{"id":79540,"date":"2018-07-09T17:51:22","date_gmt":"2018-07-09T14:51:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wall\/wall-2026\/"},"modified":"2020-09-14T07:01:41","modified_gmt":"2020-09-14T04:01:41","slug":"wall-2026","status":"publish","type":"wall","link":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wall\/wall-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"book-Prophets-Malachi"},"parent":0,"template":"","acf":{"type":"chapter","wall_id":"2026","book":"Malachi","books_group":"Prophets","date":"20200914","hide_acf":true,"home_image":false,"home_posts":false,"home_posts_title":"","posts_home":[],"static_cube_title":"\u05e1\u05d9\u05db\u05d5\u05dd \u05e1\u05e4\u05e8 \u05de\u05dc\u05d0\u05db\u05d9","static_cube_brief":"","static_cube_color":"","updates_last_update":"19\/04\/2020","date_from":"","date_to":"","posts":[{"order":1,"id":"79746","color":"#f8ebe3","size":"1","name":"Malachi The Messenger ","post_title":"Malachi The Messenger","slug":"malachi-the-messenger","old_id":"79746","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":"565","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Who was this last of the prophets?\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

On our honeymoon, we encountered a concierge at the Jerusalem Hilton hotel whose name tag identified him as Angelo. Wanting to impress my new bride, I told him that I bet I could guess his Hebrew name. I suppose he thought I was going to say Malachi, so he took the bet. When I told him I thought his name was Mordechai, he was flabbergasted. I was guessing that he was an Italian Jew (which he was) but knew with reasonable certainty that in their tradition Mordechai was identified with the biblical Ezra, whom a rabbinic tradition identified with the Prophet Malachi (see Targum Yonatan to 1:1), hence Angelo.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

I suppose this is a circuitous route to follow just to establish that identification, but it helps us situate a prophet about whom the text provides no information other than his name. In fact, it is highly possible that Malachi simply means \u201cMy (God\u2019s) messenger,\u201d and that the prophet remains anonymous. Considering this contingency, Ibn Ezra commented: \u201cSome say that he was Ezra. In my opinion, his name was as it is written. He was the last of the prophets, which is why he cautioned, \u2018Remember the Torah of Moses, My servant\u2019 (3:22), because on his death Israelite prophecy ceased.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Radak, too, tackled his identification, writing:<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Haggai, Zachariah, and Malachi prophesied during the Second Temple. The prophecies of Haggai and Zachariah are situated in time, while Malachi\u2019s is not. It is possible that he was the last among them because there\u00a0 is no reference in his words to the construction of the Temple [meaning, it was already built]\u2026 The Sages said that Malachi is Ezra, but we have never found him designated a prophet, rather Ezra the Scribe (<\/span>ha-sofer<\/span><\/em>).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The most distinctive literary feature of the Book of Malachi is its dialogic structure. Seven dialogues are reported: 1:2-5; 1:6-2:4; 2:4-9; 2:10-16; 2:17-3:7; 3:8-12; and 3:13-21. Each consists of a stipulation, the listener\u2019s reaction, the substantiation of the stipulation or reaction, and concludes with a rebuke or promise. For instance, in 1:2, God stipulated: \u201cI have shown you love,\u201d evoking the reaction, \u201cHow have you shown us love?\u201d (2) Next came the substantiation: \u201cI have accepted Jacob\u2026 and rejected Esau\u201d (2-3) and, finally, the promise: \u201cThus said the Lord of Hosts, They [Edom] may build, but I will tear down\u2026\u201d (4-5).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Image: Malachi (watercolor circa 1896) by James Tissot \/ wikimedia<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":79747,"alt":"","title":"mal1-Tissot_Malachi","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/mal1-Tissot_Malachi.jpg","width":280,"height":620,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/mal1-Tissot_Malachi-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/mal1-Tissot_Malachi-135x300.jpg","medium-width":135,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/mal1-Tissot_Malachi.jpg","medium_large-width":280,"medium_large-height":620,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/mal1-Tissot_Malachi.jpg","large-width":280,"large-height":620,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/mal1-Tissot_Malachi.jpg","1536x1536-width":280,"1536x1536-height":620,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/mal1-Tissot_Malachi.jpg","2048x2048-width":280,"2048x2048-height":620,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/mal1-Tissot_Malachi.jpg","post_full_size-width":280,"post_full_size-height":620,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/mal1-Tissot_Malachi-190x420.jpg","home_baner-width":190,"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":"Malachi The Messenger","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Who was this last of the prophets?","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":79747,"alt":"","title":"mal1-Tissot_Malachi","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/mal1-Tissot_Malachi.jpg","width":280,"height":620,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/mal1-Tissot_Malachi-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/mal1-Tissot_Malachi-135x300.jpg","medium-width":135,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/mal1-Tissot_Malachi.jpg","medium_large-width":280,"medium_large-height":620,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/mal1-Tissot_Malachi.jpg","large-width":280,"large-height":620,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/mal1-Tissot_Malachi.jpg","1536x1536-width":280,"1536x1536-height":620,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/mal1-Tissot_Malachi.jpg","2048x2048-width":280,"2048x2048-height":620,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/mal1-Tissot_Malachi.jpg","post_full_size-width":280,"post_full_size-height":620,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/mal1-Tissot_Malachi-190x420.jpg","home_baner-width":190,"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":"Malachi","chapter":"1","chapter_main_number":"565","date":"20271028","wall_id":"565"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":2,"id":"79764","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"Conversations With God ","post_title":"Conversations With God","slug":"conversations-with-god","old_id":"79764","type":"song","iframe":"","writer":{"id":34245,"post_title":"Rachel Sharansky Danziger","slug":"rachel-sharansky-danziger","old_id":"34245","first_name":"Rachel Sharansky","last_name":"Danziger","description":"Rachel Sharansky Danziger is a Jerusalem-born writer and speaker who blogs about Judaism, parenting, and life in Israel. She currently lives in Boston, where she teaches about storytelling in the bible and the subversive depths of Hebrew words.\r\n","short_description":"Rachel Sharansky Danziger is a Jerusalem-born Boston-based writer and speaker about Judaism, parenting, and life in Israel. ","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":34246,"alt":"","title":"RSDanziger","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/RSDanziger.jpg","width":1171,"height":1769,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/RSDanziger-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/RSDanziger-199x300.jpg","medium-width":199,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/RSDanziger-678x1024.jpg","medium_large-width":678,"medium_large-height":1024,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/RSDanziger-678x1024.jpg","large-width":678,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/RSDanziger.jpg","1536x1536-width":1017,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/RSDanziger.jpg","2048x2048-width":1171,"2048x2048-height":1769,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/RSDanziger-794x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":794,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/RSDanziger-278x420.jpg","home_baner-width":278,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"565","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"First of a 3-part series with Rabbi Adam Mintz and Rachel Sharansky Danziger","post_main_content_content":"

