{"id":97924,"date":"2018-07-09T18:01:54","date_gmt":"2018-07-09T15:01:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wall\/wall-843\/"},"modified":"2021-10-04T17:20:13","modified_gmt":"2021-10-04T14:20:13","slug":"wall-843","status":"publish","type":"wall","link":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wall\/wall-843\/","title":{"rendered":"chapter-Writings-Ezra-2"},"parent":0,"template":"","acf":{"type":"chapter","wall_id":"843","date":"20281121","book":"Ezra","chapter":"2","chapter_main_number":"843","books_group":"Writings","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":"15\/01\/2021","posts":[{"order":1,"id":"98009","color":"#f8ebe3","size":"1","name":"JPS Audio Bible Ezra 2 ","post_title":"JPS Audio Bible Ezra 2","slug":"jps-audio-bible-ezra-2","old_id":"98009","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":34686,"post_title":"Soundcloud","slug":"soundcloud","old_id":"34686","first_name":"","last_name":"","description":"","short_description":"","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":34656,"alt":"","title":"491","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","width":300,"height":300,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","medium_large-width":300,"medium_large-height":300,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","large-width":300,"large-height":300,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","1536x1536-width":300,"1536x1536-height":300,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","2048x2048-width":300,"2048x2048-height":300,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","post_full_size-width":300,"post_full_size-height":300,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/491-2.jpg","home_baner-width":300,"home_baner-height":300}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"843","type_929":"4","show_author_image":true,"old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"","post_main_content_content":"","post_main_content_image":"","post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"JPS Audio Bible","tile_main_caption":"Ezra 2","tile_main_caption_size":"2","tile_sub_caption":"Hear the daily chapter","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":"","tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"https:\/\/soundcloud.com\/user-753876298\/jps_audio_bible_Ezra_2\/","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","old_create_date":"","links":false,"tile_link_for_pay":"0","chapter_info":{"books_group":"Writings","book":"Ezra","chapter":"2","chapter_main_number":"843","date":"20281121","wall_id":"843"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":2,"id":"98057","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"1","name":"How Many Exactly Came Back? ","post_title":"How Many Exactly Came Back?","slug":"how-many-exactly-came-back","old_id":"98057","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":62571,"post_title":"Yaakov Bieler","slug":"yaakov-bieler","old_id":"62571","first_name":"Yaakov ","last_name":"Bieler ","description":"Rabbi Yaakov Bieler has been involved in Jewish education and the synagogue Rabbinate in New York, NY and Silver Spring, MD since being ordained by Yeshiva University in 1974. He has lectured and written extensively on Modern Orthodoxy, and blogs daily at https:\/\/yaakovbieler.wordpress.com ","short_description":"Rabbi Yaakov Bieler has been involved in Jewish education and the synagogue Rabbinate in New York, NY and Silver Spring, MD since being ordained by Yeshiva University. ","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":62572,"alt":"","title":"OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/yaakov-bieler.jpg","width":141,"height":180,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/yaakov-bieler-141x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":141,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/yaakov-bieler.jpg","medium-width":141,"medium-height":180,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/yaakov-bieler.jpg","medium_large-width":141,"medium_large-height":180,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/yaakov-bieler.jpg","large-width":141,"large-height":180,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/yaakov-bieler.jpg","1536x1536-width":141,"1536x1536-height":180,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/yaakov-bieler.jpg","2048x2048-width":141,"2048x2048-height":180,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/yaakov-bieler.jpg","post_full_size-width":141,"post_full_size-height":180,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/yaakov-bieler.jpg","home_baner-width":141,"home_baner-height":180}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"843","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"And what does that say about them and their identity? And those who stayed behind?\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

