{"id":89568,"date":"2018-07-09T17:53:28","date_gmt":"2018-07-09T14:53:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wall\/wall-1139\/"},"modified":"2022-02-02T19:43:57","modified_gmt":"2022-02-02T17:43:57","slug":"wall-1139","status":"publish","type":"wall","link":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wall\/wall-1139\/","title":{"rendered":"weekend-from-20240929-to-20241005"},"parent":0,"template":"","acf":{"type":"weekend","wall_id":"1139","date_from":"20240929","date_to":"20241005","book":"Psalms","books_group":"Writings","posts":[{"order":1,"id":"90288","color":"#f8ebe3","size":"2","name":"Vayakel-Pekudei: Work on Your Connection ","post_title":"Vayakel-Pekudei: Work on Your Connection","slug":"vayakel-pekudei-work-on-your-connection","old_id":"90288","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":82785,"post_title":"Eliezer Weinbach","slug":"eliezer-weinbach","old_id":"82785","first_name":"Eliezer ","last_name":"Weinbach","description":"Eliezer Weinbach is a National Programs Coordinator for Hazon. He A graduate of Yeshiva University and the JOFEE (Jewish Outdoor, Food, Farming, and Environmental Education) Fellowship, he holds onto seemingly divergent concepts as tightly as he can.","short_description":"Eliezer Weinbach is a National Programs Coordinator for Hazon. ","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":82786,"alt":"","title":"eli_weinbach","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/eli_weinbach.jpg","width":150,"height":150,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/eli_weinbach.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/eli_weinbach.jpg","medium-width":150,"medium-height":150,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/eli_weinbach.jpg","medium_large-width":150,"medium_large-height":150,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/eli_weinbach.jpg","large-width":150,"large-height":150,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/eli_weinbach.jpg","1536x1536-width":150,"1536x1536-height":150,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/eli_weinbach.jpg","2048x2048-width":150,"2048x2048-height":150,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/eli_weinbach.jpg","post_full_size-width":150,"post_full_size-height":150,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/eli_weinbach.jpg","home_baner-width":150,"home_baner-height":150}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"1139","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"We are created with the abilities to plan and build, to till and tend. Yet we are\u00a0commanded\u00a0to rest.","post_main_content_content":"
<\/header>\r\n
\r\n

Rest requires work. Without putting in the prep time, we may find that a day off is spent thinking about what has yet to be done. Without planning, vacation may not be much more exciting than staying home. Extended conversation with friends about where to go for dinner cuts into dinner time if plans aren\u2019t made ahead of time. When hosting a guest, we make sure their stay is easy, but that ease is the result of extra work.<\/p>\r\n

Vayakhel and Pekudei are accounts of work done by the Israelites to ensure that God would have a resting place in their midst. Moses gives many instructions, and Bezalel the architect orchestrates production with his assistant Oholiab. The population is galvanized to contribute either their materials or time.<\/p>\r\n

In the final chapter of Exodus, the monumental work is finished. The nation watches with baited breath, and their hard work is rewarded. The\u00a0Shechina\u00a0<\/em>descends upon the newly built\u00a0Mishkan\u00a0<\/em>(Exodus 40:35<\/a>), and divine respite in the physical realm is achieved. All that planning and work seems like so little when the payoff arrives. An immanent God! The Most Holy, right in the middle of the camp! And all that had to be done was laboring for the sake of rest.<\/p>\r\n

This work-rest dynamic is always available to us, on various scales. We work for six days and revel in the holiness of Shabbat. We toil for six years and leave the seventh Shmita year for rest. We voyage for 49 years and return home in the Jubilee. God created us with the abilities to plan and build, to till and tend. Yet we are\u00a0commanded\u00a0<\/em>to rest. We do not work for work\u2019s sake. It is through that creative exertion that we open the space for rest and true connection with the Godly.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n

Work is hard. Hopefully, we can remember the lesson of Shmita and the\u00a0Mishkan<\/em>: the purpose of work is the rest which follows, for it is in that rest that one can find true connection with the divine.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n

Rest well!
\r\n
\r\n<\/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>\r\n<\/section>","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":"Vayakel-Pekudei: Work on Your Connection ","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":"1139"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":2,"id":"90326","color":"#f7f7f5","size":"1","name":"Vayakhel-Pekudei: The Rest Of The Custodians","post_title":"Vayakhel-Pekudei: The Rest Of The Custodians","slug":"vayakhel-pekudei-the-rest-of-the-custodians","old_id":"90326","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":83630,"post_title":"Yoni Dolgin","slug":"yoni-dolgin","old_id":"83630","first_name":"Yoni ","last_name":"Dolgin ","description":"Yoni Dolgin runs a tech scouting and investment advisory in Tel Aviv. 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","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":"691","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"The Back To The Future Of Psalms","post_main_content_content":"

The basic tenet of any good time travel movie is \"what if?\" What would happen if some historical event were altered? Psalm 124 is the \u201cBack to the Future\u201d of Psalms: \"Had it not been for God who was for us.\"\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

In this alternate telling, the Israelites would not have even made it out of Egypt. \"The waters would have then swept us away:\" this is clearly a reference to the splitting of the sea.\u00a0 \"When men rose up against us\" is pretty generic, but if we keep to the theme of the Exodus, this could be referring to the Egyptians chasing the Israelites as they reached the sea. This would make sense, since in that moment they were trapped in the \"fowler's snare\" in between the water and the encroaching Egyptian forces. It could also be a reference to the first battle, the battle with Amalek.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