Part 1: Starting With A No<\/a><\/p>","post_main_content_image":"","post_main_content_embedded_video":"https:\/\/youtu.be\/yZ5T0Ecjl-E","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"929 Video","tile_main_caption":"Conversations With God: Starting With A No","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"First of a 3-part series with Rabbi Adam Mintz and Rachel Sharansky Danziger","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":"","tile_preview_video":"https:\/\/youtu.be\/yZ5T0Ecjl-E","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":"Malachi","chapter":"1","chapter_main_number":"565","date":"20271028","wall_id":"565"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":3,"id":"79766","color":"#f6f5de","size":"1","name":"Conversations With God ","post_title":"Conversations With God","slug":"conversations-with-god-2","old_id":"79766","type":"song","iframe":"","writer":{"id":34245,"post_title":"Rachel Sharansky Danziger","slug":"rachel-sharansky-danziger","old_id":"34245","first_name":"Rachel Sharansky","last_name":"Danziger","description":"Rachel Sharansky Danziger is a Jerusalem-born writer and speaker who blogs about Judaism, parenting, and life in Israel. She currently lives in Boston, where she teaches about storytelling in the bible and the subversive depths of Hebrew words.\r\n","short_description":"Rachel Sharansky Danziger is a Jerusalem-born Boston-based writer and speaker about Judaism, parenting, and life in Israel. ","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":34246,"alt":"","title":"RSDanziger","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/RSDanziger.jpg","width":1171,"height":1769,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/RSDanziger-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/RSDanziger-199x300.jpg","medium-width":199,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/RSDanziger-678x1024.jpg","medium_large-width":678,"medium_large-height":1024,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/RSDanziger-678x1024.jpg","large-width":678,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/RSDanziger.jpg","1536x1536-width":1017,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/RSDanziger.jpg","2048x2048-width":1171,"2048x2048-height":1769,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/RSDanziger-794x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":794,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/RSDanziger-278x420.jpg","home_baner-width":278,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"566","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Part 2 of a 3-part series with Rabbi Adam Mintz and Rachel Sharansky Danziger","post_main_content_content":"

Part 2: Prayer As Conversation<\/a><\/p>","post_main_content_image":"","post_main_content_embedded_video":"https:\/\/youtu.be\/vQkk4Wq4ZQI","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"929 Video","tile_main_caption":"Conversations With God: Prayer As Conversation","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Part 2 of a 3-part series with Rabbi Adam Mintz and Rachel Sharansky Danziger","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":"","tile_preview_video":"https:\/\/youtu.be\/vQkk4Wq4ZQI","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":"Malachi","chapter":"2","chapter_main_number":"566","date":"20271031","wall_id":"566"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":4,"id":"79768","color":"#efefef","size":"1","name":"Conversations With God ","post_title":"Conversations With God","slug":"conversations-with-god-3","old_id":"79768","type":"song","iframe":"","writer":{"id":34245,"post_title":"Rachel Sharansky Danziger","slug":"rachel-sharansky-danziger","old_id":"34245","first_name":"Rachel Sharansky","last_name":"Danziger","description":"Rachel Sharansky Danziger is a Jerusalem-born writer and speaker who blogs about Judaism, parenting, and life in Israel. She currently lives in Boston, where she teaches about storytelling in the bible and the subversive depths of Hebrew words.\r\n","short_description":"Rachel Sharansky Danziger is a Jerusalem-born Boston-based writer and speaker about Judaism, parenting, and life in Israel. ","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":34246,"alt":"","title":"RSDanziger","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/RSDanziger.jpg","width":1171,"height":1769,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/RSDanziger-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/RSDanziger-199x300.jpg","medium-width":199,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/RSDanziger-678x1024.jpg","medium_large-width":678,"medium_large-height":1024,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/RSDanziger-678x1024.jpg","large-width":678,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/RSDanziger.jpg","1536x1536-width":1017,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/RSDanziger.jpg","2048x2048-width":1171,"2048x2048-height":1769,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/RSDanziger-794x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":794,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/RSDanziger-278x420.jpg","home_baner-width":278,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"567","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Part 3 of a 3-part series with Rabbi Adam Mintz and Rachel Sharansky Danziger","post_main_content_content":"

Part 3: Conversing As Equals<\/a><\/p>","post_main_content_image":"","post_main_content_embedded_video":"https:\/\/youtu.be\/diK5I07i6ng","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"929 Video","tile_main_caption":"Conversations With God: Conversing As Equals","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Part 3 of a 3-part series with Rabbi Adam Mintz and Rachel Sharansky Danziger","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":"","tile_preview_video":"https:\/\/youtu.be\/diK5I07i6ng","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":"Malachi","chapter":"3","chapter_main_number":"567","date":"20271101","wall_id":"567"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":5,"id":"79743","color":"#f2e9df","size":"1","name":"Where A One-eyed Sheep Is Average ","post_title":"Where A One-eyed Sheep Is Average","slug":"where-a-one-eyed-sheep-is-average","old_id":"79743","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":"565","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Some surprising connections\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

In chapter 1, Malachi criticizes the way the sacrifices are brought in the Temple. However, unlike the first Temple, where the prophets condemned the focus on sacrifice over morality, Malachi denounces the priests for not bringing sacrifices properly. He says they would never give such an offering to their human governor:<\/span><\/p>\r\n

\u201cYou offer defiled food on My altar. But you ask, \u2018How have we defiled You?\u2019 By saying, \u2018The table of the LORD can be treated with scorn.\u2019 When you present a blind animal for sacrifice\u2014it doesn\u2019t matter! When you present a lame or sick one\u2014it doesn\u2019t matter! Just offer it to your governor: Will he accept you? Will he show you favor? \u2014 said the LORD of Hosts. And now implore the favor of God! Will He be gracious to us? ...\u201d (Malachi 1:7-9)<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Bringing a blind, lame, or blemished animal is a sign of disrespect, and is forbidden in the Torah: \u201cBut if [the animal] has a defect, lameness or blindness, any serious defect, you shall not sacrifice it to the LORD your God.\u201d (Deuteronomy 15:21)<\/span><\/p>\r\n

If sacrifices are a way of expressing closeness to God (the Hebrew word for sacrifice, <\/span>korban<\/span><\/em>, derives from the root <\/span>k-r-v<\/span><\/em>, \u201cclose\u201d), then the best animals should be chosen. To bring \u201cdamaged goods\u201d to the altar, while keeping the choicest animals for personal use, is contrary to the entire idea behind the Temple service.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