King Cyrus, the Persian monarch who defeated the Babylonians, authorized the return to Israel not only of the wealthy classes who could afford to travel back to their homeland, but even the poor, whom he decreed should be helped by their neighbors to be able to go back and build the Second Jerusalem Temple (Ezra 1:4). However, the number of people who actually uprooted themselves to return, was only approximately 50,000 (2:64-5). The academic estimation of the total population of Jews at the time of the Babylonian exile is 1.8 million, thus not more than 3% of the Jews actually went back to Israel, once given the opportunity to do so by the authorities.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Despite the royal decree to extend financial assistance to whomever would require it, some probably were still unable to leave because of their inordinate poverty, while there must have been many others who had made a life for themselves in the Diaspora, and were not sufficiently ideologically-driven to abandon everything and begin again in a new country.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The negative response of a great number of Babylonian Jews is reminiscent of the vast majority of Jews during the Exodus, who despite the slavery and persecutions directed against them by the Egyptians, could not bring themselves to follow Moses into the desert (see Rashi on Exodus 10:22 and his final comment on 13:18). While Rashi only mentions one view, others contend that in addition to 1\/5<\/span>th<\/span> , perhaps only 1\/50<\/span>th<\/span>, or even 1\/500<\/span>th<\/span> of the Jewish population left Egypt,\u00a0 the latter view resulting in the conclusion that\u00a0 over 3,000,000 perished during the Plague of Darkness. Naturally it is possible to view these fractions as reflections of a qualitative, rather than quantitative, assessment.)<\/span><\/p>\r\n

What Ezra 2 does record is the names of the various groups of individuals that managed to return. By not being worthy of mention, those who remained behind, it is implied, despite being located in the capital city of the empire, assimilated all too easily and were no longer remembered, not only as individuals, but even as families. We can infer, though, that for those who returned, their Jewish identity was more important to them than their personal success and comfort. And if Ezra himself railed against the high percentage of intermarriage among the returnees to Israel (see chapters 9 and 10), one can only imagine the extent to which those committed to remaining in Babylonia had married non-Jewish women, expressing their lack of interest in a Jewish future.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Sanhedrin 11a notes that Shechaniah ben Jechiel, one of the leaders of the Jews who supported Ezra, speaks in Ezra 10:2-4 as if he too had intermarried, when in fact he had not. The Talmud compliments him, that as a leader, he took seriously the responsibility that if even one of his constituency was guilty of some infraction, he too was guilty and therefore spoke as such. It is a standard of leadership that appears not to be aspired to in this day and age.<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":69453,"alt":"","title":"jer7-crowd","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/jer7-crowd.jpg","width":1920,"height":1280,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/jer7-crowd-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/jer7-crowd-300x200.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":200,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/jer7-crowd-768x512.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":512,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/jer7-crowd-1024x683.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":683,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/jer7-crowd.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1024,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/jer7-crowd.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":1280,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/jer7-crowd-1200x800.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":800,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/jer7-crowd-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":"How Many Exactly Came Back?","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"And what does that say about them and their identity? And those who stayed behind?","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":69453,"alt":"","title":"jer7-crowd","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/jer7-crowd.jpg","width":1920,"height":1280,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/jer7-crowd-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/jer7-crowd-300x200.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":200,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/jer7-crowd-768x512.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":512,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/jer7-crowd-1024x683.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":683,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/jer7-crowd.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1024,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/jer7-crowd.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":1280,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/jer7-crowd-1200x800.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":800,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/jer7-crowd-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":"Ezra","chapter":"2","chapter_main_number":"843","date":"20281121","wall_id":"843"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":3,"id":"98051","color":"#f6f5de","size":"1","name":"Cats! ","post_title":"Cats!","slug":"cats","old_id":"98051","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":"843","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Where are they?\u00a0 Are they hiding in this chapter?\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

Many animals appear in the Bible. But one is notably missing. Where is the cat? The Hebrew word for cat, <\/span>chatul<\/span><\/em>, first appears in post-biblical Hebrew. Is it possible there were no cats in Biblical times?<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Well, there weren\u2019t domesticated house cats in the Land of Israel at that time. They were domesticated in Egypt, where they were viewed as divine beings. The domesticated cat only spread out of Egypt at a later period.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

There were, however, wild cats. They weren\u2019t called <\/span>chatulim<\/span><\/em>, however. They had other names, including <\/span>tziyim<\/span><\/em>\u00a0and <\/span>iyim<\/span><\/em>\u00a0that are mentioned in Isaiah 13:21-22. The <\/span>tziyim<\/span><\/em>\u00a0may have got their name from <\/span>tziya<\/span><\/em>\u00a0\u2013 \u201cdesert,\u201d since that is where they lived. And as we discussed in an<\/span> earlier post<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>tziya<\/span><\/em>\u00a0also gave its name to Tziyon, the Jerusalem fortress that eventually became the name for all of the land of Israel. As far as <\/span>iyim<\/span><\/em>, they are generally identified as \u201cjackals,\u201d but the ancient Aramaic Targum translates the words as <\/span>chatulin<\/span><\/em>. That would indicate <\/span>chatul<\/span><\/em>\u00a0<\/span><\/i>could refer to a wild cat as well.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

