{"id":79543,"date":"2018-07-09T17:51:19","date_gmt":"2018-07-09T14:51:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wall\/wall-1113\/"},"modified":"2022-02-02T19:42:41","modified_gmt":"2022-02-02T17:42:41","slug":"wall-1113","status":"publish","type":"wall","link":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wall\/wall-1113\/","title":{"rendered":"weekend-from-20240331-to-20240406"},"parent":0,"template":"","acf":{"type":"weekend","wall_id":"1113","date_from":"20240331","date_to":"20240406","book":"Malachi","books_group":"Prophets","posts":[{"order":1,"id":"52092","color":"#f8ebe3","size":"1","name":"Nitzavim: Choosing Life ","post_title":"Nitzavim: Choosing Life","slug":"nitzavim-choosing-life","old_id":"52092","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":46171,"post_title":"Avner Moriah","slug":"avner-moriah","old_id":"46171","first_name":"Avner ","last_name":"Moriah ","description":"Avner Moriah is a prolific Israel artist who has addressed a wide range of Jewish and Israeli themes during the four decades of his artistic journey. Currently, Avner is completing a singular artistic and spiritual feat of illuminating the entire Chumash. The unique illuminated books contain hundreds of original drawings that offer a profound, provocative and humorous perspective. \r\nFor the entire weekly portion series, visit: https:\/\/avnermoriahprints.com\/collections\/parasha\r\nFor more of his work visit: https:\/\/avnermoriah.com\/\r\n","short_description":"Avner Moriah is a prolific Israel artist who is illuminating the entire Chumash.","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":46173,"alt":"","title":"avner moriah","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/avner-moriah-e1545511134679.jpg","width":1387,"height":1425,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/avner-moriah-e1545511134679-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/avner-moriah-e1545511134679-292x300.jpg","medium-width":292,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/avner-moriah-e1545511134679-768x789.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":789,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/avner-moriah-e1545511134679-997x1024.jpg","large-width":997,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/avner-moriah-e1545511134679.jpg","1536x1536-width":1387,"1536x1536-height":1425,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/avner-moriah-e1545511134679.jpg","2048x2048-width":1387,"2048x2048-height":1425,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/avner-moriah-e1545511134679-1168x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":1168,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/avner-moriah-e1545511134679-409x420.jpg","home_baner-width":409,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"183","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"From the Eytz Chayim, New Tree of Life","post_main_content_content":"

Moses\u2019 resounding message is to heed God\u2019s laws and to obey them as the way to live one\u2019s life on the right path: \u201cSee, I set before you this day life and prosperity, death and adversity. For I command you this day to love the Lord your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments\u201d (Deut. 30:15\u201316). Moses calls dramatically upon Heaven and Earth to be his witnesses for the message of free choice that the Torah offers the people. \u201cI have put before you life and death, blessing and curse. Choose life\u201d (Deut. 30:19). <\/span><\/p>\r\n

How does the idea that man has the ability to freely \u201cchoose life,\u201d found here near the end of the Book of Deuteronomy, appear when viewed through the prism of concepts introduced so much earlier in the Book of Genesis?<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Avner Moriah figures a man standing in front of a blue tree with green-leafed branches coming out of both sides of the trunk and extending to the top of the picture. The artist chose to symbolize the option of \u201clife and prosperity, death and adversity\u201d with an image that takes us back to the story of Creation and the Tree of Life. In Genesis we read:<\/span> \u201c....the Tree of Life in the middle of the garden, and the Tree of Knowledge of good and evil\u201d (Gen. 2:9).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

When God put Adam in the garden of Eden, He gave him free choice: \u201cOf every tree of the garden you are free to eat but as for the Tree of Knowledge of good and bad you must not eat of it, for as soon as you eat of it you shall die\u201d (Gen. 2:16\u201317). Adam and Eve chose to disobey God and eat the forbidden fruit, a story that is told at length in Genesis 3. When Adam defied God and ate from the Tree of Knowledge, God said: \u201cNow that the man has become like one of us, knowing good and bad, what if he should stretch out his hand and take also from the Tree of Life and eat and live forever?\u201d (Gen 3:22).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

In this visualization we see a man, figured without arms, standing next to a big tree, suggesting the Tree of Life, with a large mountain in the background (known in the ancient world as a symbol of the Cosmos), the absence of arms implying that he will not eat from the tree. Adam made a choice in connection with a tree, and once he made that first free choice, he was bound by it. From this we understand that from the moment that the first man made that first free choice his fate was determined. <\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":52093,"alt":"","title":"51 Nitsavim","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/51-Nitsavim.jpg","width":2001,"height":2500,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/51-Nitsavim-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/51-Nitsavim-240x300.jpg","medium-width":240,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/51-Nitsavim-768x960.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":960,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/51-Nitsavim-820x1024.jpg","large-width":820,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/51-Nitsavim.jpg","1536x1536-width":1229,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/51-Nitsavim.jpg","2048x2048-width":1639,"2048x2048-height":2048,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/51-Nitsavim-960x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":960,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/51-Nitsavim-336x420.jpg","home_baner-width":336,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"Nitzavim: Choosing Life","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"From the Eytz Chayim, New Tree of Life","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":52093,"alt":"","title":"51 Nitsavim","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/51-Nitsavim.jpg","width":2001,"height":2500,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/51-Nitsavim-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/51-Nitsavim-240x300.jpg","medium-width":240,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/51-Nitsavim-768x960.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":960,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/51-Nitsavim-820x1024.jpg","large-width":820,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/51-Nitsavim.jpg","1536x1536-width":1229,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/51-Nitsavim.jpg","2048x2048-width":1639,"2048x2048-height":2048,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/51-Nitsavim-960x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":960,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/51-Nitsavim-336x420.jpg","home_baner-width":336,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"tile_link_for_pay":"0","send_noty":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Torah","book":"Deuteronomy","chapter":"30","chapter_main_number":"183","date":"20260512","wall_id":"183"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"368","name":"Parasha","old_id":"768"},{"term_id":"369","name":"Visual Arts","old_id":"769"}]},{"order":2,"id":"52226","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"Vayelech: Moses' Last Day ","post_title":"Vayelech: Moses' Last Day","slug":"vayelech-moses-last-day","old_id":"52226","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":46171,"post_title":"Avner Moriah","slug":"avner-moriah","old_id":"46171","first_name":"Avner ","last_name":"Moriah ","description":"Avner Moriah is a prolific Israel artist who has addressed a wide range of Jewish and Israeli themes during the four decades of his artistic journey. 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Parashat Va-Yelekh<\/span><\/i> records Moses\u2019 last day. Now he seems to be at peace with God\u2019s judgment and is forthcoming in regard to both his ebbing strength and his disappointment at being unable to lead the Israelites into the Promised Land. His words to the people are full of encouragement, as he promises them that even though he will not be with them, God will help them conquer the land: \u201cThen Moses called Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel \u2018be strong and resolute for it is you who shall go with this people into the land that the Lord swore to their fathers to give them and it is you who shall apportion it to them\u2019\u201d (Deut. 31:7).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Joshua had been at Moses\u2019 side for many years: \u201cThe Lord would speak to Moses face to face as one man speaks to another\u2026his attendant Joshua, son of Nun, a youth, would not stir out of the tent\u201d (Exod. 33:11). Moses had chosen Joshua to lead the battle against Amalek (Exod. 17:9). Further, he took Joshua with him up to the mountain of God when he ascended to receive the Torah (Exod. 24:13), and it was Joshua \u00a0who heard the noise of the people celebrating around the Golden Calf (Exod. 32:17). Joshua was also the man who challenged the majority report of the spies (Num. 14). God told Moses: \u201cSingle out Joshua, son of Nun, an inspired man, and lay your hand upon him\u201d (Num. 27:18), which Moses did in front of Elazar the priest and before the whole community. <\/span><\/p>\r\n

