{"id":97683,"date":"2018-07-09T18:01:53","date_gmt":"2018-07-09T15:01:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wall\/wall-2035\/"},"modified":"2021-10-03T00:27:27","modified_gmt":"2021-10-02T21:27:27","slug":"wall-2035","status":"publish","type":"wall","link":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wall\/wall-2035\/","title":{"rendered":"book-Writings-Daniel"},"parent":0,"template":"","acf":{"type":"book","wall_id":"2035","book":"Daniel","books_group":"Writings","date":"","hide_acf":true,"home_image":false,"home_posts":false,"home_posts_title":"","posts_home":[],"static_cube_title":"","static_cube_brief":"","static_cube_color":"","updates_last_update":"28\/06\/2020","date_from":"20211003","date_to":"","posts":[{"order":1,"id":"97949","color":"#f8ebe3","size":"2","name":"Daniel and the Writing on the Wall ","post_title":"Daniel and the Writing on the Wall","slug":"daniel-and-the-writing-on-the-wall","old_id":"97949","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":"2035","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"with Erica Brown","post_main_content_content":"","post_main_content_image":"","post_main_content_embedded_video":"https:\/\/youtu.be\/rk7OkrctSwY","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"Reflections on Daniel","tile_main_caption":"Daniel and the Writing on the Wall","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"with Erica Brown","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":"","tile_preview_video":"https:\/\/youtu.be\/rk7OkrctSwY","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"tile_link_for_pay":"0","chapter_info":{"books_group":"Writings","book":"Daniel","chapter":false,"chapter_main_number":false,"date":false,"wall_id":"2035"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":[{"term_id":"332","name":"24 in 24","old_id":"732"}]},{"order":2,"id":"97627","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"What Did Daniel Eat? ","post_title":"What Did Daniel Eat?","slug":"what-did-daniel-eat","old_id":"97627","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":"830","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"His vegan secrets to good health\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

Daniel is not the first biblical character we have encountered in the Babylonian Exile. Mordechai was introduced to us as someone who \u201chad been exiled from Jerusalem in the group that was carried into exile along with King Jeconiah of Judah, which had been driven into exile by King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon\u201d (Esther 2:6)<\/span>. <\/span>Ezekiel, too, prophesied in Babylonia as reported in the opening verse of his book: \u201cwhen I was in the community of exiles by the Chebar Canal\u201d (1:1).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Daniel, like Mordechai and unlike Ezekiel, served as a courtier to the rulers of Mesopotamia; first to Nebuchadnezzar, then to his son Belshazzar, and, finally, to their conqueror, Cyrus the Persian (1:21). Indeed, in one of our essays on the Book of Esther (Chapter 4), we noted the talmudic identification of Daniel with Esther\u2019s chamberlain, Hathach, who was \u201cone of the king\u2019s eunuchs who had been assigned to her\u201d (4:5).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Our opening chapter tells of how Daniel, along with three of his Judean friends, came to that royal service. One specific detail of that account relates how Daniel and his friends were resolved not to eat non-kosher food (called \u201croyal delicacies,\u201d <\/span>patbag<\/span> hamelekh<\/span><\/em>), making do with <\/span>zero`im<\/span><\/em>, and spurned the banquet-grade wines (<\/span>yeyn mishtav<\/span><\/em>), settling for water (8).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Just what are <\/span>zeiro`im<\/span><\/em>? Old JPS translated it as \u201cpulse,\u201d and New JPS as \u201clegumes.\u201d Old King James had \u201cpulse,\u201d too, but the New King James, along with the New American Standard Bible, have \u201cvegetables.\u201d Ibn Ezra, however, was of a very different opinion.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

They ate rice\u2014called <\/span>aruz<\/span><\/em> in Arabic\u2014which is quite substantial and preferable to wheat because it purifies the blood. It is a staple in India\u2014where there is no wheat\u2014and is used in many dishes. This rice is enlarged when cooked in milk and it is well-known that even a small amount of it makes one satiate.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

An indication of the ongoing importance of rice can be inferred from the opinion of R. Yochanan ben Nuri who, against the consensus of the Sages, considered it to be one of the \u201cfive [principal] types of grain\u201d over whose products one would be required to recite the blessing of <\/span>hamotzi lechem min ha\u2019aretz<\/span><\/em> (Pesachim 35a).<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":97628,"alt":"","title":"dan1-grains beans rice","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan1-grains-beans-rice.jpg","width":1920,"height":1280,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan1-grains-beans-rice-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan1-grains-beans-rice-300x200.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":200,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan1-grains-beans-rice-768x512.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":512,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan1-grains-beans-rice-1024x683.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":683,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan1-grains-beans-rice.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1024,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan1-grains-beans-rice.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":1280,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan1-grains-beans-rice-1200x800.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":800,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan1-grains-beans-rice-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":"","tile_main_caption":"What Did Daniel Eat?","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"His vegan secrets to good health","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":97628,"alt":"","title":"dan1-grains beans rice","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan1-grains-beans-rice.jpg","width":1920,"height":1280,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan1-grains-beans-rice-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan1-grains-beans-rice-300x200.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":200,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan1-grains-beans-rice-768x512.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":512,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan1-grains-beans-rice-1024x683.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":683,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan1-grains-beans-rice.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1024,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan1-grains-beans-rice.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":1280,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan1-grains-beans-rice-1200x800.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":800,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan1-grains-beans-rice-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":"Daniel","chapter":"1","chapter_main_number":"830","date":"20281102","wall_id":"830"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":3,"id":"97630","color":"#f6f5de","size":"1","name":"A Diaspora Jewish Leader In The Making ","post_title":"A Diaspora Jewish Leader In The Making","slug":"a-diaspora-jewish-leader-in-the-making","old_id":"97630","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":97632,"post_title":"Daniel Taub","slug":"daniel-taub","old_id":"97632","first_name":"Daniel ","last_name":"Taub","description":"Daniel Taub is an international lawyer and a writer, and is the Director of Strategy and Planning of the Yad Hanadiv Foundation. 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","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":97633,"alt":"","title":"Daniel_Taub","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Daniel_Taub.png","width":192,"height":262,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Daniel_Taub-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Daniel_Taub.png","medium-width":192,"medium-height":262,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Daniel_Taub.png","medium_large-width":192,"medium_large-height":262,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Daniel_Taub.png","large-width":192,"large-height":262,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Daniel_Taub.png","1536x1536-width":192,"1536x1536-height":262,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Daniel_Taub.png","2048x2048-width":192,"2048x2048-height":262,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Daniel_Taub.png","post_full_size-width":192,"post_full_size-height":262,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Daniel_Taub.png","home_baner-width":192,"home_baner-height":262}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"830","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Despite the impressive rise to power, the story hints at an underlying vulnerability\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

One of my earliest public statements of Jewish identity took place every day at school lunch. As my non-Jewish classmates would tuck into their beef and gravy, pudding and custard, I would reach into my bag and take out my home-made sandwiches.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

This chapter takes me back to that moment. Following the fall of Jerusalem,\u00a0 Nebuchadnezzar orders that the most talented Israelite youth be brought to Babylon and\u00a0 trained to become his civil servants. The rigorous three-year training program is designed with precision, down to the exact diet for the trainees.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Daniel and his Jewish friends stand firm. They will not eat the non-kosher food and wine that the regimen prescribes. The officer in charge is sympathetic but scared. If you look weak and pale it will be my head that's on the line, he tells Daniel. Daniel proposes a ten-day trial in which he and his friends eat only beans and water. After the trial, in an extraordinary vindication of veganism, \"they looked better and healthier\"\u00a0 than all the others. The officer is amazed and takes Daniel under his wing.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The insider-outsider dissonance of a young immigrant striving for success while holding onto his traditions echoes other biblical narratives, most clearly those of Joseph and Esther. These accounts, sometimes called \"the diaspora novels\", share many linguistic and structural similarities, as well as a fantastical Aladdin-like atmosphere complete with lavish feasts and mysterious dreams.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The opening chapter of the book of Daniel highlights another similarity, one that offers an insight into the nature of Jewish leadership in the diaspora. In each case, a young Jewish immigrant, separated from or without parents, is nurtured by an official in the host society. Strikingly, in each case, the word used to describe the adopting official is <\/span>'saris'<\/span><\/i>, literally 'a eunuch', someone unable to have children themselves. A critical common element of the stories then is that a childless non-Jewish official adopts a Jewish immigrant child without parents, in a kind of cross-cultural umbilical cord that helps them integrate into and rise in the host society.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Perhaps even as a youngster eating kosher lunches in a wood-paneled English school dining room, I intuited the nuanced double message that these stories convey. On the one hand, the inclusion of these narratives in our canon suggests validation. In the countries of our dispersal, talented Jews <\/span>can<\/span><\/i> and <\/span>should<\/span><\/i> rise to power. Indeed, by doing so they may play a vital role in the survival of the Jewish people.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