It is often a useful exercise to think back at such \"what if\" scenarios. Such introspection allows us to not take things for granted. King David does not want the people to rest on their laurels. Do not take God for granted. If God had not been there from the start, the Israelite history would have been snuffed out at the outset.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":89898,"alt":"","title":"Marty McFly - back to the future","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Marty-McFly-back-to-the-future.png","width":292,"height":315,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Marty-McFly-back-to-the-future-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Marty-McFly-back-to-the-future-278x300.png","medium-width":278,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Marty-McFly-back-to-the-future.png","medium_large-width":292,"medium_large-height":315,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Marty-McFly-back-to-the-future.png","large-width":292,"large-height":315,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Marty-McFly-back-to-the-future.png","1536x1536-width":292,"1536x1536-height":315,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Marty-McFly-back-to-the-future.png","2048x2048-width":292,"2048x2048-height":315,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Marty-McFly-back-to-the-future.png","post_full_size-width":292,"post_full_size-height":315,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Marty-McFly-back-to-the-future.png","home_baner-width":292,"home_baner-height":315}},"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":"Alternate History","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"The Back To The Future Of Psalms","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":89898,"alt":"","title":"Marty McFly - back to the future","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Marty-McFly-back-to-the-future.png","width":292,"height":315,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Marty-McFly-back-to-the-future-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Marty-McFly-back-to-the-future-278x300.png","medium-width":278,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Marty-McFly-back-to-the-future.png","medium_large-width":292,"medium_large-height":315,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Marty-McFly-back-to-the-future.png","large-width":292,"large-height":315,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Marty-McFly-back-to-the-future.png","1536x1536-width":292,"1536x1536-height":315,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Marty-McFly-back-to-the-future.png","2048x2048-width":292,"2048x2048-height":315,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Marty-McFly-back-to-the-future.png","post_full_size-width":292,"post_full_size-height":315,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Marty-McFly-back-to-the-future.png","home_baner-width":292,"home_baner-height":315}},"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":"124","chapter_main_number":"691","date":"20280423","wall_id":"691"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":4,"id":"90088","color":"#f6f5de","size":"1","name":"No Wishful Thinking ","post_title":"No Wishful Thinking","slug":"no-wishful-thinking","old_id":"90088","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":"692","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"","post_main_content_content":"

The later verses of Psalm 125 (v. 3-5) once again pit evildoers against the righteous, and the psalmist expresses the hope that God will in the end support those who consistently do the \u201cright thing.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

However, in v. 1-2 we encounter a curious metaphor that challenges the reader to interpret it:<\/span><\/p>\r\n

1 A song of ascents. Those who trust in the LORD are <\/span>like Mount Zion that cannot be<\/span> moved<\/span><\/em>, enduring forever.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span> 2 Jerusalem, hills enfold it, and <\/span>the LORD enfolds His people now and forever<\/span><\/em>.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

How is the state of being <\/span>unmovable<\/span><\/i>, like Jerusalem, which geographically is surrounded by hills, a virtue to be enjoyed specifically by those with faith in God? Furthermore, Radak notes that, despite being relatively physically protected, Jerusalem has been conquered over and over by invading armies, leading to the conclusion that the hills around the city do little to truly protect it! So, despite Jerusalem\u2019s not being susceptible to being \u201cmoved,\u201d it certainly cannot be said that it is \u201cprotected\u201d and \u201csecure.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Malbim proposes that the second half of Psalms 32:10 holds the key to understanding these first two verses in Ps. 125: \u201c\u2026he who trusts in the LORD shall be <\/span>surrounded<\/em> <\/span>with favor.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

When we believe that we are being protected by God, we feel immune to the normal terrors that beset others. If Jerusalem can feel secure because of the natural protections that its environmental features afford it, then this certainly will be the case with respect to someone who believes that God will always be by their side.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

