{"id":98316,"date":"2018-07-09T18:02:15","date_gmt":"2018-07-09T15:02:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wall\/wall-864\/"},"modified":"2021-11-02T15:26:52","modified_gmt":"2021-11-02T13:26:52","slug":"wall-864","status":"publish","type":"wall","link":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wall\/wall-864\/","title":{"rendered":"chapter-Writings-Nehemiah-13"},"parent":0,"template":"","acf":{"type":"chapter","wall_id":"864","date":"20281220","book":"Nehemiah","chapter":"13","chapter_main_number":"864","books_group":"Writings","posts":[{"order":1,"id":"98375","color":"#f8ebe3","size":"1","name":"JPS Audio Bible Nehemiah 13 ","post_title":"JPS Audio Bible Nehemiah 13","slug":"jps-audio-bible-nehemiah-13","old_id":"98375","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":"864","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":"Nehemiah 13","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_Nehemiah_13","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":"Nehemiah","chapter":"13","chapter_main_number":"864","date":"20281220","wall_id":"864"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":2,"id":"98748","color":"#e2f4fa","size":"2","name":"The Value - and Price - of Shabbat Observance ","post_title":"The Value - and Price - of Shabbat Observance","slug":"the-value-and-price-of-shabbat-observance","old_id":"98748","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":"864","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Was Nehemiah successful in his campaign? Ask the Maccabees!\r\n\r\n\u00a0","post_main_content_content":"

In the previous chapter (12:43), we noted the predominance of the element of rejoicing over the dedication of the walls of Jerusalem. That element is present, too, in the concluding portion of the Book of Nehemiah, which actually begins at 12:44: \u201cAt that time men were appointed over the chambers that served as treasuries for the gifts, the first fruits, and the tithes, into which the portions prescribed by the Teaching for the priests and Levites were gathered from the fields of the towns; for the people of Judah were grateful to the priests and Levites who were in attendance.\u201d (Robert Alter\u2019s translation is \u201cthe joy of Judah was upon the priests,\u201d making the Hebrew <\/span>simchah<\/span><\/em> more recognizable.)<\/span><\/p>\r\n

This, then, is the first of a series of enactments (<\/span>takanot<\/span><\/em>) made by Nehemiah with which his book concludes: the granting of gifts to the divisions of priests, levites<\/span>\u00a0and others (12:44-47); the seclusion of all aliens (13:1-9); Levitical tithes (10-14); Shabbat laws (15-22); and actions taken to prevent intermarriage (23-28).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Nehemiah was astonished at the sight of rampant public profanation of Shabbat: \u201cAt that time I saw men in Judah treading winepresses on the sabbath, and others bringing heaps of grain and loading them onto asses, also wine, grapes, figs, and all sorts of goods, and bringing them into Jerusalem on the sabbath\u201d (15) and he strove to expand Shabbat observance.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

How successful he was can be estimated from the following incident that occurred at the start of the Hasmonean era later in the Second Temple period:<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The [Greeks] arose, suddenly, to fall upon them on Shabbat, saying to them:\u00a0 How long will you refuse to obey the king? And the men in their midst did not raise their hands to hurl a stone or to silence them\u2026 and [the Greeks] fell upon them on Shabbat and killed all those in the cave\u2026 about 1,000 people. (1 Maccabees 2:29-37)<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Arguably, the people\u2019s attitude towards Shabbat had changed so radically that they were now even reluctant to violate it in defense of their own lives. Since the purpose of the Law, however, is to preserve and prolong life and not to abbreviate it, the Maccabees responded to this challenge.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

They said to one another: If we all act as our brothers have, and refuse to defend our lives and beliefs, we will shortly be destroyed. They decided on that day: Whosoever will attack us on Shabbat, we will fight back; we will not die like our brothers in the caves. (1 Maccabees 2:38-41).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

