Just a Review

I just wanted to go over basically what we learned in class a few days ago.

Okay, so we learned about the 1st few years of the reign of Chizkiyahu, with the religious revival and everything, and then we began to learn about the time around the 6th year of the reign of Chizkiyahu when Shomron is exiled and Yehuda stops being a vassal state to Assyria.

We recently learned about Ravshakeh being sent by the king of Assyria to Yerushalayim to engage in psychological warfare with the people of B'nai Yisrael there. He gathered three officers in the Jewish area and told them to tell his message to Chizkiyahu. His goal was to make the Jews doubt their political and religious security and to convince them to surrender to Assyria. He tries to make them doubt their political security when he says in Perek Lamed Vav, Pasuk Daled that the King of Assyria is the greatest king in the world- no other king is nearly as good. He also tries to make them believe that when he says that whoever trusts in Egypt will be let down, and hurt by the trust. The king of Egypt is like a broken reed that is falling apart. Ravshakeh also says that the B'nai Yisrael can't trust in Chizkiyahu because he will not be able to save them.

Ravshakeh wants to make the B'na Yisrael doubt their religious security, and he shows this by telling the messengers to say to Chizkiyahu and the people that a: if Chizkiyahu will tell the people that HaShem will save Yerushalayim, why did He not save Shomron? Also, no other gods were able to save their nations from the might of Assyria, including that of Shomron. He is saying that Chas V'Shlaom, Assyria is stronger and greater than HaShem. He also tells the messenger s to tell the B'nai Yisrael that if they expect HaShem to help them anyway, they are wrong to think that He will because He is angry at the B'nai Yisrael because Chizkiyahu took away the bamot that were being used to serve HaShem. It could be seen as a sort of betrayal. Ravshakeh also says that HaShem told him to destroy them. That would be something pretty scary for the B'nai Yisrael to hear.

Ravshakeh also tries to convince the Jews to surrender to Assyria. He said that if they surrendered, everything would be provided for them and everything would be good.

I added some of my own ideas and thoughts into here. If you disagree, I would love to hear what you have to say.

פרקים ט-י

Perek ט- This Perek talks about the destruction of Shomron. Why? Isn't Yeshayahu talking to the people of Yehuda? Yeshayahu is describing the destruction of Shomron so that the people of Yehuda can see that sins get you destroyed. The people of Shomron also had pride and arrogance stemming from their hubris, and as punishment the nations surrounding Shomron will attack.

First there was a warning, the people didn't listen, so now the leaders will be attacked- the leaders and false prophets, who cause the people to sin. But everyone will be subject to G-d's anger, everyone is doing wrong. They will be treated as a nation,  and no one will be spared- there is no running away.
Yeshayahu emphasizes tzedek and mishpat to show the people of Yehuda that Shomron lacked tzedek and mishpat, and they were destroyed, and you (yehuda) lack tzedek and mishpat, so you will be destroyed as well. there is potential punishment.

Perek י-  This perek is addressed to the people of Ashur, but the audience is the Jews. To Ashur the message is: Yes, Ashur, you're powerful, but through G-d. You are His rod of anger. His tool. After Shomron, Yehuda is next... This Perek shows that Hashem is in control, a message for both Ashur and Yehuda.

After that we zoomed through to perek Lamed Vav! The other prakim were messages for nations of the world, and as the year is kind of almost over we must stay with out story!

Well, if anyone wants to add something I missed or comment on how the people of yehuda seem not to get the message.... other than Chezkiyahu! 

Back on Track- Yeshayahu, Achaz- Making Connections

There were four kings who lived during the time that Yeshayahu prophesized: 1] Ooziyahu 2] Yotam 3] Achaz 4] Chezkiyahu. Now, whenever we had a king ruling there were different ways to judge his success. For instance, with Ooziyahu we saw economic prosperity, political control with expanded borders, and religiously the people were giving korbanot all of the time. Personally, the king became haughty and tried to burn incense, and in return he was punished with tzaraat. Yotam had lessened economic activity, politically Retzin melech Aram and Pekech formed an alliance against him, and Yotam was very religious and tried to refurbish the Beit Hamikdash. Achaz, when he became king, saw how good his father was, and also saw that things weren't so favorable for him. So he decided that Hashem and Judaism was ridiculous- he did moolech, built an alter based on an Assyrian one, and makes an alliance with Assyria against Pekach and Retzin, indicating he had more faith in man than in G-d. [Refresher- he makes this alliance because he does not want Pekach and Retzin to destroy him.] In Prakim Zein-Tet, we see events that take place during Achaz's time.

