{"id":91188,"date":"2018-07-09T17:53:43","date_gmt":"2018-07-09T14:53:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wall\/wall-1142\/"},"modified":"2022-02-02T19:44:05","modified_gmt":"2022-02-02T17:44:05","slug":"wall-1142","status":"publish","type":"wall","link":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wall\/wall-1142\/","title":{"rendered":"weekend-from-20241020-to-20241026"},"parent":0,"template":"","acf":{"type":"weekend","wall_id":"1142","date_from":"20241020","date_to":"20241026","book":"Psalms","books_group":"Writings","posts":[{"order":1,"id":"90952","color":"#f8ebe3","size":"2","name":"2021\/5781 Pesach Reader ","post_title":"2021\/5781 Pesach Reader","slug":"2021-5781-pesach-reader","old_id":"90952","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":38102,"post_title":"929-English","slug":"929-english","old_id":"38102","first_name":"","last_name":"929-English","description":"","short_description":"","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":38333,"alt":"","title":"\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5.png","width":1513,"height":860,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5-300x171.png","medium-width":300,"medium-height":171,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5-768x437.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":437,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5-1024x582.png","large-width":1024,"large-height":582,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5.png","1536x1536-width":1513,"1536x1536-height":860,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5.png","2048x2048-width":1513,"2048x2048-height":860,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5-1200x682.png","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":682,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/\u05dc\u05d5\u05d2\u05d5-739x420.png","home_baner-width":739,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"705","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"brought to you by the 929 community","post_main_content_content":"

Click here<\/a> to see the rich collection of readings and reflections we've brought to you for Pesach<\/p>\r\n

A selection of essays and short posts on the Torah and Haftarah selections from the holiday, from your favorite 929 authors<\/p>\r\n

Chag sameach - happy holiday!<\/a><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":90953,"alt":"","title":"pesach 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Collection of Reflections","tile_main_caption":"2021\/5781 Pesach Reader","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"brought to you by the 929 community","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":90953,"alt":"","title":"pesach 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coronavirus usher repeats \/ current guidelines\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

From the rear and front, You encompassed me and placed Your hand upon me <\/span><\/i>(P<\/span>salm 139:5)<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

As we, masked\u2014
\r\n<\/span>our unique nature then
\r\n<\/span><\/i>is in our capacity to choose
\r\n<\/span><\/i>our mask: the demon or the angel<\/span><\/i>*\u2014<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

wait on line to reach
\r\n<\/span>the much-kissed stones,
\r\n<\/span>a coronavirus usher repeats
\r\n<\/span>current guidelines,<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

\u201cYou have two minutes
\r\n<\/span>at the Wall.
\r\n<\/span>Please move back
\r\n<\/span>so others can come close.
\r\n<\/span>God is everywhere.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

*From <\/span>Simple Words<\/em> <\/span>by R. Adin Steinsaltz<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":89739,"alt":"","title":"ps122-jerusalem 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Of Danger And Misery ","post_title":"Roots Of Danger And Misery","slug":"roots-of-danger-and-misery","old_id":"91088","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 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ones, anyway\u00a0\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

In Psalm 139, the psalmist praises God for having great knowledge about what humans are doing and what they need:<\/span><\/p>\r\n

\u201cWhen I sit down or stand up You know it; You discern my thoughts from afar. You observe my walking and reclining, and are familiar with all my ways.\u201d (Psalms 139:2-3)<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The last phrase, \u201cfamiliar with all my ways,\u201d uses an unusual Hebrew word \u2013 <\/span>hiskanta<\/span><\/em>. This is the <\/span>hifil<\/span><\/em>\u00a0form of the root <\/span>skn<\/span><\/em>. It means \u201cwas accustomed,\u201d and only appears here, and in Numbers 22:30 and Job 22:21.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

In the <\/span>kal<\/span><\/em>\u00a0form, the verb appears in the book of Job, in the future tense, as <\/span>yiskon<\/span><\/em>.<\/span><\/i> In that form, it means \u201cwas useful, benefited.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Neither of these meanings are common in Modern Hebrew. However, there is a related word that is commonly used. In Isaiah 22:15 we find the noun <\/span>sochen<\/span><\/em>\u00a0and in Kings I 1:2,4 the feminine form <\/span>sochenet<\/span><\/em>. It is usually translated in these cases as \u201csteward\u201d or \u201cattendant.\u201d In modern Hebrew, <\/span>sochen<\/span><\/em>\u00a0<\/span><\/i>means \u201cagent\u201d and <\/span>sochnut<\/span><\/em>\u00a0means \u201cagency.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

According to some scholars, all of these meanings are related. They derive from a sense of \u201cto care for.\u201d Someone who cares for someone (or something), will be both attentive and familiar, as well as useful and beneficial.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