Why then did Moses choose to perform another official ceremony, as described here, on the last day of his life?<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Avner Moriah visualizes this seemingly redundant ceremony<\/span>. <\/span><\/i>The picture shows an aged Moses leaning on his staff speaking to Joshua, who is standing upright with his arms folded, clearly very attentive and respectful toward his master. There is no \u201claying on of the hands\u201d as in the earlier ceremony. Behind the two men we see a range of brown hills, with a large gap between two of the peaks. The long white extended hand of God is stretched out over the gap, and the Israelites are using it as a bridge to the Promised Land, as it says: \u201cThe Lord your God Himself will cross over before you; and He Himself will wipe out those nations from your path and you shall dispossess them. Joshua is the one who shall cross before you, as the Lord has spoken\u201d (Deut. 31:3).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Here, the Israelites are witnessing the close and caring relationship between Moses and Joshua and projecting a sense of unity in their acceptance of Joshua as their new leader. This was an important moment, as many of the earlier episodes in which Joshua was involved occurred during times of disunity and strife. Clearly the people are approving of Joshua and are watching in anticipation as Moses blesses him, saying: \u201cBe strong and resolute\u201d (Deut. 31:7).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

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

Text by: Dr. Shulamit Laderman, PhD in Art History, publications on Jewish and Christian influences on biblical interpretive illustration.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

For the entire weekly portion series, please visit:<\/span> https:\/\/avnermoriahprints.com\/collections\/parasha<\/span><\/a><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":52227,"alt":"","title":"52 Vayelech","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/52-Vayelech.jpg","width":2001,"height":2500,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/52-Vayelech-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/52-Vayelech-240x300.jpg","medium-width":240,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/52-Vayelech-768x960.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":960,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/52-Vayelech-820x1024.jpg","large-width":820,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/52-Vayelech.jpg","1536x1536-width":1229,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/52-Vayelech.jpg","2048x2048-width":1639,"2048x2048-height":2048,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/52-Vayelech-960x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":960,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/52-Vayelech-336x420.jpg","home_baner-width":336,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"Vayelech: Moses' Last Day","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"The people assent to the appointment of Joshua ","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":52227,"alt":"","title":"52 Vayelech","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/52-Vayelech.jpg","width":2001,"height":2500,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/52-Vayelech-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/52-Vayelech-240x300.jpg","medium-width":240,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/52-Vayelech-768x960.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":960,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/52-Vayelech-820x1024.jpg","large-width":820,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/52-Vayelech.jpg","1536x1536-width":1229,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/52-Vayelech.jpg","2048x2048-width":1639,"2048x2048-height":2048,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/52-Vayelech-960x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":960,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/52-Vayelech-336x420.jpg","home_baner-width":336,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"tile_link_for_pay":"0","send_noty":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Torah","book":"Deuteronomy","chapter":"31","chapter_main_number":"184","date":"20260513","wall_id":"184"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"369","name":"Visual Arts","old_id":"769"}]},{"order":3,"id":"79797","color":"#f6f5de","size":"1","name":"Nitzavim-Vayelech: How To Renew A Nation ","post_title":"Nitzavim-Vayelech: How To Renew A Nation","slug":"nitzavim-vayelech-how-to-renew-a-nation","old_id":"79797","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":42813,"post_title":"Covenant & Conversation","slug":"covenant-conversation","old_id":"42813","first_name":"","last_name":"Covenant & Conversation","description":"Covenant & Conversation: Family Edition is a new and exciting initiative from The Office of Rabbi Jonathan Sacks. 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In Nitzavim, Moses brings the entire people together \u2013leaders, tribes, elders, officials, children, wives, and strangers \u2013 to renew their commitment to the covenant before they enter the land of Israel. He also warns them that their future depends on whether they keep the covenant. If they break it, they will suffer defeat, destruction, and exile. But even then, Hashem will still keep His promises. Even during exile, if the people find their way back to God, He will return to them and bring them back to their land. The choice will always be ours. Therefore, \u201cChoose life, that you and your children may live\u201d (Devarim 30:19).<\/p>\r\n

Vayelech is the shortest parsha in the Torah, only 30 verses long. Moses speaks with great emotion, telling the people, \u201cI am now 120 years old, and I can no longer go out and come in\u201d (Devarim 31:2). He cannot lead them across the Jordan and into the Promised Land. He calls his successor Joshua and, in front of all the people, gives him words of support.<\/p>\r\n

Next, God speaks privately to Moses and Joshua, warning them that the Israelites may eventually break the covenant. He commands them to write down the Torah and teach it to the people, as a permanent record of the covenant itself. God then encourages Joshua, reassuring him that He will be with him as he leads the people.<\/p>\r\n