image: Shabbat icon (CC 4.0) \/ wikimedia<\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":98749,"alt":"","title":"neh13-Shabbat Icon","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/neh13-Shabbat-Icon.jpg","width":360,"height":357,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/neh13-Shabbat-Icon-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/neh13-Shabbat-Icon-300x298.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":298,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/neh13-Shabbat-Icon.jpg","medium_large-width":360,"medium_large-height":357,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/neh13-Shabbat-Icon.jpg","large-width":360,"large-height":357,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/neh13-Shabbat-Icon.jpg","1536x1536-width":360,"1536x1536-height":357,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/neh13-Shabbat-Icon.jpg","2048x2048-width":360,"2048x2048-height":357,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/neh13-Shabbat-Icon.jpg","post_full_size-width":360,"post_full_size-height":357,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/neh13-Shabbat-Icon.jpg","home_baner-width":360,"home_baner-height":357}},"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 Value - and Price - of Shabbat Observance","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Was Nehemiah successful in his campaign? Ask the Maccabees! \u00a0","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":98749,"alt":"","title":"neh13-Shabbat Icon","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/neh13-Shabbat-Icon.jpg","width":360,"height":357,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/neh13-Shabbat-Icon-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/neh13-Shabbat-Icon-300x298.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":298,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/neh13-Shabbat-Icon.jpg","medium_large-width":360,"medium_large-height":357,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/neh13-Shabbat-Icon.jpg","large-width":360,"large-height":357,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/neh13-Shabbat-Icon.jpg","1536x1536-width":360,"1536x1536-height":357,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/neh13-Shabbat-Icon.jpg","2048x2048-width":360,"2048x2048-height":357,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/neh13-Shabbat-Icon.jpg","post_full_size-width":360,"post_full_size-height":357,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/neh13-Shabbat-Icon.jpg","home_baner-width":360,"home_baner-height":357}},"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":"Nehemiah","chapter":"13","chapter_main_number":"864","date":"20281220","wall_id":"864"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":3,"id":"98745","color":"#f6f5de","size":"1","name":"Nehemiah And The Laws Of Muktzah ","post_title":"Nehemiah And The Laws Of Muktzah","slug":"nehemiah-and-the-laws-of-muktzah","old_id":"98745","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":"864","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"A historical perspective on one of the earliest extra \u2018safeguards\u2019 of Shabbat\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

When Nehemiah arrived in Jerusalem after the Second Temple had been rebuilt, he was discouraged to find that there was a considerable amount of Sabbath violation occurring, often in the form of commercial activity. Nehemiah recorded his observations about people treading on wine presses, bringing sheaves, and loading donkeys, grapes, wine, and figs on the Sabbath (12:15), and spoke of the distress this caused him.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The original commandment to observe Shabbat is vague: \u201cGuard the Sabbath to keep the Sabbath \u2013 <\/span>v\u2019shamru et haShabbat l\u2019asot et haShabbat<\/span><\/em>\u201d<\/span><\/i> (Exodus 31:16). It lacks specificity.\u00a0 Since this directive immediately follows the instructions for building the tabernacle, our sages decided that keeping Shabbat is aligned with not doing the kind of work that was involved in that construction \u2013 generally categorized into 39 different kinds of work. But beyond that, it has been up to our rabbinical leaders to delineate the specifics, and Nehemiah lays the groundwork for the set of Shabbat laws known as \u201c<\/span>muktzah<\/span><\/em>\u201d \u2013 items that are set aside and not to be handled on Shabbat.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The Talmud (Shabbat 123b) teaches that in this first instance of <\/span>muktzah<\/span><\/em> regulations, Nehemiah mandated that any object not specifically required for Shabbat be deemed <\/span>muktzah<\/span><\/em> except for three \u2013cake knives, spoons, and table knives \u2013 the utensils Necessary for eating. (Evidently cake has always been a necessity of life.) As time went on, and future generations became more vigilant in Sabbath observance, these restrictions were eased, little by little, until eventually and until today, we have a relatively short list of items that are <\/span>muktzah<\/span><\/em>, rather than only three items that are not.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The tactic of creating a very restrictive condition and eventually easing it, is a perfect example of what I previously mentioned in my post<\/span> Wisdom of Mind and Heart<\/span><\/a>. Maimonides\u2019 Golden Mean recognizes that sometimes moving from one extreme (in this case a wholesale desecration of Shabbat) to another (touching almost nothing) is the only way to break free of ingrained habits. But the goal of starting with an extreme is to land in the middle.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Nehemiah\u2019s focus on the minutiae of Shabbat laws is in keeping with his role as the spiritual leader of this new incarnation of the Jewish nation.\u00a0 It\u2019s been a long, hard slog to get where they are at this point in Jewish history. Rest has not been a given in their lives. As pointed out in a primer on <\/span>muktzah<\/span><\/em> from<\/span> chabad.org<\/span><\/a>, rest is, in fact, an unnatural state. The natural world is in perpetual motion, from the smallest of atoms to plants, animals, humans, the planet, and galaxies. To rest is a gift from God - a gift that should not be taken cavalierly. By putting into place some safeguards (<\/span>v\u2019shamru<\/span><\/em>), Nehemiah helped us all to hold on to the gift of Shabbat.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