But the stories also hint at an underlying vulnerability. The rise to power is dependent on an extraordinary series of coincidences, including finding a rare sympathetic mentor. Later, Daniel will learn, as did Joseph and Esther, that even support from the King himself is no guarantee of security; he may be replaced or influenced by unscrupulous advisors. So, alongside the message of validation, we have another, more Zionist, subtext, reminding us of the importance of living in our own land, and being masters of our own destiny.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Image: Daniel, fresco painted by Michelangelo and his assistants for the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican, c. 1510 \/ wikipedia<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":97631,"alt":"","title":"dan1-daniel michealangelo","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan1-daniel-michealangelo.jpg","width":800,"height":1144,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan1-daniel-michealangelo-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan1-daniel-michealangelo-210x300.jpg","medium-width":210,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan1-daniel-michealangelo-716x1024.jpg","medium_large-width":716,"medium_large-height":1024,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan1-daniel-michealangelo-716x1024.jpg","large-width":716,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan1-daniel-michealangelo.jpg","1536x1536-width":800,"1536x1536-height":1144,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan1-daniel-michealangelo.jpg","2048x2048-width":800,"2048x2048-height":1144,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan1-daniel-michealangelo.jpg","post_full_size-width":800,"post_full_size-height":1144,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan1-daniel-michealangelo-294x420.jpg","home_baner-width":294,"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 Diaspora Jewish Leader In The Making","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Despite the impressive rise to power, the story hints at an underlying vulnerability","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":97631,"alt":"","title":"dan1-daniel michealangelo","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan1-daniel-michealangelo.jpg","width":800,"height":1144,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan1-daniel-michealangelo-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan1-daniel-michealangelo-210x300.jpg","medium-width":210,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan1-daniel-michealangelo-716x1024.jpg","medium_large-width":716,"medium_large-height":1024,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan1-daniel-michealangelo-716x1024.jpg","large-width":716,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan1-daniel-michealangelo.jpg","1536x1536-width":800,"1536x1536-height":1144,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan1-daniel-michealangelo.jpg","2048x2048-width":800,"2048x2048-height":1144,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan1-daniel-michealangelo.jpg","post_full_size-width":800,"post_full_size-height":1144,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan1-daniel-michealangelo-294x420.jpg","home_baner-width":294,"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":"Daniel","chapter":"1","chapter_main_number":"830","date":"20281102","wall_id":"830"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":4,"id":"97637","color":"#efefef","size":"1","name":"Daniel, Esther, and Joseph\u00a0\u00a0 ","post_title":"Daniel, Esther, and Joseph\u00a0\u00a0","slug":"daniel-esther-and-joseph","old_id":"97637","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":"830","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"The sagas of Biblical Jews in the courts of foreign kings\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

The Book of Daniel details the career of Daniel, a Jewish refugee from the initial exclusion before the destruction of the Temple. His royal career spanned multiple kings and even multiple empires. He was the Tanach version of\u00a0 Charles-Maurice de Talleyrand, the French diplomat that served during the regime of Louis XVI, the years of the French Revolution, Napoleon, Louis XVIII, and Louis-Philippe. Daniel\u2019s strength, though, came from his ability to interpret dreams and be protected from various calamities by God.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The Book of Daniel has many overlapping details and themes with both the Book of Esther and the Joseph story from Genesis. These three stories concern Jews in exile attaining status in a foreign land. The book is also the first in Tanach to be almost entirely written in a foreign language.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The first chapter provides the background for Daniel\u2019s ascension. Nebuchadnezzar, the Babylonian king that destroys the Temple, brings some noble Judeans to his palace. This story has hints of the Esther contest where the young maidens are groomed to serve the king (Daniel 1:3-5). Like Esther and Joseph, Daniel is given a new name (Daniel 1:6, Esther 2:7, Genesis 41:45).\u00a0 Like them, Daniel also finds favor in the foreign agent tasked with looking over him (Daniel 1:9, Esther 2:8-9, Genesis\u00a0 39:21). Like Joseph, Daniel is good at interpreting dreams. (Daniel 1:17, Genesis 40:8). The connections between these three stories will pop up throughout the book.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":97638,"alt":"","title":"dan1-ancient king","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan1-ancient-king.png","width":1080,"height":675,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan1-ancient-king-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan1-ancient-king-300x188.png","medium-width":300,"medium-height":188,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan1-ancient-king-768x480.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":480,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan1-ancient-king-1024x640.png","large-width":1024,"large-height":640,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan1-ancient-king.png","1536x1536-width":1080,"1536x1536-height":675,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan1-ancient-king.png","2048x2048-width":1080,"2048x2048-height":675,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan1-ancient-king.png","post_full_size-width":1080,"post_full_size-height":675,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan1-ancient-king-672x420.png","home_baner-width":672,"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":"Daniel, Esther, and Joseph\u00a0\u00a0","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"The sagas of Biblical Jews in the courts of foreign kings","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":97638,"alt":"","title":"dan1-ancient king","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan1-ancient-king.png","width":1080,"height":675,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan1-ancient-king-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan1-ancient-king-300x188.png","medium-width":300,"medium-height":188,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan1-ancient-king-768x480.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":480,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan1-ancient-king-1024x640.png","large-width":1024,"large-height":640,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan1-ancient-king.png","1536x1536-width":1080,"1536x1536-height":675,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan1-ancient-king.png","2048x2048-width":1080,"2048x2048-height":675,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan1-ancient-king.png","post_full_size-width":1080,"post_full_size-height":675,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan1-ancient-king-672x420.png","home_baner-width":672,"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":"Daniel","chapter":"1","chapter_main_number":"830","date":"20281102","wall_id":"830"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":5,"id":"97658","color":"#f2e9df","size":"1","name":"Daniel\u2019s Prophecies In History ","post_title":"Daniel\u2019s Prophecies In History","slug":"daniels-prophecies-in-history","old_id":"97658","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":92960,"post_title":"Calev Ben-Dor","slug":"calev-ben-dor","old_id":"92960","first_name":"Calev ","last_name":"Ben-Dor ","description":"Having grown up in London, Calev Ben-Dor now lives in Jerusalem with his family. 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The<\/span> Book of Daniel, especially the interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar\u2019s dream of the four beasts \u2013 which was considered to represent four kingdoms \u2013 led scholars to predict a messianic future and a much-awaited fifth kingdom.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Based on calculations drawn from Daniel, some commentators concluded that the Millennium would commence 1260 years after the fall of the Roman Empire (considered to be the 4<\/span>th<\/span> Kingdom). Scottish mathematician, John Napier (1550-1617), devised the system of logarithms to help in these difficult calculations. Sir Isaac Newton (1643-1727) became an expert on the late Roman Empire.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

As Richard Henry Popkin, an American academic philosopher, writes, \u201cthe middle of the seventeenth century saw an increasingly acute expectation of apocalyptic events among both Christians and Jews and was marked by an outpouring of messianic prophecy all over Europe and the Mediterranean.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Each group shared a common starting point: The dreams in the Book of Daniel<\/span> about the five kingdoms of the world; The statue dreamt by Nebuchadnezzar and the vision of the four beasts in Chapter 7 which foretold a last reign; A stone that would destroy the multi-metal statue; and an individual who would defeat the beasts and the small horn, in Daniel\u2019s dream in Chapter 8.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