However, there are scholars who do find a hint of the word <\/span>chatul<\/span><\/em>\u00a0in Biblical Hebrew, and they do so in our chapter in Ezra. Included in the list of the people who returned to the land with Zerubbabel are \u201cthe sons of Solomon\u2019s servants\u201d (Ezra 2:55). One of those families are \u201cthe sons of Hattil.\u201d The etymology of \u201cHattil\u201d is unclear, but some say that it is related to an Arabic word meaning \u201cto prattle.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

This sense of \u201cprattle\u201d \u2013 unintelligible talk \u2013 may have also been the source of the word <\/span>chatul<\/span><\/em>, presumably recalling the meows and purrs cats make. And while <\/span>chatul<\/span><\/em>\u00a0is spelled with a <\/span>tav<\/span><\/em>\u00a0and Hattil with a <\/span>tet<\/span><\/em>, presumably during the transfer from one Semitic language to another, the letters were interchanged.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Today Israel has a huge population of feral cats. But unlike the family of Hattil, who came in the Persian period, these cats are said to have been brought by the British to control the rat population. The connection between cats and Zion goes back a very long time\u2026<\/span><\/p>\r\n

 <\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":98055,"alt":"","title":"ez2-cats","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/ez2-cats.png","width":1920,"height":1318,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/ez2-cats-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/ez2-cats-300x206.png","medium-width":300,"medium-height":206,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/ez2-cats-768x527.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":527,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/ez2-cats-1024x703.png","large-width":1024,"large-height":703,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/ez2-cats.png","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1054,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/ez2-cats.png","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":1318,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/ez2-cats-1200x824.png","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":824,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/ez2-cats-612x420.png","home_baner-width":612,"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":"Cats!","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Where are they?\u00a0 Are they hiding in this chapter?","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":98055,"alt":"","title":"ez2-cats","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/ez2-cats.png","width":1920,"height":1318,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/ez2-cats-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/ez2-cats-300x206.png","medium-width":300,"medium-height":206,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/ez2-cats-768x527.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":527,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/ez2-cats-1024x703.png","large-width":1024,"large-height":703,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/ez2-cats.png","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1054,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/ez2-cats.png","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":1318,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/ez2-cats-1200x824.png","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":824,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/ez2-cats-612x420.png","home_baner-width":612,"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":"Ezra","chapter":"2","chapter_main_number":"843","date":"20281121","wall_id":"843"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":4,"id":"98052","color":"#efefef","size":"1","name":"Was This THE Mordecai? ","post_title":"Was This THE Mordecai?","slug":"was-this-the-mordecai","old_id":"98052","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":"843","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"If so - he was a bridge from the old to the new\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

\"Who came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, <\/span>Mordecai<\/span><\/i>, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum, Baanah\/The list of the men of the people of Israel\" (verse 1). Some of the commentators believe this was Mordecai from the Purim story.\u00a0 But besides the same name, what proof do we have that this was Mordecai?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The answer may lie in the beginning of the first chapter. After seventy years of exile, the Jews are finally allowed to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the Temple.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Thus said King Cyrus of Persia: \u2018The LORD God of Heaven has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and has charged me with building Him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah\/ Anyone of you of all His people\u2014may his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem that is in Judah and build the House of the L<\/span>ORD<\/span> God of Israel, the God that is in Jerusalem\u2019 (verses 2-3).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Cyrus sends out an edict that the Jews may return to Jerusalem to rebuild the Temple. However, a closer look at who actually returns reveals a slight edit to the edict.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

So the chiefs of the clans of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests and Levites, all whose spirit had been roused by God, got ready to go up to build the House of the LORD that is in Jerusalem (verse 5).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Not only does Judah return, but also the leaders of the tribe of Benjamin. Judah was in fact the tribe that was exiled by Nebuchadnezzer, so it makes sense that Cyrus would make a proclamation that centers around Judah. Why then does the text have to add the tribe of Benjamin? Perhaps this is the hint that the Mordecai in the next chapter is the Mordecai of the Purim story. Mordecai is introduced as both a Jew and a member of the tribe of Benjamin. \"In the fortress Shushan lived a Jew by the name of Mordecai, son of Jair son of Shimei son of Kish, a Benjaminite\" (Esther 2:5).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