 <\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":98746,"alt":"","title":"neh13-fence","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/neh13-fence.png","width":1920,"height":732,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/neh13-fence-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/neh13-fence-300x114.png","medium-width":300,"medium-height":114,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/neh13-fence-768x293.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":293,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/neh13-fence-1024x390.png","large-width":1024,"large-height":390,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/neh13-fence.png","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":586,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/neh13-fence.png","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":732,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/neh13-fence-1200x458.png","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":458,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/neh13-fence-1102x420.png","home_baner-width":1102,"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":"Nehemiah And The Laws Of Muktzah","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"A historical perspective on one of the earliest extra \u2018safeguards\u2019 of Shabbat","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":98746,"alt":"","title":"neh13-fence","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/neh13-fence.png","width":1920,"height":732,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/neh13-fence-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/neh13-fence-300x114.png","medium-width":300,"medium-height":114,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/neh13-fence-768x293.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":293,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/neh13-fence-1024x390.png","large-width":1024,"large-height":390,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/neh13-fence.png","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":586,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/neh13-fence.png","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":732,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/neh13-fence-1200x458.png","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":458,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/neh13-fence-1102x420.png","home_baner-width":1102,"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":"Nehemiah","chapter":"13","chapter_main_number":"864","date":"20281220","wall_id":"864"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":4,"id":"98735","color":"#f7f7f5","size":"1","name":"To Be Remembered ","post_title":"To Be Remembered","slug":"to-be-remembered","old_id":"98735","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":"864","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"By God, by people, by history\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

In chapter 13, Nehemiah seems obsessed with remembrances. After spending time trying to right the ship in Jerusalem, Nehemiah must return to the palace. During his time away the people quickly revert to their bad behavior. They buy food on Shabbat, and Sanballat and Tobiah\u2019s relatives in the priesthood are letting them sleep in the Temple. Nehemiah must rush back and start from scratch. <\/span>\u201c<\/b>O my God, remember me favorably for this...'' (verse 14), \u201cO my God, remember it to my credit!\u201d (verse 31), \u201cRemember to their discredit, O my God, how they polluted the priesthood, the covenant of the priests and Levites\u201d (verse 29).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Why the need to ask God to remember him for good twice, and for God to remember the perpetrators for evil? As we have seen throughout the book, Nehemiah had a very extensive knowledge of past leaders, their failings and successes. Nehemiah is not calling out to God for his own personal glory. Perhaps Nehemiah is alluding to God remembering the Israelites in Egypt. \u201cGod heard their moaning, and God remembered His covenant with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob\u201d (Ex. 2:24), or the later prayer of Moses after the Golden calf \u201cRemember Your servants, Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, how You\u2026 said to them: I will make your offspring as numerous as the stars of heaven, and I will give to your offspring this whole land of which I spoke, to possess forever\u201d (Ex. 34:13). Nehemiah wants God to remember the good that he is trying to do with the people so that God will remember the covenant yet again, and assist in the return to Jerusalem.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Perhaps Nehemiah is calling out to God to give him strength against his enemies just as Samson called out to God to help him defeat the Philistines. \u201cThen Samson called to the LORD, \u2018O Lord GOD! Please remember me, and give me strength just this once, O God, to take revenge of the Philistines...\u2019\u201d (Judges 16:28).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Perhaps he is mimicking the more recent call of Jeremiah for salvation. \u201cO LORD, you know\u2014Remember me and take thought of me, Avenge me on those who persecute me; Do not yield to Your patience<\/span>. <\/span><\/i>Do not let me perish! Consider how I have borne insult On Your account\u201d (Jeremiah 15:15).<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Perhaps Nehemiah chose to end his book, the chronologically final book of Tanach, with a simple message for future generations. Try. Try your hardest in the face of adversity to move the nation forward. These simple steps, even if not entirely successful, will be remembered by the Almighty.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":50797,"alt":"","title":"dt16-remember","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt16-remember.jpg","width":1920,"height":577,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt16-remember-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt16-remember-300x90.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":90,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt16-remember-768x231.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":231,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt16-remember-1024x308.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":308,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt16-remember.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":462,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt16-remember.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":577,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt16-remember-1200x361.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":361,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt16-remember-1398x420.jpg","home_baner-width":1398,"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":"To Be Remembered","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"By God, by people, by history","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":50797,"alt":"","title":"dt16-remember","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt16-remember.jpg","width":1920,"height":577,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt16-remember-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt16-remember-300x90.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":90,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt16-remember-768x231.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":231,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt16-remember-1024x308.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":308,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt16-remember.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":462,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt16-remember.jpg","2048x2048-width":1920,"2048x2048-height":577,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt16-remember-1200x361.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":361,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/dt16-remember-1398x420.jpg","home_baner-width":1398,"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":"Nehemiah","chapter":"13","chapter_main_number":"864","date":"20281220","wall_id":"864"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":5,"id":"98732","color":"#f6edf6","size":"1","name":"The Sabbath Desecrator ","post_title":"The Sabbath Desecrator","slug":"the-sabbath-desecrator-2","old_id":"98732","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":"864","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Late Friday afternoons \/ In the restaurant of regret \/ Remorse comes to me \/ Punctually\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