In England a group of so-called \u2018fifth monarchists\u2019 were active from the end of the Second Civil War (1649) to the beginning of Stuart Restoration (1661) and created connections with the Puritan and Independent communities of New England. These Fifth Monarchists considered all earthly monarchies (and churches) to be distorted and perverted images, and, consequently, tyrannical institutions to be purged in order to prepare the ground for the rule of the Saints and Jesus.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Amongst the Portuguese too were dreams of a fifth empire. Inspired by Daniel, Father Ant\u00f3nio Vieira (1608-1697), a Portuguese Jesuit Priest working in Brazil <\/span>thought the late <\/span>John IV of Portugal, (who died in 1656), must rise again to fulfil future Portuguese greatness promised in several prophecies.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Unsurprisingly, the Book of Daniel also inspired messianic feelings amongst Jews. In 1655, Rabbi Menasseh ben Israel published Even Yekarah, \u2018The Glorious Stone\u2019 or \u2018On the Statue of Nebuchadnezzar,\u2019 referring to the stone from the dream in Chapter 2.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

In the book (which had illustrations from his close friend Rembrandt), Menashe writes that \u201cbecause the four Monarchies were temporal, from various princes, different nations and diverse lands\u2026it follows that also the fifth shall be of various nations and different lands, and, consequently, of the people of Israel, who possessed Judea, by divine gift\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

He adds that \u201cin the very manner that the Persians destroyed the Babylonians, and conquered their lands; the Greeks, those of the Persians; the Romans, those of the Greeks\u2026thus the messiah and the people of Israel, shall be the lords of the world with temporal, terrestrial and eternal dominion, according to this infallible interpretation of Daniel.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Yet while such messianic fever can be inspiring, it can also be catastrophic. A mere decade after Menashe\u2019s book, the catastrophic movement around Shabbetai Zvi arose.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Image: Menasseh ben Israel 1642 \/ wikipedia<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":97659,"alt":"","title":"dan2-Menasseh_ben_Israel_1642","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan2-Menasseh_ben_Israel_1642.jpg","width":341,"height":500,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan2-Menasseh_ben_Israel_1642-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan2-Menasseh_ben_Israel_1642-205x300.jpg","medium-width":205,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan2-Menasseh_ben_Israel_1642.jpg","medium_large-width":341,"medium_large-height":500,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan2-Menasseh_ben_Israel_1642.jpg","large-width":341,"large-height":500,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan2-Menasseh_ben_Israel_1642.jpg","1536x1536-width":341,"1536x1536-height":500,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan2-Menasseh_ben_Israel_1642.jpg","2048x2048-width":341,"2048x2048-height":500,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan2-Menasseh_ben_Israel_1642.jpg","post_full_size-width":341,"post_full_size-height":500,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan2-Menasseh_ben_Israel_1642-286x420.jpg","home_baner-width":286,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"Daniel\u2019s Prophecies In History","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"From Isaac Newton To Shabbetai Zvi","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":97659,"alt":"","title":"dan2-Menasseh_ben_Israel_1642","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan2-Menasseh_ben_Israel_1642.jpg","width":341,"height":500,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan2-Menasseh_ben_Israel_1642-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan2-Menasseh_ben_Israel_1642-205x300.jpg","medium-width":205,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan2-Menasseh_ben_Israel_1642.jpg","medium_large-width":341,"medium_large-height":500,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan2-Menasseh_ben_Israel_1642.jpg","large-width":341,"large-height":500,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan2-Menasseh_ben_Israel_1642.jpg","1536x1536-width":341,"1536x1536-height":500,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan2-Menasseh_ben_Israel_1642.jpg","2048x2048-width":341,"2048x2048-height":500,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan2-Menasseh_ben_Israel_1642.jpg","post_full_size-width":341,"post_full_size-height":500,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan2-Menasseh_ben_Israel_1642-286x420.jpg","home_baner-width":286,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_link_for_pay":"0","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Writings","book":"Daniel","chapter":"2","chapter_main_number":"831","date":"20281105","wall_id":"831"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":6,"id":"97711","color":"#f6edf6","size":"1","name":"The Roots Of Forced Assimilation Run Deep ","post_title":"The Roots Of Forced Assimilation Run Deep","slug":"the-roots-of-forced-assimilation-run-deep","old_id":"97711","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":"832","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"As do the roots of resistance to those attempts\u00a0\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

The early chapters of the Book of Daniel serve as a template for forced assimilation and its resistance in the diaspora. The Babylonian king, Nebuchadnezzar, took the cream of the crop from Jerusalem and relocated them in his own kingdom. In their early days of exile, the attempt to assimilate the Jewish nation takes several forms. In 1:4 we are told that these newly acquired Israelites were taught to read, write and speak the language of their captors. They were expected to eat the king\u2019s food and were \u201ceducated\u201d (or indoctrinated) for three years after which they were expected to enter the king\u2019s service (1:5). And finally, their Jewish names were changed to Babylonian names (1:7).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The attempt to culturally assimilate the Jewish nation was unsuccessful, at least with respect to Daniel, the leader of the Jewish diaspora in Babylonia. Chapter 1 details Daniel\u2019s resistance to accepting the food of the Babylonians, specifically the food from the king\u2019s own table. Through a clever test, Daniel convinced his captors that allowing him to continue eating his own food was advantageous to the crown, and he was permitted to adhere to his own dietary cultural standards. From Chapter 3, we can presume that the Jews, along with other groups, maintained their language while in Babylonian exile, because of the repetitive use of the phrase \u201cnations of every language\u201d in the text when referring to all the peoples of Babylonia.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

With the attempt to culturally assimilate the Jews proving unsuccessful, Nebuchadnezzar moves on to religious coercion. He builds an enormous statue of himself, orders the heads of the nations under his rule to attend its dedication, and commands all to bow down to the statue. The king\u2019s officers relate that three Jews who refuse to bow down as commanded, and the narrative of the fiery furnace unfolds. Daniel\u2019s three friends held significant national leadership positions. As Malbim points out, discrediting these leaders and making an example of them influences their followers and constitutes an attack on Judaism as a whole.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The Babylonians, like the Egyptians before them and many nations since, demonstrated common tools of forced assimilation: imposing the assimilators\u2019 language, names and culture and publicly engaging in cultural and religious persecution to instill fear in a population. But in this particular case, the attempt was a complete failure and instead of subjugating a nation, only served to highlight the fortitude of the Jewish people and their allegiance to one God.<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":97712,"alt":"","title":"dan3-roots","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan3-roots.png","width":6000,"height":4000,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan3-roots-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan3-roots-300x200.png","medium-width":300,"medium-height":200,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan3-roots-768x512.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":512,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan3-roots-1024x683.png","large-width":1024,"large-height":683,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan3-roots.png","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1024,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan3-roots.png","2048x2048-width":2048,"2048x2048-height":1365,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan3-roots-1200x800.png","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":800,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan3-roots-630x420.png","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":"","tile_main_caption":"The Roots Of Forced Assimilation Run Deep","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"As do the roots of resistance to those attempts\u00a0","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":97712,"alt":"","title":"dan3-roots","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan3-roots.png","width":6000,"height":4000,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan3-roots-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan3-roots-300x200.png","medium-width":300,"medium-height":200,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan3-roots-768x512.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":512,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan3-roots-1024x683.png","large-width":1024,"large-height":683,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan3-roots.png","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1024,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan3-roots.png","2048x2048-width":2048,"2048x2048-height":1365,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan3-roots-1200x800.png","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":800,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan3-roots-630x420.png","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":"Daniel","chapter":"3","chapter_main_number":"832","date":"20281106","wall_id":"832"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":7,"id":"97730","color":"#e0e9ef","size":"1","name":"The Court Jew Does It Again ","post_title":"The Court Jew Does It Again","slug":"the-court-jew-does-it-again","old_id":"97730","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. 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","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":"833","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Helps the king - and his own people\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

