing a donkey in one\u2019s dream anticipates Redemption, as it says: \u201cYour king is coming to you\u2026riding on an ass\u201d (9:9).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Sanhedrin 98a resolves a seeming contradiction between Daniel\u2019s messianic vision (7:13): \u201cOne like a human being came with the clouds of heaven\u201d and Zechariah\u2019s prophecy describing the Messiah as \u201chumble, riding on an ass\u201d. If the Jewish people merit redemption, the Messiah will come \u201cwith the clouds of heaven\u201d. But if nevertheless we still do not merit redemption, the Messiah will come riding upon a donkey.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The Talmud here goes on to relate that King Shapur (who ruled Persia, 241-272 CE) said to Shmuel (the head of the Yeshivah in Nehardea, Babylonia): You say that the Messiah will come on a donkey! I will send him my \u201cflashiest horse -- <\/span>susya barqa<\/span><\/em>\u201d. Shmuel replied: Do you have a horse of a \u201chundred-hues\u201d like our Messiah\u2019s donkey (see Rashi, compare Kohut, <\/span>Arukh Ha-Shalem<\/span><\/i>, s.v. <\/span>kaar<\/span><\/i>)? The Maharal of Prague (d. 1609) on this extended Talmudic discussion notes that the Hebrew word for \"donkey, chamor<\/em> is etymologically related to the word chomer <\/em>\u2013 raw material, in its simplest\u00a0<\/span>form, the opposite of perfected otherworldliness. This suggests that the Messiah is depicted as riding on a donkey to indicate that he will totally subjugate material physicality to ethereal spirituality. This line of interpretation has been followed by later Hasidic teaching on sovereignty of the Messiah over the material world represented by Zechariah\u2019s donkey.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Indeed, the expression \u201cthe Messiah\u2019s Donkey\u201d (<\/span>chamoro shel Mashiach<\/span><\/em>) has been used in contemporary Israeli discourse to refer, supposedly by Rav Kook, to those secular Jews who by doing the hard and dangerous work of resettling and building up the Land of Israel are, in effect, paving the way for religious Jews who will ultimately bring on the Messianic Age. See further Seffi Rachlevsy\u2019s controversial book, <\/span>The Messiah\u2019s Donkey<\/span><\/i>, 1998.<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":79506,"alt":"","title":"zech9-donkey","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech9-donkey.png","width":1441,"height":1920,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech9-donkey-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech9-donkey-225x300.png","medium-width":225,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech9-donkey-768x1024.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":1024,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech9-donkey-769x1024.png","large-width":769,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech9-donkey.png","1536x1536-width":1153,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech9-donkey.png","2048x2048-width":1441,"2048x2048-height":1920,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech9-donkey-901x1200.png","post_full_size-width":901,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech9-donkey-315x420.png","home_baner-width":315,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"Riding On A Donkey","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"A miraculous ass","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":79506,"alt":"","title":"zech9-donkey","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech9-donkey.png","width":1441,"height":1920,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech9-donkey-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech9-donkey-225x300.png","medium-width":225,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech9-donkey-768x1024.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":1024,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech9-donkey-769x1024.png","large-width":769,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech9-donkey.png","1536x1536-width":1153,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech9-donkey.png","2048x2048-width":1441,"2048x2048-height":1920,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech9-donkey-901x1200.png","post_full_size-width":901,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech9-donkey-315x420.png","home_baner-width":315,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_link_for_pay":"0","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"Zechariah","chapter":"9","chapter_main_number":"559","date":"20271020","wall_id":"559"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":12,"id":"79524","color":"#effaea","size":"1","name":"The Teraphim Spoke Delusion ","post_title":"The Teraphim Spoke Delusion","slug":"the-teraphim-spoke-delusion","old_id":"79524","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":"560","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"But who - or what - are they?\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