But what if the psalmist is describing an objective reality rather than a state of mind? That is, during a terrorist attack or a pandemic, those trusting in God will be personally at risk as much as someone lacking faith in the divine. So is Psalm 125 encouraging a state of calm that is the figment of one\u2019s imagination, rather than being based in a safe reality?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The Talmud (Berachot 55a) rails against those who act out of a false sense of security:<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Rabbi Yitzc\u1e25ak said: \u2026 (<\/span>Some things<\/span><\/em>) evoke a person\u2019s sins, and they are: 1) Endangering oneself by sitting or standing next to an inclined wall that is about to collapse\u2026<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Unless we are prepared to posit that there is some metaphysical power that will literally protect the righteous discussed in the latter verses of Psalm 125, as is suggested by Ps. 116:6: \u201cThe LORD protects the simple; I was brought low and He saved me,\u201d we have to be satisfied with the reassurance\u00a0 that being righteous will earn us \u201cpeace of mind.\u201d However, the assumption that our mortal and temporal life cannot end suddenly because of the malfeasance of another, or due to some horrific illness, constitutes the sort of \u201cwishful thinking\u201d that R. Yitzchak, in the above-cited passage in the Talmud, wishes to discount.<\/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":"No Wishful Thinking","tile_main_caption":"During a terrorist attack or a pandemic, those trusting in God will be personally at risk as much as someone lacking faith in the divine","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":"125","chapter_main_number":"692","date":"20280424","wall_id":"692"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":5,"id":"90143","color":"#efefef","size":"1","name":"A Playful Dance With Time ","post_title":"A Playful Dance With Time","slug":"a-playful-dance-with-time","old_id":"90143","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":77758,"post_title":"AJ Berkovitz","slug":"aj-berkovitz","old_id":"77758","first_name":"AJ ","last_name":"Berkovitz ","description":"Dr. AJ Berkovitz serves as an Assistant Professor at HUC-JIR in New York. He received his Ph.D. in Religion from Princeton University and a B.A.\/M.A. in Jewish Studies\/Hebrew Bible from Yeshiva University. He is the co-editor of Rethinking \u2018Authority\u2019 in Late Antiquity: Authorship, Law, and Transmission in Jewish and Christian Tradition (Routledge, 2018). His current book project, The Life of Psalms in Jewish Late Antiquity, deal with Psalm reception and materiality, translation, liturgy, piety and magic. \r\n\r\n","short_description":"Dr. AJ Berkovitz serves as an Assistant Professor at HUC-JIR in New York.","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":77759,"alt":"","title":"AJ Berkovitz","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/AJ-Berkovitz.jpg","width":2100,"height":3150,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/AJ-Berkovitz-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/AJ-Berkovitz-200x300.jpg","medium-width":200,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/AJ-Berkovitz-683x1024.jpg","medium_large-width":683,"medium_large-height":1024,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/AJ-Berkovitz-683x1024.jpg","large-width":683,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/AJ-Berkovitz.jpg","1536x1536-width":1024,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/AJ-Berkovitz.jpg","2048x2048-width":1365,"2048x2048-height":2048,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/AJ-Berkovitz-800x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":800,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/AJ-Berkovitz-280x420.jpg","home_baner-width":280,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"693","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"The lesson? That memory and hope are two sides of the same coin\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

The poetic power of Psalm 126 lies in its playful dance with time: memorializing the past while hoping for a brighter future. The opening verses contain a troubling interpretive ambiguity. Initially, the poem\u2019s setting seems obvious. It describes the period in which Jews began to return to Israel and to rebuild the temple, the Restoration era (ca. 537-332 BCE). In verse 1, after all, the poet uses the words <\/span>shivat zion<\/em> <\/span>\u201creturn to Zion.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

If read this way, memory becomes key to unlocking the poem\u2019s meaning. It begins by describing the surreal dream-like experience (<\/span>hayinu kecholmim<\/span><\/em>) of those who first stepped foot onto their ancestral homeland (v1). Then, how they rejoiced and were vindicated on the world stage: even gentiles now speak of God\u2019s greatness (v2). The poem memorializes the pioneers and gives courage and strength to those who followed in their footsteps.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Speaking about the return to Zion, however, does not necessarily place the poem in the context of the Restoration era. It may be earlier.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The poem could have been composed during the Exilic period (ca. 586 - 537 BCE), when the Jewish spirit was at its lowest ebb and when returning home was but a dream. In this context, it is hope that constitutes the main theme of Psalm 126. The poem opens by expressing the distant dream of God returning with the exiles to Zion (v1). If God would restore Israel\u2019s fortune and glory, then \u201cour mouths would be filled with joy.\u201d Moreover, the theological harm that God inflicted on his own reputation by destroying his own temple would be undone. The gentiles would be unable to ignore God\u2019s power (v2). If read thus, the poem represents a spark of optimism in Judaism\u2019s darkest moment. It acts as a counterbalance to Lamentations, which contains a series of poems that mourn the irrevocable loss of Jewish life, land and identity.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Which reading is correct?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The poet revels in this ambiguity instead of resolving it. He opens his poem with the verb <\/span>beshuv<\/em> <\/span>\u201cwith the returning\/restoring.\u201d Like the English to word \u201creading,\u201d it is a gerund. It has no set time. I can be reading now; have been reading in the past; or will be reading in the future. The poet maintains his ambiguous relationship with time in verse 2, which contains two verbs. Each verb is in the imperfect form: \u201cwill be filled\u201d and \u201cwill say,\u201d which should be clear evidence that the second reading is correct. Each verb, however, is preceded by <\/span>az<\/em> <\/span>\u201cthus.\u201d All verbs following <\/span>az<\/em> <\/span>appear in the imperfect form even if they have a past meaning. The most famous example is Exodus 151: <\/span>az yashir Moshe<\/em> <\/span>\u201cAnd thus Moshe sang\u201d (not: \u201cwill sing\u201d).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

What can we make of the poem\u2019s ambiguous context? Perhaps the lesson is that memory and hope are two sides of the same coin, that to long for and to remember are the two actions that ultimately render us human.<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":55025,"alt":"","title":"jud2-hourglass memories","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud2-hourglass-memories.jpg","width":1920,"height":799,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud2-hourglass-memories-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud2-hourglass-memories-300x125.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":125,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud2-hourglass-memories-768x320.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":320,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud2-hourglass-memories-1024x426.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":426,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud2-hourglass-memories.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":639,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud2-hourglass-memories.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":799,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud2-hourglass-memories-1200x499.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":499,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud2-hourglass-memories-1009x420.jpg","home_baner-width":1009,"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 Playful Dance With Time","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"The lesson? That memory and hope are two sides of the same coin","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":55025,"alt":"","title":"jud2-hourglass memories","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud2-hourglass-memories.jpg","width":1920,"height":799,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud2-hourglass-memories-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud2-hourglass-memories-300x125.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":125,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud2-hourglass-memories-768x320.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":320,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud2-hourglass-memories-1024x426.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":426,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud2-hourglass-memories.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":639,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud2-hourglass-memories.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":799,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud2-hourglass-memories-1200x499.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":499,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/jud2-hourglass-memories-1009x420.jpg","home_baner-width":1009,"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":"126","chapter_main_number":"693","date":"20280425","wall_id":"693"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":6,"id":"90136","color":"#f2e9df","size":"1","name":"Zion! ","post_title":"Zion!","slug":"zion","old_id":"90136","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":"693","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"What\u2019s in a name?\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