Retzin and Pekach are trying to attack Yehuda, and the people of Yehuda become scared. Meanwhile, Yeshayahu is a prophet in the kings court, living with his wife and children. Yeshayahu goes to Achaz and gives him advice- don't panic, they can't destroy you, remain neutral! Do not form an alliance. Then Hashem sends a message through Yeshayahu to Achaz, telling him that he can recieve a sign. Achaz mockingly replies that he does not need a sign, because he has such immense faith in G-d. So Yeshayahu says, "Well I am giving you a sign! My wife will have a son named Emmanuel, which means G-d is with us. And everytime his name is called you will hear."

That is what we have done so far. We are in the midst of going over these very shady Perakim, trying to understand the importance of the names of some children that appear, and whether or not eating butter and honey is a good thing, or bad thing for young Emmanuel. When we have covered the Perakim all the way, I hope to post something that makes more sense not only to you readers, but to the whole navi class.

Stay tuned for more on the meaning of the names, and the fate of Achaz the Terrible.....

A friendly gesture

Just a thought I had-

I was sitting with my computer yesterday just looking on facebook to see what my old friends were up to and someone chatted me on ichat. I hardly ever really have a full conversation so I wasn't really going to respond. (side point: this is a person from here) a few minutes later I decided it would not be nice to ignore this person who was trying to become friends with me. I chatted her back, responding hi to her hey. Then she asked why I had been sad that day. I know it sounds stupid but that simple little outreach of her interested in my feeling meant so much to me. Anyway we somehow got into a conversation about our families, past experiences, and hardships we have been through. Me being like an open book was not about to keep any secrets about my past nor did I have a reason to. I answered her questions and in return she answered mine. I learned so much about this person including that she has been through some of the tough situations similar to mine. She then made a statement to me (that I am not going to write because I don't want to embarrass anyone or anything). From this statement though I learned that people are sometimes not as "strong" as they seem. As I thought about it more and more I remembered someone older than me telling me something which was people often put up a strong wall but crumble the wall and you have a sensitive, week, sad soul who probably needs someone to talk to or even someone to just show some interest in them. After we finished chatting I though about how this nice it was to know that someone knew somewhat what I was going through and that this person could relate to me if I ever needed someone to talk to. As a result to our chat we are now friends which we weren't really before. I am glad we had that chat because it helped us learn something about each other and also allowed us to become friends.

Moving here has definitely taught me a lot. Since I got here I have been having a hard time not having anything to do and being bored. I have also been a little sad because of not having my friends here to hang out with. My mother has been suggesting that maybe I need to reach out to other people and not just wait until they reach out to me. Admittedly I was just too lazy and didn't exactly.

After hearing how this girl and me are similar I realized that I do have to do some of the work. This brings me to my connection to Navi. Sometimes we are too lazy to do everything that Judaism expects of us. Believe me I get lazy all the time. I don't care about Brachas on food before I eat them, I just want to eat or I am not in the mood to Daven leave me alone. But then I remember all the things Hashem has done for us and how little time out of my day it takes to thank Him. Everyday we Daven for only about 50 minutes including Mincha. Hashem has spent way more time on us then that.

The people of Yishayahu's time didn't care about all the miracles, saviors, hard work, and care Hashem has put into getting every single person to the place they are today. It makes me sad and a little uneasy to know the people of Yishayahu's time didn't care enough. Making Hashem so angry that he had to punish them.

(Thank you to everyone who has reached out and made me feel welcomed here, I really appreciate it greatly.)

Just an Observation

Just some observations that I found funny, but everything in life seems to lead back to school, especially Navi.

In chumash the other day we were talking about the B'nai Yisrael and Mrs. Wittlin made a reference to how they "saw but didn't perceive, and heard but didn't understand."