In Daniel 4, Nebuchadnezzar\u2019s dream, interpreted by Daniel\/Belteshazzar, calls to mind Pharaoh's dream explained by Joseph (Genesis\u00a0 41:1 ff.) In both instances, a non-Jewish leader first turns to his advisors, but after they fail to offer an appropriate explanation, he calls upon a Jew with a reputation for understanding dreams and visions. The dream interpreter risks his welfare by delivering a less-than-positive interpretation of the royal dream, but rather than \u201ckilling the messenger,\u201d both Pharoah and Nebuchadnezzar become even more beholden to the Jew and his people than they had been previously.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Yet, just as the overall similarities between the two biblical events call for acknowledgement, so do some of the stark differences between them:<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    \r\n\t
  1. Pharaoh's dream concerned Egypt and the Egyptian people, who were soon to experience significant food shortages.
    \r\n<\/span>Nebuchadnezzar\u2019s vision focused upon the difficult future of the king himself, his suffering temporary insanity, and his eventual restoration to his throne.
    \r\n
    \r\n<\/li>\r\n\t
  2. Whereas Joseph recommended that food be stored during the years of plenty for distribution during the years of famine, Daniel, after informing Nebuchadnezzar that the dream focused upon a difficult future time in his life, told the king that he should do good deeds and give charity to the poor.
    \r\n
    \r\n<\/li>\r\n\t
  3. Joseph explained that the reason why Pharaoh had dreamt two dreams, one following the other was because God was determined to carry out His plan without delay. Nebuchadnezzar, on the other hand, did not experience the fulfillment of his dream for a full twelve months.
    \r\n
    \r\n<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t
  4. While Pharaoh leads a campaign to have Joseph appointed second-in-command in Egypt so that he can orchestrate the country\u2019s response to the famine, Nebuchadnezzar, who is viewed as being responsible for the destruction of the First Temple, is described after the experience, as becoming deeply committed to God and His values.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n

    Since he states that his kingdom was eventually restored to him, the story told by the Babylonian king implies that just as Pharaoh before him (Gen. 31:39 ff.,) he, too, followed his advisor\u2019s recommendations: \u201cTherefore, O king, may my advice be acceptable to you: Redeem your sins by beneficence and your iniquities by generosity to the poor; then your serenity may be extended\u201d (verse 24).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    But did he?<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    Rashi interprets this verse as a ploy by Daniel to help his coreligionists in Babylonia, in effect paralleling Joseph\u2019s efforts in Egypt (Gen. 45:7):<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    \u2026And why did Daniel offer Nebuchadnezzar such good advice?<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    He saw impoverished Jews due to their exile begging from door to door. Therefore, he (Daniel) gave the king advice that he should be kind to them: \u201cThose that you drove from their land, are hungry. Provide sustenance for them.\u201d And so he did. He opened his treasury and supported them for all twelve months.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    Just as Esther was extremely helpful when the Jews were threatened by Haman, a court Jew comes through again when his people find themselves in dire straits.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    \u00a0Image: L\u00e4mmle Seeligmann, the court Jew \/ wikipedia<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":97731,"alt":"","title":"dan4-court jew","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan4-court-jew.jpg","width":800,"height":1200,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan4-court-jew-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan4-court-jew-200x300.jpg","medium-width":200,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan4-court-jew-683x1024.jpg","medium_large-width":683,"medium_large-height":1024,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan4-court-jew-683x1024.jpg","large-width":683,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan4-court-jew.jpg","1536x1536-width":800,"1536x1536-height":1200,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan4-court-jew.jpg","2048x2048-width":800,"2048x2048-height":1200,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan4-court-jew-800x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":800,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan4-court-jew-280x420.jpg","home_baner-width":280,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"The Court Jew Does It Again","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Helps the king - and his own people","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":97731,"alt":"","title":"dan4-court jew","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan4-court-jew.jpg","width":800,"height":1200,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan4-court-jew-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan4-court-jew-200x300.jpg","medium-width":200,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan4-court-jew-683x1024.jpg","medium_large-width":683,"medium_large-height":1024,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan4-court-jew-683x1024.jpg","large-width":683,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan4-court-jew.jpg","1536x1536-width":800,"1536x1536-height":1200,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan4-court-jew.jpg","2048x2048-width":800,"2048x2048-height":1200,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan4-court-jew-800x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":800,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan4-court-jew-280x420.jpg","home_baner-width":280,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_link_for_pay":"0","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Writings","book":"Daniel","chapter":"4","chapter_main_number":"833","date":"20281107","wall_id":"833"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":8,"id":"97746","color":"#faeed8","size":"1","name":"Does Belshazzar Really See The Writing On The Wall? ","post_title":"Does Belshazzar Really See The Writing On The Wall?","slug":"does-belshazzar-really-see-the-writing-on-the-wall","old_id":"97746","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":"834","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"A bizarre chapter with a bizarre ending\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

    Chapter five is one of the most famous stories in all of Daniel. We are now past Nebuchadnezzar, moving on to his son Belshazzar. Belshazzar throws a massive party and, after getting drunk, orders that the vessels from the Temple be brought out during the feast. (This is where the sages bring the idea that the first feast of Ahasuerus in the Book of Esther also included vessels from the Temple). A mysterious hand emerges from thin air and writes on the wall of the banquet hall. Belshazzar is terrified and tells his advisors that the person who can interpret these words will be clothed in purple and wear a gold chain, and rule one-third of the kingdom. Again, a reference to the clothing that Mordecai wears in the Book of Esther, and the promise to rule half the kingdom that Esther is given.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    The advisors then remind Belshazzar of Daniel, the wise advisor of Nebuchadnezzar, like the cup bearer reminding Pharaoh of Joseph\u2019s dream interpreting.\u00a0 Daniel refuses the offer and chastises Belshazzar that he did not learn the lessons of his father. Instead, he became haughty and forgot about God. As punishment, he will lose his kingdom to the Persians. Belshazzar clothes Daniel in royal garb. The chapter ends with the note that that very evening Daniel\u2019s prediction came true. Belshazzar is killed and Darius takes over.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    This is a bizarre ending to a bizarre chapter. First, if Daniel refuses the gift of the clothing, why does he end up accepting it? Second, does Belshazzar make this cameo appearance just to die? Moreover, why is Belshazzar given this warning, if he does not have much time to do anything about it?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    It is unclear that Daniel accepts the gift, so much as it is forced upon him. \u201cThen, at Belshazzar\u2019s command, they clothed Daniel in purple, placed a golden chain on his neck, and proclaimed that he should rule as one of three in the kingdom\u201d (verse 26).\u00a0 Belshazzar\u2019s fleeting time on the stage contrasts with Nebuchadnezzar. Unlike his father, it seems as if Belshazzar simply accepts his fate. The words of Daniel are simply the fates telling him the future. There is no attempt to alter it. Daniel knows the gifts of the king are worthless because that night his kingdom will be passed on, and yet, Belshazzar acts as if nothing will happen.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    Perhaps this is also why he dies that very night. The simple act of placing the clothing on Daniel is an act of defiance. A mocking of the message of Daniel. Instead of tearing his clothes and pleading for mercy, Belshazzar dismisses it or at best accepts it. In return God dismisses Belshazzar.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    Image: John Martin, Belshazzar's Feast, c. 1821 \/ wikipedia<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":97747,"alt":"","title":"dan5-John_Martin_-_Belshazzar's_Feast","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan5-John_Martin_-_Belshazzars_Feast.jpg","width":1024,"height":685,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan5-John_Martin_-_Belshazzars_Feast-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan5-John_Martin_-_Belshazzars_Feast-300x201.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":201,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan5-John_Martin_-_Belshazzars_Feast-768x514.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":514,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan5-John_Martin_-_Belshazzars_Feast-1024x685.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":685,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan5-John_Martin_-_Belshazzars_Feast.jpg","1536x1536-width":1024,"1536x1536-height":685,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan5-John_Martin_-_Belshazzars_Feast.jpg","2048x2048-width":1024,"2048x2048-height":685,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan5-John_Martin_-_Belshazzars_Feast.jpg","post_full_size-width":1024,"post_full_size-height":685,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan5-John_Martin_-_Belshazzars_Feast-628x420.jpg","home_baner-width":628,"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":"Does Belshazzar Really See The Writing On The Wall?","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"A bizarre chapter with a bizarre ending","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":97747,"alt":"","title":"dan5-John_Martin_-_Belshazzar's_Feast","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan5-John_Martin_-_Belshazzars_Feast.jpg","width":1024,"height":685,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan5-John_Martin_-_Belshazzars_Feast-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan5-John_Martin_-_Belshazzars_Feast-300x201.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":201,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan5-John_Martin_-_Belshazzars_Feast-768x514.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":514,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan5-John_Martin_-_Belshazzars_Feast-1024x685.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":685,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan5-John_Martin_-_Belshazzars_Feast.jpg","1536x1536-width":1024,"1536x1536-height":685,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan5-John_Martin_-_Belshazzars_Feast.jpg","2048x2048-width":1024,"2048x2048-height":685,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan5-John_Martin_-_Belshazzars_Feast.jpg","post_full_size-width":1024,"post_full_size-height":685,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan5-John_Martin_-_Belshazzars_Feast-628x420.jpg","home_baner-width":628,"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":"Daniel","chapter":"5","chapter_main_number":"834","date":"20281108","wall_id":"834"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":9,"id":"97768","color":"#e6f5f3","size":"1","name":"Daniel In The Lions\u2019 Den ","post_title":"Daniel In The Lions\u2019 Den","slug":"daniel-in-the-lions-den","old_id":"97768","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":33877,"post_title":"Marc Bregman","slug":"marc-bregman","old_id":"33877","first_name":"Marc","last_name":"Bregman","description":"Marc Bregman received his Ph.D. from The Hebrew University in Jerusalem in 1991. He taught at the Hebrew Union College (Jerusalem), The Hebrew University in Jerusalem, the Schechter Institute for Judaic Studies in Jerusalem, and at the Ben-Gurion University in Beer Sheba, Israel. During 1993 he was Visiting Associate Professor at Yale University, and during 1996 he was the Stroum Professor of Jewish Studies and Visiting Research Fellow at the University of Washington in Seattle. During 2005, Bregman served as the Harry Starr Fellow in Judaica at Harvard University and was awarded a Teaching Fellowship at the Center for Advanced Judaic Studies at the University of Pennsylvania. He also has served as Forchheimer Visiting Professor in the Faculty of Humanities at The Hebrew University in Jerusalem. He is the author of The Tanhuma-Yelammedenu Literature: Studies in the Evolution of the Versions (Gorgias Press, 2003). In 2006, Bregman was appointed the Herman and Zelda Bernard Distinguished Professor of Jewish Studies at the University of North Carolina in Greensboro, where he also headed the program in Jewish Studies, until 2013. Bregman retired from UNCG as of July 31, 2017. He has now returned to Jerusalem where he is continuing his research and teaching activities.","credit":"","image_url":"","short_description":"Marc Bregman is the Herman and Zelda Bernard Distinguished Professor of Jewish Studies emeritus, at the University of North Carolina in Greensboro.","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":33878,"alt":"Marc Bregman","title":"Marc Bregman","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman.jpg","width":361,"height":488,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman-222x300.jpg","medium-width":222,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman.jpg","medium_large-width":361,"medium_large-height":488,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman.jpg","large-width":361,"large-height":488,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman.jpg","1536x1536-width":361,"1536x1536-height":488,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman.jpg","2048x2048-width":361,"2048x2048-height":488,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman.jpg","post_full_size-width":361,"post_full_size-height":488,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman-311x420.jpg","home_baner-width":311,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"835","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Some post-Biblical embellishments\u00a0\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