Psalm 126 is one of the most beloved of the psalms. The mention of \u201csongs of joy\u201d (126:5) led to it being sung before Grace After Meals on festivals and other happy occasions. And due to its emotional description of the \u201cReturn to Zion,\u201d it was even considered to become Israel\u2019s national anthem.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Zion is such a ubiquitous term in Jewish culture that we may not have ever stopped to ask - what is Zion?<\/span><\/p>\r\n

In the Bible, the name Zion - <\/span>Tziyon<\/span><\/em>\u00a0in Hebrew - first refers to the fortress of Jerusalem conquered by King David, in Samuel II 5:7. It has that limited sense in three other verses. However, in the other 150 occurrences in the Bible, it refers to either all of Jerusalem or the entire Land of Israel.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

But Zion was always more poetic or symbolic than a specific place name. It could be considered more of a concept than a location. The linguist Ruivk Rosenthal wrote that Zion \"is a dream that desires to become reality.\" This is the sense in our psalm:<\/span><\/p>\r\n

\u201cWhen the LORD restores the fortunes of Zion \u2014we see it as in a dream\u201d (Psalms 126:1).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The longing for this idealized Zion was captured beautifully in Hebrew poetry of the Middle Ages, particularly by Ibn Gabriol and Yehuda HaLevi, in their poems known as Zionides.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Their desire for Zion likely inspired the groups in 19th century Europe, such as <\/span>Hovevei Tzion<\/span><\/em>\u00a0(lovers of Zion) who promoted immigration to the Land of Israel. Later they coalesced into a political movement, known as Zionism (<\/span>tziyonut<\/span><\/em>). That term was coined by Nathan Birnbaum in 1890. And of course, the Zionist movement eventually led to the founding of the State of Israel.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The etymology of Zion is unclear. Some say it is related to the word <\/span>tziyun<\/span><\/em>\u00a0\u2013 \u201cmonument, landmark,\u201d which is related to the word <\/span>metzuyan<\/span><\/em>\u00a0\u2013 \u201cdistinguished, excellent.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Others say it derives from the root <\/span>tziyah<\/span><\/em>\u00a0meaning \u201cdry, drought,\u201d and so the meaning would be \u201cbare hill.\u201d This meaning can be understood by Jerusalem\u2019s bordering the Judean desert.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

A third theory that Zion comes from the root <\/span>tzanan<\/span><\/em>\u00a0\u2013 \u201cto preserve.\u201d The word <\/span>tzinah<\/span><\/em>, also derived from that root, is a \u201clarge shield\u201d or \u201cprotective wall,\u201d and this could explain why it came to be the name of a fortress.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

All of these meanings are reflected in the Zion of today. We are distinguished around the world for our scientific and technological developments. We are an arid country, but have made the desert bloom. And despite being surrounded by determined enemies, we have repeatedly defended ourselves against those threats. It really is like a dream!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Image: Tomb of David, Mt. Zion 1887, Frank S De Hass, Buried Cities Recovered, or Explorations In Bible Lands \/ wikipedia<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":90137,"alt":"","title":"ps126-mt zion","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/ps126-mt-zion.jpg","width":719,"height":590,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/ps126-mt-zion-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/ps126-mt-zion-300x246.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":246,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/ps126-mt-zion.jpg","medium_large-width":719,"medium_large-height":590,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/ps126-mt-zion.jpg","large-width":719,"large-height":590,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/ps126-mt-zion.jpg","1536x1536-width":719,"1536x1536-height":590,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/ps126-mt-zion.jpg","2048x2048-width":719,"2048x2048-height":590,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/ps126-mt-zion.jpg","post_full_size-width":719,"post_full_size-height":590,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/ps126-mt-zion-512x420.jpg","home_baner-width":512,"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":"Zion!","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"What\u2019s in a name?","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":90137,"alt":"","title":"ps126-mt zion","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/ps126-mt-zion.jpg","width":719,"height":590,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/ps126-mt-zion-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/ps126-mt-zion-300x246.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":246,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/ps126-mt-zion.jpg","medium_large-width":719,"medium_large-height":590,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/ps126-mt-zion.jpg","large-width":719,"large-height":590,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/ps126-mt-zion.jpg","1536x1536-width":719,"1536x1536-height":590,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/ps126-mt-zion.jpg","2048x2048-width":719,"2048x2048-height":590,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/ps126-mt-zion.jpg","post_full_size-width":719,"post_full_size-height":590,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/ps126-mt-zion-512x420.jpg","home_baner-width":512,"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":"126","chapter_main_number":"693","date":"20280425","wall_id":"693"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":7,"id":"90139","color":"#f6edf6","size":"2","name":"Dreams Based In Reality ","post_title":"Dreams Based In Reality","slug":"dreams-based-in-reality","old_id":"90139","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":"693","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"After death the heavenly tribunal asks the soul: \u201cDid you anticipate the redemption?\u201d An essential component of worthiness for the world to come is \u201cWere you a dreamer?\u00a0","post_main_content_content":"

