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Yoni Dolgin is haikuing on the connection between the weekly parsha and sustainability - see here to read his\u00a0previous parsha haikus<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":84760,"alt":"","title":"haiku 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Dear Friends,<\/p>\r\n

At 929 we continue to grieve as we reflect on the magnitude of what we have lost with the passing of Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks z\u201dl, International President of 929.<\/p>\r\n

In addition to being a scholar, philosopher, poet, theologian and teacher, Rabbi Sacks was for us, an ambassador. He utilized every platform and medium available \u2013 oral, print, and digital \u2013 to spread Torah, wisdom and the integration of truths to the world at large.<\/p>\r\n

To honor his memory, over the coming weeks we will be producing and sharing Sacks Sparks - short, web-based, themed texts and prompts on timely topics, containing R. Sacks\u2019 scholarship curated from the 929 website, alongside thought-questions and prompts for reflection from the 929 educational team.<\/p>\r\n

We invite you to reflect upon the words of R. Sacks, respond to the questions we offer, and continue the conversation together.<\/p>\r\n

Click here to see this special production, Sacks Sparks - Hard Work And Humility<\/a><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":84765,"alt":"","title":"sacks sparks -3 - hard work humility","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/sacks-sparks-3-hard-work-humility.jpg","width":749,"height":559,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/sacks-sparks-3-hard-work-humility-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/sacks-sparks-3-hard-work-humility-300x224.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":224,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/sacks-sparks-3-hard-work-humility.jpg","medium_large-width":749,"medium_large-height":559,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/sacks-sparks-3-hard-work-humility.jpg","large-width":749,"large-height":559,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/sacks-sparks-3-hard-work-humility.jpg","1536x1536-width":749,"1536x1536-height":559,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/sacks-sparks-3-hard-work-humility.jpg","2048x2048-width":749,"2048x2048-height":559,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/sacks-sparks-3-hard-work-humility.jpg","post_full_size-width":749,"post_full_size-height":559,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/sacks-sparks-3-hard-work-humility-563x420.jpg","home_baner-width":563,"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":"Exploring The Thought Of Rabbi Sacks, z\"l","tile_main_caption":"Hard Work And Humility","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"A special 929 Sparks production","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":84765,"alt":"","title":"sacks sparks -3 - hard work humility","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/sacks-sparks-3-hard-work-humility.jpg","width":749,"height":559,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/sacks-sparks-3-hard-work-humility-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/sacks-sparks-3-hard-work-humility-300x224.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":224,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/sacks-sparks-3-hard-work-humility.jpg","medium_large-width":749,"medium_large-height":559,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/sacks-sparks-3-hard-work-humility.jpg","large-width":749,"large-height":559,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/sacks-sparks-3-hard-work-humility.jpg","1536x1536-width":749,"1536x1536-height":559,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/sacks-sparks-3-hard-work-humility.jpg","2048x2048-width":749,"2048x2048-height":559,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/sacks-sparks-3-hard-work-humility.jpg","post_full_size-width":749,"post_full_size-height":559,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/sacks-sparks-3-hard-work-humility-563x420.jpg","home_baner-width":563,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"https:\/\/spark.adobe.com\/page\/byazBY7W9NCHJ\/","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":"Writings","book":"Psalms","chapter":false,"chapter_main_number":false,"date":false,"wall_id":"1126"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"350","name":"Sacks Sparks","old_id":"750"}]},{"order":5,"id":"84989","color":"#f7f7f5","size":"1","name":"Vayeshev: Entitlement and Creation ","post_title":"Vayeshev: Entitlement and Creation","slug":"vayeshev-entitlement-and-creation","old_id":"84989","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":84768,"post_title":"Hannah Elovitz","slug":"hannah-elovitz","old_id":"84768","first_name":"Hannah ","last_name":"Elovitz ","description":"Hannah Elovitz is Hazon\u2019s Marketing and Communications Manager. Previously, Hannah worked in communications for Hillel International in Washington, DC, for three years. Originally from Olney, MD, Hannah earned her B.S. at the University of Maryland in marketing and religious studies.","short_description":"Hannah Elovitz is Hazon\u2019s Marketing and Communications Manager. ","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":84769,"alt":"","title":"hannah-elovitz","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/hannah-elovitz.jpg","width":150,"height":150,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/hannah-elovitz.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/hannah-elovitz.jpg","medium-width":150,"medium-height":150,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/hannah-elovitz.jpg","medium_large-width":150,"medium_large-height":150,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/hannah-elovitz.jpg","large-width":150,"large-height":150,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/hannah-elovitz.jpg","1536x1536-width":150,"1536x1536-height":150,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/hannah-elovitz.jpg","2048x2048-width":150,"2048x2048-height":150,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/hannah-elovitz.jpg","post_full_size-width":150,"post_full_size-height":150,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/hannah-elovitz.jpg","home_baner-width":150,"home_baner-height":150}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"1126","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Joseph expected everyone and everything to bow to his will. This cautionary tale highlights the dangers of land ownership, or ownership of any material possessions.","post_main_content_content":"

<\/header>\r\n
<\/section>\r\n

Our story returns to tell us, \u201cNow Jacob was settled in the land where his father had sojourned, the land of Canaan\u201d (Gen. 37:1, JPS translation). Jacob\u2019s father and grandfather had only ever been outsiders in the land in which Jacob now shepherds his flocks along with his family. Perhaps it is no wonder that Jacob\u2019s favorite son, Joseph, starts to feel a little too comfortable there.<\/p>\r\n

The two dreams that Joseph famously dreams, and subsequently decides to share with his 11 brothers, both feature elements of nature bowing down to him: in the first, 11 sheaves of wheat bow down to his; in the second, the sun, moon, and 11 stars bow down to him. Unsurprisingly, his brothers are furious, and so begins the tragic event sequence that later leaves Joseph in Egyptian jail.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n

At least subconsciously, Joseph expected everyone and everything to bow to his will. This cautionary tale highlights the dangers of land ownership, or ownership of any material possessions. Though we may have monetarily acquired the rights to a piece of land or a car or a sheaf of wheat, they are still ultimately on loan to us. Land is not ours to rule over, but to faithfully steward in partnership with God.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n

Though a farmer may slip into feeling a sense of control over a field that they tirelessly work, ultimately they have no control of how their crops will turn out. Shmita offers an opportunity to reset our relationship with the land and God: a forced break from toiling, and a strong reminder that it\u2019s not up to us.<\/p>\r\n

Chanukah is a fitting counterpart to this. Though we cannot bring more hours of sunlight to the cold winter days, we\u00a0can\u00a0<\/i>bring a little candle light into the world, even if only for a brief time. As humans, we have been given capabilities of creation, and are entrusted to use them for good, to bring blessing to our families and to our communities.<\/p>\r\n

Shabbat Shalom and Chanukah Sameach.<\/p>\r\n

The next shmita year begins next Rosh Hashanah 2021, almost a year from now. We have time to prepare. As we move through 5781 we invite you to join us in preparation for the upcoming shmita year \u2013 a sabbatical year for the Earth but also for ourselves, our communities, and our world. Each week we will share thoughts on how the weekly parsha can help guide our thinking around shmita themes of work and rest, wealth and debt, responsible land use, fair labor practices, private and public property ownership, and physical and spiritual revitalization.<\/p>\r\n