As it happens, the concept of a blind animal considered as damaged goods, is behind a very familiar word in English. The Hebrew word for blind is <\/span>ivver<\/span><\/em>. The word has cognates in many Semitic languages, including Arabic, where the related <\/span>awira<\/span><\/em>\u00a0means \u201cone-eyed.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Because a one-eyed (or blind) animal is blemished, <\/span>awar<\/span><\/em>\u00a0came to mean \u201cdamaged\u201d as well. In the Middle Ages, the Europeans would trade goods with the Arabs around the Mediterranean. These Italian and French traders borrowed the Arabic word for damaged to describe the cost of damage the merchandise incurred during transit (<\/span>avarie<\/span><\/em>\u00a0in French and <\/span>avaria<\/span><\/em>\u00a0in Italian.) Since that damage wasn\u2019t fully the responsibility of either the exporters or the importers, both parties would share the loss equally.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The calculation of what this loss was expected to be eventually entered English as the word \u201caverage.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Even though \u201caverage\u201d doesn\u2019t have the connotation of \u201cdamaged\u201d today, it\u2019s still not what we should aspire to in our service of God.<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":79744,"alt":"","title":"mal1-pirate sheep","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/gif","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/mal1-pirate-sheep.gif","width":484,"height":350,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/mal1-pirate-sheep-150x150.gif","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/mal1-pirate-sheep-300x217.gif","medium-width":300,"medium-height":217,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/mal1-pirate-sheep.gif","medium_large-width":484,"medium_large-height":350,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/mal1-pirate-sheep.gif","large-width":484,"large-height":350,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/mal1-pirate-sheep.gif","1536x1536-width":484,"1536x1536-height":350,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/mal1-pirate-sheep.gif","2048x2048-width":484,"2048x2048-height":350,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/mal1-pirate-sheep.gif","post_full_size-width":484,"post_full_size-height":350,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/mal1-pirate-sheep.gif","home_baner-width":484,"home_baner-height":350}},"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":"Where A One-eyed Sheep Is Average","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Some surprising connections","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":79744,"alt":"","title":"mal1-pirate sheep","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/gif","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/mal1-pirate-sheep.gif","width":484,"height":350,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/mal1-pirate-sheep-150x150.gif","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/mal1-pirate-sheep-300x217.gif","medium-width":300,"medium-height":217,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/mal1-pirate-sheep.gif","medium_large-width":484,"medium_large-height":350,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/mal1-pirate-sheep.gif","large-width":484,"large-height":350,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/mal1-pirate-sheep.gif","1536x1536-width":484,"1536x1536-height":350,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/mal1-pirate-sheep.gif","2048x2048-width":484,"2048x2048-height":350,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/mal1-pirate-sheep.gif","post_full_size-width":484,"post_full_size-height":350,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/mal1-pirate-sheep.gif","home_baner-width":484,"home_baner-height":350}},"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":"Malachi","chapter":"1","chapter_main_number":"565","date":"20271028","wall_id":"565"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":6,"id":"79776","color":"#f6edf6","size":"1","name":"The Priestly Covenant Of Peace ","post_title":"The Priestly Covenant Of Peace","slug":"the-priestly-covenant-of-peace","old_id":"79776","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":"566","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Great is peace, for without it, the world cannot function\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

In our chapter, the Prophet Malachi continues to lambast the corruption of the priesthood in his day, after the rededication of the Temple in 516\/5 BCE. However, God also seeks to reestablish His covenant with the Levitical descendants of Aaron:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

\u201cKnow, then, that I have sent this charge to you that My covenant with Levi may endure\u2014said the Lord of Hosts. I had with him a covenant of life and peace, which I gave to him, and of reverence, which he showed Me. For he stood in awe of My name. Proper rulings were in his mouth, and nothing perverse was on his lips. He served Me with complete loyalty and held the many back from iniquity. For the lips of a priest guard knowledge, and men seek rulings from his mouth. For he is a messenger of the Lord of Hosts\u201d (4-7).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The early Midrash on Leviticus, Sifra (<\/span>Shemini, Mechilta d'Miluim 2<\/span><\/a>) notes that when Aaron died:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

\u201cAll the house of Israel bewailed Aaron thirty days\u201d (Numbers 20:29)\u2026<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>For Aaron never told a man or a woman: You have offended\u2026 And so, Scripture says of Aaron: \u201cI had with him a covenant of life and peace\u201d (Malachi 2:5). Indeed, Aaron was known as a lover and pursuer of peace (see<\/span> Avot 1:12<\/span><\/a>). Moreover, of Aaron it goes on to say: \u201cHe stood in awe of My name\u201d (Malachi 2:5) -- he took upon himself all the words of Torah in awe and trembling and trepidation.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Midrash Tanhuma Pinchas 1 employs Malachi\u2019s charge to the priest of his day concerning the \u201ccovenant of life and peace\u201d to expand on the importance of peace.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

\u201cBehold, I grant My covenant of peace\u201d (Numbers 25:12). Great is peace, for the world cannot function except through peace. The Torah is entirely peace, as it says: \u201cHer ways are ways of pleasantness and all her paths are peace\u201d (Proverbs 3:17).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

If someone comes from a journey, we ask \u201cregarding his peace\u201d [<\/span>shoalin lo shalom<\/span><\/em>]. Similarly, in the conclusion of the Morning Prayer, we ask for peace [<\/span>Sim Shalom <\/span><\/em>\u2013 <\/span><\/i>\u201cGrant peace\u201d]. And in the conclusion of the Evening Prayer, we ask for peace [<\/span>Shalom Rav <\/span><\/em>\u2013 <\/span><\/i>\u201cAbundant peace\u201d]. Moreover, we conclude the <\/span>Shema<\/em> <\/span>blessing by mentioning peace, at the end of the <\/span>Hashkivenu<\/span><\/em> prayer: Blessed are You, O Lord, who spreads the shelter of peace upon us\u2026\u201d. We also conclude the <\/span>Shemoneh Esrei<\/span><\/em> Prayer by again mentioning peace, \u201c[God] Who blesses His people Israel with peace\u201d. About peace it says: \u201cBehold, I grant My covenant of peace\u201d (Numbers 25:12) \u2013 indicating that into the future peace will continue to flourish. For it says: \u201cI had with him a covenant of life and peace\u201d (Malachi 2:5). And of this covenant of peace it says: \u201cIt shall be for him and his descendants after him a pact of priesthood for all time...\u201d (Numbers 25:13).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