Also, in one of the Chumash audio shiurs we have to listen to, it talked about Moshe Rabbeinu being accused of hubris. It also talked about how Yeshayahu was different from most Nevi'im because he volunteered to go to the Jews, whereas most of the Nevi'im, including Moshe Rabbeinu, were reluctant to go and didn't seem so happy about it.

At my house one night, Alex came over to study or something, and we just started talking and joking about some of the stuff we had learned in Navi a few days before like how the Jews were so far gone. I also was looking for an outlet to plug my computer charger into and there was one right in front of me but I didn't realize. We joked that I saw it, but didn't actually perceive that it was there. (I know that isn't the kind of thing Yeshayahu meant when he said that to the nation, but I thought it was sort of relevant.) It was actually really funny. I thought you would enjoy that Mrs. Perl, but I forgot to post it until now.

Navi Class and Some Random Thoughts

Ok. So in Navi we have been talking about the three or possibly four sons Yeshayahu has and will have who are named certain names as a sign to Achaz and also to the nation. They will be two different kinds of signs: a sign of what will happen, and a reminder to Achaz of something because whenever he will say their name he will be saying what HaShem and Yeshayahu want him to know and understand. Like with Sha'ar Yashuv, his name means "the remainder will return" the implication of this though, is that the nation would have to leave in the first place, and some of them would have to perish for there to be a remainder who would return.

Also, a sort of random thought, but I think there may be a connection between the Navi saying that Immanuel would be eating butter and honey and the fact that the land of Eretz Yisrael is referred to as the "land flowing with milk and honey". (I can't take full credit for this, as Emma helped me come up with the part about the butter from milk part below.) When we talk about the land flowing with milk and honey, some people say that the honey is referring to date honey. Also, butter comes from milk. So regardless of whether the honey is date honey or bees' honey, it seems like there is a connection between Immanuel eating butter and honey and Eretx Yisrael being referred to as the "land flowing with milk and honey". Maybe this is a reference to/ emphasis on the fact that we will for sure get the land of Israel back to keep forever.

Ok! Let me know what you think!

Recent Philosophical Conversations

(Please read the entire thing before commenting.)

So Zahava, (correct me if I'm wrong), you were wondering why do we have to be a chosen nation, and thinking that it is not fair to us to have to follow what our ancestors thousands of years ago decided. I was talking on the phone about school to Rabbi Shmidman in Philadelphia and my own Rabbi, Rabbi Yammer, and the subject of Navi came up. Here is what they said:

According to Rabbi Shmidman, our relationship with Hashem is like owning a car. Driving that car is a great privilege. You can go anywhere you want in that car, however you want, as long as you follow certain rules. By buying that car, you agreed to the responsibility of not speeding, driving on a specific side of the road, etc.

Praising Hashem and following his laws is a gift from Hashem. We earned this gift by recognizing Hashem in all of his glory. Think about it. There are some things in life that you do, that only Jews do, that can truly make you stop and think, "Wow, this is the work of Hashem". As such, we received the gift of being able to be His beloved nation, with a special relationship. This gift came with the responsibility of being an "or lagoim". In Shir HaShirim, the relationship between us and Hashem is referred to as romantic, even.

In answer to the "it's not fair" point, firstly he (Rabbi Shmidman) says it is dangerous to play Hashem, and say why He does what He does. He goes on to say that many people will tell you that we, the Jews, the chosen people, are automatically better than everyone else, that they are intrinsically inferior. This is not true. One reason that we can be punished much harsher for things than the non-Jews is that we are aware of what we are doing and the consequences. The other nations do not have the same awareness of Hashem that we do, and this enables and requires us to become an "or lagoim", a light unto the nations so that our world can continue to have a relationship with our creator and G-d.

Rabbi Yammer says something a little different. He turned the question of "why are we the chosen nation" right back at me. Imagine you are trying to chose a group of people. What traits are you looking for? For me I would be looking for real, honest people that I can trust to listen to me. Think about Avraham. Do those words not describe him perfectly. He was honest and he listened to Hashem, but he also had a mind of his own, and stood up for what he believed was right.