Join us for the journey.<\/p>\r\n

See here for more information on the Hazon Shmita project, and its blogs.<\/a><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":81608,"alt":"","title":"shmita","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/shmita.jpg","width":711,"height":708,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/shmita-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/shmita-300x300.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/shmita.jpg","medium_large-width":711,"medium_large-height":708,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/shmita.jpg","large-width":711,"large-height":708,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/shmita.jpg","1536x1536-width":711,"1536x1536-height":708,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/shmita.jpg","2048x2048-width":711,"2048x2048-height":708,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/shmita.jpg","post_full_size-width":711,"post_full_size-height":708,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/shmita-422x420.jpg","home_baner-width":422,"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":"A New Weekly Series: The \"Shmitah Parasha\" Blog","tile_main_caption":"Vayeshev: Entitlement and Creation","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"in conjunction with Hazon.org","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":81608,"alt":"","title":"shmita","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/shmita.jpg","width":711,"height":708,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/shmita-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/shmita-300x300.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/shmita.jpg","medium_large-width":711,"medium_large-height":708,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/shmita.jpg","large-width":711,"large-height":708,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/shmita.jpg","1536x1536-width":711,"1536x1536-height":708,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/shmita.jpg","2048x2048-width":711,"2048x2048-height":708,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/shmita.jpg","post_full_size-width":711,"post_full_size-height":708,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/shmita-422x420.jpg","home_baner-width":422,"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":"Writings","book":"Psalms","chapter":false,"chapter_main_number":false,"date":false,"wall_id":"1126"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":6,"id":"84569","color":"#efefef","size":"1","name":"Psalms For The Generations ","post_title":"Psalms For The Generations","slug":"psalms-for-the-generations","old_id":"84569","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":64758,"post_title":"Avraham Norin","slug":"avraham-norin","old_id":"64758","first_name":"Avraham ","last_name":"Norin ","description":"Avraham Norin teaches in Israel at the Machon Meir and Ora conversion program. 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Psalms 56-60 (and 16) are often referred to as the \"<\/span>michtam<\/span><\/em> psalms\", due to the word \"<\/span>michtam<\/span><\/em>\" in the introductory sentence of these psalms. In addition, each one (with the exception of psalm 16) refers to specific events in David's life:<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Psalm 56 refers to when the Philistines captured David in Gath.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Psalms 57 and 58 refers to when David escaped from Saul in the cave and he commanded Avishai not to harm Saul.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Psalm 59 refers to when Saul sent mercenaries to David's house to kill him.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Psalm 60 refers to when David's general Yoav went to war against Edom with 12,000 men.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Scholars have debated the meaning of the word <\/span>\"<\/span><\/i>michtam<\/span><\/em>.\"<\/span><\/i> Some suggest that the word is derived from a fine type of gold. Others understand it as an official form of writing and suggest that these psalms were engraved in stone. Both of these explanations are plausible.\u00a0 However, whatever the translation of the word may be, the important function of the <\/span>michtam<\/span><\/em> psalms can be learned out by a careful reading of psalm 60. Moreover, this will lead us to the beginnings of the compilation of the Book of Psalms.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

In psalm 60, a word was added to the introduction verse, explaining the meaning of <\/span>\"michtam<\/span>\": \"<\/span>L'lamed<\/span><\/em>\"<\/em> (to teach).\u00a0 This word sheds light on how the psalms were transmitted. During his life, David wrote poetry that described his feelings.\u00a0 He then realized that the eloquent words that he formulated might also be helpful for other individuals going through similar experiences. Consequently, he instructed his scribes to write these poems down in a book, so the people could learn them and use them.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

These instructions correspond to the very first act David did as king. Before he gave a eulogy for the former King Saul and his son Yonatan, David gave instructions \"<\/span>L'lamed<\/span> ...in the Book of the Mighty\"(2 Samuel 1:18). Here too we see that David understood that the words he used in the eulogy for Saul and Jonathan will be assistance to others who may not have this ability to express themselves in poetry for eulogizing their own personal losses.\u00a0 Indeed, many eulogies today start with the same words that David used to express his sadness over these two national figures \"Your glory, O Israel\u2026How have the mighty fallen!\"\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

There are two additional proofs that demonstrate the correctness of David's decision to record his <\/span>michtam<\/span><\/em> psalms in a book. The first proof is psalm 108. This psalm has nothing original in it; rather it is a composite of two <\/span>michtam<\/span><\/em> psalms, psalm 47 and psalm 60. This shows that the people used the recorded <\/span>michtam<\/span><\/em> psalms of David to express their own personal feelings. The second proof is even greater. For over 2,500 year the Jewish people have had a custom to recite from David's psalms in times of need, happiness and salvation. \u00a0 We see here that David had the correct foresight, confidence, and talent to establish the book of psalms for all generations.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

image:'King David' by Giovanni Francesco Barbieri (\"il_Guercino\") c. 1768 \/ wikimedia<\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":60083,"alt":"","title":"2sam7-'King_David' 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For The Generations","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"To teach and to learn, for one and for all","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":60083,"alt":"","title":"2sam7-'King_David' 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As An Arrow ","post_title":"Straight As An Arrow","slug":"straight-as-an-arrow","old_id":"84567","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":64450,"post_title":"David Curwin","slug":"david-curwin","old_id":"64450","first_name":"David ","last_name":"Curwin ","description":"David Curwin is a writer living in Efrat, and the author of the Balashon blog www.balashon.com","short_description":"David Curwin is a writer living in Efrat, and the author of the Balashon blog www.balashon.com","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":64452,"alt":"","title":"david curwin","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/david-curwin.png","width":427,"height":464,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/david-curwin-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/david-curwin-276x300.png","medium-width":276,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/david-curwin.png","medium_large-width":427,"medium_large-height":464,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/david-curwin.png","large-width":427,"large-height":464,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/david-curwin.png","1536x1536-width":427,"1536x1536-height":464,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/david-curwin.png","2048x2048-width":427,"2048x2048-height":464,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/david-curwin.png","post_full_size-width":427,"post_full_size-height":464,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/david-curwin-387x420.png","home_baner-width":387,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"627","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"And as true\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

Psalm 60 portrays the despair after losing a battle, and the desire to regain God\u2019s support once again, which will lead to military success in the future.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

After describing the defeat, the psalmist prays: \u201cGive those who fear You because of Your truth a banner for rallying. Selah\u201d (verse 6).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

A footnote to this translation admits that the \u201cmeaning of the Hebrew is uncertain.\u201d The entire verse is complicated, but particularly challenging is the Hebrew word <\/span>koshet<\/span><\/em>, translated here as \u201c[Your] truth.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The view that <\/span>koshet<\/span><\/em> means \u201ctruth\u201d here has support in many traditional sources \u2013 from the Aramaic Targum to the medieval commentaries of Rashi and Radak. While this meaning of <\/span>koshet<\/span><\/em>\u00a0<\/em>only appears in one other Biblical verse (Proverbs 22:21), it is very common in Aramaic.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

However, an alternate interpretation is suggested by many scholars. They say it means \u201cbow (for shooting arrows)\u201d or \u201carcher.\u201d According to this understanding, which goes back to ancient translations like the Septuagint, <\/span>koshet<\/span><\/em>\u00a0here (spelled with the letter <\/span>tet<\/span><\/em>) is a variant form of <\/span>keshet<\/span><\/em>\u00a0<\/span><\/i>(spelled with a <\/span>tav<\/span><\/em>) \u2013 \u201cbow.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