Download the Family Edition for Nitzavim-Vayelech as a PDF<\/strong><\/a><\/p>","post_main_content_image":"","post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"Family Study Materials","tile_main_caption":"How To Renew A Nation","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"for Parashat Nitzavim-Vayelech","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":42816,"alt":"","title":"covenant and conversation - Sacks","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/covenant-and-conversation-Sacks.jpg","width":723,"height":426,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/covenant-and-conversation-Sacks-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/covenant-and-conversation-Sacks-300x177.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":177,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/covenant-and-conversation-Sacks.jpg","medium_large-width":723,"medium_large-height":426,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/covenant-and-conversation-Sacks.jpg","large-width":723,"large-height":426,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/covenant-and-conversation-Sacks.jpg","1536x1536-width":723,"1536x1536-height":426,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/covenant-and-conversation-Sacks.jpg","2048x2048-width":723,"2048x2048-height":426,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/covenant-and-conversation-Sacks.jpg","post_full_size-width":723,"post_full_size-height":426,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/covenant-and-conversation-Sacks-713x420.jpg","home_baner-width":713,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","old_create_date":"","links":false,"tile_link_for_pay":"0","chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"Malachi","chapter":false,"chapter_main_number":false,"date":false,"wall_id":"1113"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":4,"id":"79581","color":"#efefef","size":"1","name":"30 Shekels Of Silver ","post_title":"30 Shekels Of Silver","slug":"30-shekels-of-silver","old_id":"79581","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":79577,"post_title":"Michael Handelsaltz","slug":"michael-handelsaltz","old_id":"79577","first_name":"Michael ","last_name":"Handelsaltz","description":"Michael Handelsaltz is an Israeli journalist, theater critic, translator and editor. He was the theater critic for Haaretz for 42 years, and has written on every single chapter of the Tanach for 929 in Hebrew.","short_description":"Michael Handelsaltz is an Israeli journalist, theater critic, translator and editor.","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":79578,"alt":"","title":"michael handelsaltz","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/michael-handelsaltz.jpg","width":271,"height":356,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/michael-handelsaltz-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/michael-handelsaltz-228x300.jpg","medium-width":228,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/michael-handelsaltz.jpg","medium_large-width":271,"medium_large-height":356,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/michael-handelsaltz.jpg","large-width":271,"large-height":356,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/michael-handelsaltz.jpg","1536x1536-width":271,"1536x1536-height":356,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/michael-handelsaltz.jpg","2048x2048-width":271,"2048x2048-height":356,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/michael-handelsaltz.jpg","post_full_size-width":271,"post_full_size-height":356,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/michael-handelsaltz.jpg","home_baner-width":271,"home_baner-height":356}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"561","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Zechariah's prophecies appropriated by the Gospels\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

This is a story about 30 shekels, 3 shepherds, 2 sticks (<\/span>No'am<\/span><\/em>, \"Favor,\" which bestows favor, and <\/span>Chovlim<\/span><\/em>,<\/em> 'bands that bind' \u2013 hence \"Unity\" \u2013 but which can destroy, thus basically Zechariah's version of the carrot and the stick), and 1 God.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

This is Zechariah's letter to the shepherds; the Christians will embrace the image of the shepherd and his flock, just as they did for other phrases and images from the prophecies of Zechariah in their Gospels about Jesus, his entrance to Jerusalem, and his death.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Given that the fate of the sheep to be slaughtered is a tragic one \u2013 \"let the one that is to die die and the one that is to get lost get lost; and let the rest devour each other\u2019s flesh!\" \u2013 it's no wonder that the shepherd demands a fare wage for his labors. They offer him \"30 shekels of silver.\" And the prophet, who is the shepherd, and God who is the Shepherd of all shepherds, saw that it was a bad deal: \"The LORD said to me, 'Deposit it (<\/span>or<\/span><\/i>: fling it\u2026) in the treasury.' And I took the thirty shekels and deposited it in the treasury in the House of the LORD\" (verse 13).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Jesus and his disciples \"fulfill\" the words of the prophets. When Judas, son of Simon, Iscariot (<\/span>ish kerayot<\/span><\/em> in Hebrew) names his terms to the heads of the priests in Jerusalem \"Whatever you shall give me, and I shall deliver him unto you\" (which is his version of Zechariah's line \u2013 \"If you are satisfied, pay me my wages\" \u2013 verse 12), and the priests offer him 30 shekels of silver.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

God instructs Zechariah to refuse this offer scornfully \u2013 \"Fling it into the treasury\" (\"the noble sum that I was worth in their estimation\"). But as opposed to this shepherd who deposits his salary in the treasury of the Temple (for its rebuilding), Judas, who betrayed his rabbi with a kiss, \"repented and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders. He said, 'I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.' But they said, 'What is that to us? See to it yourself.' Throwing down the pieces of silver in the temple, he departed; and he went and hanged himself. But the chief priests, taking the pieces of silver, said, 'It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, since they are blood money.' After conferring together, they used them to buy the potter\u2019s field as a place to bury foreigners. For this reason that field has been called the Field of Blood to this day. Then was fulfilled what had been spoken through the prophet 'And they took the thirty pieces of silver,' the price of the one on whom a price had been set, and they gave<\/span> them for the potter\u2019s field...\u201d (Matthew 27:3-10, New RSV).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

 <\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":79582,"alt":"","title":"zech11-30-pieces-of-silver","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech11-30-pieces-of-silver.png","width":382,"height":344,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech11-30-pieces-of-silver-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech11-30-pieces-of-silver-300x270.png","medium-width":300,"medium-height":270,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech11-30-pieces-of-silver.png","medium_large-width":382,"medium_large-height":344,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech11-30-pieces-of-silver.png","large-width":382,"large-height":344,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech11-30-pieces-of-silver.png","1536x1536-width":382,"1536x1536-height":344,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech11-30-pieces-of-silver.png","2048x2048-width":382,"2048x2048-height":344,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech11-30-pieces-of-silver.png","post_full_size-width":382,"post_full_size-height":344,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech11-30-pieces-of-silver.png","home_baner-width":382,"home_baner-height":344}},"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":"30 Shekels Of Silver","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Zechariah's prophecies appropriated by the Gospels","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":79582,"alt":"","title":"zech11-30-pieces-of-silver","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech11-30-pieces-of-silver.png","width":382,"height":344,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech11-30-pieces-of-silver-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech11-30-pieces-of-silver-300x270.png","medium-width":300,"medium-height":270,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech11-30-pieces-of-silver.png","medium_large-width":382,"medium_large-height":344,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech11-30-pieces-of-silver.png","large-width":382,"large-height":344,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech11-30-pieces-of-silver.png","1536x1536-width":382,"1536x1536-height":344,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech11-30-pieces-of-silver.png","2048x2048-width":382,"2048x2048-height":344,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech11-30-pieces-of-silver.png","post_full_size-width":382,"post_full_size-height":344,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech11-30-pieces-of-silver.png","home_baner-width":382,"home_baner-height":344}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_link_for_pay":"0","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"Zechariah","chapter":"11","chapter_main_number":"561","date":"20271024","wall_id":"561"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":5,"id":"79630","color":"#f2e9df","size":"1","name":"Herzl, The Messiah Son Of Joseph ","post_title":"Herzl, The Messiah Son Of Joseph","slug":"herzl-the-messiah-son-of-joseph","old_id":"79630","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":36277,"post_title":"Yedidya Sinclair","slug":"yedidya-sinclair","old_id":"36277","first_name":"Yedidya","last_name":"Sinclair","description":"Rabbi Yedidya Sinclair serves as Senior Rabbinic Scholar at Hazon, the leading US Jewish environmental organization. From 2011-16 he was Vice President for Research and Senior Economist at Energiya Global, a Jerusalem-based solar energy company focused on the developing world and he continues to consult on renewable energy and climate change preparedness. In 2014 he published together with Hazon, a translation of Rabbi Abraham Isaac Kook's great work on shmitta, the Sabbatical year, \"Introduction to Shabbat Ha'aretz.\" Yedidya holds a BA from Oxford University, an MPA from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard and lives with his family in Jerusalem.","short_description":"Yedidya Sinclair is a Jerusalem-based rabbi and economist, and is Senior Rabbinic Scholar at Hazon. ","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":36278,"alt":"","title":"yedidya sinclair","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/yedidya-sinclair.jpg","width":200,"height":200,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/yedidya-sinclair-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/yedidya-sinclair.jpg","medium-width":200,"medium-height":200,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/yedidya-sinclair.jpg","medium_large-width":200,"medium_large-height":200,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/yedidya-sinclair.jpg","large-width":200,"large-height":200,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/yedidya-sinclair.jpg","1536x1536-width":200,"1536x1536-height":200,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/yedidya-sinclair.jpg","2048x2048-width":200,"2048x2048-height":200,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/yedidya-sinclair.jpg","post_full_size-width":200,"post_full_size-height":200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/yedidya-sinclair.jpg","home_baner-width":200,"home_baner-height":200}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"562","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"At least in the eyes of Rav Kook in his lamentation for him\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