This Song of Ascents begins with the words \u201cWhen God brings about the return to Zion, we were like dreamers.\u201d The mixed tense usage of \u201cWhen God <\/span>will<\/span><\/i> bring our redemption (future)\u201d with \u201cwe <\/span>were<\/span><\/i> like dreamers (past)\u201d invites\u00a0 the question of what exactly was being dreamt.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Radak understands the dream as retrospective. As a result of the redemption (whether from Babylonia, as Rashi interprets this chapter, or in Messianic times, according to Radak), all the trials and tribulations experienced by the Jewish people will feel like nothing more than a dream. It\u2019s not such an uncommon experience to come through some terrible hardship and look back on it thinking \u201cDid that really happen? Was I dreaming?\u201d The ability to survive hardship and move on is a gift. It doesn\u2019t happen every time, as the reality of PTSD and trauma-induced mental health challenges attest. But resilience is a hallmark of humanity and the Jewish nation has demonstrated it time and time again.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The Torah relates many instances of nocturnal dreaming, understood biblically as a vehicle for prophecy. In that context, dreams are tangible evidence of what is possible, to be taken seriously, interpreted and acted upon. Prophetic dreams were based in reality and often included something to worry about and something to daydream about. Pharaoh\u2019s dreams, interpreted by Joseph, were just that: a portent of both a hardship to come and a redemption of sorts.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

\u201cWe were like dreamers\u201d could also refer to the waking dreams \u2013 the daydreams of a people in exile imagining the better times to come. Whether we\u2019re considering this chapter from the perspective of the Babylonian exiles or our current exile, our dreams of redemption are based in reality: in both cases God had\/has promised redemption. So, if our daydreams are forward looking, it\u2019s not \u201cwhat if\u201d but \u201cwhen it happens\u201d that we are dreaming of.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The Talmud (Shabbat 31a) teaches that after death the heavenly tribunal poses a series of questions to the soul. \u201cWere you honest?\u201d, \u201cDid you make time for Torah study?\u201d, and \u201cDid you anticipate the redemption?\u201d Remarkably, among all the things on which we are judged, an essential component of worthiness for the world to come is \u201cWere you a dreamer? Did you dream about the redemption to come?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Prophetic dreaming is about understanding God\u2019s plan. So too, daydreaming is about imaging better times and a better world based on our assuredness of God\u2019s promised plan.<\/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":"Dreams Based In Reality","tile_main_caption":"After death the heavenly tribunal asks the soul: \u201cDid you anticipate the redemption?\u201d An essential component of worthiness for the world to come is \u201cWere you a dreamer?\u00a0","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":"126","chapter_main_number":"693","date":"20280425","wall_id":"693"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":8,"id":"90154","color":"#e0e9ef","size":"1","name":"The Sandhouse ","post_title":"The Sandhouse","slug":"the-sandhouse","old_id":"90154","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":"694","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"The Lord is my builder, I shall not fear","post_main_content_content":"