According to this explanation, the verse could be translated as \u201cGive those who fear you a banner, so they may flee to it from the bow.\u201d In other words, instead of being \u201cafraid\u201d of God\u2019s truth, they are afraid of the enemy\u2019s arrows.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

While these two interpretations give very different meanings to the verse, it\u2019s not actually that difficult to see how \u201ctruth\u201d and \u201carchery\u201d could be related. In English, we say that an honest person is \u201cstraight as an arrow,\u201d and \u201cstraight\u201d seems to be the mutual element in both meanings of <\/span>koshet<\/span><\/em>.<\/span><\/i> Some say the word originally referred to the arrow and metaphorically became associated with anything going on a straight or true path. Others say that the opposite was the case \u2013 the word originally meant \u201cstraight, true,\u201d and that meaning was applied to the path of the arrow.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Koshet<\/span><\/em>\u00a0as \u201cstraight\u201d also took on the sense of \u201carranged properly,\u201d and from here the verb <\/span>k-sh-t<\/span><\/em> gained the meaning \u201cto decorate\u201d and <\/span>kishut<\/span><\/em>\u00a0\u2013<\/span><\/i> \u201cdecoration.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The psalmist described a military defeat, but a prophet described a future victory, where God will show the people His truth, and He would be shooting the arrows:<\/span><\/p>\r\n

\u201cAnd the LORD will manifest Himself to them, And His arrows shall flash like lightning; My Lord GOD shall sound the ram\u2019s horn And advance in a stormy tempest\u201d (Zechariah 9:14).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

That future victory is the hope of this psalm.<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":64059,"alt":"","title":"2kings13-arrows","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/2kings13-arrows.jpg","width":450,"height":300,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/2kings13-arrows-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/2kings13-arrows-300x200.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":200,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/2kings13-arrows.jpg","medium_large-width":450,"medium_large-height":300,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/2kings13-arrows.jpg","large-width":450,"large-height":300,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/2kings13-arrows.jpg","1536x1536-width":450,"1536x1536-height":300,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/2kings13-arrows.jpg","2048x2048-width":450,"2048x2048-height":300,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/2kings13-arrows.jpg","post_full_size-width":450,"post_full_size-height":300,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/2kings13-arrows.jpg","home_baner-width":450,"home_baner-height":300}},"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":"Straight As An Arrow","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"And as true","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":64059,"alt":"","title":"2kings13-arrows","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/2kings13-arrows.jpg","width":450,"height":300,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/2kings13-arrows-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/2kings13-arrows-300x200.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":200,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/2kings13-arrows.jpg","medium_large-width":450,"medium_large-height":300,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/2kings13-arrows.jpg","large-width":450,"large-height":300,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/2kings13-arrows.jpg","1536x1536-width":450,"1536x1536-height":300,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/2kings13-arrows.jpg","2048x2048-width":450,"2048x2048-height":300,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/2kings13-arrows.jpg","post_full_size-width":450,"post_full_size-height":300,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/2kings13-arrows.jpg","home_baner-width":450,"home_baner-height":300}},"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":"Writings","book":"Psalms","chapter":"60","chapter_main_number":"627","date":"20280124","wall_id":"627"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":8,"id":"84488","color":"#f6edf6","size":"1","name":"Desperation ","post_title":"Desperation","slug":"desperation","old_id":"84488","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":36669,"post_title":"Yakov Azriel","slug":"yakov-azriel","old_id":"36669","first_name":"Yakov ","last_name":"Azriel","description":"Yakov Azriel, who lives in Israel, has published five books of poetry in the USA and hundreds of poems in journals and magazines. His poems have won twenty-two prizes in international poetry competitions, and he has twice been awarded fellowships from the Memorial Foundation for Jewish Culture.","short_description":"Yakov Azriel is an English language poet who lives in Israel","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":36670,"alt":"","title":"Yakov.Azriel.Photo","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Yakov.Azriel.Photo_-e1533158407668.jpg","width":1099,"height":1519,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Yakov.Azriel.Photo_-e1533158407668-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Yakov.Azriel.Photo_-e1533158407668-217x300.jpg","medium-width":217,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Yakov.Azriel.Photo_-e1533158407668-741x1024.jpg","medium_large-width":741,"medium_large-height":1024,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Yakov.Azriel.Photo_-e1533158407668-741x1024.jpg","large-width":741,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Yakov.Azriel.Photo_-e1533158407668.jpg","1536x1536-width":1099,"1536x1536-height":1519,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Yakov.Azriel.Photo_-e1533158407668.jpg","2048x2048-width":1099,"2048x2048-height":1519,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Yakov.Azriel.Photo_-e1533158407668-868x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":868,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Yakov.Azriel.Photo_-e1533158407668-304x420.jpg","home_baner-width":304,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"626","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"","post_main_content_content":"

\"Deliver me from my enemies, O Lord; send me on high from those who rise up against me. Deliver me from the workers of iniquity, and save me from the men of blood.\" (Psalm 59:2-3)<\/p>\r\n


\r\nWhy can't I hear Your voice? Why can't I see
\r\nYour mirror or the shining of Your face?
\r\nO Lord, why can't I smell the slightest trace
\r\nOf incense that would heal the atrophy
\r\nOf life, and counteract the blasphemy
\r\nOf death, our deaths? Where is the hiding place
\r\nIn which You hide? And where is Your embrace,
\r\nBeyond a metaphor or simile?<\/p>\r\n

I'm desperate, God \u2014 as if I wore a hat,
\r\nBut had no head; as if I wore a shoe,
\r\nBut had no feet; as if I wore a glove,
\r\nBut had no hands; as if the world were flat;
\r\nAs if the lies inside my mind were true;
\r\nAs if I knew Your absence, not Your love.<\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":84496,"alt":"","title":"ps59-desperation","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/ps59-desperation.jpg","width":1280,"height":1920,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/ps59-desperation-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/ps59-desperation-200x300.jpg","medium-width":200,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/ps59-desperation-683x1024.jpg","medium_large-width":683,"medium_large-height":1024,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/ps59-desperation-683x1024.jpg","large-width":683,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/ps59-desperation.jpg","1536x1536-width":1024,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/ps59-desperation.jpg","2048x2048-width":1280,"2048x2048-height":1920,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/ps59-desperation-800x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":800,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/ps59-desperation-280x420.jpg","home_baner-width":280,"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":"929 Poetry Corner","tile_main_caption":"Desperation","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Why can't I see \/ Your mirror or the shining of Your face? \/ Where is the hiding place \/ And where is Your embrace?","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":84496,"alt":"","title":"ps59-desperation","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/ps59-desperation.jpg","width":1280,"height":1920,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/ps59-desperation-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/ps59-desperation-200x300.jpg","medium-width":200,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/ps59-desperation-683x1024.jpg","medium_large-width":683,"medium_large-height":1024,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/ps59-desperation-683x1024.jpg","large-width":683,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/ps59-desperation.jpg","1536x1536-width":1024,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/ps59-desperation.jpg","2048x2048-width":1280,"2048x2048-height":1920,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/ps59-desperation-800x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":800,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/ps59-desperation-280x420.jpg","home_baner-width":280,"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":"Writings","book":"Psalms","chapter":"59","chapter_main_number":"626","date":"20280123","wall_id":"626"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":9,"id":"84565","color":"#e0e9ef","size":"1","name":"Psalms and the Akedah ","post_title":"Psalms and the Akedah","slug":"psalms-and-the-akedah","old_id":"84565","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":"627","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Was it a private test or public display?\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