Chapter 12 of Zechariah tells of a future war against Jerusalem in some unspecified time, the death of an unidentified but notable victim in battle and a great mourning for the one who was slain that engulfs the whole land. \"On that day the lamentation will be great in Jerusalem, like the lamentation of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddon.\" (12:11.)<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The Talmudic sage Rav Yosef testified to the obscurity of this verse, saying, \"were it not for the Aramaic Targum, I would not have understood the meaning of this verse.\" (Talmud Megillah, 3a.)<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The opacity of this chapter and of the victim's identity led the Talmud (Sukkah 52a) to make two conjectures that seem remote from the meaning of the text, but which have reverberated throughout Jewish thought and history. We will deal briefly with the first, that the slain was the Messiah, Son of Joseph.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

This led to the elaboration of the theory of two Messiahs. The first, Messiah son of Joseph would be a political-military figure, who would struggle with partial success to redeem the Jewish People, dying in the attempt. He would be followed by Messiah the son of David, a leader of great spiritual stature who would bring full redemption.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The most celebrated modern articulation of this idea was Rabbi Abraham Isaac Kook's \"Lamentation in Jerusalem,\" delivered in 1904 at a memorial convocation for Theodore Herzl, the trail-blazer for political Zionism who had recently died at the age of 44.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Rav Kook identified Joseph, whose political skills had ensured his family's survival in Egypt, with the physical-material aspect, while David, the warrior-psalmist represented the full integration of spiritual and material in Jewish leadership.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Without referring to Herzl by name, Rav Kook identified political Zionism with the spirit of Messiah son of Joseph, saying:<\/span><\/p>\r\n

\"The Zionist vision manifest in our generation might best be symbolized as the \u201cfootstep of Messiah son of Joseph\u201d (\u2018ikva de-Mashiah ben Yosef<\/em>...) It is unequipped to realize that the development of Israel\u2019s general aspect is but the foundation for Israel\u2019s singularity. The ideal of Israel\u2019s national renascence, including all the material accouterments\u2014 which is a proper thing when joined to the spiritual goal\u2014to date has not succeeded, and the lack of success has brought on infighting, until finally, the leader of the movement has fallen, a victim of frustration.\"<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Rav Kook urged his listeners \"to rejoice in the national reawakening,\" represented by Herzl and political Zionism, \"and to know that this is not the end goal of Israel, but only a preparation.\"\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Image: Herzl And Kook by Hare\u2019l Malachi \/ pimerang<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":79632,"alt":"","title":"zech12-herzlkook","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech12-herzlkook.jpg","width":812,"height":688,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech12-herzlkook-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech12-herzlkook-300x254.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":254,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech12-herzlkook-768x651.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":651,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech12-herzlkook.jpg","large-width":812,"large-height":688,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech12-herzlkook.jpg","1536x1536-width":812,"1536x1536-height":688,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech12-herzlkook.jpg","2048x2048-width":812,"2048x2048-height":688,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech12-herzlkook.jpg","post_full_size-width":812,"post_full_size-height":688,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech12-herzlkook-496x420.jpg","home_baner-width":496,"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":"Herzl, The Messiah Son Of Joseph","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"At least in the eyes of Rav Kook in his lamentation for him","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":79632,"alt":"","title":"zech12-herzlkook","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech12-herzlkook.jpg","width":812,"height":688,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech12-herzlkook-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech12-herzlkook-300x254.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":254,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech12-herzlkook-768x651.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":651,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech12-herzlkook.jpg","large-width":812,"large-height":688,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech12-herzlkook.jpg","1536x1536-width":812,"1536x1536-height":688,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech12-herzlkook.jpg","2048x2048-width":812,"2048x2048-height":688,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech12-herzlkook.jpg","post_full_size-width":812,"post_full_size-height":688,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech12-herzlkook-496x420.jpg","home_baner-width":496,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_link_for_pay":"0","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"Zechariah","chapter":"12","chapter_main_number":"562","date":"20271025","wall_id":"562"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":6,"id":"79614","color":"#f6edf6","size":"1","name":"The Human Soul ","post_title":"The Human Soul","slug":"the-human-soul","old_id":"79614","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":"562","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Nefesh, ruach, neshamah\r\n\r\n\u00a0","post_main_content_content":"

Our chapter begins with a superscription for Zechariah\u2019s final three chapters: \u201c\u2026The utterance of the Lord Who stretched out the skies and made firm the earth and created man\u2019s breath within him.\u201d This Scriptural expression became the basis for post-Biblical discussion of the nature of the human soul.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Midrash Genesis Rabbah 14:4<\/span><\/a> interprets<\/span> Genesis 2:4<\/span><\/a>:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

\u201cThe Lord God formed man\u2026 and man became a living being\u201d. \u201cFormed\" v<\/em><\/span>ayyitzer<\/span><\/em>\u00a0suggests that man was created with a <\/span>Yetzer Tov<\/em> <\/span>and with a <\/span>Yetzer Ra<\/em> <\/span>[here meaning the ability to discern good from evil]. For if an animal had this ability, when it would see a person, knife in hand, coming to slaughter it, it would die in terror\u2026 Moreover, \u201c[God] created (<\/span>yotzer<\/span><\/em>) man\u2019s breath within him\u201d (Zech. 12:1) \u2013 the word <\/span>yotzer<\/span><\/em> indicates that man\u2019s soul is bound (<\/span>tzrurah<\/span><\/em>) within him. For if this were not the case, when a person would see troubles approaching, he would be able to expel his soul and cast it from him. [i.e. Seeing life-threatening danger approach, a man would be able to extinguish his own soul, thus bringing about his own immediate death. This is not the case, because God has \u201cbound\u201d man\u2019s soul within him so that it is God who separates a man\u2019s soul from his body, thus causing his physical death].<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Sa\u2019adya Gaon (882-942 CE), commentator, liturgist and philosopher, discusses the nature of the human soul in the final section of his main philosophical work,<\/span> The Book of Doctrines and Beliefs 6:1<\/span><\/a>. This discussion begins with the assertion that the soul of each person is created in his heart at the moment when the physical form of his body is completed, as it says: \u201cThe utterance of the Lord Who stretched out the skies and made firm the earth and created man\u2019s breath within him\u201d (12:1). Moreover, God has set a time-limit to the combined existence of body and soul. When an individual human being dies, God again separates his body and soul until all human souls will have been created. Then God will re-unite each soul with its respective body and determine each person\u2019s reward.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