\"A Song of Ascents. Of Solomon. If the Lord does not build a house, its builders have labored in vain\u2026\" (Psalms 127:1)
\r\n
\r\nBe careful if you build a house from sand;
\r\nYou mustn't make believe it's made of stone
\r\nOr bricks or even wood, for sand alone,
\r\nWithout cement or steel, cannot withstand
\r\nThe slightest breeze, but starts to crumble and
\r\nCollapse before you have the chance to moan
\r\nOr mourn the home that you erected, blown
\r\nAway by wind. Yet on the other hand,
\r\n
\r\nGod lives and gives you hope, for He collects
\r\nYour scattered grains of sand, no matter where
\r\nThey fall, and melts them into glass. You stare
\r\nAs God then builds a palace which reflects
\r\nThe burning bush's light, until you swear,
\r\n\"The Lord is my builder, I shall not fear.\"<\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":90161,"alt":"","title":"ps127-sand castle","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/ps127-sand-castle.jpg","width":1081,"height":1920,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/ps127-sand-castle-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/ps127-sand-castle-169x300.jpg","medium-width":169,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/ps127-sand-castle-577x1024.jpg","medium_large-width":577,"medium_large-height":1024,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/ps127-sand-castle-577x1024.jpg","large-width":577,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/ps127-sand-castle.jpg","1536x1536-width":865,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/ps127-sand-castle.jpg","2048x2048-width":1081,"2048x2048-height":1920,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/ps127-sand-castle-676x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":676,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/ps127-sand-castle-236x420.jpg","home_baner-width":236,"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":"The Sandhouse","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"The Lord is my builder, I shall not fear","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":90161,"alt":"","title":"ps127-sand castle","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/ps127-sand-castle.jpg","width":1081,"height":1920,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/ps127-sand-castle-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/ps127-sand-castle-169x300.jpg","medium-width":169,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/ps127-sand-castle-577x1024.jpg","medium_large-width":577,"medium_large-height":1024,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/ps127-sand-castle-577x1024.jpg","large-width":577,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/ps127-sand-castle.jpg","1536x1536-width":865,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/ps127-sand-castle.jpg","2048x2048-width":1081,"2048x2048-height":1920,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/ps127-sand-castle-676x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":676,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/ps127-sand-castle-236x420.jpg","home_baner-width":236,"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":"127","chapter_main_number":"694","date":"20280426","wall_id":"694"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":9,"id":"90148","color":"#faeed8","size":"1","name":"Psalmsongs 127 ","post_title":"Psalmsongs 127","slug":"psalmsongs-127","old_id":"90148","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":80010,"post_title":"Gaya Aranoff Bernstein","slug":"gaya-aranoff-bernstein","old_id":"80010","first_name":"Gaya Aranoff ","last_name":"Bernstein ","description":"Gaya (Aranoff, M.D.) Bernstein has been a student of Rav Adin Even-Israel Steinsaltz for many years. With his encouragement, she published Psalmsongs, A Gathering of Psalms (An Arthur Kurzweil Book, New York\/Jerusalem, 2013), and translated The Steinsaltz Tehillim, Commentary by Rabbi Adin Even-Israel Steinsaltz (Koren Publishers Jerusalem Ltd, 2018). She is a professor of pediatric endocrinology on the faculty of Columbia University, College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York City.\r\n\r\n","short_description":"Gaya Aranoff Bernstein is the author of Psalmsongs: A Gathering of Psalms.","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":80011,"alt":"","title":"gaya bernstein","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/gaya-bernstein.jpg","width":332,"height":492,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/gaya-bernstein-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/gaya-bernstein-202x300.jpg","medium-width":202,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/gaya-bernstein.jpg","medium_large-width":332,"medium_large-height":492,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/gaya-bernstein.jpg","large-width":332,"large-height":492,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/gaya-bernstein.jpg","1536x1536-width":332,"1536x1536-height":492,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/gaya-bernstein.jpg","2048x2048-width":332,"2048x2048-height":492,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/gaya-bernstein.jpg","post_full_size-width":332,"post_full_size-height":492,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/gaya-bernstein-283x420.jpg","home_baner-width":283,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"694","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"","post_main_content_content":"

in vain
\r\nthe grandest buildings are built
\r\nif there\u2019s no life
\r\nwithin
\r\nin vain
\r\na fortune is guarded secure
\r\nif solely bequeathed
\r\nto a vault
\r\nin vain
\r\na man may rise at dawn
\r\nto bake and bake
\r\namassing bread
\r\nthat surely will
\r\ndecay
\r\nbut sons and daughters
\r\nblessed by God
\r\nare gifts from God
\r\nand can propel
\r\na legacy
\r\nof life
\r\ninto the future
\r\nhappy are they
\r\nwho can bravely say
\r\nthey toiled to nurture life
\r\nand aimed their arrows
\r\nfar ahead
\r\nwith steady hands
\r\nand hope<\/p>\r\n

Excerpted from: Gaya Aranoff Bernstein,\u00a0Psalmsongs: A Gathering of Psalms<\/em>, (An Arthur Kurzweil Book, New York\/Jerusalem, 2013)<\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":80037,"alt":"","title":"psalmsongs4","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/psalmsongs4.jpg","width":2894,"height":1928,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/psalmsongs4-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/psalmsongs4-300x200.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":200,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/psalmsongs4-768x512.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":512,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/psalmsongs4-1024x682.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":682,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/psalmsongs4.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1023,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/psalmsongs4.jpg","2048x2048-width":2048,"2048x2048-height":1364,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/psalmsongs4-1200x799.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":799,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/psalmsongs4-630x420.jpg","home_baner-width":630,"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":"Psalmsongs 127","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"happy are they who can bravely say they toiled to nurture life","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":80037,"alt":"","title":"psalmsongs4","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/psalmsongs4.jpg","width":2894,"height":1928,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/psalmsongs4-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/psalmsongs4-300x200.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":200,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/psalmsongs4-768x512.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":512,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/psalmsongs4-1024x682.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":682,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/psalmsongs4.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1023,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/psalmsongs4.jpg","2048x2048-width":2048,"2048x2048-height":1364,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/psalmsongs4-1200x799.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":799,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/psalmsongs4-630x420.jpg","home_baner-width":630,"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":"127","chapter_main_number":"694","date":"20280426","wall_id":"694"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":10,"id":"90204","color":"#e6f5f3","size":"1","name":"No More Heavenly Handouts ","post_title":"No More Heavenly Handouts","slug":"no-more-heavenly-handouts","old_id":"90204","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":86824,"post_title":"Norman Lamm","slug":"norman-lamm","old_id":"86824","first_name":"Norman","last_name":"Lamm","description":"Rabbi Dr. Norman Lamm, rabbi, author, leader of modern Orthodox Jewry, was president of Yeshiva University and its chancellor until his retirement in 2013. He died on May 31, 2020 at the age of 92. ","short_description":"Rabbi Dr. Norman Lamm, rabbi, author, leader of modern Orthodox Jewry, was president of Yeshiva University and its chancellor. He died on May 31, 2020 at the age of 92.","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":86825,"alt":"","title":"norman lamm","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/norman-lamm.png","width":276,"height":214,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/norman-lamm-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/norman-lamm.png","medium-width":276,"medium-height":214,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/norman-lamm.png","medium_large-width":276,"medium_large-height":214,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/norman-lamm.png","large-width":276,"large-height":214,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/norman-lamm.png","1536x1536-width":276,"1536x1536-height":214,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/norman-lamm.png","2048x2048-width":276,"2048x2048-height":214,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/norman-lamm.png","post_full_size-width":276,"post_full_size-height":214,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/norman-lamm.png","home_baner-width":276,"home_baner-height":214}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"695","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Freedom means eating the labor of one\u2019s own hands\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