There are other words that use the same three letter root. <\/span>Sakana<\/span><\/em>\u00a0means \u201cdanger,\u201d and the adjective <\/span>mesukan<\/span><\/em>\u00a0meant \u201cin danger\u201d in Talmudic Hebrew, but in Modern Hebrew means \u201cdangerous.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Another word common in Modern Hebrew is <\/span>misken<\/span><\/em>. It means \u201cpoor\u201d or \u201cmiserable.\u201d Originally it meant someone literally in a state of poverty, but today is commonly used to describe anyone we have pity for.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

And one last word with that root is <\/span>miskenot<\/span><\/em>\u00a0\u2013 storehouses, found in Exodus 1:11 as well as in a few places in Kings and Chronicles.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Some attempts in the past have been made to connect all these meanings. One 19<\/span>th<\/span> century linguist, Yehoshua Steinberg, put them all under the header \u201cconcerned about the needs of his master.\u201d This would include someone familiar with the job and doing the best possible work, which covers our initial uses of the root. Steinberg adds that someone in that position would try to avoid danger. A person concerned about food is a <\/span>misken<\/span><\/em>\u00a0and a country concerned about food would place it in <\/span>miskenot<\/span><\/em>.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

However, more recent scholars say that this is all a little too convenient, and that some of these meanings derive from different roots. But that shouldn\u2019t discourage us \u2013 we can take divine inspiration and be \u201cfamiliar with all\u201d of the meanings\u2026<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":91089,"alt":"","title":"shoresh icon-s-k-n","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/shoresh-icon-s-k-n.jpg","width":688,"height":686,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/shoresh-icon-s-k-n-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/shoresh-icon-s-k-n-300x300.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/shoresh-icon-s-k-n.jpg","medium_large-width":688,"medium_large-height":686,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/shoresh-icon-s-k-n.jpg","large-width":688,"large-height":686,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/shoresh-icon-s-k-n.jpg","1536x1536-width":688,"1536x1536-height":686,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/shoresh-icon-s-k-n.jpg","2048x2048-width":688,"2048x2048-height":686,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/shoresh-icon-s-k-n.jpg","post_full_size-width":688,"post_full_size-height":686,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/shoresh-icon-s-k-n-421x420.jpg","home_baner-width":421,"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":"Roots Of Danger And Misery","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Linguistic ones, anyway\u00a0","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":91089,"alt":"","title":"shoresh icon-s-k-n","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/shoresh-icon-s-k-n.jpg","width":688,"height":686,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/shoresh-icon-s-k-n-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/shoresh-icon-s-k-n-300x300.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/shoresh-icon-s-k-n.jpg","medium_large-width":688,"medium_large-height":686,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/shoresh-icon-s-k-n.jpg","large-width":688,"large-height":686,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/shoresh-icon-s-k-n.jpg","1536x1536-width":688,"1536x1536-height":686,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/shoresh-icon-s-k-n.jpg","2048x2048-width":688,"2048x2048-height":686,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/shoresh-icon-s-k-n.jpg","post_full_size-width":688,"post_full_size-height":686,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/shoresh-icon-s-k-n-421x420.jpg","home_baner-width":421,"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":"139","chapter_main_number":"706","date":"20280514","wall_id":"706"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":4,"id":"91094","color":"#efefef","size":"1","name":"God\u2019s Omniscience As A Tool For Personal Growth ","post_title":"God\u2019s Omniscience As A Tool For Personal Growth","slug":"gods-omniscience-as-a-tool-for-personal-growth","old_id":"91094","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":"706","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"We need to weigh our conduct against a much bigger picture\u00a0\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

This psalm speaks to the Godly traits of omnipotence, omnipresence and omniscience. David encapsulates God\u2019s omniscience in 139:4. \u201cEven when I don\u2019t have the words (i.e. don\u2019t know what I am going to say or do), truly, God, You know it all.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

God\u2019s omniscience is codified in the tenth of Maimonides\u2019 Thirteen Principles of Faith: \u201cI believe with complete faith that the Creator, blessed be His name, knows every action done by each human being as well as all their thoughts.\"<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Omniscience is often discussed in relation to free will, but the danger in doing so is that we can\u2019t really appreciate the essence of omniscience by applying our understanding of human knowledge. God cautioned us against that approach with the words \u201cMy thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways (Isaiah 55:8).\u201d\u00a0 Knowledge and omniscience exist on entirely different planes. I am not dismissing the paradigm of omniscience as it relates to free will, but suggesting that we also consider omniscience through the lens of our connection to God.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