    Our chapter includes what is perhaps the most memorable episode in the Book of Daniel, the dramatic story of how Daniel survived having been thrown into the<\/span> lions' den<\/span><\/a>. As if this were not miraculous enough, post-Biblical sources \u201cadd miracle to miracle\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    The<\/span> Biblical text<\/span><\/a> notes that: \u201cA rock was brought and placed over the mouth of the den; the king sealed it with his signet and with the signet of his nobles, so that nothing might be altered concerning Daniel\u201d.<\/span> Midrash Tehillim<\/span><\/a>, apparently noting that we are not told who placed the rock over the den, comments that this rock arose and moved from the Land of Israel and sat itself on the mouth of the den. Alternatively, it is stated that an angel came in the guise of a stone lion that covered the entrance to the lions\u2019 den, as it says: \u201c\u2026God sent His angel\u201d (<\/span>Daniel 6:23<\/span><\/a>).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    According to the medieval<\/span> Josippon (ed. Flusser 1978, pp. 28-29)<\/span><\/a>, there were ten lions in the den, each of which consumed ten sheep and ten humans a day. But they were intentionally not fed on the day Daniel was thrown down to them so that they would hungrily devour him. Surprisingly, upon seeing Daniel, the lions greeted him warmly, licking him and wagging their tails, happy at his arrival like pet dogs when their master returns home from the fields. All that night until morning, Daniel praised God with songs of thanksgiving while the lions were crouched around him listening to his joyful singing.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    The second century BCE Greek versions of the Hebrew Bible and later translations based on it, include<\/span> three additions to the Book of Daniel<\/span><\/a>. The last of these,<\/span> Bel and the Dragon<\/span><\/a>, ends with a version of the Biblical narrative of Daniel in the Lions\u2019 Den. According to this early post-Biblical text, an angel of the Lord brought the prophet Habakkuk from Judea to feed Daniel, imprisoned with the lions. When he arrived at the mouth of the den Habakkuk shouted: Daniel, Daniel! Take the food that God has sent you. Daniel cried out, You have remembered me, O God, and have not forsaken those who love you\u201d\u2026 On the seventh day, when the king came to mourn for Daniel he looked down into the den. There sat Daniel alive and well! The king exclaimed, \u201cYou are great, O Lord, the God of Daniel, and there is no other besides You!\u201d He pulled Daniel out and then cast into the den those who had conspired to have Daniel killed who now were immediately devoured by the hungry lions.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    The lion\u2019s den and the fiery furnace from which Daniel\u2019s three companions escaped (<\/span>Daniel Chapter 3<\/span><\/a>) could apparently still be visited in rabbinic times.<\/span> Talmud Bavli Berakhot 57b<\/span><\/a> rules that one who sees the lion\u2019s den into which Daniel was thrown or the furnace into which Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah were thrown recites the blessing: Blessed be He who performed miracles for our ancestors in this place.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    Image: Daniel in the Lions' Den, c. 1615 by Pieter Paul Rubens \/ 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In The Lions\u2019 Den","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Some post-Biblical embellishments\u00a0","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":97770,"alt":"","title":"dan6-Rubens_-_Daniel_in_the_Lions'_Den","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan6-Rubens_-_Daniel_in_the_Lions_Den.jpg","width":7633,"height":5165,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan6-Rubens_-_Daniel_in_the_Lions_Den-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan6-Rubens_-_Daniel_in_the_Lions_Den-300x203.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":203,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan6-Rubens_-_Daniel_in_the_Lions_Den-768x520.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":520,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan6-Rubens_-_Daniel_in_the_Lions_Den-1024x693.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":693,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan6-Rubens_-_Daniel_in_the_Lions_Den.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1039,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan6-Rubens_-_Daniel_in_the_Lions_Den.jpg","2048x2048-width":2048,"2048x2048-height":1386,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan6-Rubens_-_Daniel_in_the_Lions_Den-1200x812.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":812,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan6-Rubens_-_Daniel_in_the_Lions_Den-621x420.jpg","home_baner-width":621,"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":"Daniel","chapter":"6","chapter_main_number":"835","date":"20281109","wall_id":"835"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":10,"id":"97799","color":"#f7e9e9","size":"1","name":"The Secrets Of Geshem ","post_title":"The Secrets Of Geshem","slug":"the-secrets-of-geshem","old_id":"97799","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":"836","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Wind is to spirit(ual) as rain is to matter(ial)?\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