image: shutterstock_1084123556<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":36538,"alt":"","title":"shutterstock_1084123556","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/shutterstock_1084123556.jpg","width":9913,"height":3500,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/shutterstock_1084123556-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/shutterstock_1084123556-300x106.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":106,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/shutterstock_1084123556-768x271.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":271,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/shutterstock_1084123556-1024x362.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":362,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/shutterstock_1084123556.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":542,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/shutterstock_1084123556.jpg","2048x2048-width":2048,"2048x2048-height":723,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/shutterstock_1084123556-1200x424.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":424,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/shutterstock_1084123556-1190x420.jpg","home_baner-width":1190,"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 Priestly Covenant Of Peace","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Great is peace, for without it, the world cannot function","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":36538,"alt":"","title":"shutterstock_1084123556","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/shutterstock_1084123556.jpg","width":9913,"height":3500,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/shutterstock_1084123556-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/shutterstock_1084123556-300x106.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":106,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/shutterstock_1084123556-768x271.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":271,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/shutterstock_1084123556-1024x362.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":362,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/shutterstock_1084123556.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":542,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/shutterstock_1084123556.jpg","2048x2048-width":2048,"2048x2048-height":723,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/shutterstock_1084123556-1200x424.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":424,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/shutterstock_1084123556-1190x420.jpg","home_baner-width":1190,"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":"Malachi","chapter":"2","chapter_main_number":"566","date":"20271031","wall_id":"566"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":7,"id":"79846","color":"#e6f5f3","size":"2","name":"Elijah The Messianic Family Therapist ","post_title":"Elijah The Messianic Family Therapist","slug":"elijah-the-messianic-family-therapist","old_id":"79846","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":38322,"post_title":"James A. Diamond","slug":"james-a-diamond","old_id":"38322","first_name":"James ","last_name":"Diamond ","description":"Prof. James A. Diamond holds the Joseph and Wolf Lebovic Chair of Jewish Studies at the University of Waterloo. His most recent book is \u201cJewish Theology Unbound\u201d published by Oxford University Press. ","short_description":"Prof. James A. Diamond holds the Joseph and Wolf Lebovic Chair of Jewish Studies at the University of Waterloo.","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":38323,"alt":"","title":"James Diamond","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/James-Diamond-e1534858914913.jpg","width":1186,"height":1386,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/James-Diamond-e1534858914913-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/James-Diamond-e1534858914913-257x300.jpg","medium-width":257,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/James-Diamond-e1534858914913-768x898.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":898,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/James-Diamond-e1534858914913-876x1024.jpg","large-width":876,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/James-Diamond-e1534858914913.jpg","1536x1536-width":1186,"1536x1536-height":1386,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/James-Diamond-e1534858914913.jpg","2048x2048-width":1186,"2048x2048-height":1386,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/James-Diamond-e1534858914913-1027x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":1027,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/James-Diamond-e1534858914913-359x420.jpg","home_baner-width":359,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"567","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"","post_main_content_content":"

Mal. 3:24 is the source for the tradition that Elijah will be the harbinger of the messianic age. That age normally conjures a vision of universal disarmament and global harmony most associated with Isaiah\u2019s famous predictions: \"And they shall beat their swords into plowshares, And their spears into pruning hooks; Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, Neither shall they learn war any more (2:4, see also 11:6).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

However, Elijah\u2019s messianic role anticipates far less grandiose accomplishments. Malachi entrusts Elijah simply with <\/span>reconciling the hearts of fathers with their children, and the hearts of the children with their fathers<\/span><\/em>. (Mal. 3:24) Parent\/child relationships hardly seem to measure up to Isaiah\u2019s utopian visions. Perhaps that other event in Elijah\u2019s life- his spectacular \u2018death\u2019- provides a clue to why resolving familial conflict is of messianic proportions and why Elijah in particular is the one to realize it.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

When Elijah\u2019s time came to die, his disciple Elisha would not let go of his spiritual father. Exasperated, Elijah offered him the potential of surpassing his own prophetic power, on condition that Elisha witnesses his death- <\/span>if you see me as I am being taken from you, this will be granted to you; if not it will not<\/span><\/em> (2 Kings 2:10). What this dramatically conveys is that Elijah\u2019s successor\/son needed to accept the end of an era and the impossibility of simply parroting his spiritual father to advance. By conditioning Elisha\u2019s future on observing his own departure from the scene, Elijah teaches a valuable lesson- that continuity with the past must also be balanced by a sober acknowledgment of its passage to enable progress.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The greatest source of conflict between generations is a result of parents viewing their children as clones of themselves rather than independent human beings with their own aspirations. Releasing the child to shape his own destiny is the defining battle of parenthood. Like Elijah, parents must encourage children to let go and chart their own futures. The messianic age can never materialize if growth is measured in terms of how closely one generation duplicates the previous one. It is precisely Elijah therefore who will reconcile successive generations by warning them that their love for each other does not entail acting as mirrors of each other. To be trapped by the past is to preclude advancing beyond it and inhibiting the advancement toward the messianic apex of history.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Elisha, in what surely is the shortest eulogy in Jewish history, laments Elijah\u2019s death- <\/span>Oh father, father! Israel\u2019s chariots and horsemen<\/span><\/em>.<\/em> Elisha employs metaphors of weaponry- the ancient equivalent of tanks and cavalry- to depict Elijah\u2019s centrality for the survival of a nation. Here too is the lesson of Elijah for the messiah. A more nuanced strategy than the literal sword is necessary to achieve that world without swords Isaiah envisioned.\u00a0\u00a0<\/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":"Elijah The Messianic Family Therapist","tile_main_caption":"The messianic age can never materialize if growth is measured in terms of how closely one generation duplicates the previous one","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":"Malachi","chapter":"3","chapter_main_number":"567","date":"20271101","wall_id":"567"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":8,"id":"79779","color":"#e0e9ef","size":"1","name":"For The Lips Of A Priest Guard Knowledge ","post_title":"For The Lips Of A Priest Guard Knowledge","slug":"for-the-lips-of-a-priest-guard-knowledge","old_id":"79779","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":"566","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"All of God\u2019s messengers must strive to be angelic in purity\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

The bulk of this chapter is addressed to the priests (<\/span>kohanim<\/span><\/em>), about whom God made the following striking declaration:<\/span><\/p>\r\n

I had with him [Levi] a covenant of life and well-being, which I gave to him, and of reverence, which he showed Me, for he stood in awe of My name. Proper rulings (<\/span>torat<\/span> emet<\/span><\/em>) were in his mouth, and nothing perverse was on his lips; he served Me with complete loyalty and held the many back from iniquity. For the lips of a priest guard knowledge, and men seek rulings from his mouth; for he is a messenger (<\/span>mal'akh<\/span><\/em>) of the LORD of Hosts. (5-7)<\/span><\/p>\r\n

This covenant of \u201cwell-being\u201d (or peace, <\/span>shalom<\/span><\/em>) is reminiscent of God\u2019s reward to Phineas for his zealous defense of God\u2019s name: \u201cBehold, I hereby grant him My covenant of peace\u201d (Numbers 25:12).\u00a0 The <\/span>kohen\u2019s<\/em> <\/span>Torah teaching also resonates with the Mishnaic invocation: \u201cBe of the disciples of Aaron the Kohen; a lover of peace and a pursuer of peace, a lover of mankind who brought them nearer to Torah\u201d (Avot 1:12).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

As an educator, however, it is the third verse that is most memorable, due to its use as the prooftext that Torah teachers, priests or not, have to live up to very high standards in both their personal and professional lives. In the following Talmudic passage, the propriety of Rabbi Meir having learned Torah from \u201cAcher,\u201d Elisha ben Abuya, an infamous heretic, is questioned.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