A verse in this psalm features prominently in a midrashic take on the binding (<\/span>akedah<\/span><\/em>) of Isaac.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

To my mind, two issues predominate in analyzing the story told in Genesis 22. One is whether it is conceivable that the God who excoriated child sacrifice in the Torah (Deut. 12:31, 18:10) could ever have desired the death of Isaac. Another is that an omniscient deity knows what His subjects are capable of without having to \u201ctest\u201d them.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

An often-overlooked Midrash leads with this verse in its attempt to resolve the latter issue by suggesting that God was not testing Abraham; rather He was providing him with an opportunity to put his implicit faith in God on public display.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

\u201cGive those who fear You because of Your truth a banner for rallying\u201d (6). Raising after raising, increasing after increasing, in order to elevate them in the world like the banner of a ship. Why all this? \u201cBecause of Your truth,\u201d so that Your attribute of justice will be adorned throughout the world. Should anyone claim that You are arbitrary in enriching people, impoverishing them, or making them sovereign; that You [randomly] made Abraham a king and enriched him; we can reply: Can you act as he acted? Should he ask: How did he act? We may reply that after fathering a son at age 100, he experienced great distress when instructed to take his only son, and he did not delay. This embodies \u201cGive those who fear You because of Your truth a banner for rallying.\u201d (B\u2019reishit Rabbah 55:1)<\/span><\/p>\r\n

And this connects in an additional way: in grammatical terms, the critical word <\/span>nissah<\/span><\/em> (Gen. 22:1) can derive from either the verbal root N-S-H, to test, or N-S-S, to wave\u2014as a flag or banner.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

image:\u00a0Rembrandt\u2019s \u201cSacrifice of Isaac,\u201d St. Petersburg\u2019s Hermitage \/ wikimedia<\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":37590,"alt":"","title":"Akedah1-Rembrandt-Hermitage","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Akedah1-Rembrandt-Hermitage.jpg","width":2471,"height":3633,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Akedah1-Rembrandt-Hermitage-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Akedah1-Rembrandt-Hermitage-204x300.jpg","medium-width":204,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Akedah1-Rembrandt-Hermitage-696x1024.jpg","medium_large-width":696,"medium_large-height":1024,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Akedah1-Rembrandt-Hermitage-696x1024.jpg","large-width":696,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Akedah1-Rembrandt-Hermitage.jpg","1536x1536-width":1045,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Akedah1-Rembrandt-Hermitage.jpg","2048x2048-width":1393,"2048x2048-height":2048,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Akedah1-Rembrandt-Hermitage-816x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":816,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Akedah1-Rembrandt-Hermitage-286x420.jpg","home_baner-width":286,"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":"Psalms and the Akedah","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Was it a private test or public display?","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":37590,"alt":"","title":"Akedah1-Rembrandt-Hermitage","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Akedah1-Rembrandt-Hermitage.jpg","width":2471,"height":3633,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Akedah1-Rembrandt-Hermitage-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Akedah1-Rembrandt-Hermitage-204x300.jpg","medium-width":204,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Akedah1-Rembrandt-Hermitage-696x1024.jpg","medium_large-width":696,"medium_large-height":1024,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Akedah1-Rembrandt-Hermitage-696x1024.jpg","large-width":696,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Akedah1-Rembrandt-Hermitage.jpg","1536x1536-width":1045,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Akedah1-Rembrandt-Hermitage.jpg","2048x2048-width":1393,"2048x2048-height":2048,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Akedah1-Rembrandt-Hermitage-816x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":816,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Akedah1-Rembrandt-Hermitage-286x420.jpg","home_baner-width":286,"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":"Writings","book":"Psalms","chapter":"60","chapter_main_number":"627","date":"20280124","wall_id":"627"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":10,"id":"84563","color":"#faeed8","size":"2","name":"Divine Present Absentee ","post_title":"Divine Present Absentee","slug":"divine-present-absentee","old_id":"84563","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":62571,"post_title":"Yaakov Bieler","slug":"yaakov-bieler","old_id":"62571","first_name":"Yaakov ","last_name":"Bieler ","description":"Rabbi Yaakov Bieler has been involved in Jewish education and the synagogue Rabbinate in New York, NY and Silver Spring, MD since being ordained by Yeshiva University in 1974. He has lectured and written extensively on Modern Orthodoxy, and blogs daily at https:\/\/yaakovbieler.wordpress.com ","short_description":"Rabbi Yaakov Bieler has been involved in Jewish education and the synagogue Rabbinate in New York, NY and Silver Spring, MD since being ordained by Yeshiva University. ","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":62572,"alt":"","title":"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/yaakov-bieler.jpg","width":141,"height":180,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/yaakov-bieler-141x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":141,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/yaakov-bieler.jpg","medium-width":141,"medium-height":180,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/yaakov-bieler.jpg","medium_large-width":141,"medium_large-height":180,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/yaakov-bieler.jpg","large-width":141,"large-height":180,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/yaakov-bieler.jpg","1536x1536-width":141,"1536x1536-height":180,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/yaakov-bieler.jpg","2048x2048-width":141,"2048x2048-height":180,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/yaakov-bieler.jpg","post_full_size-width":141,"post_full_size-height":180,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/yaakov-bieler.jpg","home_baner-width":141,"home_baner-height":180}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"627","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"David was anticipating a time in the future when it would be necessary once again for God to demonstrate by His absence, how man was incapable of winning his own struggles without divine assistance.\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