God could have created a world in which reward and punishment were programmed into nature, in which the consequences of our actions were automatic. But, says Rabbi Mordechai Blumenfeld (aish.com), \u201c<\/span>In a programmed world, where consequences are automatic, the individual has only himself to consider.\u201d The outcome \u2013 the end \u2013 becomes the raison <\/span>d'\u00eatre <\/span>of our actions. It\u2019s the outcome that drives our behaviour. That is not to say that reward and punishment don\u2019t play a role in our belief system. In fact, immediately after Maimonides\u2019 principle of belief in God\u2019s omniscience is the principle of belief in rewards and punishment \u2013 but only as Godly dispensations without knowing precisely what they are and how they are applied. And perhaps that is because reward and punishment are dependent on person, time, place and situation, and not programmable.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

If we know that God knows what we will do and what the result will be, then rather than viewing that in the context of free will, we can understand it as an invitation to not only relate to God but look deeper into our own psyches when evaluating our actions. If there are no immediate consequences, or even consequences we will know in our lifetimes, then we need to weigh our conduct against a much bigger picture. How does this further our purpose in the world and bring us closer to God?<\/span><\/p>\r\n

David closes this Psalm as he opens it \u2013 with a plea that God continue to \u201csearch me out, know my heart, test me and know my thoughts.\u201d<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":64689,"alt":"","title":"is1-carrot and stick","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/is1-carrot-and-stick.png","width":518,"height":257,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/is1-carrot-and-stick-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/is1-carrot-and-stick-300x149.png","medium-width":300,"medium-height":149,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/is1-carrot-and-stick.png","medium_large-width":518,"medium_large-height":257,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/is1-carrot-and-stick.png","large-width":518,"large-height":257,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/is1-carrot-and-stick.png","1536x1536-width":518,"1536x1536-height":257,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/is1-carrot-and-stick.png","2048x2048-width":518,"2048x2048-height":257,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/is1-carrot-and-stick.png","post_full_size-width":518,"post_full_size-height":257,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/is1-carrot-and-stick.png","home_baner-width":518,"home_baner-height":257}},"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\u2019s Omniscience As A Tool For Personal Growth","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"We need to weigh our conduct against a much bigger picture\u00a0","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":64689,"alt":"","title":"is1-carrot and stick","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/is1-carrot-and-stick.png","width":518,"height":257,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/is1-carrot-and-stick-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/is1-carrot-and-stick-300x149.png","medium-width":300,"medium-height":149,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/is1-carrot-and-stick.png","medium_large-width":518,"medium_large-height":257,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/is1-carrot-and-stick.png","large-width":518,"large-height":257,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/is1-carrot-and-stick.png","1536x1536-width":518,"1536x1536-height":257,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/is1-carrot-and-stick.png","2048x2048-width":518,"2048x2048-height":257,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/is1-carrot-and-stick.png","post_full_size-width":518,"post_full_size-height":257,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/is1-carrot-and-stick.png","home_baner-width":518,"home_baner-height":257}},"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":"139","chapter_main_number":"706","date":"20280514","wall_id":"706"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":5,"id":"91131","color":"#f2e9df","size":"1","name":"The Fate Of Scheming Witnesses ","post_title":"The Fate Of Scheming Witnesses","slug":"the-fate-of-scheming-witnesses","old_id":"91131","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":"707","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"May their heads be covered with the mischief of their lips\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

In Psalm 140, the psalmist invokes three themes that have appeared previously throughout this biblical book:<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    \r\n\t
  1. a) Evil-doers plotting against the righteous\u2014v. 2-6;<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t
  2. b) Appealing to God for protection from the designs of sinners\u2014v. 7-9, 13-14;<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t
  3. c)\u00a0 Calling down Divine punishments upon the transgressors\u2014v. 11-12.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n

    However, a verse describing such punishments is obscure and in need of explanation: \u201cMay the heads of those who beset me be covered with the mischief of their lips\u201d (verse 10).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    Rabbi David Kimchi associates v. 10 specifically with Doeg HaEdomi (see I Samuel 22) an avowed opponent of David, and someone looking to win over King Saul by sharing incriminating information about his perceived nemesis.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    But the language at the end of the verse is also reminiscent of a feature of Jewish jurisprudence, i.e., \u201c<\/span>eidim zomemim<\/span><\/em>\u201d (lit. \u201cscheming witnesses\u201d).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    Deuteronomy 19:16-9 states:<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    16 If a man appears against another to testify maliciously and gives false testimony against him, 17 The two parties to the dispute shall appear before the LORD, before the priests or magistrates in authority at the time, 18 And the magistrates shall make a thorough investigation. If the man who testified is a false witness, if he has testified falsely against his fellow, 19 <\/span>You shall do to him as he schemed to do to his fellow\u2026\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n