How could Rabbi Meir study Torah from Acher? Did not Raba bar bar Hana say in the name of R. Yochanan, What is the sense of the verse: \u201cFor the lips of a priest guard knowledge, and men seek rulings from his mouth; for he is a messenger (<\/span>mal'akh<\/span><\/em>) of the LORD of Hosts\u201d? If he resembles an angel (<\/span>mal'akh<\/span><\/em>) of the Lord of Hosts, let Torah be sought from his mouth; otherwise, let it not be sought.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The use of \u201cangel\u201d in this particular context complements its use as an epithet for prophets in Isaiah 44:26: \u201cHe fulfills the advice of His messengers (<\/span>mal\u2019akhav<\/span><\/em>),\u201d and 2 Chr. 36:15: \u201cThe Lord, God of their ancestors, summoned them by means of His messengers (<\/span>mal\u2019akhav<\/span><\/em>).\u201d Of course, it also puns on the name of the prophet.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Image: Rembrandt: Abraham and the Three Angels, 1646 \/ wikipedia<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":79780,"alt":"","title":"mal2-Rembrandt_Abraham_Serving_the_Three_Angels-1","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/mal2-Rembrandt_Abraham_Serving_the_Three_Angels-1.jpg","width":539,"height":316,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/mal2-Rembrandt_Abraham_Serving_the_Three_Angels-1-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/mal2-Rembrandt_Abraham_Serving_the_Three_Angels-1-300x176.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":176,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/mal2-Rembrandt_Abraham_Serving_the_Three_Angels-1.jpg","medium_large-width":539,"medium_large-height":316,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/mal2-Rembrandt_Abraham_Serving_the_Three_Angels-1.jpg","large-width":539,"large-height":316,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/mal2-Rembrandt_Abraham_Serving_the_Three_Angels-1.jpg","1536x1536-width":539,"1536x1536-height":316,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/mal2-Rembrandt_Abraham_Serving_the_Three_Angels-1.jpg","2048x2048-width":539,"2048x2048-height":316,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/mal2-Rembrandt_Abraham_Serving_the_Three_Angels-1.jpg","post_full_size-width":539,"post_full_size-height":316,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/mal2-Rembrandt_Abraham_Serving_the_Three_Angels-1.jpg","home_baner-width":539,"home_baner-height":316}},"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":"For The Lips Of A Priest Guard Knowledge","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"All of God\u2019s messengers must strive to be angelic in purity","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":79780,"alt":"","title":"mal2-Rembrandt_Abraham_Serving_the_Three_Angels-1","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/mal2-Rembrandt_Abraham_Serving_the_Three_Angels-1.jpg","width":539,"height":316,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/mal2-Rembrandt_Abraham_Serving_the_Three_Angels-1-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/mal2-Rembrandt_Abraham_Serving_the_Three_Angels-1-300x176.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":176,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/mal2-Rembrandt_Abraham_Serving_the_Three_Angels-1.jpg","medium_large-width":539,"medium_large-height":316,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/mal2-Rembrandt_Abraham_Serving_the_Three_Angels-1.jpg","large-width":539,"large-height":316,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/mal2-Rembrandt_Abraham_Serving_the_Three_Angels-1.jpg","1536x1536-width":539,"1536x1536-height":316,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/mal2-Rembrandt_Abraham_Serving_the_Three_Angels-1.jpg","2048x2048-width":539,"2048x2048-height":316,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/mal2-Rembrandt_Abraham_Serving_the_Three_Angels-1.jpg","post_full_size-width":539,"post_full_size-height":316,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/mal2-Rembrandt_Abraham_Serving_the_Three_Angels-1.jpg","home_baner-width":539,"home_baner-height":316}},"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":"Malachi","chapter":"2","chapter_main_number":"566","date":"20271031","wall_id":"566"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":9,"id":"79848","color":"#f7e9e9","size":"1","name":"Writing The Next Chapter ","post_title":"Writing The Next Chapter","slug":"writing-the-next-chapter","old_id":"79848","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":46656,"post_title":"Molly Morris","slug":"molly-morris","old_id":"46656","first_name":"Molly ","last_name":"Morris ","description":"Molly Morris holds a Masters degree in Leadership and Community Engagement. Her particular area of interest is biblical leadership. Molly participates in the 929 initiative with a dedicated group from the Beth Avraham Yoseph of Toronto congregation. \r\n\r\n","short_description":"Molly Morris holds a Masters degree in Leadership and Community Engagement. Molly participates in the 929 initiative with a dedicated group from the Beth Avraham Yoseph of Toronto congregation. \r\n\r\n","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":92561,"alt":"","title":"molly morris","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/molly-morris.jpg","width":2192,"height":2488,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/molly-morris-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/molly-morris-264x300.jpg","medium-width":264,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/molly-morris-768x872.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":872,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/molly-morris-902x1024.jpg","large-width":902,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/molly-morris.jpg","1536x1536-width":1353,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/molly-morris.jpg","2048x2048-width":1804,"2048x2048-height":2048,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/molly-morris-1057x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":1057,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/molly-morris-370x420.jpg","home_baner-width":370,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"567","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"It\u2019s up to us...\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

This final book of prophecy, the Book of Malachi, is mysterious to us in that there is no definitive answer forthcoming from our sages as to who Malachi is. The last chapter opens with God proclaiming, \u201cBehold, I am sending My messenger and he will clear a path before Me.\u201d The messenger is Malachi, but Malachi simply means \u201cMy messenger.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Evidently, it\u2019s not important to know who this messenger is. It\u2019s the message that matters. This chapter, heralding the end of the period of prophecy culminates in three reminders to the Jewish nation, essentially: remember and keep the Torah; the Messiah will come; and your relationship with God will continue (3:22-24).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

In literature, when we read a story or a book, we usually expect to reach a conclusion that ties up everything preceding it in a nice bow. It may not always be the ending we expect, but, it\u2019s almost always an ending. Rabbi Jonathan Sacks points out that none of Tanach has a definitive conclusion. The Five Books of Moses (Torah) is largely focused on the goal and journey of the Jewish people to receive their homeland in the Land of Israel. And yet the final book, Deuteronomy, concludes with Moses standing on a mountain, looking over at the land but not entering it and the nation on the banks of the Jordan River, not yet having crossed into their promised land. The reader is left waiting for the hope of the nation to be realized. Likewise, the Books of Prophets (Neviim), so finely focused on the themes of repentance, redemption, and the promise of Messianic times, concludes with none of those yet realized. Instead. we are reminded to invest ourselves in Torah, wait for the Messiah and nurture our relationship with God. And finally (spoiler alert) the Books of Writings (Ketuvim) will conclude with a reiteration of the narrative of King Cyrus of Persia granting the Jewish people permission to return to Jerusalem and rebuild their Temple.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

On these cliff-hanger endings Rabbi Sacks explains, \u201c<\/span>The last chapter is not yet written. The Messiah has not yet come. Until then, the story continues \u2013 and we, together with God, are the co-authors of the next chapter.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