After summarizing six alternate theories about the nature of the soul, Saadya expounds his own view. He again cites Zechariah that God \u201ccreated man\u2019s breath within him\u201d to insist that each individual human soul is created at the moment of each man\u2019s creation. When God unites body and soul, three faculties are manifested, represented by three Hebrew words for \u201csoul\u201d: <\/span>Nefesh<\/em> <\/span>\u2013 the seat of \u201cappetite\u201d (as in the phrase <\/span>ta\u2019avat nafshekhah<\/span><\/em>, <\/span><\/i>the appetite of one\u2019s <\/span>nefesh<\/span><\/em>), <\/span>Ruah <\/span><\/em>\u2013 <\/span><\/i>\u201cpassion and courage\u201d and <\/span>Neshamah<\/em> <\/span>\u2013 \u201cknowledge.\u201d The seat of the soul is the human heart, from which emerge two \u201carteries\u201d (or \u201cnerves\u201d - <\/span>gidim<\/span><\/em>), which communicate sensation and movement to the rest of the body. So, heart and soul are mentioned together in Scripture: \u201cLove your God with all your heart and with all your soul\u201d (Deuteronomy 6:5).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

 <\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":79615,"alt":"","title":"zech12-soul","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech12-soul.jpg","width":728,"height":546,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech12-soul-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech12-soul-300x225.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":225,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech12-soul.jpg","medium_large-width":728,"medium_large-height":546,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech12-soul.jpg","large-width":728,"large-height":546,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech12-soul.jpg","1536x1536-width":728,"1536x1536-height":546,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech12-soul.jpg","2048x2048-width":728,"2048x2048-height":546,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech12-soul.jpg","post_full_size-width":728,"post_full_size-height":546,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech12-soul-560x420.jpg","home_baner-width":560,"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 Human Soul","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Nefesh, ruach, neshamah \u00a0","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":79615,"alt":"","title":"zech12-soul","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech12-soul.jpg","width":728,"height":546,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech12-soul-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech12-soul-300x225.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":225,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech12-soul.jpg","medium_large-width":728,"medium_large-height":546,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech12-soul.jpg","large-width":728,"large-height":546,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech12-soul.jpg","1536x1536-width":728,"1536x1536-height":546,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech12-soul.jpg","2048x2048-width":728,"2048x2048-height":546,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech12-soul.jpg","post_full_size-width":728,"post_full_size-height":546,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech12-soul-560x420.jpg","home_baner-width":560,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_link_for_pay":"0","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"Zechariah","chapter":"12","chapter_main_number":"562","date":"20271025","wall_id":"562"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":7,"id":"79644","color":"#e0e9ef","size":"1","name":"True Prophets And False Ones ","post_title":"True Prophets And False Ones","slug":"true-prophets-and-false-ones","old_id":"79644","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":78133,"post_title":"Josh Blechner","slug":"josh-blechner","old_id":"78133","first_name":"Josh ","last_name":"Blechner ","description":"Josh first finished the Tanach during Yeshiva in Mevaseret Zion. He and his daughter studied the Tanach again for her bat mitzvah. Josh has taught many classes on Tanach throughout the years and currently in the New Rochelle 929 group. When not studying for 929, Josh works as an in-house lawyer in New Jersey.","short_description":"Josh has taught many classes on Tanach throughout the years and currently in the New Rochelle 929 group, and is an in-house attorney in New Jersey. ","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":78134,"alt":"","title":"josh blechner","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","width":276,"height":351,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner-236x300.jpg","medium-width":236,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","medium_large-width":276,"medium_large-height":351,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","large-width":276,"large-height":351,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","1536x1536-width":276,"1536x1536-height":351,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","2048x2048-width":276,"2048x2048-height":351,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","post_full_size-width":276,"post_full_size-height":351,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","home_baner-width":276,"home_baner-height":351}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"563","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Both are nearing the end of the line\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

This chapter describes the removal of idolatry, impurity and false prophets from Jerusalem. Interestingly the text does not refer to these prophets as false prophets, but rather as simply prophets. It is only through context that we can deduce that Zechariah is referring to false prophets.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Why would the prophecy be so ambiguous?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

As featured in the books of Jeremiah and Kings, false prophets provided devastating advice for the nation\u2019s rulers that caused them to act against the word of God, and were one of the reasons for the destruction of Jerusaelm and the Temple. It is clear why Zechariah would want to not only remove this stain from the people, but also create a societal norm in which these prophets are shunned by their own families.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Zechariah is actually providing a double message. As we know, Zechariah is the penultimate prophet. Following the building of the second Temple, prophecy as a tool of God's word to the people ceases, and the populace shifts more toward a priestly and then rabbinical model. In fact, if nowadays someone was walking around claiming to be a prophet, he would probably be sent to a mental institution. Zechariah's decision not to add the word \"false\" by the word \"prophet\" also prepares the people for a day when they will no longer be relying on prophets.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