    In chapter 7, Daniel relates his dream, in which he saw various beasts, which represent different empires that will conquer the known world. After he describes each beast, he tells of how \u201cThe Ancient of Days\u201d (i.e., God) will carry out judgement on those beasts:<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    \u201cAnd the Ancient of Days took His seat. [\u2026] A river of fire streamed forth before Him [\u2026] The court sat and the books were opened. [\u2026] Then, because of the arrogant words that the horn spoke, the beast was killed as I looked on; its body was destroyed and it was consigned to the flames.\u201d (Daniel 7:9-11)<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    One word that is worth examining in these verses is translated here as \u201cbody\u201d \u2013 <\/span>gishma<\/span><\/em>. As are all of the words in this chapter, <\/span>gishma<\/span><\/em>\u00a0is Aramaic. But as a sister language to Hebrew, we should not be surprised that it appears similar to the Hebrew word <\/span>geshem<\/span><\/em>\u00a0\u2013 \u201crain.\u201d How are the two connected?<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    Many scholars say that they aren\u2019t related at all. But one theory that does connect them points out that there is an Arabic word, <\/span>jasuma<\/span><\/em>, which means \u201cto be bulky, thick.\u201d If it is cognate with the Hebrew <\/span>geshem<\/span><\/em>\u00a0and Aramaic <\/span>gishma<\/span><\/em>, perhaps <\/span>geshem<\/span><\/em>\u00a0referred originally to a particularly heavy rain, and <\/span>gishma<\/span><\/em>\u00a0indicated a body \u2013 something with significant substance.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    From the Aramaic <\/span>gishma<\/span><\/em>, Hebrew later created a number of words where the root indicates substance: <\/span>gashmi<\/span><\/em>\u00a0means \u201cphysical\u201d (as opposed to <\/span>ruchani<\/span><\/em>\u00a0-<\/span><\/i>\u201cspiritual\u201d) and <\/span>hitgashem<\/span><\/em>\u00a0means \u201cwas realized, fulfilled.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    Once this other meaning of the root <\/span>g-sh-m<\/span><\/em>\u00a0entered Hebrew, it was less common to use that same root to mean the act of raining. Instead, a biblical synonym for rain \u2013 <\/span>matar<\/span><\/em>\u00a0was used for words related to rain: <\/span>himtir<\/span><\/em>\u00a0\u2013 \u201cto [make] rain\u201d and <\/span>mitria<\/span><\/em>\u00a0\u2013 \u201cumbrella.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    This led to an interesting situation where the noun for rain is almost always <\/span>[geshem]<\/span><\/i> in Modern Hebrew, but the verb and other derivative words come from <\/span>[matar]<\/span><\/i>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":70075,"alt":"","title":"jer15-dancing-in-the-rain","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/jer15-dancing-in-the-rain.jpg","width":1920,"height":1265,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/jer15-dancing-in-the-rain-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/jer15-dancing-in-the-rain-300x198.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":198,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/jer15-dancing-in-the-rain-768x506.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":506,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/jer15-dancing-in-the-rain-1024x675.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":675,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/jer15-dancing-in-the-rain.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1012,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/jer15-dancing-in-the-rain.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":1265,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/jer15-dancing-in-the-rain-1200x791.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":791,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/jer15-dancing-in-the-rain-637x420.jpg","home_baner-width":637,"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 Secrets Of Geshem","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Wind is to spirit(ual) as rain is to matter(ial)?","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":70075,"alt":"","title":"jer15-dancing-in-the-rain","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/jer15-dancing-in-the-rain.jpg","width":1920,"height":1265,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/jer15-dancing-in-the-rain-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/jer15-dancing-in-the-rain-300x198.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":198,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/jer15-dancing-in-the-rain-768x506.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":506,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/jer15-dancing-in-the-rain-1024x675.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":675,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/jer15-dancing-in-the-rain.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1012,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/jer15-dancing-in-the-rain.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":1265,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/jer15-dancing-in-the-rain-1200x791.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":791,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/jer15-dancing-in-the-rain-637x420.jpg","home_baner-width":637,"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":"Daniel","chapter":"7","chapter_main_number":"836","date":"20281112","wall_id":"836"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":11,"id":"97797","color":"#f7f7f5","size":"1","name":"The End Of Days ","post_title":"The End Of Days","slug":"the-end-of-days-2","old_id":"97797","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":92960,"post_title":"Calev Ben-Dor","slug":"calev-ben-dor","old_id":"92960","first_name":"Calev ","last_name":"Ben-Dor ","description":"Having grown up in London, Calev Ben-Dor now lives in Jerusalem with his family. He writes and teaches about Israel and Judaism and is involved in a Whatsapp facilitated 929 learning group with members from across the world.","short_description":"Calev Ben-Dor lives in Jerusalem and writes and teaches about Israel and Judaism.","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":92962,"alt":"","title":"calev ben dor","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/calev-ben-dor-1.jpg","width":428,"height":414,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/calev-ben-dor-1-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/calev-ben-dor-1-300x290.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":290,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/calev-ben-dor-1.jpg","medium_large-width":428,"medium_large-height":414,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/calev-ben-dor-1.jpg","large-width":428,"large-height":414,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/calev-ben-dor-1.jpg","1536x1536-width":428,"1536x1536-height":414,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/calev-ben-dor-1.jpg","2048x2048-width":428,"2048x2048-height":414,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/calev-ben-dor-1.jpg","post_full_size-width":428,"post_full_size-height":414,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/calev-ben-dor-1.jpg","home_baner-width":428,"home_baner-height":414}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"836","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"According to Abarbanel, at least\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

    Don Isaac Abarbanel sat in his study in Naples, thinking deeply about the Book of Daniel and the codes he was certain lay hidden within it.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    Born in Lisbon in 1437 Abarbanel became treasurer to Alfonso V of Portugal, before fleeing to Castile in Spain in 1483 and entering the service of Queen Isabella. Having tried valiantly to prevent the expulsion of the Jewish community in 1492, Abarbanel travelled to Naples and began to advise the King.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    Four years later, he was now focused on a key phrase of the Book of Daniel in which the eponymous hero has a terrible dream about four beasts \u2013 a lion with eagles wings; a bear, a leopard, and a fourth \u2018exceedingly terrible\u2019 beast with many horns and \u2018teeth of iron and nails of brass\u2019.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    Daniel learns, when a certain time comes \u05e2\u05b4\u05d3\u05bc\u05b8\u05df \u05d5\u05b0\u05e2\u05b4\u05d3\u05bc\u05b8\u05e0\u05b4\u05d9\u05df \u05d5\u05bc\u05e4\u05b0\u05dc\u05b7\u05d2 \u05e2\u05b4\u05d3\u05bc\u05b8\u05df,\u00a0idan v'idanin uflag idan,<\/em> \u201ca time and times and half a time\u201d this Kingdom will disappear, and redemption will begin.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    This is the code that Abarbanel was trying to break.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    In his book <\/span>Maayanei Yeshua<\/span><\/em> Abarbanel carries out calculations that lead him to conclude that the Messiah will arrive in 1503 CE or that major events anticipating his arrival will occur no later than 1531.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    Abarbanel also drew on astrology, specifically the alignment of Jupiter and Saturn in Pisces which took place in 1464, years prior. \u201cSince the effect of the great conjunction is to transfer the nation or subject that receives its influence from one extreme to the other its influence will affect a nation that is at the extreme of degradation, the extreme of abasement, and enslaved in a foreign land. The result is that the conjunction is then able to carry them to the [opposite] extreme of high stature.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    There is scholarly disagreement over the extent to which Abarbanel sets the tone for future Jewish messianic thought. But what\u2019s strange is that Abarbanel\u2019s main life was as textual commentator and advisor to statesmen. He was very grounded in the \u2018here and now.\u2019 He knows that most commentators shied away from calculating the end of days. And the date he suggested was only seven years on from when he wrote the book.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    In <\/span>Maayanei Yeshua<\/span><\/em> Abarbanel writes that he sought to \"strengthen feeble hands and weak knees, to try to bring comfort to those who stumble from the exile and those who remain of the multitude, to seek out in the book of the Lord His good word as imparted to His servants, the prophets, to inquire 'how long it shall be until the end of the wonders' (Daniel, 12:6).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    While he knew predicting the end was frowned on, Abarbanel\u2019s primary aim was to try to give comfort to his people.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    Perhaps, Abarbanel genuinely couldn\u2019t imagine how so much oppression could NOT in some way be part of a divine plan. Or that visionary alternatives to the bitter reality of exile would raise even greater theological questions than a mistaken calculation regarding the end of days.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