At this stage in the exile, the Israelites have become \u201cthe Jews,\u201d descendants of the tribe of Judah. However Mordecai still retained his household lineage to the tribe of Benjamin. Benjamin was also the location of the Temple itself, even though the rest of Jerusalem was in the location of the tribe of Judah. Mordecai symbolizes the new dual reality for the Jews of exile: he is both a (new) \"Jew\" but is also connected to the old land. Now, in the decree to return to rebuild the Temple, Mordecai as a leader of Benjamin, returns with the leaders of Judah (and the priests and Levites) to help make the old country new again.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":97199,"alt":"","title":"est3-Paul_Alexander_Leroy_-_Haman_and_Mordecai","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/est3-Paul_Alexander_Leroy_-_Haman_and_Mordecai.jpg","width":800,"height":519,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/est3-Paul_Alexander_Leroy_-_Haman_and_Mordecai-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/est3-Paul_Alexander_Leroy_-_Haman_and_Mordecai-300x195.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":195,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/est3-Paul_Alexander_Leroy_-_Haman_and_Mordecai-768x498.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":498,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/est3-Paul_Alexander_Leroy_-_Haman_and_Mordecai.jpg","large-width":800,"large-height":519,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/est3-Paul_Alexander_Leroy_-_Haman_and_Mordecai.jpg","1536x1536-width":800,"1536x1536-height":519,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/est3-Paul_Alexander_Leroy_-_Haman_and_Mordecai.jpg","2048x2048-width":800,"2048x2048-height":519,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/est3-Paul_Alexander_Leroy_-_Haman_and_Mordecai.jpg","post_full_size-width":800,"post_full_size-height":519,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/est3-Paul_Alexander_Leroy_-_Haman_and_Mordecai-647x420.jpg","home_baner-width":647,"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":"Was This THE Mordecai?","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"If so - he was a bridge from the old to the new","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":97199,"alt":"","title":"est3-Paul_Alexander_Leroy_-_Haman_and_Mordecai","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/est3-Paul_Alexander_Leroy_-_Haman_and_Mordecai.jpg","width":800,"height":519,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/est3-Paul_Alexander_Leroy_-_Haman_and_Mordecai-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/est3-Paul_Alexander_Leroy_-_Haman_and_Mordecai-300x195.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":195,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/est3-Paul_Alexander_Leroy_-_Haman_and_Mordecai-768x498.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":498,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/est3-Paul_Alexander_Leroy_-_Haman_and_Mordecai.jpg","large-width":800,"large-height":519,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/est3-Paul_Alexander_Leroy_-_Haman_and_Mordecai.jpg","1536x1536-width":800,"1536x1536-height":519,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/est3-Paul_Alexander_Leroy_-_Haman_and_Mordecai.jpg","2048x2048-width":800,"2048x2048-height":519,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/est3-Paul_Alexander_Leroy_-_Haman_and_Mordecai.jpg","post_full_size-width":800,"post_full_size-height":519,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/est3-Paul_Alexander_Leroy_-_Haman_and_Mordecai-647x420.jpg","home_baner-width":647,"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":"Ezra","chapter":"2","chapter_main_number":"843","date":"20281121","wall_id":"843"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":5,"id":"98059","color":"#f2e9df","size":"1","name":"The Return: The Second Wave ","post_title":"The Return: The Second Wave","slug":"the-return-the-second-wave","old_id":"98059","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":"843","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Including a possible scion of the Davidic line\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

After the \u201c<\/span>aliyah<\/span><\/em>\u201d of Sheshbazzar (see Chapter 1), came the second and largest of the several waves of return. It was led by Jeshua ben Jozadak the Kohen, and Zerubbabel ben Shealtiel (2:2, although their patronymics appear only in 3:2; cf. Haggai 1:1). They were accompanied by 42,360 people plus 7,337 of their servants (64-65) and their assorted livestock (66-67). To enliven their journey, they were also accompanied by \u201c200 male and female singers\u201d (65); unfortunately, no information is otherwise available about how, when, or in whose company they performed.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