    While v. 16 and 18 above appear to speak of all \u201cfalse witnesses,\u201d Makot 5b specifically applies this punishment to the instance of the witness not being able to ascertain what happened, because at that time, other witnesses attest that he had been in another place. For this reason, all testimony in Jewish trials must be subject to judicial cross-examination, and are required to include mention of the time and place of the infraction, so that all witnesses be potentially susceptible to being condemned as \u201c<\/span>eidim zomemim<\/span><\/em>.\u201d In effect, when an \u201c<\/span>eid zomeim<\/span><\/em>\u201d finally receives this type of punishment, \u201chis head becomes covered with the mischief of his lips.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    Doeg may have been a false witness, but certainly not a \u201cscheming\u201d one. He was an eye-witness to David\u2019s discussion with the priest Achimelech, although he inaccurately reported what transpired.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    However, the verse in Psalms resonates more broadly with the reader, in my opinion, if it invokes the standard of overall honesty, rather than a single incident in David\u2019s personal history. It may very well be that all false witnesses are deserving of severe punishments since they are undermining confidence in the judicial system; however, Jewish law is also well-aware that false accusations can often be made against testimony that one doesn\u2019t agree with, and that an objective standard must be invoked if in addition to dismissing the testimony as false, punishments are to be given to the witness by a this-worldly court. There are also instances where a sinner may be exempt from the laws of man, but nevertheless will be considered guilty in the eyes of Heaven (see Bava Kamma 98a).<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":91134,"alt":"","title":"ps140-witness trial","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/ps140-witness-trial.jpg","width":1920,"height":1329,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/ps140-witness-trial-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/ps140-witness-trial-300x208.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":208,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/ps140-witness-trial-768x532.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":532,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/ps140-witness-trial-1024x709.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":709,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/ps140-witness-trial.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1063,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/ps140-witness-trial.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":1329,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/ps140-witness-trial-1200x831.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":831,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/ps140-witness-trial-607x420.jpg","home_baner-width":607,"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 Fate Of Scheming Witnesses","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"May their heads be covered with the mischief of their lips","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":91134,"alt":"","title":"ps140-witness trial","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/ps140-witness-trial.jpg","width":1920,"height":1329,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/ps140-witness-trial-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/ps140-witness-trial-300x208.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":208,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/ps140-witness-trial-768x532.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":532,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/ps140-witness-trial-1024x709.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":709,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/ps140-witness-trial.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1063,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/ps140-witness-trial.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":1329,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/ps140-witness-trial-1200x831.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":831,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/ps140-witness-trial-607x420.jpg","home_baner-width":607,"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":"140","chapter_main_number":"707","date":"20280515","wall_id":"707"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":6,"id":"91260","color":"#f6edf6","size":"1","name":"What To Do With A Muddled Original ","post_title":"What To Do With A Muddled Original","slug":"what-to-do-with-a-muddled-original","old_id":"91260","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":"708","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Four translations to choose from\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

    In the previous chapter<\/span><\/a>, we displayed Moshe Greenberg\u2019s ingenuity in parsing a particularly idiosyncratic psalm.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    Here, in this psalm of supplication, we will demonstrate how Robert Alter worked to make sense of one of which he observed: \u201cIt is at this point [v.5] that the coherence of the Hebrew text breaks down\u201d (322). Let us compare some of the translations that have been offered.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
    \u00a0<\/td>\r\n\r\n

    Old JPS<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

    		\r\n

    New JPS<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

    		\r\n

    Robert Alter<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

    		\r\n

    Targum<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n

    \r\n

    A<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

    		\r\n

    Let the righteous smite me in kindness,<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

    		\r\n

    Let the righteous man strike me in loyalty,<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

    		\r\n

    Let the righteous man strike me,<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

    		\r\n

    The righteous man will strike me because of kindness,<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n

    \r\n

    B<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

    		\r\n

    and correct me;<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

    		\r\n

    let him reprove me;<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

    		\r\n

    the faithful rebuke me,<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

    		\r\n

    and rebuke me;<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n

    \r\n

    C<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

    		\r\n

    oil so choice let not my head refuse;<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

    		\r\n

    let my head not refuse such choice oil.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

    		\r\n

    let no wicked man\u2019s oil adorn my head<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

    		\r\n

    the oil of holy anointing will not cease from my head,<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n

    \r\n

    D<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

    		\r\n

    for still is my prayer because of their wickedness.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

    		\r\n

    My prayers are still against their evil deeds.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

    		\r\n

    for still my prayer is against their evils.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

    		\r\n

    for still my prayer is marshaled against their evil.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n