We have now reached the end of the Books of Prophets, but we have not reached the end of the story.<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":79849,"alt":"","title":"mal3-next chapter","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/mal3-next-chapter.jpg","width":760,"height":440,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/mal3-next-chapter-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/mal3-next-chapter-300x174.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":174,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/mal3-next-chapter.jpg","medium_large-width":760,"medium_large-height":440,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/mal3-next-chapter.jpg","large-width":760,"large-height":440,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/mal3-next-chapter.jpg","1536x1536-width":760,"1536x1536-height":440,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/mal3-next-chapter.jpg","2048x2048-width":760,"2048x2048-height":440,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/mal3-next-chapter.jpg","post_full_size-width":760,"post_full_size-height":440,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/mal3-next-chapter-725x420.jpg","home_baner-width":725,"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":"Writing The Next Chapter","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"It\u2019s up to us...","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":79849,"alt":"","title":"mal3-next chapter","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/mal3-next-chapter.jpg","width":760,"height":440,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/mal3-next-chapter-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/mal3-next-chapter-300x174.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":174,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/mal3-next-chapter.jpg","medium_large-width":760,"medium_large-height":440,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/mal3-next-chapter.jpg","large-width":760,"large-height":440,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/mal3-next-chapter.jpg","1536x1536-width":760,"1536x1536-height":440,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/mal3-next-chapter.jpg","2048x2048-width":760,"2048x2048-height":440,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/mal3-next-chapter.jpg","post_full_size-width":760,"post_full_size-height":440,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/mal3-next-chapter-725x420.jpg","home_baner-width":725,"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":"Malachi","chapter":"3","chapter_main_number":"567","date":"20271101","wall_id":"567"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":10,"id":"79851","color":"#f7f7f5","size":"1","name":"\u201cBehold, I Will Send You Elijah the Prophet\u201d ","post_title":"\u201cBehold, I Will Send You Elijah the Prophet\u201d","slug":"behold-i-will-send-you-elijah-the-prophet","old_id":"79851","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":"567","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"The last verse, and the very last verse\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

Chapter 2 concluded with the challenge: \u201cWhere is the God of justice?\u201d (2:17; see <\/span>our comments to Chapter 1 <\/span><\/a>on the dialogic structure of Malachi). Our chapter opens with the retort: \u201cBehold, I am sending My messenger (<\/span>mal\u2019akhi<\/span><\/em>) to clear the way before Me, and the Lord whom you seek shall come to His Temple suddenly. As for the angel (<\/span>mal\u2019akh<\/span><\/em>) of the covenant that you desire, he is already coming\u201d (3:1).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The identity of these angels\/messengers is debated. Targum Yonatan treats them as common nouns (<\/span>mal\u2019akha<\/span><\/em>, in Aramaic), while Rashi simply recorded their functions: the former \u201cto eliminate the wicked,\u201d and the latter \u201cto avenge the [violation of] the covenant.\u201d Ibn Ezra, however, identified the former with \u201cMessiah, son of Joseph,\u201d a pre-messianic figure who will wage wars on behalf of Israel but die in the attempt, and \u201cthe Lord is the angel of the covenant; the two are synonymous.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Malbim, on rabbinic authority, gave quite a different interpretation:<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The angel will precede the coming of the Lord of Hosts. He is the angel who will enter the world into the covenant of Torah and faith, and in the covenant between themselves and God. The Sages said that this is Elijah, angel of the covenant, who will come earlier in order to return many from sin, as it was he who was zealous for the covenant in Shitim, and in the time of Ahab.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The zealous Elijah of the era of Ahab is the prophet whose feats are told in the Book of Kings, particularly 1 Kings 19:10, 14: \u201cI have surely been zealous for the Lord, God of Hosts.\u201d The reference to Shitim, the wilderness site where the Israelites were seduced by the women of Midian, becomes intelligible in light of the rabbinic identification of the Prophet Elijah with its hero, Phineas, on whom God bestowed \u201cHis covenant of peace\u201d (see the previous chapter) \u201cbecause he was zealous for his god\u201d (Numbers 25:12).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

In our comments to Chapter 1, we noted that Malachi was regarded by the Sages as the last prophet of Israel. That would make Malachi 3:24 the last verse of biblical prophecy: \u201cHe shall reconcile parents with children and children with their parents, so that, when I come, I do not strike the whole land with utter destruction.\u201d However, since it is unseemly to end on a note of catastrophe, the custom is to conclude with a repetition of the penultimate verse (just like the Book of Isaiah):<\/span> \u201c<\/span>Lo, I will send the prophet Elijah to you before the coming of the awesome, fearful day of the LORD.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

image by Ben Schachter<\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":63213,"alt":"","title":"2kings2-Schachter-ElijahAscendstoHeaven","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings2-Schachter-ElijahAscendstoHeaven.jpg","width":1055,"height":793,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings2-Schachter-ElijahAscendstoHeaven-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings2-Schachter-ElijahAscendstoHeaven-300x225.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":225,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings2-Schachter-ElijahAscendstoHeaven-768x577.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":577,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings2-Schachter-ElijahAscendstoHeaven-1024x770.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":770,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings2-Schachter-ElijahAscendstoHeaven.jpg","1536x1536-width":1055,"1536x1536-height":793,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings2-Schachter-ElijahAscendstoHeaven.jpg","2048x2048-width":1055,"2048x2048-height":793,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings2-Schachter-ElijahAscendstoHeaven.jpg","post_full_size-width":1055,"post_full_size-height":793,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings2-Schachter-ElijahAscendstoHeaven-559x420.jpg","home_baner-width":559,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"\u201cBehold, I Will Send You Elijah the Prophet\u201d","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"The last verse, and the very last verse","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":63213,"alt":"","title":"2kings2-Schachter-ElijahAscendstoHeaven","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings2-Schachter-ElijahAscendstoHeaven.jpg","width":1055,"height":793,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings2-Schachter-ElijahAscendstoHeaven-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings2-Schachter-ElijahAscendstoHeaven-300x225.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":225,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings2-Schachter-ElijahAscendstoHeaven-768x577.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":577,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings2-Schachter-ElijahAscendstoHeaven-1024x770.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":770,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings2-Schachter-ElijahAscendstoHeaven.jpg","1536x1536-width":1055,"1536x1536-height":793,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings2-Schachter-ElijahAscendstoHeaven.jpg","2048x2048-width":1055,"2048x2048-height":793,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings2-Schachter-ElijahAscendstoHeaven.jpg","post_full_size-width":1055,"post_full_size-height":793,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/2kings2-Schachter-ElijahAscendstoHeaven-559x420.jpg","home_baner-width":559,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_link_for_pay":"0","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"Malachi","chapter":"3","chapter_main_number":"567","date":"20271101","wall_id":"567"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":11,"id":"79853","color":"#effaea","size":"1","name":"Putting God To The Test ","post_title":"Putting God To The Test","slug":"putting-god-to-the-test","old_id":"79853","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":"567","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"So that they can learn what\u2019s in it for them...\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

The dominant theme in Malachi 3 is the Jewish people responding to God\u2019s plaints with questions, as if they do not know how they are to improve (v. 7), or why improvement is even needed (v. 7, 8, 13): \u201cHow shall we turn back?... How have we been defrauding You? \u2026 What have we been saying among ourselves against You?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Are these responses a ploy, and in fact the people know only too well what is required of them? Or are they sincerely unaware of Divine expectations and require that someone \u201cspell things out?\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