We made the acquaintance of Zerubbabel earlier. Jeremiah had prophesied: \u201cSee, a time is coming\u2014declares the LORD\u2014when I will raise up a true branch (<\/span>tzemach<\/span><\/i>) of David\u2019s line\u201d (23:5, 33:15), and Haggai appears to have identified Zerubbabel as that \u201cbranch,\u201d prophesying of him: \u201cI will take you, O My servant Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel\u2014declares the LORD\u2014and make you as a signet; for I have chosen you\u201d (2:23). Prophetic promises notwithstanding, the only title awarded to Zerubbabel by the Tanakh is <\/span>pecha<\/span><\/i>, translated \u201cgovernor,\u201d a term that was preserved in the Ottoman Turkish title pasha.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

According to a later rabbinic tradition, Zerubbabel eventually returned to Babylonia where he died (Seder Olam Zuta 7). It is possible that his return was coerced by the Persian authorities who feared that the presence of a scion of the House of David could fan messianic flames that would lead to insurrection against their authority.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Another member of that company (2:2) is named Mordechai. Could he have been the hero Mordechai of the Book of Esther? Ibn Ezra wrote (Esther 2:9):<\/span><\/p>\r\n

We know that Mordechai was among the leaders of Israel who went up with Zerubbabel. When he saw that the Temple was yet unbuilt, he returned to Eilam (Persia) where he served in the royal court.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

As we will yet see, the returnees encountered stiff opposition to their rebuilding plans: \u201cAnd in the reign of Ahasuerus, at the start of his reign, they drew up an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem\u201d (Ezra 4:6). Conceivably, Mordechai returned to Shushan specifically in order to thwart that accusation and lobby for the completion of the rebuilding.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

One final note: It is commonly assumed that the returnees were either priests, Levites, or descended from the tribes of Judah and Benjamin. While we will yet have the opportunity (apropos of 1 Chronicles, ch. 9) to demonstrate that the Tanakh explicitly contradicts this, we can note that the final verse of our chapter speaks of \u201cThe priests, the Levites and some of the people,\u201d alluding to the Judahites and Benjaminites, and then goes on to mention \u201call Israel\u201d (70), possibly referring to those who belonged to other tribes as well.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