    There is reasonably comparable treatment of all segments by all the translators, save for Alter, who separated \u201cthe faithful\u201d from A (reading <\/span>chasid<\/span><\/i> instead of the Masoretic <\/span>chesed<\/span><\/i>) and attached it to B, and whose translation of segment C is completely different from the others, particularly in his introduction of the \u201cwicked man\u201d and the interpolation of the verb \u201cadorn,\u201d which occupy no place in any other version. Here is Alter\u2019s explanation:<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    This whole clause is problematic in the Hebrew, which seems to say \u201cLet not oil of the head (<\/span>shemen ro\u2019sh<\/span><\/i>) negate [?] (<\/span>al yani<\/span><\/i>) my head (<\/span>ro\u2019shi<\/span><\/i>).\u201d The translation assumes that the first <\/span>ro\u2019sh<\/span><\/i> (\u201chead\u201d) has been inadvertently duplicated from the second, and originally read <\/span>rasha<\/span><\/i>`, \u201cwicked man.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    The verb <\/span>yani<\/span><\/i> here is anomalous, lacking the <\/span>aleph<\/span><\/i> at the end that would make it mean \u201cnegate\u201d and not corresponding to any recognizable Hebrew verb formation. The translation guesses it may derive from the root <\/span>n-w-h<\/span><\/i> (\u201cto be beautiful,\u201d yielding <\/span>noy<\/span><\/i>, \u201cbeauty\u201d in postbiblical Hebrew). Oil on the head was regarded as a pleasure and an enhancement.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    Whatever the obscurity, the line means to contrast the preferability of being rebuked by the righteous to the pleasures of the wicked. <\/span>
    \r\n
    \r\n<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    Image: Merle Temkin: Mirror-Fence (detail), Artpark in Lewiston, New York, 1981 \/ wikimedia<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":91264,"alt":"","title":"ps141-Merle_Temkin_Detail_of_Mirror-Fence","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/ps141-Merle_Temkin_Detail_of_Mirror-Fence.jpg","width":800,"height":487,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/ps141-Merle_Temkin_Detail_of_Mirror-Fence-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/ps141-Merle_Temkin_Detail_of_Mirror-Fence-300x183.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":183,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/ps141-Merle_Temkin_Detail_of_Mirror-Fence-768x468.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":468,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/ps141-Merle_Temkin_Detail_of_Mirror-Fence.jpg","large-width":800,"large-height":487,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/ps141-Merle_Temkin_Detail_of_Mirror-Fence.jpg","1536x1536-width":800,"1536x1536-height":487,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/ps141-Merle_Temkin_Detail_of_Mirror-Fence.jpg","2048x2048-width":800,"2048x2048-height":487,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/ps141-Merle_Temkin_Detail_of_Mirror-Fence.jpg","post_full_size-width":800,"post_full_size-height":487,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/ps141-Merle_Temkin_Detail_of_Mirror-Fence-690x420.jpg","home_baner-width":690,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"What To Do With A Muddled Original","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Four translations to choose from","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":91264,"alt":"","title":"ps141-Merle_Temkin_Detail_of_Mirror-Fence","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/ps141-Merle_Temkin_Detail_of_Mirror-Fence.jpg","width":800,"height":487,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/ps141-Merle_Temkin_Detail_of_Mirror-Fence-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/ps141-Merle_Temkin_Detail_of_Mirror-Fence-300x183.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":183,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/ps141-Merle_Temkin_Detail_of_Mirror-Fence-768x468.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":468,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/ps141-Merle_Temkin_Detail_of_Mirror-Fence.jpg","large-width":800,"large-height":487,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/ps141-Merle_Temkin_Detail_of_Mirror-Fence.jpg","1536x1536-width":800,"1536x1536-height":487,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/ps141-Merle_Temkin_Detail_of_Mirror-Fence.jpg","2048x2048-width":800,"2048x2048-height":487,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/ps141-Merle_Temkin_Detail_of_Mirror-Fence.jpg","post_full_size-width":800,"post_full_size-height":487,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/ps141-Merle_Temkin_Detail_of_Mirror-Fence-690x420.jpg","home_baner-width":690,"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":"141","chapter_main_number":"708","date":"20280516","wall_id":"708"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":7,"id":"91258","color":"#e0e9ef","size":"1","name":"Prayer As Offering\u00a0 ","post_title":"Prayer As Offering\u00a0","slug":"prayer-as-offering","old_id":"91258","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":"708","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"David prefigures the end of sacrifices\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