The specific details of the military history underlying v.2 are clouded in mystery. \u201cWhen he (David) fought with Aram-Naharaim and Aram-Zobah, and Joab returned and defeated Edom\u2014twelve thousand men\u2014in the Valley of Salt.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Most of Psalm 60 implies that the Jews suffered defeat rather than success, in contrast to the actual historical record appearing elsewhere in the Bible. E.g., \u201cDavid gained fame when he returned from defeating Edom in the Valley of Salt, 18,000 in all\u201d (II Samuel 8:13), or \u201cAbshai son of Zeruiah struck down Edom in the Valley of Salt, 18,000 in all\u201d (I Chronicles 18:12).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Even more disconcerting are David\u2019s plaints concerning God\u2019s \u201cabandonment\u201d of the Jewish people at the end of this psalm: \u201cBut You have rejected us, O God; God, You do not march with our armies\u201d (12). This was accompanied by the king\u2019s hopes : \u201cGrant us Your aid against the foe, for the help of man is worthless...With God we shall triumph; He will trample our foes\u2026 (13-14), that served to buttress v. 6-7: \u201c<\/span>\u2026<\/b>Give those who fear You because of Your truth a banner for rallying. Selah. That those whom You love might be rescued, deliver with Your right hand and answer me\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The conclusion being that in the future, God will again fight on His people\u2019s behalf, implying that such a circumstance must be contrasted with what had just taken place. Hadn\u2019t the expeditions proved victorious and therefore should have contributed to a sense of pride and gratitude in the military achievement, rather than discouragement and supplication?<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Some classical commentators account for this apparent \u201cdisconnect\u201d by assuming that the psalmist is addressing events both in the past as well as in the future. They contend that \u201csuccess\u201d is relative, and it is significant only when it has been preceded by suffering and tragedy and succeeded by a sense of personal inadequacy, failure and abandonment, resulting in a dependency upon God and His interventions.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Their having been oppressed in Egypt for so long, made the Jews ready to\u00a0 acknowledge that on their own, they were incapable of defeating their enemies. Their eventual victories during the time of the plagues and the splitting of the sea, all facilitated by God\u2019s power, were experienced as that much sweeter. Similarly, the seeds of the eventual defeat of Haman and his minions, had already been planted long before their actual fall, as implied by Esther 8:16: \u201cThe Jews \u2018<\/span>haytah\u2019 <\/span><\/i>(<\/span>lit. pluperfect; fig. \u2018already had\u2019<\/span><\/i>) enjoyed light and gladness, happiness and honor\u201d (Jerusalem Talmud, Berachot 1:1) in anticipation of what was to come.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Consequently, these commentators contend that just like in the past, Jews were taught the \u201chard way\u201d to appreciate God\u2019s involvement in their lives and military battles. David was anticipating a time in the future when it would be necessary once again for God to demonstrate by His absence, how man was incapable of winning his own struggles without divine assistance.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":"","post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"Divine Present Absentee","tile_main_caption":"David was anticipating a time in the future when it would be necessary once again for God to demonstrate by His absence, how man was incapable of winning his own struggles without divine assistance.","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":"","tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_link_for_pay":"0","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Writings","book":"Psalms","chapter":"60","chapter_main_number":"627","date":"20280124","wall_id":"627"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":11,"id":"84582","color":"#e6f5f3","size":"1","name":"A Song of Longing For God ","post_title":"A Song of Longing For God","slug":"a-song-of-longing-for-god","old_id":"84582","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":79834,"post_title":"Ron Weidberg","slug":"ron-weidberg","old_id":"79834","first_name":"Ron ","last_name":"Weidberg ","description":"Ron Weidberg is a composer, musicologist, lecturer on music at the Open University and the Academic Kiryah of Kiryat Ono. ","short_description":"Ron Weidberg is a composer, musicologist, lecturer on music at the Open University and the Academic Kiryah of Kiryat Ono. ","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":79835,"alt":"","title":"ron weidberg","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/ron-weidberg.jpg","width":364,"height":500,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/ron-weidberg-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/ron-weidberg-218x300.jpg","medium-width":218,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/ron-weidberg.jpg","medium_large-width":364,"medium_large-height":500,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/ron-weidberg.jpg","large-width":364,"large-height":500,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/ron-weidberg.jpg","1536x1536-width":364,"1536x1536-height":500,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/ron-weidberg.jpg","2048x2048-width":364,"2048x2048-height":500,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/ron-weidberg.jpg","post_full_size-width":364,"post_full_size-height":500,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/ron-weidberg-306x420.jpg","home_baner-width":306,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"628","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"A new series - this time: Anton\u00edn Dvo\u0159\u00e1k ","post_main_content_content":"

Anton\u00edn Dvo\u0159\u00e1k (1841-1904), Biblical Songs, Op.99 No.6<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The song cycle \u201cBiblical Songs\u201d was composed by Dvo\u0159\u00e1k in 1894 during a three-year stay in America. It is different from other famous works he wrote there (such as his \u201cNew World Symphony\u201d for instance) in that he makes no effort to integrate any American idioms, and the work is 100% Slavic in expression.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

It was written by a man who was in mourning over the grave illness of his father far away, and over the death of the conductor and close friend Hans von B\u00fclow. Above all else, the work represents the longings that Dvo\u0159\u00e1k felt for his homeland, and the traditional Christian values upon which he had been raised. We have already explored one of these songs <\/span>(#8, psalm 25<\/span><\/a>). The cycle is recognized to be the apex of his work in the genre of the art song.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The text of the \u201cBiblical Songs\u201d is based on a 16th century translation of the Bible to Czech, but it feels to the contemporary listener more like a paraphrase. The sixth song is based on a collection of verses from two psalms: 61 (verses 2,4,5) and 63 (2, 5, 6). Both psalms are songs of yearning for God, and Dvo\u0159\u00e1k unites them by means of a very simple, pleasant melody, which remains almost entirely unchanged throughout the work.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The orchestra arrangement is not Dvo\u0159\u00e1k\u2019s, and it is recommended to look for a performance in the original with piano, in order to experience the pure heavenly sound that was the composer\u2019s intent.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

 <\/p>\r\n

Anton\u00edn Dvo\u0159\u00e1k - Biblick\u00e9 P\u00edsn\u011b \/ Biblical songs, Op.99 No.6
\r\n<\/span>Festival Internazionale Musica Sacra, Pordenone, Italy 2015
\r\n<\/span>Orpheus Kammerorchester Wien, Konstantinos Diminakis, conductor<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":"","post_main_content_embedded_video":"https:\/\/youtu.be\/D71HOcqcvyI","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"The Psalms In Classical Music","tile_main_caption":"A Song of Longing For God","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"A new series - this time: Anton\u00edn Dvo\u0159\u00e1k ","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":"","tile_preview_video":"https:\/\/youtu.be\/D71HOcqcvyI","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":"Writings","book":"Psalms","chapter":"61","chapter_main_number":"628","date":"20280125","wall_id":"628"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":12,"id":"84662","color":"#f7e9e9","size":"1","name":"God Doesn\u2019t Vote ","post_title":"God Doesn\u2019t Vote","slug":"god-doesnt-vote","old_id":"84662","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":59587,"post_title":"Benjamin Morse","slug":"benjamin-morse","old_id":"59587","first_name":"Benjamin ","last_name":"Morse ","description":"Dr. Benjamin Morse studied religion and art history at Vassar, Oxford, and the Courtauld before completing a PhD in biblical interpretation. His dissertation reads the Hebrew Bible\u2019s \u201cmodern methods\u201d through the lens of painting and collage. His illustrated children\u2019s Torah, The Oldest Bedtime Story Ever, has won multiple awards.\r\nPhoto by Lenka Opalena.","short_description":"Dr. Benjamin Morse studied religion and art history, and is the author and illustrator of the illustrated children\u2019s Torah, The Oldest Bedtime Story Ever. ","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":59588,"alt":"","title":"Benjamin Morse by Lenka Opalena","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Benjamin-Morse-by-Lenka-Opalena.jpg","width":1069,"height":1576,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Benjamin-Morse-by-Lenka-Opalena-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Benjamin-Morse-by-Lenka-Opalena-203x300.jpg","medium-width":203,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Benjamin-Morse-by-Lenka-Opalena-695x1024.jpg","medium_large-width":695,"medium_large-height":1024,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Benjamin-Morse-by-Lenka-Opalena-695x1024.jpg","large-width":695,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Benjamin-Morse-by-Lenka-Opalena.jpg","1536x1536-width":1042,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Benjamin-Morse-by-Lenka-Opalena.jpg","2048x2048-width":1069,"2048x2048-height":1576,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Benjamin-Morse-by-Lenka-Opalena-814x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":814,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Benjamin-Morse-by-Lenka-Opalena-285x420.jpg","home_baner-width":285,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"629","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Taking action with Psalm 62\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