The Bible describes how Joshua led his people in this historic observance of <\/span>Pesa\u1e25<\/span><\/em>, shortly before the battle of Jericho. Then, the next day, something surprising happened--or, did <\/span>not<\/span> happen. <\/span>Va-yishbot ha-man mi-ma\u1e25arat be\u2019akhlam me-avur ha-aretz, ve\u2019lo hayah ode li\u2019vnei Yisrael man, va-yokhulu mi-tevuat eretz Kenaan ba-shanah hahi<\/span><\/em>: <\/span><\/i>the next morning, the manna, which had fallen from heaven and miraculously provided the Children of Israel with food for their forty years in the desert, stopped coming. Never again did the manna fall; from that day on, they ate of the fruit of the Land of Canaan.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

This cessation of the manna at this particular occasion is remarkable. Here was a people who had faithfully followed Moses, now Joshua, through the treacherous wilderness of Sinai. This moment was the culmination of their long and bitter journey, the fulfillment of an ancient divine promise to Abraham. If anything, at this time the manna should have been doubled, not discontinued. This was a time the Israelites deserved a reward and encouragement, not a punishment and reprimand. Why, then, the end of this manna this morrow of the first Passover in the Land of Israel?<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The answer, it seems clear, is that the end of the manna, the free gift from Heaven, <\/span>this indeed was their greatest reward!\u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/p>\r\n

There could be no greater gift to the Israelites than the withdrawing of this heavenly handout on which they had been subsisting for forty years. At this moment, more than at any other time in the past, the Children of Israel had to learn the hardest but most vital lesson of all about freedom and independence--namely, that it has got to be earned, not passively accepted as a prettily packaged present.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

For the forty years that they had to work off their centuries-old slave mentality, the manna was satisfactory. But no people can long remain free if they fail to appreciate that freedom--indeed, anything worthwhile in life requires hard work, sweat, toil. <\/span>Le\u1e25em min-ha-shamayim<\/span><\/em>, bread from Heaven, was appropriate for a desert generation; a free people can find a <\/span>berakhah<\/em> <\/span>only when, with God\u2019s help but also with their own labor, it is <\/span>motzi le\u1e25em mmin ha-aretz<\/span><\/em>, it brings forth bread from the earth.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Whether we speak of ourselves as a group or as individuals, of freedom as such or any other worthy human ideal, this great teaching of Passover must not be forgotten. And perhaps all of it can be summed up in the immortal words of King David in the Psalms (128:2): <\/span>Yegia kapekha ki tokhel, ashrekha ve\u2019tov lekha,<\/em> <\/span>\u201cWhen you eat the labor of your hands, you shall be happy, and it will be well with you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Reprinted with permission from <\/span>The Lamm Heritage Archives<\/span><\/a> \/ 1963<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":87306,"alt":"","title":"Lamm 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More Heavenly Handouts","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Freedom means eating the labor of one\u2019s own hands","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":87306,"alt":"","title":"Lamm Archives","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Lamm-Archives.jpg","width":961,"height":321,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Lamm-Archives-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Lamm-Archives-300x100.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":100,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Lamm-Archives-768x257.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":257,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Lamm-Archives.jpg","large-width":961,"large-height":321,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Lamm-Archives.jpg","1536x1536-width":961,"1536x1536-height":321,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Lamm-Archives.jpg","2048x2048-width":961,"2048x2048-height":321,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Lamm-Archives.jpg","post_full_size-width":961,"post_full_size-height":321,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Lamm-Archives.jpg","home_baner-width":961,"home_baner-height":321}},"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":"128","chapter_main_number":"695","date":"20280427","wall_id":"695"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":11,"id":"90267","color":"#f7e9e9","size":"1","name":"A Blessing For Man, A Curse For Adam ","post_title":"A Blessing For Man, A Curse For Adam","slug":"a-blessing-for-man-a-curse-for-adam","old_id":"90267","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":"695","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"An intertextual exploration\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

Psalm 128 is framed as a blessing for the man who fears God. It promises the pious the blessing of happiness and goodness, and a long life, long enough to see your grandchildren.
\r\nIt doesn\u2019t only promise personal happiness and goodness, the psalmist also talks about the greater community. The psalm makes a particular mention of how the reward will include a wife like a grape vine and sons like olive trees.<\/p>\r\n

Specifically, in 128:2 he writes, \u201cBy the work of your hands you shall eat; you shall be happy and you will have good.\u201d<\/p>\r\n

Choice of ancient Mediterranean metaphors aside, it sounds like a very positive blessing. When we read the curses of Leviticus 26:16-20 and Deuteronomy 28:29-30, we see that it is a curse to work hard at something and not enjoy its fruits. Again, a sentiment that can be shared by anyone who has ever worked incredibly hard on anything, only to be spuriously rejected by someone who never had to work hard on anything in their life.<\/p>\r\n