The first observation we offer to this chapter is that it starts in the wrong place. 10:1, \u201cAsk the LORD for rain in the season of late rain,\u201d belongs to the previous prophecy that struck a distinctive agricultural note: \u201c[He shall pasture] His people like sheep. [They shall be] like crown jewels glittering on His soil. How lovely, how beautiful they shall be, producing young men like new grain, young women like new wine\u201d (9:16-17).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

A new prophecy, on the liberation of Judah and the redemption of Ephraim, commences with 10:2: \u201cFor the <\/span>teraphim<\/em> <\/span>spoke delusion, the augurs predicted falsely; and dreamers speak lies and console with illusions. That is why My people have strayed like a flock, they suffer for lack of a shepherd.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

What are <\/span>teraphim<\/span><\/em>?<\/span><\/p>\r\n

We have encountered <\/span>teraphim<\/em> <\/span>on several previous occasions. First, Rachel stole her father Laban\u2019s <\/span>teraphim<\/em> <\/span>as she departed from Haran with her husband Jacob (Gen. 31:19) and later hid them under her camel\u2019s saddle blanket (31:34), giving us some indication of their size. Along similar lines, David\u2019s wife, Michal, placed <\/span>teraphim<\/em> <\/span>in his bed and covered them with an animal hide creating the impression that he was in bed asleep (1 Samuel 19:13), giving us some indication of their shape.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

In Judges 18:14, 17, 18, and 20, <\/span>teraphim<\/em> <\/span>keep the company of a priestly robe (<\/span>ephod<\/span><\/em>), idols (<\/span>pesel<\/span><\/em>), and molten images (<\/span>masekhah<\/span><\/em>), indicating that they served a quasi-religious function. Ezekiel mentioned them together with arrows as a form of divination utilized by the king of Babylon (21:26), Hosea placed them alongside sacrifices (<\/span>zevach<\/span><\/em>) and pillars (<\/span>matzevah<\/span><\/em>), and in 2 Kings 23:24, they are said to keep the company of divination via ghosts (<\/span>ov<\/span><\/em>) or familiar spirits (<\/span>yid`oni<\/span><\/em>). Modern scholarship has been unable to identify the word\u2019s etymology and defines it, contextually, as: \u201ca kind of idol, obj. of reverence, and means of divination\u201d (BDB).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Interestingly, the entry for <\/span>teraphim<\/em> <\/span>in the Oxford English dictionary gives its etymology as the Greek \u201c<\/span>teraphin<\/span><\/em>,\u201d which is just a transliteration of the Hebrew, and defines it as \u201c<\/span>a kind of idols or images, or an idol or image; apparently <\/span>esp.<\/span><\/i> household gods; an object of reverence and means of divination among the ancient Hebrews and kindred peoples.\u201d It also suggests that its apparent plural form (\u2026<\/span>im<\/span><\/em>) should be regarded like a plural of majesty, a linguistic feature we can easily recognize in the common noun <\/span>elohim<\/span><\/em>.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

image:\u00a0Ancient Canaanite Teraphim. Figurines of fertility goddess.<\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":79525,"alt":"","title":"Ancient Canaanite Teraphim. 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Reading Zechariah chapter 10 during the month of Elul, verse 6 jumps out with its promise of divine forgiveness: \u201cI will restore them, for I have pardoned them.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

But I would prefer to focus on the first verse:<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Ask the Lord for rain<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>In the season of late rain.<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>It is the Lord who causes storms;<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>And God will provide rainstorms for them,<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>Grass in the fields for everyone.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Twice daily in the traditional second paragraph after the <\/span>Sh\u2019ma <\/span><\/i>we are reminded of the late rains, <\/span>malkosh<\/span><\/em>, <\/span><\/i>and the early rains, <\/span>yoreh<\/span><\/em>:<\/span><\/p>\r\n

And if you truly listen to my bidding, as I bid you now - loving The Fount of Life, your God, and serving God with all your heart, with every breath - then I will give you rain upon the land in its appointed time, the early rain and the late rain, so you may gather your corn,\u00a0 wine, and oil.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