image:\u00a0John Singer Sargent, Frieze of Prophets, East Wall (Haggai, Malachi, Zechariah), 1890s, Boston Public Library \/ didgitalcommonwealth<\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":78952,"alt":"","title":"hag1-Frieze-of-latter-Prophets","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag1-Frieze-of-latter-Prophets.jpg","width":559,"height":742,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag1-Frieze-of-latter-Prophets-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag1-Frieze-of-latter-Prophets-226x300.jpg","medium-width":226,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag1-Frieze-of-latter-Prophets.jpg","medium_large-width":559,"medium_large-height":742,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag1-Frieze-of-latter-Prophets.jpg","large-width":559,"large-height":742,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag1-Frieze-of-latter-Prophets.jpg","1536x1536-width":559,"1536x1536-height":742,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag1-Frieze-of-latter-Prophets.jpg","2048x2048-width":559,"2048x2048-height":742,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag1-Frieze-of-latter-Prophets.jpg","post_full_size-width":559,"post_full_size-height":742,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag1-Frieze-of-latter-Prophets-316x420.jpg","home_baner-width":316,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"True Prophets And False Ones","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Both are nearing the end of the line","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":78952,"alt":"","title":"hag1-Frieze-of-latter-Prophets","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag1-Frieze-of-latter-Prophets.jpg","width":559,"height":742,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag1-Frieze-of-latter-Prophets-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag1-Frieze-of-latter-Prophets-226x300.jpg","medium-width":226,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag1-Frieze-of-latter-Prophets.jpg","medium_large-width":559,"medium_large-height":742,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag1-Frieze-of-latter-Prophets.jpg","large-width":559,"large-height":742,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag1-Frieze-of-latter-Prophets.jpg","1536x1536-width":559,"1536x1536-height":742,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag1-Frieze-of-latter-Prophets.jpg","2048x2048-width":559,"2048x2048-height":742,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag1-Frieze-of-latter-Prophets.jpg","post_full_size-width":559,"post_full_size-height":742,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/hag1-Frieze-of-latter-Prophets-316x420.jpg","home_baner-width":316,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_link_for_pay":"0","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"Zechariah","chapter":"13","chapter_main_number":"563","date":"20271026","wall_id":"563"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":8,"id":"79641","color":"#faeed8","size":"1","name":"The \u201cMantle\u201d of Prophecy ","post_title":"The \u201cMantle\u201d of Prophecy","slug":"the-mantle-of-prophecy","old_id":"79641","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":"563","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"It\u2019s going out of style fast\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

Once again (<\/span>see chapter 8<\/span><\/a>), a verse appears to have been assigned to the wrong chapter. Verse 1 (mentioning \u201cthe House of David\u201d) belongs to the previous prophecy (see \u201cthe House of David in 12:12) and a new one begins only with v.2. (\u201cIt shall be on that day\u2026). The subject of the new prophecy is the elimination of idolatry and false prophecy (2-6), the punishment in store for the faithless shepherd and the anticipated reward for the faithful remnant (7-9).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

In relating the fate of the false prophets, Zechariah said: \u201cIn that day, every prophet will be ashamed of the visions [he had] when he prophesied. In order to deceive, he will not wear a hairy mantle (<\/span>aderet sei`ar<\/span><\/em>) , and he will declare, \u2018I am not a prophet; I am a tiller of the soil (`<\/em><\/span>oveid \u2018adamah<\/span><\/em>); you see, I was plied (<\/span>hiknani<\/span><\/em>) with the red stuff (<\/span>adam<\/span><\/em>) from my youth on\u2019\u201d (4-5).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Radak treated both verses together and explained:<\/span><\/p>\r\n

It was the custom of false prophets to wear sackcloth and a hairy mantle to be deceptive and to fool others into believing them by giving the appearance to people of upright and righteous men who isolated themselves lest they speak falsehood. However, when they realize that their prophecies were not fulfilled, they will be embarrassed, abandon their activities, visions, and apparel, and deny their prophesying claiming that they are not prophets and never engaged in prophecy, rather they are farmers who do not engage in such [prophetic] activities but only in farming and shepherding.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Several of the descriptive terms Zechariah employed here resonate with us from other biblical sources. No fewer than five references are made to the mantle (<\/span>aderet<\/span><\/em>) of Elijah the prophet: three related directly to him (1 Kings 19: 3,19; 2 Kings 2:8) and twice more when it was retrieved by his successor, Elisha (2 Kings 2:1-14). A more striking allusion is to Amos\u2019s denial of his own prophetic vocation: \u201cI am neither a prophet nor a prophet\u2019s disciple; rather, I am a herdsman and tend sycamore trees\u201d (7:14-15).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

In verse 5, the JPS translation of \u201cplied with the red stuff\u201d (for <\/span>ki adam hiknani<\/span><\/em>)<\/span> is puzzling. If the allusion is to wine, its appearance here is anomalous, while, on the other hand, tying <\/span>adam<\/span><\/em> to <\/span>adamah<\/span><\/em> is natural. (Ibn Ezra: \u201cI inherited land, and from my youth I farm it.\u201d) Alternatively, the unusual verb <\/span>hiknani<\/span><\/em> (to acquire?) might be related to the noun <\/span>mikneh<\/span><\/em>, meaning sheep.<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":79642,"alt":"","title":"zech13-mantle","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech13-mantle.jpg","width":364,"height":598,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech13-mantle-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech13-mantle-183x300.jpg","medium-width":183,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech13-mantle.jpg","medium_large-width":364,"medium_large-height":598,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech13-mantle.jpg","large-width":364,"large-height":598,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech13-mantle.jpg","1536x1536-width":364,"1536x1536-height":598,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech13-mantle.jpg","2048x2048-width":364,"2048x2048-height":598,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech13-mantle.jpg","post_full_size-width":364,"post_full_size-height":598,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech13-mantle-256x420.jpg","home_baner-width":256,"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 \u201cMantle\u201d of Prophecy","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"It\u2019s going out of style fast","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":79642,"alt":"","title":"zech13-mantle","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech13-mantle.jpg","width":364,"height":598,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech13-mantle-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech13-mantle-183x300.jpg","medium-width":183,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech13-mantle.jpg","medium_large-width":364,"medium_large-height":598,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech13-mantle.jpg","large-width":364,"large-height":598,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech13-mantle.jpg","1536x1536-width":364,"1536x1536-height":598,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech13-mantle.jpg","2048x2048-width":364,"2048x2048-height":598,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech13-mantle.jpg","post_full_size-width":364,"post_full_size-height":598,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech13-mantle-256x420.jpg","home_baner-width":256,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_link_for_pay":"0","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"Zechariah","chapter":"13","chapter_main_number":"563","date":"20271026","wall_id":"563"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":9,"id":"79638","color":"#e6f5f3","size":"1","name":"Global Overpopulation? Zechariah Has The Solution ","post_title":"Global Overpopulation? Zechariah Has The Solution","slug":"global-overpopulation-zechariah-has-the-solution","old_id":"79638","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":72765,"post_title":"George Daniel Frankel","slug":"george-daniel-frankel","old_id":"72765","first_name":"George Daniel","last_name":"Frankel","description":"Danny Frankel lives in New York City. He is the author of \u201cDan Shall Judge His People: 5 Essays on Torah im Derech Eretz and the Breuer Community Today.\u201d\r\n","short_description":"Danny Frankel lives in New York City. He is the author of \u201cDan Shall Judge His People: 5 Essays on Torah im Derech Eretz and the Breuer Community Today.\u201d\r\n","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":72766,"alt":"","title":"danny frankel","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/danny-frankel.jpg","width":1822,"height":2743,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/danny-frankel-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/danny-frankel-199x300.jpg","medium-width":199,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/danny-frankel-680x1024.jpg","medium_large-width":680,"medium_large-height":1024,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/danny-frankel-680x1024.jpg","large-width":680,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/danny-frankel.jpg","1536x1536-width":1020,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/danny-frankel.jpg","2048x2048-width":1360,"2048x2048-height":2048,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/danny-frankel-797x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":797,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/danny-frankel-279x420.jpg","home_baner-width":279,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"563","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"You might not like it though...\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