In terms of the sins listed in v. 5, it appears that the Jewish people would be hard-pressed to proclaim their innocence: Who 1) practice sorcery, who 2) commit adultery, who 3) swear falsely, who 4) cheat laborers of their hire, and 5) who subvert (the cause of) the widow, orphan, and stranger\u2026<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Since transgressions 2 through 5 are often categorized as \u201c<\/span>mitzvot sichliot<\/span><\/i>\u201d (commandments that can be logically deduced, rather than introduced only via Divine revelation,) it should be obvious that a proper society must be free of such iniquities.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

But withholding tithes that constitutes \u201cdefrauding God\u201d (verse 8), and: \u201cYou have said: It is useless to serve God. What have we gained by keeping His charge and walking in abject awe of the LORD of Hosts?...\u201d (verse 14) are much more subtle transgressions. In these latter two cases, the people could have been unaware that these were sins, and when they are accused, become flustered and blatantly deny their guilt.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

A basic explanation for violating Torah norms is that fulfilling commandments requires faith that the imposition of personal limitations are \u201cworthwhile.\u201d The reason why individuals transgress what is mentioned in verses\u00a0 5, 8, and 13, might be because they believe that nothing \u201cis in it for them\u201d and being faithful to the commandments would compromise their own happiness and livelihoods. Therefore, God says: \u201cPut Me to the test\u201d (verse 10).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The Talmud in Ta\u2019anit 9a states that although the bible usually prohibits \u201ctesting\u201d God, as proscribed in Deut. 6:16: \u201cDo not try the LORD your God;\u201d\u00a0 the above verse posits the exception to the rule. In this case of the separation of tithes, it is God Himself who proposes that the people do so.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Although ideally, commandments are fulfilled \u201cfor their own sake,\u201d some individuals need empirical evidence to at least start them on the road to observance, and the prophet suggests that God is prepared to provide such facts with regard to natural bounty.<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":79854,"alt":"","title":"mal3-tithe","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/mal3-tithe.jpg","width":3300,"height":2550,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/mal3-tithe-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/mal3-tithe-300x232.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":232,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/mal3-tithe-768x593.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":593,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/mal3-tithe-1024x791.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":791,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/mal3-tithe.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1187,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/mal3-tithe.jpg","2048x2048-width":2048,"2048x2048-height":1583,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/mal3-tithe-1200x927.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":927,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/mal3-tithe-544x420.jpg","home_baner-width":544,"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":"Putting God To The Test","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"So that they can learn what\u2019s in it for them...","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":79854,"alt":"","title":"mal3-tithe","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/mal3-tithe.jpg","width":3300,"height":2550,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/mal3-tithe-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/mal3-tithe-300x232.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":232,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/mal3-tithe-768x593.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":593,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/mal3-tithe-1024x791.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":791,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/mal3-tithe.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1187,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/mal3-tithe.jpg","2048x2048-width":2048,"2048x2048-height":1583,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/mal3-tithe-1200x927.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":927,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/mal3-tithe-544x420.jpg","home_baner-width":544,"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":"Malachi","chapter":"3","chapter_main_number":"567","date":"20271101","wall_id":"567"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":12,"id":"79856","color":"#eceffa","size":"1","name":"The Trouble With Tithes ","post_title":"The Trouble With Tithes","slug":"the-trouble-with-tithes","old_id":"79856","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":38047,"post_title":"Shoshana Michael Zucker","slug":"shoshana-michael-zucker","old_id":"38047","first_name":"Shoshana Michael ","last_name":"Zucker ","description":"Shoshana Michael Zucker is a translator and editor by profession, but would much rather be learning and teaching Torah. A graduate of Barnard College, she made aliyah in 1983 and now lives in Kfar Saba where she is an active member of the Masorti Congregation Hod veHadar. ","short_description":"Shoshana Michael Zucker is a translator and editor and lives in Kfar Saba \r\n","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":38048,"alt":"","title":"Shoshana Michael Zucker","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Shoshana-Michael-Zucker.jpg","width":231,"height":310,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Shoshana-Michael-Zucker-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Shoshana-Michael-Zucker-224x300.jpg","medium-width":224,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Shoshana-Michael-Zucker.jpg","medium_large-width":231,"medium_large-height":310,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Shoshana-Michael-Zucker.jpg","large-width":231,"large-height":310,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Shoshana-Michael-Zucker.jpg","1536x1536-width":231,"1536x1536-height":310,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Shoshana-Michael-Zucker.jpg","2048x2048-width":231,"2048x2048-height":310,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Shoshana-Michael-Zucker.jpg","post_full_size-width":231,"post_full_size-height":310,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Shoshana-Michael-Zucker.jpg","home_baner-width":231,"home_baner-height":310}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"567","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Defrauding God means defrauding the poor as well\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

To Israel\u2019s question, \u201cHow shall we turn back?\u201d (v. 7) God through Malachi responds that the people have been defrauding God. \u201cHow?\u201d they ask in response. The response, \u201cIn tithe and contribution\u201d deserves some attention. The people are accused of cheating God by not fully paying their obligations to the priests, Levites and needy. The accusation says nothing about withholding sacrifices to God, nor is the charge stated as violating God\u2019s law by withholding\u00a0 \u00a0 tithes and contributions. Rather the charge is defrauding God, improperly retaining possession of something that, by rights, belongs to God.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The claim is religiously simple but emotionally difficult. The produce for which the farmer labored is not truly his, the gain from our work is not actually ours. They are blessings from God which we are responsible for allocating. As God\u2019s agents for resource distribution, depriving public servants (priests and Levites) and the needy of their due is theft, from both the people and from God.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Yet Malachi, on God\u2019s behalf, does not mention the poor directly. Is he thus not telling the whole truth?\u00a0 Why are they omitted? It almost makes it seem that God is more concerned with Godself than with meeting people\u2019s basic needs. More likely, Malachi is tailoring his words to his audience, because he, like all of the prophets, is, as Heschel wrote \u201ca person, not a microphone.\u201d The prophet tempers God\u2019s word with his own character, which hopefully helps him communicate in an idiom that will be heard.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