\u201cThen I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said unto them, 'What is this evil thing that you do, to profane the Sabbath day?\u201d<\/em> (Nehemiah 13:18)<\/p>\r\n

Late Friday afternoons
\r\nIn the restaurant of regret,
\r\nRemorse comes to me
\r\nPunctually,
\r\nLike a dutiful waiter.
\r\nWhen I open the menu,
\r\nAll the words flee
\r\nQuickly, like cockroaches in the night
\r\nWhen a light is suddenly turned on.
\r\nI am left holding a mirror,
\r\nIn which I see a skeleton
\r\nWith no kippah and no tallit.<\/p>\r\n

Remorse bends over and whispers in my ear,
\r\nAs if he were my long-lost twin brother
\r\nRevealing a secret,
\r\n\u201cYou\u2019re not a real Jew.\u201d
\r\nHe shows me how the maitre-d
\r\nHas turned his back on me,
\r\nHow candles refuse to burn
\r\nAt my table.<\/p>\r\n

Remorse gives me a seat by a bay-window
\r\nOverlooking the sea; I watch
\r\nA red sun sink and drown
\r\nIn an ocean of acid.
\r\nThe restaurant quivers, as in an earthquake;
\r\nWill I too fall into this ocean,
\r\nUnable to call out
\r\n\u201cShma Yisrael\u201d?<\/p>\r\n

On Friday evenings
\r\nIn the restaurant of regret,
\r\nThere is no music and no heat;
\r\nI shiver
\r\nLike a winter\u2019s tree in a snowstorm,
\r\nWithout my children for leaves,
\r\nWithout my fathers for roots.<\/p>\r\n

On Friday nights
\r\nIn the restaurant of regret,
\r\nI am brought nothing to eat;
\r\nWhen I ask the waiter why,
\r\nRemorse shrugs his shoulder and replies
\r\nConfidentially,
\r\n\u201cSorry, you\u2019re not kosher.\u201d<\/p>\r\n

If only I could eat home-cooked food again.<\/p>\r\n

But the door to the House of Israel
\r\nIs locked
\r\nFor me.<\/p>\r\n

If I knock at the kitchen window,
\r\nIs there a chance
\r\nSomeone will open it?<\/p>\r\n

Will I ever taste again
\r\nThe Shabbat challot my mother used to bake
\r\nEvery Friday afternoon?<\/p>\r\n

Image: Nighthawks by Edward Hopper, 1942 \/ wikipedia (public domain)<\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":98733,"alt":"","title":"neh13-Nighthawks_by_Edward_Hopper_1942","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/neh13-Nighthawks_by_Edward_Hopper_1942.jpg","width":1024,"height":559,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/neh13-Nighthawks_by_Edward_Hopper_1942-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/neh13-Nighthawks_by_Edward_Hopper_1942-300x164.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":164,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/neh13-Nighthawks_by_Edward_Hopper_1942-768x419.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":419,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/neh13-Nighthawks_by_Edward_Hopper_1942-1024x559.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":559,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/neh13-Nighthawks_by_Edward_Hopper_1942.jpg","1536x1536-width":1024,"1536x1536-height":559,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/neh13-Nighthawks_by_Edward_Hopper_1942.jpg","2048x2048-width":1024,"2048x2048-height":559,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/neh13-Nighthawks_by_Edward_Hopper_1942.jpg","post_full_size-width":1024,"post_full_size-height":559,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/neh13-Nighthawks_by_Edward_Hopper_1942-769x420.jpg","home_baner-width":769,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"929 Poetry Corner","tile_main_caption":"The Sabbath Desecrator","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Late Friday afternoons \/ In the restaurant of regret \/ Remorse comes to me \/ Punctually","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":98733,"alt":"","title":"neh13-Nighthawks_by_Edward_Hopper_1942","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/neh13-Nighthawks_by_Edward_Hopper_1942.jpg","width":1024,"height":559,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/neh13-Nighthawks_by_Edward_Hopper_1942-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/neh13-Nighthawks_by_Edward_Hopper_1942-300x164.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":164,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/neh13-Nighthawks_by_Edward_Hopper_1942-768x419.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":419,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/neh13-Nighthawks_by_Edward_Hopper_1942-1024x559.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":559,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/neh13-Nighthawks_by_Edward_Hopper_1942.jpg","1536x1536-width":1024,"1536x1536-height":559,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/neh13-Nighthawks_by_Edward_Hopper_1942.jpg","2048x2048-width":1024,"2048x2048-height":559,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/neh13-Nighthawks_by_Edward_Hopper_1942.jpg","post_full_size-width":1024,"post_full_size-height":559,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/neh13-Nighthawks_by_Edward_Hopper_1942-769x420.jpg","home_baner-width":769,"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":"Nehemiah","chapter":"13","chapter_main_number":"864","date":"20281220","wall_id":"864"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":6,"id":"98727","color":"#faeed8","size":"1","name":"Buy - And Sell - Nothing Day ","post_title":"Buy - And Sell - Nothing Day","slug":"buy-and-sell-nothing-day","old_id":"98727","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":"864","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Nehemiah is adamant\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":"