As Zechariah nears the end of his book\u2014and we near the end of the prophetic era\u2014he offers up this charming prophecy of the end of days:<\/span><\/p>\r\n

\u201cAnd it shall come to pass, that in all the earth, says the Lord,<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>Two parts therein shall be cut off and die;<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>But the third shall be left therein.<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>And I will bring the third part through the fire,<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>And will refine them as silver is refined,<\/span>
\r\n<\/span>And will try them as gold is tried\u2026\u201d (Verses 8-9)<\/span><\/p>\r\n

What is so terrifying about this prophecy is that the sifting process\u2014the \u201crefining\u201d and the \u201ctrying\u201d\u2014is commenced only <\/span>after<\/span><\/em> two thirds of the world has been destroyed! In other words, the first two thirds of the world\u2019s population will be destroyed regardless of merit!<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The method of destruction is left to our imagination\u2014pandemic? nuclear holocaust?\u2014but one thing is clear: the destruction will be random, arbitrary. And then, once the earth has shed two thirds of its population, the culling can begin! Only the fittest spiritually will survive, the ones who will call out in God\u2019s name and say \u201cThe Lord is my God!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Apparently then, \u201c<\/span>hashgacha pratit<\/span><\/em>\u201d (individual divine attention to man\u2019s fate) becomes operative only when the earth\u2019s population has been radically thinned. Perhaps, like the \u201cIron Dome\u201d defense system, it can be overwhelmed by sheer numbers.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Furthermore, it is noteworthy that the first half of this chapter, before we come to the wholesale slaughter, deals with the end of prophecy itself. Zechariah describes a time when being a prophet is no longer a fit occupation for a nice Jewish boy or girl. A period of revulsion will set in such that if parents notice prophetic tendencies in their child, they will say to him or her \u201cyou shall not live!\u201d and will \u201cthrust him through\u201d when he prophesies. Individuals will be ashamed to profess as prophets, will refuse to wear prophetic garb, and will deny their true calling, preferring to self-identify as farmers.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

So, we will have to endure the coming devastation without benefit of a prophetic voice explaining to us why we are being made thus to suffer, much like we endured the Holocaust. Looking back at the earlier prophets from the First Temple period, like Jeremiah and Ezekiel, harsh as their warnings may have been, at least they explained to us why each punishment came due: Destruction of the Temple? It is because you did this. Exile of the people? It is because you did that. Plundering of personal property? Only fitting. Slaughter of the remaining inhabitants? Measure for measure!<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Those were the good old days!<\/span><\/p>\r\n

image: Thanos' Infinity Gauntlet (he also had a solution...)<\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":79639,"alt":"","title":"zech13-thanos","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech13-thanos.png","width":1015,"height":1920,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech13-thanos-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech13-thanos-159x300.png","medium-width":159,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech13-thanos-541x1024.png","medium_large-width":541,"medium_large-height":1024,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech13-thanos-541x1024.png","large-width":541,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech13-thanos.png","1536x1536-width":812,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech13-thanos.png","2048x2048-width":1015,"2048x2048-height":1920,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech13-thanos-634x1200.png","post_full_size-width":634,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech13-thanos-222x420.png","home_baner-width":222,"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":"Global Overpopulation? Zechariah Has The Solution","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"You might not like it though...","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":79639,"alt":"","title":"zech13-thanos","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech13-thanos.png","width":1015,"height":1920,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech13-thanos-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech13-thanos-159x300.png","medium-width":159,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech13-thanos-541x1024.png","medium_large-width":541,"medium_large-height":1024,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech13-thanos-541x1024.png","large-width":541,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech13-thanos.png","1536x1536-width":812,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech13-thanos.png","2048x2048-width":1015,"2048x2048-height":1920,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech13-thanos-634x1200.png","post_full_size-width":634,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech13-thanos-222x420.png","home_baner-width":222,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_link_for_pay":"0","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"Zechariah","chapter":"13","chapter_main_number":"563","date":"20271026","wall_id":"563"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":10,"id":"79685","color":"#f7e9e9","size":"1","name":"What's In A NAME? ","post_title":"What's In A NAME?","slug":"whats-in-a-name-4","old_id":"79685","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":"564","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"One name that encapsulates past, present and future\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

As part of his eschatological vision, Zechariah foresees that in some future time \u201cthere shall be one LORD with one name\u201d (v. 9). One name? What is so important about that? Moreover, if you look at the Hebrew, Zechariah doesn\u2019t use the Hebrew word for \u201cLord\u201d which is \u201c<\/span>Adonay<\/span><\/em>\u201d but rather the ineffable four letter name that we can transliterate Y-H-V-H.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

This substitution is common throughout the Bible and Jewish tradition, and the God of Israel is also called by many other names. Zechariah\u2019s declaration is an invitation to pause and think about God\u2019s name and what it might mean for God to truly have one name.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Most of the names we use for God: \u201cCreator of the Universe,\u201d \u201cRedeemer of Israel,\u201d \u201cHealer of the Sick\u201d \u201cCompassionate\u201d and even, \u201cGod\u201d\u00a0 aren\u2019t actually names. Rather, they are adjectives or job descriptions that express the ways we understand God to act in the world (or ways we would like God to act in the world).\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Only Y-H-V-H is a proper noun, a name in the truest sense of the word. And that might be all we can say about it with any certainty. Its pronunciation is long lost, and its significance debated.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

One possibility derives from Moses\u2019 first direct encounter with God at the burning bush, where God declares \u201c<\/span>Ehyeh-Asher-Ehyeh<\/span><\/em> \u2013 I \u200eWill Be What I Will Be. God is present and calls Godself\u00a0 \u201c\u05d0\u05d4\u05d9\u05d4 <\/span>Ehyeh<\/span><\/em> I Will Be\u201d in the first person, as the speaker. When Moses reports to the people, he switches to the third person \u201c\u200e \u05d9\u05d4\u05d9\u05d4 <\/span>Yehiyeh<\/span><\/em>\u200e<\/em> \u2013 God will be\u201d because he is speaking about God, who is unseen. According to the 12<\/span>th<\/span> century commentator R. Samuel ben Meir (Rashbam), the proper name Y-H-V-H is formed by substituting the \u200eletter <\/span>vav<\/span><\/em> for the second <\/span>yod<\/span><\/em>.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