People in Malachi\u2019s day (and not only then) seemingly had few qualms about cheating the poor; after all, they have no power. But their fear of God was real. Therefore, the prophecy stresses the sin against God rather than that against the poor, and promises that bounty will be restored if the full tithe is brought to the storehouse, and food is available in the Temple.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The gap between the full message that the tithes and contributions belong to their earthly recipients, as a matter of right not privilege, is muted in favor of stressing God\u2019s power as a way of increasing the odds of compliance. Malachi tells the truth, but not all the truth. Ensuring that the people dependent on us receive their due, that no one goes hungry on our watch, is important enough to justify the omission.<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":79857,"alt":"","title":"mal3-rich poor","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/mal3-rich-poor.jpg","width":417,"height":337,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/mal3-rich-poor-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/mal3-rich-poor-300x242.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":242,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/mal3-rich-poor.jpg","medium_large-width":417,"medium_large-height":337,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/mal3-rich-poor.jpg","large-width":417,"large-height":337,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/mal3-rich-poor.jpg","1536x1536-width":417,"1536x1536-height":337,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/mal3-rich-poor.jpg","2048x2048-width":417,"2048x2048-height":337,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/mal3-rich-poor.jpg","post_full_size-width":417,"post_full_size-height":337,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/mal3-rich-poor.jpg","home_baner-width":417,"home_baner-height":337}},"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 Trouble With Tithes","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Defrauding God means defrauding the poor as well","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":79857,"alt":"","title":"mal3-rich poor","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/mal3-rich-poor.jpg","width":417,"height":337,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/mal3-rich-poor-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/mal3-rich-poor-300x242.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":242,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/mal3-rich-poor.jpg","medium_large-width":417,"medium_large-height":337,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/mal3-rich-poor.jpg","large-width":417,"large-height":337,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/mal3-rich-poor.jpg","1536x1536-width":417,"1536x1536-height":337,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/mal3-rich-poor.jpg","2048x2048-width":417,"2048x2048-height":337,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/mal3-rich-poor.jpg","post_full_size-width":417,"post_full_size-height":337,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/mal3-rich-poor.jpg","home_baner-width":417,"home_baner-height":337}},"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":"Malachi","chapter":"3","chapter_main_number":"567","date":"20271101","wall_id":"567"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":13,"id":"79843","color":"#faeed8","size":"2","name":"The Hidden God Can Still Teach Us ","post_title":"The Hidden God Can Still Teach Us","slug":"the-hidden-god-can-still-teach-us","old_id":"79843","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":45752,"post_title":"Salvador Litvak","slug":"salvador-litvak","old_id":"45752","first_name":"Salvador ","last_name":"Litvak ","description":"Salvador Litvak is an author, filmmaker, and spiritual leader. His first movie, the raucous and inspiring When Do We Eat? became a cult hit and Passover tradition. As the Accidental Talmudist, Salvador Litvak shares Jewish wisdom with over a million followers. Learn more and catch his daily show at accidentaltalmudist.org.\r\n\r\n","short_description":"As the Accidental Talmudist, Salvador Litvak shares Jewish wisdom with over a million followers. Learn more and catch his daily show at accidentaltalmudist.org.","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":45753,"alt":"","title":"salvador litvak","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/salvador-litvak-e1544911611429.jpg","width":550,"height":595,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/salvador-litvak-e1544911611429-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/salvador-litvak-e1544911611429-277x300.jpg","medium-width":277,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/salvador-litvak-768x467.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":467,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/salvador-litvak-1024x623.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":623,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/salvador-litvak-e1544911611429.jpg","1536x1536-width":550,"1536x1536-height":595,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/salvador-litvak-e1544911611429.jpg","2048x2048-width":550,"2048x2048-height":595,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/salvador-litvak-1200x730.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":730,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/salvador-litvak-e1544911611429-388x420.jpg","home_baner-width":388,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"567","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"God has patience, God has mercy, God kvells. As we should with our families\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

Baruch Hashem,<\/em> the edgy Passover comedy I directed, <\/span>When Do We Eat?,<\/span><\/em> became a cult classic. The film opens with a pair of verses from our chapter (23-24):<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Thus sayeth the Lord: Behold I send you the prophet Elijah before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord, and he will turn back the hearts of the fathers to their sons and the hearts of the sons to their fathers\u2026 or I will come and strike the land with utter destruction.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The verses appear on screen as we travel <\/span>into<\/span><\/em> Mt. Sinai, with the children of Israel encamped all around. As the verses fade out, the superheated core of the mountain dissolves into the burning ember of a joint held by a teenager who\u2019s avoiding a call from his mom.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Our verses tie the coming of the Messianic Age to family relationships. If it\u2019s indeed in our power to hasten the Final Redemption, we might have expected that God wants us to end war and hunger. What is this awful rift between parents and children, and why does its healing carry world-changing significance?<\/span><\/p>\r\n

We find a hint a few verses back: \u201cFor I am the LORD\u2014I have not changed; and you are the children of Jacob\u2014you have not reached the end\u201d (3:6)<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Rashi renders it, \u201c<\/span>Although I keep back My anger for a long time, My mind has not changed ...\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

In the Talmud, Rabbi Chaggai expounds \u201cslow to anger,\u201d one of the 13 attributes of God we sing on Yom Kippur (Eruvin 22a B.T. regarding Ex. 34:6). The Hebrew phrase is \u201c<\/span>erech apayim<\/span><\/em>,\u201d better translated as \u201clong-suffering.\u201d Rabbi Chaggai says the phrase is plural because God is long-suffering on two counts: He withholds punishment from the wicked <\/span>and<\/span><\/i> reward from the righteous.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The wait takes an emotional toll on the Almighty. We know God is emotional because He says so in the Torah, telling us that our sacrifices provide a pleasing aroma and that our sins, particularly idolatry and mistreating the vulnerable, spark His anger. So why does God hold back reward and punishment? Because the whole point of this world is to hide God\u2019s presence: if all those deeds had immediate consequences, He would not be hidden. Were His overwhelming presence to be revealed, we would no longer have free will. We would thus not be ourselves, and God desires the righteous deeds of free human beings, not the forced choices of slaves.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Even though God waits to bestow reward and punishment, He pays attention to our deeds, not only watching but <\/span>feeling<\/span><\/em> them, just like a mom <\/span>kvells<\/span><\/em> when her kids do good. And nowhere does this apply more than within the family, where the majority of malfeasance occurs because we spend more time with them than anyone else.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

When we learn to treat our families with the same mercy and fairness we wish God would bestow upon us from His hiding place, He might just finally come out.<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":79844,"alt":"","title":"mal3-litvak","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/mal3-litvak.png","width":931,"height":552,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/mal3-litvak-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/mal3-litvak-300x178.png","medium-width":300,"medium-height":178,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/mal3-litvak-768x455.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":455,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/mal3-litvak.png","large-width":931,"large-height":552,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/mal3-litvak.png","1536x1536-width":931,"1536x1536-height":552,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/mal3-litvak.png","2048x2048-width":931,"2048x2048-height":552,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/mal3-litvak.png","post_full_size-width":931,"post_full_size-height":552,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/mal3-litvak-708x420.png","home_baner-width":708,"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 Hidden God Can Still Teach Us","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"God has patience, God has mercy, God kvells. As we should with our families","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":79844,"alt":"","title":"mal3-litvak","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/mal3-litvak.png","width":931,"height":552,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/mal3-litvak-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/mal3-litvak-300x178.png","medium-width":300,"medium-height":178,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/mal3-litvak-768x455.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":455,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/mal3-litvak.png","large-width":931,"large-height":552,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/mal3-litvak.png","1536x1536-width":931,"1536x1536-height":552,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/mal3-litvak.png","2048x2048-width":931,"2048x2048-height":552,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/mal3-litvak.png","post_full_size-width":931,"post_full_size-height":552,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/mal3-litvak-708x420.png","home_baner-width":708,"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":"Malachi","chapter":"3","chapter_main_number":"567","date":"20271101","wall_id":"567"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false}],"chapter":"","chapter_main_number":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/wall\/79540"}],"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=79540"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}