     <\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":62528,"alt":"","title":"1kings14-Isaac_Abrabanel","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/1kings14-Isaac_Abrabanel.jpg","width":252,"height":374,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/1kings14-Isaac_Abrabanel-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/1kings14-Isaac_Abrabanel-202x300.jpg","medium-width":202,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/1kings14-Isaac_Abrabanel.jpg","medium_large-width":252,"medium_large-height":374,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/1kings14-Isaac_Abrabanel.jpg","large-width":252,"large-height":374,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/1kings14-Isaac_Abrabanel.jpg","1536x1536-width":252,"1536x1536-height":374,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/1kings14-Isaac_Abrabanel.jpg","2048x2048-width":252,"2048x2048-height":374,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/1kings14-Isaac_Abrabanel.jpg","post_full_size-width":252,"post_full_size-height":374,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/1kings14-Isaac_Abrabanel.jpg","home_baner-width":252,"home_baner-height":374}},"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 End Of Days","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"According to Abarbanel, at least","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":62528,"alt":"","title":"1kings14-Isaac_Abrabanel","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/1kings14-Isaac_Abrabanel.jpg","width":252,"height":374,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/1kings14-Isaac_Abrabanel-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/1kings14-Isaac_Abrabanel-202x300.jpg","medium-width":202,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/1kings14-Isaac_Abrabanel.jpg","medium_large-width":252,"medium_large-height":374,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/1kings14-Isaac_Abrabanel.jpg","large-width":252,"large-height":374,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/1kings14-Isaac_Abrabanel.jpg","1536x1536-width":252,"1536x1536-height":374,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/1kings14-Isaac_Abrabanel.jpg","2048x2048-width":252,"2048x2048-height":374,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/1kings14-Isaac_Abrabanel.jpg","post_full_size-width":252,"post_full_size-height":374,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/1kings14-Isaac_Abrabanel.jpg","home_baner-width":252,"home_baner-height":374}},"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":"Daniel","chapter":"7","chapter_main_number":"836","date":"20281112","wall_id":"836"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":12,"id":"97830","color":"#effaea","size":"1","name":"The Rise And Fall And Rise Of Aramaic ","post_title":"The Rise And Fall And Rise Of Aramaic","slug":"the-rise-and-fall-and-rise-of-aramaic","old_id":"97830","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":"837","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"And the transition from Babylonia to Persia\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

    The majority of the Book of Daniel is written in Aramaic, but in Chapter 8, as it moves from a narrative of the environment in which Daniel lived to relating his prophetic dreams, the language switches to Hebrew.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    This chapter opens by contextualizing Daniel\u2019s prophecy. It occurs in \u201cthe third year of King Belshazzar\u2019s reign.\u201d We know that Belshazzar only ruled for three years, so this prophecy is occurring near the end of his reign. In fact, as Rabbi Yaakov Trump explains, the text refers to \u201c<\/span>Belshazzar haMelech<\/span><\/em> \u2013 Belshazzar the king\u201d rather than \u201cBelshazzar, King of Babylonia\u201d, signaling that his tenure is drawing to a close as the Babylonian empire itself is failing, soon to be replaced by the Persian empire. The use of this literary technique of switching languages, gives us a better understanding of the shifting times. Indeed, Daniel himself situates his location at the time of this prophecy in Shushan, the capital of Persia. So, it seems, Daniel has already begun to make the geo-political shift away from Babylonia, although ideologically there\u2019s not much difference.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    The Talmud tells us that God\u2019s choice of Babylonia as the destination for Jewish exile, was, in part based on the language.\u00a0 In Rabbi Hanina\u2019s words, Babylonia was chosen because of the fact that \u201ctheir language\u201d, Aramaic, \u201cis similar to the language of Torah.\" Consequently, the Gemara, which was born in Babylonian exile, is almost entirely written in Aramaic.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    Even though Daniel intended to prepare us for the coming shift with linguistic clues, the language of Babylonia permeated Jewish life for some time after the Jewish exiles returned to Jerusalem. In Daniel Chapter 3 we witnessed the intentional use of the common cultural assimilation technique of stripping newcomers of their language. So successful was this endeavor overall, that among the 50,000 Jews who returned from Babylonian exile to build the Second Temple in Jerusalem, knowledge of Hebrew language was limited. So much so, in fact, that once back in Jerusalem public Torah reading was accompanied by an Aramaic translation.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    Though Aramaic as a spoken language has, with the exception of a few small pockets, largely died out, it\u2019s embeddedness in Jewish texts ensures that it will forever be a language of Jewish learning. Besides the Babylonian Talmud, we continue to recite the mourners\u2019 Kaddish and the Yom Kippur Kol Nidre service in Aramaic, as well as a popular Passover song from the Haggadah. It is notable that at the last Siyum HaShas, the celebration of the completion of the seven and half year cycle of learning the Babylonian Talmud, there were hundreds of thousands of participants worldwide. As pointed out by Lorne Rozovsky, in a 2010 post on Chabad.org, referencing the 2005 Siyum HaShas \u201c<\/span>there are more Jews studying Aramaic texts today than there have been since the majority of Jews lived in Babylonia over 1000 years ago.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

     <\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":97625,"alt":"","title":"dan1-aramaic","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan1-aramaic.jpg","width":960,"height":720,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan1-aramaic-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan1-aramaic-300x225.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":225,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan1-aramaic-768x576.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":576,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan1-aramaic.jpg","large-width":960,"large-height":720,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan1-aramaic.jpg","1536x1536-width":960,"1536x1536-height":720,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan1-aramaic.jpg","2048x2048-width":960,"2048x2048-height":720,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan1-aramaic.jpg","post_full_size-width":960,"post_full_size-height":720,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan1-aramaic-560x420.jpg","home_baner-width":560,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"The Rise And Fall And Rise Of Aramaic","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"And the transition from Babylonia to Persia","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":97625,"alt":"","title":"dan1-aramaic","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan1-aramaic.jpg","width":960,"height":720,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan1-aramaic-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan1-aramaic-300x225.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":225,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan1-aramaic-768x576.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":576,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan1-aramaic.jpg","large-width":960,"large-height":720,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan1-aramaic.jpg","1536x1536-width":960,"1536x1536-height":720,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan1-aramaic.jpg","2048x2048-width":960,"2048x2048-height":720,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan1-aramaic.jpg","post_full_size-width":960,"post_full_size-height":720,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan1-aramaic-560x420.jpg","home_baner-width":560,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_link_for_pay":"0","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Writings","book":"Daniel","chapter":"8","chapter_main_number":"837","date":"20281113","wall_id":"837"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":13,"id":"97897","color":"#eceffa","size":"1","name":"Such A Dear, Deer Land ","post_title":"Such A Dear, Deer Land","slug":"such-a-dear-deer-land","old_id":"97897","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":42746,"post_title":"Michal Kohane","slug":"michal-kohane","old_id":"42746","first_name":"Michal ","last_name":"Kohane ","description":"Currently based in Israel, Rabbanit Michal Kohane is a graduate of Yeshivat Maharat, a writer, community leader and teacher of Talmud & Torah. She holds degrees in Israel studies , education and psychology, and has been a leader and educator in Northern California for over 25 years. Her first novel, Hachug (\"Extracurricular\") was published in Israel in 2016 and her weekly blog can be found at http:\/\/www.miko284.com\r\n\r\n\r\n","short_description":"Currently based in Israel, Rabbanit Michal Kohane is a graduate of Yeshivat Maharat, a writer, community leader and teacher of Talmud & Torah. ","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":42747,"alt":"","title":"michal kohane","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/michal-kohane-e1540448078529.jpg","width":214,"height":226,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/michal-kohane-e1540448078529-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/michal-kohane-e1540448078529.jpg","medium-width":214,"medium-height":226,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/michal-kohane-e1540448078529.jpg","medium_large-width":214,"medium_large-height":226,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/michal-kohane-e1540448078529.jpg","large-width":214,"large-height":226,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/michal-kohane-e1540448078529.jpg","1536x1536-width":214,"1536x1536-height":226,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/michal-kohane-e1540448078529.jpg","2048x2048-width":214,"2048x2048-height":226,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/michal-kohane-e1540448078529.jpg","post_full_size-width":214,"post_full_size-height":226,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/michal-kohane-e1540448078529.jpg","home_baner-width":214,"home_baner-height":226}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"840","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Beautiful, desired, fruitful\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