    Tefilah, prayer, is a common theme in Psalms. While the Tabernacle was available to King David and the Temple would be built soon after his death, King David laid the groundwork for direct supplication to God. Nowadays, the prayer services have replaced the Temple services both with direct replacement as in the <\/span>musaf<\/em> <\/span>service and in additional services such as the morning prayers.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    King David, though, did not invent the idea of praying. Abraham, Isaac and Jacob all prayed and were the inspiration for the three services during the day. Moses, Miriam and Devorah all sang songs of praise to God. Moses also prayed for his sister and on behalf of the Jewish people.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    What is unique in this chapter is that King David is making a direct connection between the Tabernacle\/Temple service. \"Take my prayer as an offering of incense, my upraised hands as an evening sacrifice\" (verse 2). In a way, King David is foreshadowing what will happen after the sacrificial order ends.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":60237,"alt":"","title":"2sam10-prayer","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/2sam10-prayer.png","width":1280,"height":739,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/2sam10-prayer-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/2sam10-prayer-300x173.png","medium-width":300,"medium-height":173,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/2sam10-prayer-768x443.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":443,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/2sam10-prayer-1024x591.png","large-width":1024,"large-height":591,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/2sam10-prayer.png","1536x1536-width":1280,"1536x1536-height":739,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/2sam10-prayer.png","2048x2048-width":1280,"2048x2048-height":739,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/2sam10-prayer-1200x693.png","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":693,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/2sam10-prayer-727x420.png","home_baner-width":727,"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":"Prayer As Offering\u00a0","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"David prefigures the end of sacrifices","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":60237,"alt":"","title":"2sam10-prayer","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/2sam10-prayer.png","width":1280,"height":739,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/2sam10-prayer-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/2sam10-prayer-300x173.png","medium-width":300,"medium-height":173,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/2sam10-prayer-768x443.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":443,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/2sam10-prayer-1024x591.png","large-width":1024,"large-height":591,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/2sam10-prayer.png","1536x1536-width":1280,"1536x1536-height":739,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/2sam10-prayer.png","2048x2048-width":1280,"2048x2048-height":739,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/2sam10-prayer-1200x693.png","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":693,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/2sam10-prayer-727x420.png","home_baner-width":727,"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":"141","chapter_main_number":"708","date":"20280516","wall_id":"708"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":8,"id":"91287","color":"#faeed8","size":"1","name":"Free To Flee ","post_title":"Free To Flee","slug":"free-to-flee","old_id":"91287","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":80741,"post_title":"Joy Ladin","slug":"joy-ladin","old_id":"80741","first_name":"Joy ","last_name":"Ladin ","description":"Joy Ladin holds the Gottesman Chair in English at Yeshiva University, and, in 2007, became the first (and still only) openly transgender employee of an Orthodox Jewish institution. Her memoir, Through the Door of Life: A Jewish Journey Between Genders, was a finalist for a National Jewish Book Award, and her recent book, The Soul of the Stranger: Reading God and Torah from a Transgender Perspective, is a finalist for a Lambda Literary Award and a Triangle Award. She has also published numerous books of poetry. ","short_description":"Joy Ladin holds the Gottesman Chair in English at Yeshiva University, and, in 2007, became the first (and still only) openly transgender employee of an Orthodox Jewish institution. ","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":80742,"alt":"","title":"joy ladin - pic","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/joy-ladin-pic.jpg","width":200,"height":202,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/joy-ladin-pic-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/joy-ladin-pic.jpg","medium-width":200,"medium-height":202,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/joy-ladin-pic.jpg","medium_large-width":200,"medium_large-height":202,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/joy-ladin-pic.jpg","large-width":200,"large-height":202,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/joy-ladin-pic.jpg","1536x1536-width":200,"1536x1536-height":202,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/joy-ladin-pic.jpg","2048x2048-width":200,"2048x2048-height":202,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/joy-ladin-pic.jpg","post_full_size-width":200,"post_full_size-height":202,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/joy-ladin-pic.jpg","home_baner-width":200,"home_baner-height":202}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"709","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"the origin of tragedy \/ In the human need \/ To act out what we suffer\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

    You don\u2019t get why I beg you
    \r\nTo tie my hands to the bed
    \r\nAnd stuff my mouth<\/p>\r\n

    With something warm and white
    \r\nRipped from the fabric of life
    \r\nBy fingers you tighten around my neck.<\/p>\r\n

    You think it has something to do with guilt and pleasure,<\/p>\r\n

    Or the origin of tragedy
    \r\nIn the human need<\/p>\r\n

    To act out what we suffer,
    \r\nOr maybe the simple bitchiness
    \r\nOf forcing you to savor<\/p>\r\n

    A capacity for pain
    \r\nAlmost as bottomless as your desire
    \r\nTo hear my cries<\/p>\r\n

    As pleasure. Omniscience
    \r\nOblivious
    \r\nTo the obvious: as long as I<\/p>\r\n

    Am free to flee, I can\u2019t fulfill your fantasy
    \r\nOf making love
    \r\nOut of mortal terror<\/p>\r\n