Text-banking for Greenpeace\u2019s get-out-the-vote campaign one afternoon before the US election, I got in deep with a Jehovah\u2019s Witness named Stephanie who claimed Jesus said not to be of this world. Therefore, she wasn\u2019t voting. I have to commend myself for being able to whip out a Christian Bible and tweak her interpretation of a certain gospel chapter\u2014and to throw in various other biblical references, Old and New\u2014without being insulting or aggressive. Although it\u2019s there in plain print, I refrained from using all caps to suggest that it\u2019s more likely that her savior actually told her to go<\/span> into<\/em> <\/span>the world and that the prophets had tirelessly instructed the people to seek justice, correct oppression, look after the orphan and the widow, and shelter the foreigner.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Most pressing, as stewards of the creation, we\u2019re not meant to stand by and expect God to take care of things while our civilization degrades it.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Stephanie\u2019s position may come from a religious extreme but reflects a more widespread contemporary mode of detachment. Psalm 62 largely appears to appease someone who wants to let God be in charge. S\/he waits for Him alone; no earthly matter shall disrupt the stillness (2-3). Adversaries can tear one another down like walls and delight in their own lies, blessing with their mouths while cursing with their hearts (4-5). But from the vantage point of God\u2019s high tower (7), all men, rich and poor, weigh less than wind (10).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

At the mention of<\/span> hebel<\/span><\/i> (wind, vapor, meaninglessness, vanity), we can hear Qoheleth sighing at the fortune the wellness and mindfulness industries have made from teaching people how to inhale acceptance of self and exhale acceptance of others. Get out of the world but be in your body, don\u2019t let anything distract you from focusing on your breath, etc. There\u2019s no God in that equation, yet there is a parallel between the permission to detach granted by self-care regimes and the psalm\u2019s retreat into the unprofaned refuge of the divine.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Except even Qoheleth directed his listeners to eat, drink, and be of this world. And that is where Psalm 62 lands, for the LORD renders everyone according to their work (12). Our primary expectation (<\/span>tiqwati<\/span><\/i>, 5) can be from Him, and we don\u2019t have to let extortion, robbery, and the wealth gap consume us with rage (10).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

But God alone won\u2019t take care of our mess. We have to do the work. Activism created a backlash in 2020, and it helped Detroit, Atlanta, and Philadelphia flip their states blue.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

My work with Stephanie failed when after my sixth text she clarified that she still wasn\u2019t going to vote. I suppose that kind of power, to make her change her mind, indeed belongs to God (11).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Nevertheless, I did it in the spirit of mercy and steadfast love (12). Nevertheless, I persisted.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Image courtesy of the author<\/span><\/p>\r\n

 <\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":84663,"alt":"","title":"ps62-BMorse - kohelet","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/ps62-BMorse-kohelet.jpg","width":2048,"height":2048,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/ps62-BMorse-kohelet-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/ps62-BMorse-kohelet-300x300.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/ps62-BMorse-kohelet-768x768.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":768,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/ps62-BMorse-kohelet-1024x1024.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/ps62-BMorse-kohelet.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/ps62-BMorse-kohelet.jpg","2048x2048-width":2048,"2048x2048-height":2048,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/ps62-BMorse-kohelet-1200x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/ps62-BMorse-kohelet-420x420.jpg","home_baner-width":420,"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":"God Doesn\u2019t Vote","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Taking action with Psalm 62","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":84663,"alt":"","title":"ps62-BMorse - kohelet","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/ps62-BMorse-kohelet.jpg","width":2048,"height":2048,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/ps62-BMorse-kohelet-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/ps62-BMorse-kohelet-300x300.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/ps62-BMorse-kohelet-768x768.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":768,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/ps62-BMorse-kohelet-1024x1024.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/ps62-BMorse-kohelet.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/ps62-BMorse-kohelet.jpg","2048x2048-width":2048,"2048x2048-height":2048,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/ps62-BMorse-kohelet-1200x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/ps62-BMorse-kohelet-420x420.jpg","home_baner-width":420,"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":"Writings","book":"Psalms","chapter":"62","chapter_main_number":"629","date":"20280126","wall_id":"629"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":13,"id":"84669","color":"#f7f7f5","size":"1","name":"A Lesson For Modern Discourse ","post_title":"A Lesson For Modern Discourse","slug":"a-lesson-for-modern-discourse","old_id":"84669","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":46656,"post_title":"Molly Morris","slug":"molly-morris","old_id":"46656","first_name":"Molly ","last_name":"Morris ","description":"Molly Morris holds a Masters degree in Leadership and Community Engagement. Her particular area of interest is biblical leadership. Molly participates in the 929 initiative with a dedicated group from the Beth Avraham Yoseph of Toronto congregation. \r\n\r\n","short_description":"Molly Morris holds a Masters degree in Leadership and Community Engagement. Molly participates in the 929 initiative with a dedicated group from the Beth Avraham Yoseph of Toronto congregation. \r\n\r\n","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":92561,"alt":"","title":"molly morris","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/molly-morris.jpg","width":2192,"height":2488,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/molly-morris-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/molly-morris-264x300.jpg","medium-width":264,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/molly-morris-768x872.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":872,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/molly-morris-902x1024.jpg","large-width":902,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/molly-morris.jpg","1536x1536-width":1353,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/molly-morris.jpg","2048x2048-width":1804,"2048x2048-height":2048,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/molly-morris-1057x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":1057,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/molly-morris-370x420.jpg","home_baner-width":370,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"629","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"From out of One, many\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

The concept of God uttering multiple messages simultaneously is found in reference to the Ten Commandments. In Exodus 20:1 the phrase \u201cGod spoke all these words\u201d is understood to allude to the Ten Commandments being delivered in a single utterance. Exodus then goes on to repeat the Ten Commandments individually for the benefit of the listeners at Mount Sinai and all of us who have come since to learn them. <\/span><\/p>\r\n

The Talmud (Sanhedrin 34a) develops this idea with the example of two distinct versions of the fourth commandment: <\/span>zachor<\/span><\/em> \u2013 remember the Sabbath, in the version of the commandments provided in Exodus 20:8; and <\/span>shamor<\/span><\/em> \u2013 observe, in the version presented in Deuteronomy 5:12. Whether these two versions were given simultaneously and later dissected or given in two distinct ways, the Talmud teaches that a single passage can have multiple valid meanings. In other words, multiple interpretations of the same words are not necessarily conflicting: they could all have validity. Certainly, that\u2019s demonstrated within our volumes of often divergent biblical commentary, all of the authors of whom are venerated in their own right.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

In this chapter of Psalms, we again come across this idea. \u201cOne thing God has spoken, two things have I heard\u201d says David in 62:12. Curiously David does not\u00a0 go on to tell us the one thing God spoke, but only the two things he took away: that God exudes kindness, and that God is just (\u201crepays a man according to his deed.\u201d) Rashi reconstitutes these two ideas into a single one, explaining that the kindness of God is in fact that He repays us only partially for our deeds. For this he cites Ezra 9:14, \u201cYou, our God, have punished us less than our iniquities deserve.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz comments on this chapter of Psalms that the apparent double meaning of God\u2019s commandments illustrates that there are two aspects to every commandment, as summarized in Psalms 34:15. \u201cTurn from evil and do good.\u201d The more apparent aspect of a commandment is to follow God\u2019s will. The flip side to fully demonstrating our commitment is to refrain from doing what is in opposition to God\u2019s will. One might understand Steinsaltz as delineating the letter of the law and the spirit of the law.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Whether God speaks one idea in two different ways or pronounces one heavenly utterance with multiple meanings, the Torah reminds us that different ways of understanding can actually create a harmonious result.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