    The term<\/span> Eretz Tzvi<\/span><\/a><\/em> \u2013 \u201cLand of the Deer\u201d (or gazelle) \u2013 is known in Israel because of a song from the movie about the Entebbe Operation of 1976. Yehoram Ga\u2019on sang the moving lyrics, \u201cto the Land of the Deer, to its fields of honey, to the Carmel and the desert\u2026\u201d Talma Elyagon-Roz who wrote the words, told how she created it out of that morning (4<\/span>th<\/span> of July, just as the US celebrated its 200<\/span>th<\/span> birthday!), when great anxiety was replaced by a mixture of pride, joy and sorrow. \u201cThe song\u201d, she said later, \u201crepresents for me the symbiotic connection to the Land, its people, scenery and history; the confidence we have that she won\u2019t desert us. It stands for my love of the Land, and our mutual responsibility as a People\u2026. I wrote that song, but it belongs to all of us.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    The term <\/span>Eretz Tzvi<\/span><\/em> - Land of the Deer \u2013 shows up in today\u2019s chapter (Daniel 11:40-41): \u201cAt the time of the end, the king of the south\u2026 will invade <\/span>Eretz haTzvi,<\/span><\/em> the beautiful land, too\u2026\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    The root of the word <\/span>tzvi<\/span><\/em>, deer, <\/span>tz.v.h<\/span><\/em>., can be connected to <\/span>r.tz.h<\/span><\/em>. which is linked to beauty, majesty and being desired, and means \u201cThe Desired Land\u201d. Ezekiel (20:15) repeats it too: \u201c\u2026the land flowing with milk and honey, a <\/span>tzvi<\/em> <\/span>of all lands\u201d\u2026 Earlier, in Samuel II (1:19) we find David mourning the loss of Saul and Yehonatan: \u201c<\/span>Hatzvi Yisrael<\/span><\/em>, Lies slain on your heights; How have the mighty fallen!\u201d, a line often used during Israel Memorial Day.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    But it\u2019s the Talmud that answers the obvious, though unasked, question: a deer land?? What are the deer\u2019s unique qualities that inform us of the land and its unique beauty?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    In Tractate Ketubot (112:a) we find:<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    Rav \u1e24isda said\u2026 Why is Eretz Yisrael likened to a deer [tzvi<\/i>]? to tell you that just as this deer, its skin cannot contain its meat<\/strong> once it has been skinned, <\/span>so too, Eretz Yisrael cannot contain its fruit<\/strong> once it has been picked, due to the great quantity of the produce. <\/span>Alternatively, just as this deer is swifter than all the other beasts, so too Eretz Yisrael is swifter to ripen its fruit than all<\/strong> the other <\/span>countries<\/strong>.<\/b><\/p>\r\n

    The term is used to this very day. We remain to hold both its miracles and challenges together.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    Image: Byzantine-era mosaic of gazelle, <\/span>tzvi<\/span><\/em>,<\/span><\/i> in Caesarea, Israel \/ wikipedia<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":97898,"alt":"","title":"","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan11-gazelle-deer.jpg","width":2048,"height":1536,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan11-gazelle-deer-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan11-gazelle-deer-300x225.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":225,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan11-gazelle-deer-768x576.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":576,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan11-gazelle-deer-1024x768.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":768,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan11-gazelle-deer.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1152,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan11-gazelle-deer.jpg","2048x2048-width":2048,"2048x2048-height":1536,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan11-gazelle-deer-1200x900.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":900,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan11-gazelle-deer-560x420.jpg","home_baner-width":560,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"Such A Dear, Deer Land","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Beautiful, desired, fruitful","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":97898,"alt":"","title":"","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan11-gazelle-deer.jpg","width":2048,"height":1536,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan11-gazelle-deer-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan11-gazelle-deer-300x225.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":225,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan11-gazelle-deer-768x576.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":576,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan11-gazelle-deer-1024x768.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":768,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan11-gazelle-deer.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1152,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan11-gazelle-deer.jpg","2048x2048-width":2048,"2048x2048-height":1536,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan11-gazelle-deer-1200x900.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":900,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/dan11-gazelle-deer-560x420.jpg","home_baner-width":560,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_link_for_pay":"0","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Writings","book":"Daniel","chapter":"11","chapter_main_number":"840","date":"20281116","wall_id":"840"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":14,"id":"97895","color":"#f8ebe3","size":"1","name":"Enter Alexander ","post_title":"Enter Alexander","slug":"enter-alexander","old_id":"97895","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":"840","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Prophecy? Or history?\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

    Now in the first year of Darius the Mede (1), Daniel continued his prophecy of the replacement of Persia by Greece, by noting that \u201cPersia will have three more kings\u201d followed by a fourth who \u201cwill stir everyone up against the kingdom of Greece\u201d (2). Rashi, basing himself on the tannaitic book of chronology,<\/span> Seder Olam<\/span><\/i>, identified the three kings as Cyrus, Ahasuerus, and Darius, leaving the fourth unidentified. Then, basing himself on the work of Joseph ben Gurion (called <\/span>Sefer Yosifon<\/span><\/em>, it was often confused with Josephus Flavius), he added that Cyrus was succeeded by a son named Cambyses, who ruled before Ahasuerus, making Darius the fourth and final Persian king.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    Next, Daniel foresaw that \u201ca warrior king will appear who will have an extensive dominion and do as he pleases. But after his appearance, his kingdom will be broken up and scattered to the four winds of heaven\u201d (3-4). Rashi identified this \u201cwarrior king\u201d with \u201cAlexander [the Great] the Macedonian,\u201d who defeated Darius and established his own kingdom which, after his death, was divided among four of his generals, thereby realizing Daniel\u2019s earlier prophecy of the four-winged leopard (7:6) and the four horns of the powerful he-goat (8:8).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    The vision then describes an alliance\u2014and, later, a battle\u2014between \u201cthe king of the north,\u201d identified by Malbim as Seleucus, founder of the Seleucid dynasty that ruled in Syria and that included Antiochus Epiphanes of Hanukkah infamy, and \u201cthe king of the south,\u201d whom Malbim identified with the Ptolemaic dynasty that ruled in Egypt and that included Ptolemy Philadelphus who commissioned the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Torah. Rashi, by the way, saw a reference to Hanukkah in \u201cone who will dispatch an officer to exact tribute for royal glory (20),\u201d whom he identified as Mattathias.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    Malbim identified the \u201ccontemptible man\u201d (21) with Antiochus, while Rashi identified him with \u201cthe kingdom of Esau,\u201d a standard talmudic and medieval epithet for Rome.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    We seem to be faced with a choice: either accept Daniel\u2019s visions as prophetic, with their accurate references to Alexander the Great\u2014who died in 323 BCE\u2014and to the inception of Roman rule over Palestine (63 BCE), or ascribe the book to a much later era than the one it purports to represent. See our comments to Chapters <\/span>3<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>10<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

    image:\u00a0image: Alexander the Great mosaic, circa 100 BC\u00a0 \/ wikipedia<\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":45815,"alt":"","title":"Alexander_the_Great_mosaic","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Alexander_the_Great_mosaic.jpg","width":1024,"height":614,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Alexander_the_Great_mosaic-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Alexander_the_Great_mosaic-300x180.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":180,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Alexander_the_Great_mosaic-768x461.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":461,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Alexander_the_Great_mosaic-1024x614.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":614,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Alexander_the_Great_mosaic.jpg","1536x1536-width":1024,"1536x1536-height":614,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Alexander_the_Great_mosaic.jpg","2048x2048-width":1024,"2048x2048-height":614,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Alexander_the_Great_mosaic.jpg","post_full_size-width":1024,"post_full_size-height":614,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Alexander_the_Great_mosaic-700x420.jpg","home_baner-width":700,"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":"Enter Alexander","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Prophecy? Or history?","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":45815,"alt":"","title":"Alexander_the_Great_mosaic","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Alexander_the_Great_mosaic.jpg","width":1024,"height":614,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Alexander_the_Great_mosaic-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Alexander_the_Great_mosaic-300x180.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":180,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Alexander_the_Great_mosaic-768x461.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":461,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Alexander_the_Great_mosaic-1024x614.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":614,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Alexander_the_Great_mosaic.jpg","1536x1536-width":1024,"1536x1536-height":614,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Alexander_the_Great_mosaic.jpg","2048x2048-width":1024,"2048x2048-height":614,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Alexander_the_Great_mosaic.jpg","post_full_size-width":1024,"post_full_size-height":614,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Alexander_the_Great_mosaic-700x420.jpg","home_baner-width":700,"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":"Daniel","chapter":"11","chapter_main_number":"840","date":"20281116","wall_id":"840"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false}]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/wall\/97683"}],"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=97683"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}