image:\u00a0Zerubbabel displays a plan of Jerusalem to Cyrus the Great by Jacob van Loo, c. 1660 \/ wikimedia<\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":98060,"alt":"","title":"ez2-VanLooZerubabbelCyrus","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/ez2-VanLooZerubabbelCyrus.jpg","width":303,"height":324,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/ez2-VanLooZerubabbelCyrus-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/ez2-VanLooZerubabbelCyrus-281x300.jpg","medium-width":281,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/ez2-VanLooZerubabbelCyrus.jpg","medium_large-width":303,"medium_large-height":324,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/ez2-VanLooZerubabbelCyrus.jpg","large-width":303,"large-height":324,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/ez2-VanLooZerubabbelCyrus.jpg","1536x1536-width":303,"1536x1536-height":324,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/ez2-VanLooZerubabbelCyrus.jpg","2048x2048-width":303,"2048x2048-height":324,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/ez2-VanLooZerubabbelCyrus.jpg","post_full_size-width":303,"post_full_size-height":324,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/ez2-VanLooZerubabbelCyrus.jpg","home_baner-width":303,"home_baner-height":324}},"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 Return: The Second Wave","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Including a possible scion of the Davidic line","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":98060,"alt":"","title":"ez2-VanLooZerubabbelCyrus","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/ez2-VanLooZerubabbelCyrus.jpg","width":303,"height":324,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/ez2-VanLooZerubabbelCyrus-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/ez2-VanLooZerubabbelCyrus-281x300.jpg","medium-width":281,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/ez2-VanLooZerubabbelCyrus.jpg","medium_large-width":303,"medium_large-height":324,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/ez2-VanLooZerubabbelCyrus.jpg","large-width":303,"large-height":324,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/ez2-VanLooZerubabbelCyrus.jpg","1536x1536-width":303,"1536x1536-height":324,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/ez2-VanLooZerubabbelCyrus.jpg","2048x2048-width":303,"2048x2048-height":324,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/ez2-VanLooZerubabbelCyrus.jpg","post_full_size-width":303,"post_full_size-height":324,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/ez2-VanLooZerubabbelCyrus.jpg","home_baner-width":303,"home_baner-height":324}},"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":"Ezra","chapter":"2","chapter_main_number":"843","date":"20281121","wall_id":"843"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":6,"id":"98049","color":"#f6edf6","size":"2","name":"The Children Of Zakkai ","post_title":"The Children Of Zakkai","slug":"the-children-of-zakkai","old_id":"98049","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":36669,"post_title":"Yakov Azriel","slug":"yakov-azriel","old_id":"36669","first_name":"Yakov ","last_name":"Azriel","description":"Yakov Azriel, who lives in Israel, has published five books of poetry in the USA and hundreds of poems in journals and magazines. His poems have won twenty-two prizes in international poetry competitions, and he has twice been awarded fellowships from the Memorial Foundation for Jewish Culture.","short_description":"Yakov Azriel is an English language poet who lives in Israel","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":36670,"alt":"","title":"Yakov.Azriel.Photo","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Yakov.Azriel.Photo_-e1533158407668.jpg","width":1099,"height":1519,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Yakov.Azriel.Photo_-e1533158407668-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Yakov.Azriel.Photo_-e1533158407668-217x300.jpg","medium-width":217,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Yakov.Azriel.Photo_-e1533158407668-741x1024.jpg","medium_large-width":741,"medium_large-height":1024,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Yakov.Azriel.Photo_-e1533158407668-741x1024.jpg","large-width":741,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Yakov.Azriel.Photo_-e1533158407668.jpg","1536x1536-width":1099,"1536x1536-height":1519,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Yakov.Azriel.Photo_-e1533158407668.jpg","2048x2048-width":1099,"2048x2048-height":1519,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Yakov.Azriel.Photo_-e1533158407668-868x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":868,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Yakov.Azriel.Photo_-e1533158407668-304x420.jpg","home_baner-width":304,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"843","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"yes, we hear Your voice address \/ Us ","post_main_content_content":"

\"And these are the people of the province who made aliyah, from the captivity of those who had been exiled and carried off to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, and who later returned from exile and went up to Jerusalem and Judah, each to his own city\u2026. The children of Zakkai, seven hundred and sixty.\"<\/em> (Ezra 2:1 and 8)<\/p>\r\n

You call us, God, and yes, we answer yes,
\r\nIn gratitude that You, our King, request
\r\nOur presence at the table You have blessed
\r\nOnce more, and yes, we hear Your voice address
\r\nUs by our father's name, as if to bless
\r\nUs with the invitation that You addressed
\r\nTo distant ancestors whom You caressed
\r\nWith love, the way a mother's words caress.<\/p>\r\n

You call us, God, and yes, we come in quest
\r\nOf drinking Sabbath wine and eating bread
\r\nJerusalem's good bakers bake again.
\r\nAnd yes, our King,we want to be Your guest
\r\nBeside the tablecloth that You have spread
\r\nAnew, and yes, a prayer, and yes, amen.<\/p>","post_main_content_image":"","post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"929 Poetry Corner","tile_main_caption":"The Children Of Zakkai","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"yes, we hear Your voice address \/ Us by our father's name, as if to bless \/ Us with the invitation that You addressed \/ To distant ancestors whom You caressed","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":"","tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_link_for_pay":"0","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Writings","book":"Ezra","chapter":"2","chapter_main_number":"843","date":"20281121","wall_id":"843"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":7,"id":"98037","color":"#faeed8","size":"1","name":"The Mystery List ","post_title":"The Mystery List","slug":"the-mystery-list","old_id":"98037","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":54356,"post_title":"Robert Alter","slug":"robert-alter","old_id":"54356","first_name":"Robert ","last_name":"Alter","description":"Robert Alter is the Class of 1937 Professor of Hebrew and Comparative Literature at the University of California at Berkeley, where he has taught since 1967. He has written over twenty books, focusing on such topics as the European novel from the 18th century to the present, contemporary American fiction, and modern Hebrew literature. He has also written extensively on the literary aspects of the Bible. His most recent work is his monumental three volume translation of the entire Hebrew Bible - The Hebrew Bible, W. W. Norton & Co., 2019 - from which the selections in 929 are taken. ","short_description":"Robert Alter is the Class of 1937 Professor of Hebrew and Comparative Literature at the University of California at Berkeley, and author of the three-volume translation of the entire Hebrew Bible - The Hebrew Bible, W. W. Norton & Co., 2019.","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":54357,"alt":"","title":"robert alter","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/robert-alter.jpg","width":184,"height":275,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/robert-alter-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/robert-alter.jpg","medium-width":184,"medium-height":275,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/robert-alter.jpg","medium_large-width":184,"medium_large-height":275,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/robert-alter.jpg","large-width":184,"large-height":275,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/robert-alter.jpg","1536x1536-width":184,"1536x1536-height":275,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/robert-alter.jpg","2048x2048-width":184,"2048x2048-height":275,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/robert-alter.jpg","post_full_size-width":184,"post_full_size-height":275,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/robert-alter.jpg","home_baner-width":184,"home_baner-height":275}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"843","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"A hodgepodge of strange names and groupings\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