While I recognize that the Bible as a whole is a very gendered corpus, there is something about this psalm that feels extra. It uses the term \u201cgever\u201d for man, one of four main words used to describe individuals in the Bible: \u201cIsh\u201d, which is also man, but with less importance, \u201cenosh\u201d, named after the grandson of Adam, and \u201cben-adam\u201d which means human, or literally, son of Adam.<\/p>\r\n

It is Adam to whom the psalmist is alluding, throughout the entirety of the psalm.<\/p>\r\n

The clearest indication comes in the above mentioned 128:2, and namely the first part of the phrase. When God curses Eve and Adam after eating from the tree, He uses an interesting four word phrase to describe the punishment in Genesis 3:19: \u201cBy the sweat of your brow shall you eat bread.\u201d<\/p>\r\n

In Hebrew, the words \u201ckapecha\u201d, meaning hands, and \u201capecha\u201d, meaning brow, are a letter apart, and both are intentionally coupled with the word \u201cto\u2019chal\u201d, you shall eat, something any listener would subtly hear.<\/p>\r\n

Putting the comparison of the reader\u2019s wife with a fruit tree aside, the story in Genesis is found right before the story where Cain kills Abel, which the psalmist alludes to with the \u201csons like olive trees\u201d and living long enough to see your children have children, which Abel did not have. As well as God\u2019s fear (Genesis 3:22) of Adam eating from the tree of life and living forever.<\/p>\r\n

Even the word \u201ctov\u201d meaning good, which is repeated twice, is reminiscent of the sin itself, which was eating from the tree of of knowledge of good and evil.<\/p>\r\n

Why is this psalmist polemicizing against Adam? One somewhat educated guess is that it could be cautioning the reader against reading contemporaneous pseudepigraphic works attributed to Adam, similar to David with Psalms and Solomon with Ecclesiastes.<\/p>\r\n

Perhaps it\u2019s saying that Adam didn\u2019t fear God, so don\u2019t be like Adam.<\/p>\r\n

image: courtesy of the author<\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":90269,"alt":"","title":"ps128-ebutler","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/ps128-ebutler.png","width":2048,"height":2048,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/ps128-ebutler-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/ps128-ebutler-300x300.png","medium-width":300,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/ps128-ebutler-768x768.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":768,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/ps128-ebutler-1024x1024.png","large-width":1024,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/ps128-ebutler.png","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/ps128-ebutler.png","2048x2048-width":2048,"2048x2048-height":2048,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/ps128-ebutler-1200x1200.png","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/ps128-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":"A Blessing For Man, A Curse For Adam","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"An intertextual exploration","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":90269,"alt":"","title":"ps128-ebutler","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/ps128-ebutler.png","width":2048,"height":2048,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/ps128-ebutler-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/ps128-ebutler-300x300.png","medium-width":300,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/ps128-ebutler-768x768.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":768,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/ps128-ebutler-1024x1024.png","large-width":1024,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/ps128-ebutler.png","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/ps128-ebutler.png","2048x2048-width":2048,"2048x2048-height":2048,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/ps128-ebutler-1200x1200.png","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/ps128-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":"128","chapter_main_number":"695","date":"20280427","wall_id":"695"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":12,"id":"90203","color":"#effaea","size":"1","name":"The Fruits of Your Labors ","post_title":"The Fruits of Your Labors","slug":"the-fruits-of-your-labors","old_id":"90203","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":"695","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Literally\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

This psalm, which like Psalm 127 celebrates marriage and family, promises the following recompense to the one \u201cwho fears the Lord and follows His ways\u201d (1), namely, \u201cYou shall enjoy the fruit of your labors; you shall be happy and you shall prosper\u201d (2). This same verse serves as one of the prooftexts for a well-known Mishnah that proposes definitions of several life-qualities, including wisdom, might, wealth, and honor. Note that wealth is not defined in financial terms (how much money one has) but qualitatively: enjoying the fruits of one\u2019s own labors.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Ben Zoma said: Who is rich? He who rejoices in his lot, as it is said: \u201cYou shall enjoy the fruit of your labors, you shall be happy and you shall prosper\u201d (Psalms 128:2) \u201cYou shall be happy\u201d in this world, \u201cand you shall prosper\u201d in the world to come. (Avot 4:1).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

To happiness and prosperity, the psalm adds the simile \u201cYour wife shall be like a fruitful vine within your house\u201d (3).<\/span> Radak explained the \u201cfruitful vine\u201d as follows:<\/span><\/p>\r\n

He compared her to a vine because no trees are planted indoors except a vine that some people plant within their homes, and when it grows, they remove it outdoors into the sun; thereby, its roots are indoors while its branches are outside it. Such is a woman who is modest within her home and not going out of doors. Moreover, it says \u201cwithin\u201d your house because, on account of her modesty, she does not sit at the entrance where passersby can see her\u2026<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The depiction of a woman as \u201ca vine\u201d is also found in two other biblical verses: Isaiah 32:12 and Ezekiel 19:10. The description of one\u2019s children as \u201colive saplings\u201d (ibid), however, is unique to this psalm. And regarding the saplings, Radak commented:<\/span><\/p>\r\n

He compared them to olive [saplings] because the olive tree rejects attempts at grafting it to other trees and saplings are proper children to their parents. Such are the children born to a woman like this; there cannot be any suspicion of bastardy about them because their mother is modest and stays only with her husband. Furthermore, just as olive trees are green and moist year-round, so will these [children] be ever recognized for their good deeds.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

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