That paragraph is taken from Deuteronomy and placed in the <\/span>siddur<\/span><\/em>. <\/span><\/i>It is a<\/span> clear <\/span>quid pro quo<\/em> <\/span>theology which states that if we do what God asks of us we will get the needed rains. Commenting on this Rabbi Lauren Berkun says, \u201cThe notion that the natural events of weather are reflective of God\u2019s covenantal relationship with the Jewish people is a difficult one for many modern Jews.\u201d To which Rabbi David Teutsch adds, \u201cin light of our awareness of the human abuse of the environment, we recognize that often this reward and punishment rests in our own hands. This ancient and yet vital message of the Torah urges us to choose life.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

But why was this paragraph from Deuteronomy (11:13-21) chosen to follow the paragraph of the <\/span>Sh\u2019ma<\/em> <\/span>(6:4-9) when it is not the immediate next paragraph in the Torah?\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Perhaps one answer (there are always more than one) lies with the word <\/span>yoreh<\/span><\/em>, <\/span><\/i>early rains<\/span>. <\/span><\/i>Rabbi Reuven Chaim Klein expounds on this when he writes, \u201cThe word <\/span>yoreh<\/span><\/em> (or <\/span>moreh<\/span><\/em>) literally means \u201cshoots\u201d, as well as \u201cteacher\u201d....The Talmud (Ta\u2019anit 6a) explains that <\/span>yoreh<\/span><\/em> falls at the beginning of the rainy season, thus it is called a \u201cteacher\u201d because it \u201cteaches\u201d people when to reinforce their roofs and bring their produce indoors to avoid possibly being destroyed by subsequent rains.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The main thrust of the paragraph immediately after the <\/span>Sh\u2019ma<\/em> <\/span>is to teach, expressing a natural connection between two paragraphs.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The Hebrew word for \u201cteach\u201d is <\/span>veshinantam<\/span><\/em>. <\/span><\/i>Its three letter root <\/span>shin-nun-hey<\/span><\/i> though literally means \u201c<\/span>repeat<\/span>\u201d <\/span><\/i>since repetition is a central pedagogical tool. <\/span>Shin-nun-hey<\/em> <\/span>also spells the word <\/span>shana<\/em> <\/span>as in year, as in <\/span>Rosh Hashana<\/em> <\/span>that we will celebrate in two weeks. And what is a year? The time it takes for the earth to repeat its circular journey around the sun as it did for the prophet Zechariah and as it continues to do for us as well. Whether the rains will come at their \u201cappointed times,\u201d during our elliptical orbit around the sun is up to us.<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":79528,"alt":"","title":"zech10-climate-change","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech10-climate-change.jpg","width":1920,"height":1000,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech10-climate-change-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech10-climate-change-300x156.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":156,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech10-climate-change-768x400.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":400,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech10-climate-change-1024x533.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":533,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech10-climate-change.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":800,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech10-climate-change.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":1000,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech10-climate-change-1200x625.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":625,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech10-climate-change-806x420.jpg","home_baner-width":806,"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":"\u201cIt Is The Lord Who Causes Storms\u201d","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Actually, not so much anymore...","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":79528,"alt":"","title":"zech10-climate-change","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech10-climate-change.jpg","width":1920,"height":1000,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech10-climate-change-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech10-climate-change-300x156.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":156,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech10-climate-change-768x400.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":400,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech10-climate-change-1024x533.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":533,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech10-climate-change.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":800,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech10-climate-change.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":1000,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech10-climate-change-1200x625.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":625,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech10-climate-change-806x420.jpg","home_baner-width":806,"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":"Zechariah","chapter":"10","chapter_main_number":"560","date":"20271021","wall_id":"560"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false}],"hide_acf":true,"home_image":false,"home_posts":false,"home_posts_title":"","posts_home":[],"static_cube_title":"","static_cube_brief":"","static_cube_color":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/wall\/79323"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/wall"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/wall"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=79323"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}