13:22 \u201cAnd I castigated them and said to them, \u2018Why do you spend the night in front of the wall? If you do it again, I will lay hands on you.\u2019\u201d From that time, they did not come on the sabbath.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Although the merchants remain on the outside, their persistence in staying close to the wall suggests that they may be looking for a moment during the sabbath when they might slip inside, perhaps if the closed gates are left slightly ajar by would-be trading partners within. Hence Nehemiah\u2019s fury.<\/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":"Buy - 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    \r\n\t
  1. By the book<\/em>. Just as with the holiday of Sukkot in chapter 8, this chapter also refers to the Torah law. This time it is the prohibitions on intermarriage with the Ammonites and the Moabites, quoted practically verbatim from Deut. 23:4-6.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t
  2. Tobiah, Eliashib, Joiada, Sanballat<\/em>. The connections between the priests and Tobiah the Ammonite (verse 7), And Sanballat the Horite, the leadership of the neighboring peoples, which include marital connections (verse 28), show that there was opposition to Ezra and Nehemiah\u2019s policy of separation - and they are not a fringe group.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t
  3. Royal precedent<\/em>. In reproving the people for their intermarriages (\u201cI censured them, cursed them, flogged them, tore out their hair, and adjured them by God, saying, \u2018You shall not give your daughters in marriage to their sons, or take any of their daughters for your sons or yourselves\u2019\u201d) Nehemiah mentions the precedent of Solomon, a great and noble king who nevertheless was led to sin because of his foreign unions.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t
  4. Grand finale<\/em>. The closing words of the Nehemiah, and the book of Nehemiah, \u201cO my God, remember it to my credit!\u201d (verse 31), are his signature on the impressive painting that the book has painted for us. It is a picture of a leader who is driven to fulfill national missions, for which he worked tirelessly. He not only wanted history to remember, but also, and perhaps mainly, his God.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t
  5. Chazak\u2026<\/em> Another book done! Into the home stretch. Tomorrow - 1 Chronicles. And if you count 1 & 2 Chronicles as one book - we\u2019ve arrived at the last book of the Tanach.<\/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":"Nehemiah 13","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":"Nehemiah","chapter":"13","chapter_main_number":"864","date":"20281220","wall_id":"864"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":8,"id":"98545","color":"#effaea","size":"1","name":"Sefaria Source Sheets - Nehemiah 13 ","post_title":"Sefaria Source Sheets - Nehemiah 13","slug":"sefaria-source-sheets-nehemiah-13","old_id":"98545","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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    \u201cThe Forgotten Bible: Ezra, Nehemiah and Intermarriage\u201d<\/a> by Benjamin Adler: When the Torah is forgotten what are the first restrictions to go?<\/p>\r\n

    \u201cAm I Jewish?\u201d<\/a> by Evan Krame: What defines a Jew?<\/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 - Nehemiah 13","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":"Nehemiah","chapter":"13","chapter_main_number":"864","date":"20281220","wall_id":"864"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false}],"hide_acf":true,"home_image":false,"home_posts":false,"home_posts_title":"","posts_home":[],"static_cube_title":"","static_cube_brief":"","static_cube_color":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/wall\/98316"}],"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=98316"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}