In the past, God spoke to Moses about the future. <\/span>Ehyeh<\/em> <\/span>and <\/span>Yehiyeh<\/em> <\/span>are imperfect\/future forms, while the <\/span>vav<\/em> <\/span>is an indicator of the present tense. Therefore, the blended spelling can be understood as bringing together all of the tenses in Biblical Hebrew. Y-H-V-H represents God who speaks but is unseen, in the present, past and future. That\u2019s a complicated mouthful.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Perhaps that is why we prefer to use epithets when speaking about and to God, and why the ability to call and know God by God\u2019s proper name will be a sign that the world has entered a new era.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Image: The Adoration of the Name of God, or The Glory, fresco, Francisco Goya, 1772 \/ wikipedia<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":79686,"alt":"","title":"zech14-Adoration_of_the_Name_of_God_by_Goya","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech14-Adoration_of_the_Name_of_God_by_Goya.jpg","width":1280,"height":627,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech14-Adoration_of_the_Name_of_God_by_Goya-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech14-Adoration_of_the_Name_of_God_by_Goya-300x147.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":147,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech14-Adoration_of_the_Name_of_God_by_Goya-768x376.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":376,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech14-Adoration_of_the_Name_of_God_by_Goya-1024x502.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":502,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech14-Adoration_of_the_Name_of_God_by_Goya.jpg","1536x1536-width":1280,"1536x1536-height":627,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech14-Adoration_of_the_Name_of_God_by_Goya.jpg","2048x2048-width":1280,"2048x2048-height":627,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech14-Adoration_of_the_Name_of_God_by_Goya-1200x588.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":588,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech14-Adoration_of_the_Name_of_God_by_Goya-857x420.jpg","home_baner-width":857,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"What's In A NAME?","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"One name that encapsulates past, present and 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Her particular area of interest is biblical leadership. Molly participates in the 929 initiative with a dedicated group from the Beth Avraham Yoseph of Toronto congregation. \r\n\r\n","short_description":"Molly Morris holds a Masters degree in Leadership and Community Engagement. Molly participates in the 929 initiative with a dedicated group from the Beth Avraham Yoseph of Toronto congregation. \r\n\r\n","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":92561,"alt":"","title":"molly morris","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/molly-morris.jpg","width":2192,"height":2488,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/molly-morris-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/molly-morris-264x300.jpg","medium-width":264,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/molly-morris-768x872.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":872,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/molly-morris-902x1024.jpg","large-width":902,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/molly-morris.jpg","1536x1536-width":1353,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/molly-morris.jpg","2048x2048-width":1804,"2048x2048-height":2048,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/molly-morris-1057x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":1057,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/molly-morris-370x420.jpg","home_baner-width":370,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"564","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"A universal insight into the divine essence\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

When Zechariah prophecies on the Messianic time to come he says, \u201cOn that day God will be one and His name one (14:9).\u201d Hasn\u2019t God always been one? We say so every day in the <\/span>Shema Yisrael<\/em> <\/span>prayer, \u201cHear, O Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is one (Deut. 6:4).\u201d Zechariah prophesied hundreds of years after the events of Deuteronomy and, surely, he knew of the <\/span>Shema Yisrael<\/em> <\/span>proclamation. Our sages understand Zechariah\u2019s language to mean that a time will come when the whole world will recognize the oneness of God and when that happens we will only require one name for God out of the seven that are used in Tanach to describe different aspects of God\u2019s essence.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Judaism has a tradition of believing that names are tied to the essence of beings. In Maimonides\u2019 Thirteen Principles of Faith, number two on the list is \u201cI believe with perfect faith that the Creator, blessed be <\/span>His name<\/span><\/em>, is one, and that He alone is our God.\u201d. In Genesis 12, when God called to Abraham to fulfill his destiny He promised, \u201cI will make you into a great nation and I will bless you and <\/span>I will make your name great<\/span><\/em>.\u201d When we talk of <\/span>Kiddush Hashem<\/span><\/em>, we understand it as sanctifying God\u2019s <\/span>name<\/span><\/em>. Evidently \u201cmaking a name for yourself\u201d is spiritually significant.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

We\u2019re still left with the question of the tense used in Zechariah\u2019s prophecy \u201cGod <\/span>will<\/span><\/i> be one and His name one.\u201d Much of our Tanach, and almost all of the Books of Prophets are rooted in the future tense \u2013 looking forward to, and working towards what we will become as a nation and how the world will evolve to achieve the coming of the Messiah. When Moses encountered God at the burning bush he asked, \u201cWho are You?\u201d, wanting to know the essence of God. The answer received was \u201c<\/span>Ehyey asher Ehyey<\/span><\/em> \u2013 I will be what I will be (Exodus 3:14).\u201d Explains Rabbi Jonathan Sacks in his book <\/span>Future Tense<\/span><\/em>, \u201c\u2019It is as if God had said \u2018My name is the future tense. If you seek to understand me, first you will have to understand the nature and significance of the future tense.\u2019\u201d Perhaps this also means, before we can know the name of God, we have to understand His essence.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Zechariah\u2019s prophecy promises a time when the world will be unified in its belief in one God and in turn will know His name.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

image:\u00a0Ardon Windows\" (1980\u20131984), by Mordechai Ardon, displayed prominently in the National Library of Israel in Jerusalem, incorporating visual elements from the Kabbalah \/ wikipedia<\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":79696,"alt":"","title":"zech14-ardon windows","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech14-ardon-windows.jpg","width":800,"height":600,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech14-ardon-windows-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech14-ardon-windows-300x225.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":225,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech14-ardon-windows-768x576.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":576,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech14-ardon-windows.jpg","large-width":800,"large-height":600,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech14-ardon-windows.jpg","1536x1536-width":800,"1536x1536-height":600,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech14-ardon-windows.jpg","2048x2048-width":800,"2048x2048-height":600,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech14-ardon-windows.jpg","post_full_size-width":800,"post_full_size-height":600,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech14-ardon-windows-560x420.jpg","home_baner-width":560,"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":"Making A Name For Himself\u00a0","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"A universal insight into the divine essence","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":79696,"alt":"","title":"zech14-ardon windows","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech14-ardon-windows.jpg","width":800,"height":600,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech14-ardon-windows-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech14-ardon-windows-300x225.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":225,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech14-ardon-windows-768x576.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":576,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech14-ardon-windows.jpg","large-width":800,"large-height":600,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech14-ardon-windows.jpg","1536x1536-width":800,"1536x1536-height":600,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech14-ardon-windows.jpg","2048x2048-width":800,"2048x2048-height":600,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech14-ardon-windows.jpg","post_full_size-width":800,"post_full_size-height":600,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/zech14-ardon-windows-560x420.jpg","home_baner-width":560,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_link_for_pay":"0","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Prophets","book":"Zechariah","chapter":"14","chapter_main_number":"564","date":"20271027","wall_id":"564"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":12,"id":"79746","color":"#effaea","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. 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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 \/ 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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}],"hide_acf":true,"home_image":false,"home_posts":false,"home_posts_title":"","posts_home":[],"static_cube_title":"","static_cube_brief":"","static_cube_color":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/wall\/79543"}],"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=79543"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}