    In this psalm, the author discusses the freedom to flee: \u201cas long as I am free to flee...\u201d. In contrast, in Psalm 142 the author writes about their lack of freedom and their inability to flee: \u201cLook at my right and see--I have no friend; there is nowhere I can flee, no one cares about me.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\r\n

    from: Joy Ladin,\u00a0Psalms<\/em>, Wipf and Stock, 2010<\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":80744,"alt":"","title":"joy ladin - psalms","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/joy-ladin-psalms.jpg","width":395,"height":343,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/joy-ladin-psalms-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/joy-ladin-psalms-300x261.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":261,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/joy-ladin-psalms.jpg","medium_large-width":395,"medium_large-height":343,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/joy-ladin-psalms.jpg","large-width":395,"large-height":343,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/joy-ladin-psalms.jpg","1536x1536-width":395,"1536x1536-height":343,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/joy-ladin-psalms.jpg","2048x2048-width":395,"2048x2048-height":343,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/joy-ladin-psalms.jpg","post_full_size-width":395,"post_full_size-height":343,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/joy-ladin-psalms.jpg","home_baner-width":395,"home_baner-height":343}},"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":"Free To Flee","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"the origin of tragedy \/ In the human need \/ To act out what we suffer","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":80744,"alt":"","title":"joy ladin - psalms","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/joy-ladin-psalms.jpg","width":395,"height":343,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/joy-ladin-psalms-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/joy-ladin-psalms-300x261.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":261,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/joy-ladin-psalms.jpg","medium_large-width":395,"medium_large-height":343,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/joy-ladin-psalms.jpg","large-width":395,"large-height":343,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/joy-ladin-psalms.jpg","1536x1536-width":395,"1536x1536-height":343,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/joy-ladin-psalms.jpg","2048x2048-width":395,"2048x2048-height":343,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/joy-ladin-psalms.jpg","post_full_size-width":395,"post_full_size-height":343,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/joy-ladin-psalms.jpg","home_baner-width":395,"home_baner-height":343}},"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":"142","chapter_main_number":"709","date":"20280517","wall_id":"709"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":9,"id":"91321","color":"#e6f5f3","size":"1","name":"Psalmsongs 143 ","post_title":"Psalmsongs 143","slug":"psalmsongs-143","old_id":"91321","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":"710","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"","post_main_content_content":"

    Hear me
    \r\nListen
    \r\nAnswer me
    \r\nwith mercy
    \r\nas no human
    \r\ncan be guiltless
    \r\nin Your court
    \r\nan enemy attacked me
    \r\nground me down
    \r\nto almost dead
    \r\nmy heart in shock
    \r\nremembered days
    \r\nwhen my thoughts
    \r\nwere of You
    \r\nand my speech
    \r\nwas of miracles
    \r\nwrought by Your hands
    \r\nand my hands
    \r\nreached for You
    \r\nand my soul wanted drink
    \r\nfrom the water of You
    \r\nas a parched earth
    \r\nthirsts
    \r\nmy breath is shallow
    \r\ndon\u2019t turn from me now
    \r\nas my steps close in
    \r\nto the grave
    \r\nlet morning come
    \r\nwith compassion from You
    \r\nsend currents of air
    \r\non which I\u2019ll soar
    \r\nto safely land
    \r\non paths swept clean
    \r\nof torturers and murderers
    \r\ndon\u2019t judge me now
    \r\njust help me find a compass
    \r\nthat will lead me back
    \r\nto You<\/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 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back","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":"143","chapter_main_number":"710","date":"20280518","wall_id":"710"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":10,"id":"91333","color":"#f7e9e9","size":"1","name":"Unfeeling 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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":"710","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"The pain of judgement with no empathy\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

    \u201cPlease don\u2019t judge me,\u201d the psalmist writes, \u201cfor no one can be innocent in front of you\u201d (143:2).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    In 2018, there were more than 1.4 million people arrested for drug possession in the United States. Of those, more than 660,000 were arrested for marijuana related violations. More than 52% of adult Americans have used marijuana at some point in their life, though people of color are disproportionately arrested.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    \u201cMy foe crushed me into the ground, and made me dwell in the darkness, like those long dead\u201d (143:3).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    There were nearly 68,000 deaths from accidental drug overdoses in 2018 (though none from marijuana). How many more are living in pain, in darkness? 80% of people who use heroin first misused prescription opioids. Most initially started their addiction to alleviate \u201clegitimate\u201d medical pain.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    How do you even consider judging someone when they are already knocked down?<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    \u201cI thought about all Your deeds, and recounted the work of Your hands\u201d (143:5).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    Like an algorithm, God has no empathy. Empathy requires someone to understand the situation, to understand the pain. There is nothing more terrifying after having a \u201cfailed spirit\u201d and a \"numbed mind\u201d (143:4) to remember that you are being judged by someone who has never experienced what you are going through.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    \u201cFree me from emotional distress\u201d (143:11).
    \r\n<\/span>\u201cDestroy all the things that cause me emotional distress\u201d (143:12).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    Perhaps the thing that causes the emotional distress is the act of judgement itself.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    Perhaps when the psalmist begs God to free him and destroy the causes of emotional distress, he is referring to the algorithmic, unfeeling laws; the mandatory minimums in sentencing; the treating of issues legalistically instead of from a standpoint of mental health; the removal of laws that exist only to control and not to empower; the culture of \u201claw and order\u201d, as opposed to one of \u201clife, liberty and the pursuit of happiness\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    Image: The word \"empathy\" in binary code \u2013 courtesy of the author.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