2:2 \u201c\u2018who came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehun, Baanah.\u2019\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n

It is important for the writer, in order to confirm the solidarity of the return to Zion and to mark for merit those who chose to return, to present this exhaustive census of the returners. The list, however, shows some anomalies. The enumeration of the sundry groups returning does not add up to the total sum cited at the end of the list. At first, the listing is according to patriarchal lineage; then it switches to identifying groups by places of origin; then it switches back to lineage. Many of the names in the list appear only here and sound very strange to the Hebrew ear, perhaps because they are of foreign (Babylonian? Persian?) origin. A few of the names are ordinary Hebrew words that would be rather odd to use as personal names--e.g., Mispar, \u201cnumber\u201d; Bakbuk, \u201cbottle\u201d; Lebanah, \u201cmoon\u201d; \u201cTabbaoth, \u201crings.\u201d The compilation of this list is something of a mystery. Some have conjectured that it is a composite, blending together groups that returned to Judah soon after Cyrus\u2019s decree in 538 B.C.E. with groups that came later, as both Ezra and Nehemiah did.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

From: Robert Alter, The Hebrew Bible<\/em>, vol. 3: Writings, W. W. Norton & Co., 2019, ad loc. By permission of the author.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":54890,"alt":"","title":"Alter-Cover","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover.jpg","width":1200,"height":693,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-300x173.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":173,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-768x444.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":444,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-1024x591.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":591,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover.jpg","1536x1536-width":1200,"1536x1536-height":693,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover.jpg","2048x2048-width":1200,"2048x2048-height":693,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-1200x693.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":693,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-727x420.jpg","home_baner-width":727,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"The Mystery List","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Actually many local sanctuaries - but yes, that one in Jerusalem too","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":54890,"alt":"","title":"Alter-Cover","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover.jpg","width":1200,"height":693,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-300x173.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":173,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-768x444.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":444,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-1024x591.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":591,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover.jpg","1536x1536-width":1200,"1536x1536-height":693,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover.jpg","2048x2048-width":1200,"2048x2048-height":693,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-1200x693.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":693,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Alter-Cover-727x420.jpg","home_baner-width":727,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"tile_link_for_pay":"0","chapter_info":{"books_group":"Writings","book":"Ezra","chapter":"2","chapter_main_number":"843","date":"20281121","wall_id":"843"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":8,"id":"98035","color":"#f7e9e9","size":"1","name":"Points to Ponder - 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    \r\n\t
  1. What is a <\/span>medinah<\/span><\/em>? A <\/span>medinah<\/span><\/em> in the Persian empire is a province, part of a satrap. In this case Judah is the Judan province in the satrap of <\/span>Ever Hanahar<\/span><\/em>.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t
  2. Who's in charge? And other questions.<\/em> In the previous chapter we read of Sheshbazzar the prince. In this chapter we have a list of leaders in verse 2, \u201cwho came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum, Baanah.\u201d Among these, we are familiar with \u201cZerubbabel son of Shealtiel, the governor of Judah, and to Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest\u201d from Haggai 1 and Zechariah 3.\u00a0 We will meet them again beginning in the next chapter as the leaders of the people during the reign of Darius I. Where did Sheshbezzar go? To which wave of immigration do these lists belong? Good questions.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t
  3. The <\/span>netinim<\/span><\/em>, and all the others. Who are the <\/span>netinim<\/span><\/em> (\u201ctemple servants\u201d)? The hierarchical order of the lists in the chapter signify that they are the groups who worked in the Temple, at the most inferior jobs - after the Levites, the singers and the gatekeepers. Their names indicate that they were of a foreign origin, such as the Gibeonites in Joshua 9.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t
  4. Hierarchy and lineage<\/em>. The lists in this chapter are of a strange sort (see Robert Alter\u2019s post on this page) but they express a clear message. There\u2019s a hierarchy in the positions, and lineage is very important. That lineage defines both belongingness to the Jewish people, and the priestly families.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t