 <\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":80390,"alt":"","title":"ps10-seeing eye","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/ps10-seeing-eye.png","width":1909,"height":1920,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/ps10-seeing-eye-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/ps10-seeing-eye-298x300.png","medium-width":298,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/ps10-seeing-eye-768x772.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":772,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/ps10-seeing-eye-1018x1024.png","large-width":1018,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/ps10-seeing-eye.png","1536x1536-width":1527,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/ps10-seeing-eye.png","2048x2048-width":1909,"2048x2048-height":1920,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/ps10-seeing-eye-1193x1200.png","post_full_size-width":1193,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/ps10-seeing-eye-418x420.png","home_baner-width":418,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"A Lesson For Modern Discourse","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"From out of One, many","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":80390,"alt":"","title":"ps10-seeing eye","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/ps10-seeing-eye.png","width":1909,"height":1920,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/ps10-seeing-eye-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/ps10-seeing-eye-298x300.png","medium-width":298,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/ps10-seeing-eye-768x772.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":772,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/ps10-seeing-eye-1018x1024.png","large-width":1018,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/ps10-seeing-eye.png","1536x1536-width":1527,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/ps10-seeing-eye.png","2048x2048-width":1909,"2048x2048-height":1920,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/ps10-seeing-eye-1193x1200.png","post_full_size-width":1193,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/ps10-seeing-eye-418x420.png","home_baner-width":418,"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":"Writings","book":"Psalms","chapter":"62","chapter_main_number":"629","date":"20280126","wall_id":"629"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":14,"id":"84720","color":"#effaea","size":"1","name":"Thirsting In The Wilderness ","post_title":"Thirsting In The Wilderness","slug":"thirsting-in-the-wilderness","old_id":"84720","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":"630","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Spiritual thirst is often more potent than the physical one\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

Writing again from his desert hideout, David calls out to God \"God, you are my Almighty and I will seek you. My soul thirsts for you, my flesh longs for you in a dry and weary land without water.\" The metaphor is apt, as we saw in Chapter 62. It makes sense that David would use natural images in his prayer.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

This metaphor also reminds us of the thirst and waterless travels and trials of the Israelites as they wandered the wilderness for forty years. Three times in the books of Exodus and Numbers we see the Israelites thirsting for water. The more famous incidents are the twin rock stories. In the first, Moses hits the rock at the behest of God to bring forth water. In the second tragic incident, instead of speaking to the rock, Moses yet again hits the rock. God punishes Moses and declares that he will not be able to enter the Land of Israel.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

But our Psalm I think references an earlier incident soon after the exodus in Exodus 15:22. Three days after the splitting of the sea, the people complained of thirst due to a brackish well. God instructs Moses to throw a piece of wood into the brackish waters making them potable yet again. The commentators latch on to the emphasis on three days to teach a lesson that one should not go three days without studying Torah.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

With this in mind, we can return to Psalm 63 verse 2. Notice that David says that it is his soul that thirsts for God. He does not say he is thirsty. Like those commentators, David realized that the spiritual thirst is often more potent than the physical one.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":84721,"alt":"","title":"ps63-oasis","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/ps63-oasis.png","width":1920,"height":1080,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/ps63-oasis-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/ps63-oasis-300x169.png","medium-width":300,"medium-height":169,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/ps63-oasis-768x432.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":432,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/ps63-oasis-1024x576.png","large-width":1024,"large-height":576,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/ps63-oasis.png","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":864,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/ps63-oasis.png","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":1080,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/ps63-oasis-1200x675.png","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":675,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/ps63-oasis-747x420.png","home_baner-width":747,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"Thirsting In The Wilderness","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Spiritual thirst is often more potent than the physical one","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":84721,"alt":"","title":"ps63-oasis","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/ps63-oasis.png","width":1920,"height":1080,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/ps63-oasis-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/ps63-oasis-300x169.png","medium-width":300,"medium-height":169,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/ps63-oasis-768x432.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":432,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/ps63-oasis-1024x576.png","large-width":1024,"large-height":576,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/ps63-oasis.png","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":864,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/ps63-oasis.png","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":1080,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/ps63-oasis-1200x675.png","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":675,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/ps63-oasis-747x420.png","home_baner-width":747,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_link_for_pay":"0","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Writings","book":"Psalms","chapter":"63","chapter_main_number":"630","date":"20280127","wall_id":"630"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":15,"id":"84718","color":"#e8ecf6","size":"1","name":"Fire In The Divine Soul ","post_title":"Fire In The Divine Soul","slug":"fire-in-the-divine-soul","old_id":"84718","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":"630","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"The Alter Rebbe elaborates on spiritual longing\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

Our psalm, which is headed: \u201cA psalm of David, when he was in the Wilderness of Judah\u201d (<\/span>Psalms 63:1<\/span><\/a>) seems to have been composed when David was hiding out in the wilderness (<\/span>midbar<\/span><\/em>) from Saul, who was seeking to kill him (see<\/span> I Samuel 23:14-15<\/span><\/a> and<\/span> 24.1-2<\/span><\/a>). The desert provenance of Psalm 63 is further suggested by<\/span> verse 2<\/span><\/a>: \u201cGod, You are my God. I search for You. My soul thirsts for You. My body yearns for You, as a parched and thirsty land that has no water\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Verses 2-3 of our Psalm are<\/span> sung by the Chabad Chasidim<\/span><\/a> to a melody attributed to the founder and first Rebbe of Chabad, Shneur Zalman of Liadi (1745-1815), known as the<\/span> Alter Rebbe<\/span><\/a>. This <\/span>niggun<\/span><\/i> begins: <\/span>Tzamah Lekha Nafshi <\/span><\/em>\u2013<\/span><\/i> \u201cMy Soul Thirsts for You\u201d. In his most influential work, the<\/span> Tanya<\/span><\/a>, the Alter Rebbe elaborates on the longing of the soul for God: \u201c\u2026For when the intellect in the rational soul deeply contemplates and immerses itself exceedingly in the greatness of God, how He fills all worlds and encompasses all worlds, and in the presence of Whom everything is considered as nothing\u2014 there will be born and aroused in his mind and thought the emotion of awe for the Divine Majesty\u2026Then, his heart will glow with an intense love, like burning coals, with a passion, desire and longing, and a yearning soul, towards the greatness of the blessed <\/span>En Sof <\/span><\/em>\u00a0<\/em>[\u201cThe Infinite One\u201d]. This constitutes the culminating passion of the soul, of which Scripture speaks: \u201cMy soul thirsts for God, the living God; O when will I come to appear before God!\u201d (<\/span>Psalms 42:3<\/span><\/a>) and \u201cMy soul thirsts for You\u201d(<\/span>63:2<\/span><\/a>). This thirst is caused by the Fire in the divine soul.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