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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":"710","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Making excuses at the Final Judgement\u00a0\u00a0\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

    In Jewish tradition,<\/span> our psalm<\/span><\/a> is sung, according to the<\/span> Lithuanian Rite, in the Selichot service on Erev Rosh Hashana<\/span><\/a>. In Christian tradition it is the last of the seven<\/span> Penitential Psalms<\/span><\/a> (Psalms 6, 32, 38, 51, 102, 130, and 143); so called because they all express sorrow for sin. Indeed, Psalm 143 is King David\u2019s personal cry for help from God, despite his and other human beings\u2019 lack of righteousness.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    Midrash Tanhuma Vayikra 6:1<\/span><\/a> cites<\/span> Psalms 143:2<\/span><\/a> \u201c\u2026no living creature is righteous\u201d at the conclusion of the well-known Parable of the Lame and the Blind. At the final judgement, God will resurrect and judge each person. First, He will ask each human soul: Why have you transgressed the commandments? The soul will respond that it was the body that committed all physical transgressions. But, when confronted with the soul\u2019s excuse, the body will assert that it is the soul alone that is responsible for conceiving of and committing sin! So, what will God do?\u00a0 He will resurrect and reunite each human body and soul and judge them as one.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    This may be compared to a human king who had an orchard full of ripened fruits. He reasoned that if he were to post there one guard who can both see and walk, such a guard would be able to eat the fruits by himself. So, the king posted two guards, one lame and one blind, reasoning that neither alone could help himself to the fruits. However, after the king had gone, the lame guard looked and beheld the delectable fruits. He proposed to the blind guard, mount me on your shoulders so that I can guide us to the fruits, which we will both then enjoy. This is just what the two guards did. When the king returned, he was appalled to see that none of his fruits were left. He first asked the blind guard if he had stolen the fruits. The blind guard replied that he could not even see them. The king then asked the lame guard if he had stolen the fruits. He replied that he would have been unable to go to the fruits, much less reach up to pick and eat them.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    But the wise king realized how together the lame and the blind guards had eaten the ripe fruits. He mounted the lame guard again on the shoulders of the blind guard and judged them as one. Similarly, at the final judgement, God will resurrect and reunite each person\u2019s body and soul.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    And so, when King David foresaw how God would judge the body and the soul together, he begged mercy, saying: Master of the world, when you judge Your creatures, do not judge me as you judge them. This is indicated by the verse: \u201cDo not enter into judgment with Your servant, for before You no living creature is righteous\u201d (<\/span>Psalms 143:2<\/span><\/a>).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    \u00a0Image: The Blind and the Lame, from Johann Theodor de Bry's Emblemata saecularia (1596) \/ wikimedia<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":71322,"alt":"","title":"jer31-blind-lame","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/jer31-blind-lame.jpg","width":458,"height":599,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/jer31-blind-lame-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/jer31-blind-lame-229x300.jpg","medium-width":229,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/jer31-blind-lame.jpg","medium_large-width":458,"medium_large-height":599,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/jer31-blind-lame.jpg","large-width":458,"large-height":599,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/jer31-blind-lame.jpg","1536x1536-width":458,"1536x1536-height":599,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/jer31-blind-lame.jpg","2048x2048-width":458,"2048x2048-height":599,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/jer31-blind-lame.jpg","post_full_size-width":458,"post_full_size-height":599,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/jer31-blind-lame-321x420.jpg","home_baner-width":321,"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":"Before You No Living Creature Is Righteous","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Making excuses at the Final Judgement\u00a0\u00a0","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":71322,"alt":"","title":"jer31-blind-lame","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/jer31-blind-lame.jpg","width":458,"height":599,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/jer31-blind-lame-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/jer31-blind-lame-229x300.jpg","medium-width":229,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/jer31-blind-lame.jpg","medium_large-width":458,"medium_large-height":599,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/jer31-blind-lame.jpg","large-width":458,"large-height":599,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/jer31-blind-lame.jpg","1536x1536-width":458,"1536x1536-height":599,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/jer31-blind-lame.jpg","2048x2048-width":458,"2048x2048-height":599,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/jer31-blind-lame.jpg","post_full_size-width":458,"post_full_size-height":599,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/jer31-blind-lame-321x420.jpg","home_baner-width":321,"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":"143","chapter_main_number":"710","date":"20280518","wall_id":"710"},"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\/91188"}],"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=91188"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}