  5. Looking for an original name?<\/em> This chapter has quite a few!<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>","post_main_content_image":{"id":86314,"alt":"","title":"Points to ponder","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","width":1000,"height":1000,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-300x300.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-768x768.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":768,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","large-width":1000,"large-height":1000,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","1536x1536-width":1000,"1536x1536-height":1000,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","2048x2048-width":1000,"2048x2048-height":1000,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","post_full_size-width":1000,"post_full_size-height":1000,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-420x420.jpg","home_baner-width":420,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"Ezra 2","tile_main_caption":"Points to Ponder ","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Insights and questions for personal reflection and group discussion","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":86314,"alt":"","title":"Points to ponder","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","width":1000,"height":1000,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-300x300.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-768x768.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":768,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","large-width":1000,"large-height":1000,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","1536x1536-width":1000,"1536x1536-height":1000,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","2048x2048-width":1000,"2048x2048-height":1000,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","post_full_size-width":1000,"post_full_size-height":1000,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder-420x420.jpg","home_baner-width":420,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"tile_link_for_pay":"0","chapter_info":{"books_group":"Writings","book":"Ezra","chapter":"2","chapter_main_number":"843","date":"20281121","wall_id":"843"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":9,"id":"97979","color":"#effaea","size":"1","name":"Sefaria Source Sheets - Ezra 2 ","post_title":"Sefaria Source Sheets - Ezra 2","slug":"sefaria-source-sheets-ezra-2","old_id":"97979","type":"song","iframe":"","writer":{"id":42228,"post_title":"Sefaria","slug":"sefaria","old_id":"42228","first_name":"","last_name":"Sefaria","description":"Sefaria is a non-profit organization dedicated to building the future of Jewish learning in an open and participatory way. 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    \u201cEzra 2--Making sense of the census\u201d<\/a> by Danny Baigel: Who are the people in the census in Ezra 2 and why are they mentioned?<\/p>\r\n

    \u201cWho is Mordechai\u201d<\/a> by Rabbi Guido Cohen: Exploring the character of Mordechai.<\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":42232,"alt":"","title":"sefaria-words-sunburst","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst.png","width":608,"height":395,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst-300x195.png","medium-width":300,"medium-height":195,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst.png","medium_large-width":608,"medium_large-height":395,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst.png","large-width":608,"large-height":395,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst.png","1536x1536-width":608,"1536x1536-height":395,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst.png","2048x2048-width":608,"2048x2048-height":395,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst.png","post_full_size-width":608,"post_full_size-height":395,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst.png","home_baner-width":608,"home_baner-height":395}},"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":"Go deeper into the chapter....","tile_main_caption":"Source Sheets - Ezra 2","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Links to learning resources","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":42232,"alt":"","title":"sefaria-words-sunburst","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst.png","width":608,"height":395,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst-300x195.png","medium-width":300,"medium-height":195,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst.png","medium_large-width":608,"medium_large-height":395,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst.png","large-width":608,"large-height":395,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst.png","1536x1536-width":608,"1536x1536-height":395,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst.png","2048x2048-width":608,"2048x2048-height":395,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst.png","post_full_size-width":608,"post_full_size-height":395,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/sefaria-words-sunburst.png","home_baner-width":608,"home_baner-height":395}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"Sefaria word sunburst visualization","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","old_create_date":"","links":false,"tile_link_for_pay":"0","chapter_info":{"books_group":"Writings","book":"Ezra","chapter":"2","chapter_main_number":"843","date":"20281121","wall_id":"843"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false}]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/wall\/97924"}],"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=97924"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}