[embed]https:\/\/youtu.be\/YB30syENOdo[\/embed]<\/p>\r\n

Midrash Bereshit Rabbah<\/span><\/a> cites: \u201cmy soul thirsts for You, my body yearns for You, as a parched and thirsty land that has no water\u201d as a supplication fulfilled in Jacob\u2019s dream in which he envisions a ladder stretching to Heaven on which \u201cangels of God were going up and down\u201d (see <\/span>Genesis 28:10-22<\/span><\/a>). The midrash focuses on the powerful expression \u201cmy body yearns for You \u2013 <\/span>kamah lekha vesari<\/span><\/em>\u201d<\/span><\/i>. The verb <\/span>kamah<\/em> <\/span>(here translated \u201cyearns\u201d), which is found only here in the Hebrew Bible, is interpreted as suggesting <\/span>kemeyhin<\/em> <\/span>(truffles, mushrooms), which \u201cyearn\u201d for water. This leads to a Rabbinic paraphrase of the verse, \u201cJust as my soul thirsts for You, so do the 248 members of my body thirst for You. Where? In \u201cparched and thirsty land that has no water\u201d.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The following verse: \u201cI shall\u2026see Your might\u2026\u201d (<\/span>63:3<\/span><\/a>) is interpreted as referring to the Heavenly Host seen by Jacob in his dream in<\/span> Genesis 28:12<\/span><\/a>. And the final word of this Psalm verse, <\/span>u-kevodkha<\/span><\/em> \u2013 \u201cand Your glory\u201d, is interpreted as referring to God Himself, who is described as having stood by Jacob while he was sleeping (<\/span>Genesis 28:13)<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

 <\/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":"","tile_main_caption":"Fire In The Divine Soul","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"The Alter Rebbe elaborates on spiritual longing","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":"","tile_preview_video":"https:\/\/youtu.be\/YB30syENOdo","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":"Writings","book":"Psalms","chapter":"63","chapter_main_number":"630","date":"20280127","wall_id":"630"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":16,"id":"84715","color":"#eceffa","size":"1","name":"The Soul Of Life, The Life Of The Soul ","post_title":"The Soul Of Life, The Life Of The Soul","slug":"the-soul-of-life-the-life-of-the-soul","old_id":"84715","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":36535,"post_title":"Ezra Butler","slug":"ezra-butler","old_id":"36535","first_name":"Ezra ","last_name":"Butler","description":"Ezra Butler used to study third century texts, but is currently an artist and independent researcher living in Chicago.","short_description":"Ezra Butler used to study third century texts, but is currently an artist and independent researcher living in Chicago.","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":36536,"alt":"","title":"EzraButler","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/EzraButler-e1533041370819.jpg","width":597,"height":761,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/EzraButler-e1533041370819-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/EzraButler-e1533041370819-235x300.jpg","medium-width":235,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/EzraButler-681x1024.jpg","medium_large-width":681,"medium_large-height":1024,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/EzraButler-681x1024.jpg","large-width":681,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/EzraButler-e1533041370819.jpg","1536x1536-width":597,"1536x1536-height":761,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/EzraButler-e1533041370819.jpg","2048x2048-width":597,"2048x2048-height":761,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/EzraButler-e1533041370819.jpg","post_full_size-width":597,"post_full_size-height":761,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/EzraButler-e1533041370819-329x420.jpg","home_baner-width":329,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"630","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"On memory, hope, and lived experience\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

In a desert, a mirage isn\u2019t a hallucination. Even though you think you see water, it is an optical phenomenon based on how light rays bend. But does it matter? If you begin to start making decisions based on the body of water you see in the distance, does it matter how you precisely categorize it?<\/p>\r\n

Similarly, in popular culture, we always read about someone\u2019s life flashing before their eyes in the moments before they die. We also read about people who experience close encounters with death and make drastic life changes.<\/p>\r\n

Again, even though the vision may be your neurons firing in a certain way, a purely physiological phenomenon, what happens next makes all the difference.<\/p>\r\n

Psalm 63 can be read as the story of someone dying in the desert from terminal dehydration, suffering from a bout of delirium. He is cognizant of the hallucination, using a phrase in 63:3 that is usually associated with prophecy.<\/p>\r\n

But most interestingly, we see a dichotomy between \u201csoul\u201d (nefesh) and \u201clife\u201d (hayyim). While these are admittedly a more medieval or modern translation of the two words, we still see that the psalmist intends different meanings when he chooses to employ one word or the other.<\/p>\r\n

In Jonah 4:9, as Jonah awakes in the desert under the plant that God had killed overnight, his soul (nefesh) begged to die, and he says \u201cbetter is my death than life\u201d (hayyim). In our psalm, though, \u201cGod\u2019s kindness is better than life\u201d (63:4).<\/p>\r\n

Our psalmist remembers the good things in his life, but he doesn\u2019t ask God to save him.<\/p>\r\n

He doesn\u2019t cry like Hagar and Ishmael in Genesis 21. He doesn\u2019t beg, like Jonah, for death. In his delirium, he is reminded of the good times in his life: the delectable foods (63:6), the creature comforts of his home, specifically his bed (63:7), and perhaps even the festivals where he prayed in the Temple (63:3).<\/p>\r\n

Even the phrase \u201cI lift my hands\u201d (63:5) is also used in Psalm 119:48, in which the psalmist there is writing about the delight and love he feels for the commandments and laws. And that feeling, he continues there, gives him hope and is a source of comfort during the difficult times (119:49-50).<\/p>\r\n

Maybe the difference between the \u201csoul\u201d and the \u201clife\u201d, as he describes it, is the distinction between our experiences and the physiological act of living. While dying of dehydration in the desert, Jonah looked back on his experiences with regret, and our psalmist re-experienced his with delight.<\/p>\r\n

In this reading, our \u201clife\u201d is born and ultimately ends with death, but our \u201csoul\u201d is the thing we create with every one of our experiences. It\u2019s our sense memory that is the realm of the \u201csoul.\u201d Food and music, mentioned in 63:6, helps remind our \u201csoul\u201d of those times, and allows us to re-experience them.<\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":84716,"alt":"","title":"Ps63-EButler","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/Ps63-EButler.png","width":2048,"height":2048,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/Ps63-EButler-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/Ps63-EButler-300x300.png","medium-width":300,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/Ps63-EButler-768x768.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":768,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/Ps63-EButler-1024x1024.png","large-width":1024,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/Ps63-EButler.png","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/Ps63-EButler.png","2048x2048-width":2048,"2048x2048-height":2048,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/Ps63-EButler-1200x1200.png","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/Ps63-EButler-420x420.png","home_baner-width":420,"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 Soul Of Life, The Life Of The Soul","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"On memory, hope, and lived experience","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":84716,"alt":"","title":"Ps63-EButler","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/Ps63-EButler.png","width":2048,"height":2048,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/Ps63-EButler-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/Ps63-EButler-300x300.png","medium-width":300,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/Ps63-EButler-768x768.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":768,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/Ps63-EButler-1024x1024.png","large-width":1024,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/Ps63-EButler.png","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/Ps63-EButler.png","2048x2048-width":2048,"2048x2048-height":2048,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/Ps63-EButler-1200x1200.png","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/Ps63-EButler-420x420.png","home_baner-width":420,"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":"Writings","book":"Psalms","chapter":"63","chapter_main_number":"630","date":"20280127","wall_id":"630"},"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\/84549"}],"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=84549"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}