As for the question of "why are we punished", there is a saying, "you only hurt the ones you love". This sums up our relationship with Hashem. Because He loves us, He has to punish us every now and then, just to keep us straight. Just like when with your close friends you are going to be more honest with them, then with people you just met. Judaism isn't for everyone. There are definitely good Christians and Muslims and Buddhists in the world. And for that they go to heaven. But we have a different relationship. We are closer with Hashem, and as such He is closer with us.

Pascal's Wager

Ok. So we were talking in class today about all of Zahava's questions on life and religion and Mr's Perl told us to look up Pascal's Wager, so I did. Here it is for everyone else, according to wikipedia, and below are my thoughts on it.

Pascal's Wager (or Pascal's Gambit) is a suggestion posed by the French philosopher, mathematician and physicist Blaise Pascal that, even though the existence of God cannot be determined through reason, a person should wager as though God exists, because living life accordingly has everything to gain, and nothing to lose. Pascal formulated his suggestion uniquely on the God of Jesus Christ as implied by the greater context of his Pensées, a posthumously (after the death of the author) published collection of notes made by Pascal in his last years as he worked on a treatise on Christian apologetics. However, some argue that Pascal's Wager also applies to gods of other religions and belief systems.

Pascal states, however, that some do not have the ability to believe. In this case, he directs them to live as though they had faith, which may lead them to belief. The Wager was set out in note 233 of his Pensées.

Historically, Pascal's Wager was groundbreaking as it had charted new territory in probability theory, was one of the first attempts to make use of the concept of infinity, marked the first formal use of decision theory, and anticipated the future philosophies of pragmatism and voluntarism.

I agree with Pascal when he says that living life as though G-d does exist, whether you believe in him or not has much to gain. I don’t think though, that that is why a person should act that way. I think that acting as though G-d exists would give a person good morals to follow and shape them to be a respectable, upright, virtuous person. That might be a good reason to act that way. If a person says that they are only acting a certain way because it will gain them things and they won’t lose anything by acting that way, to me that just seems like an “easy A” if you know what I mean. They are not behaving that way to improve themselves or to help other but to get rewards for no reason. I do agree with Pascal when he says that acting as though there is a G-d, if they do not already actually believe, will eventually lead them to belief.

I do not agree though, when Pascal says that some people do not have ability to believe. I think that everyone is capable of believing in something once they make up their minds to. Also, when we are children we don’t know anything about anything. As we grow up people teach us to do things, and if we are born to a family of a certain religion, our parents teach us to believe in the beliefs of that religion. Otherwise, I am positive that there would be much less religious people in the world today, of any religion. Everyone would be saying that they did not believe in G-d because they “were not capable of doing so”. I think up that we all can do what we decide to do. Whether we want to believe in G-d or not depends on our conscious choice whether or not to do so.

I just put my opinions out there. . . . . . . comment to put yours!

If words could kill...

Well, this title certainly sounds like a warning against loshon hara and the embarrassment it causes. But do not be fooled by this title. If words could kill is really about: if questions so complicated and hard to answer could kill.

Today in class, we continued with the pasukim in which Hashem says, "...lest they do teshuva." Two explanations were given as to what this could possibly mean. 1) The Jews themselves are so far gone, are so stubborn and unwilling to listen, so scared of what they would hear from Yeshayahu, that they simply won't do teshuva. This means that this statement is more sarcastic- Yeshayahu go out and speak to them lest they do teshuva. Really, this is a change in mission and Yeshayahu is simply going to continue speaking to be a navi on record, for future generations to learn from.

Option 2) G-d will harden their hearts and they will not do teshuva. I was once again bothered by these words. G-d simply cannot do this, I thought. Is G-d angry? G-d, who does not have human emotions. G-d is going to take away the choice of doing teshuva by way of removing free will, and then G-d will punish them and destroy all but a remnant? What is this? Mrs. Perl justified this statement, giving an example of her and her son. If she wants to prove a point, she has to give warnings and then if her child does not listen, she walks out of the room and does not stay with him until he falls asleep. Even if he were to beg, because then she would be "weak."

I understand this statement. But I am still troubled, because I also think that though this is true, with G-d it is different. Well, we had a discussion and we got to some pretty troubling questions. Here they are. Please try to post a response to these questions, backing up or disagreeing.

• We always say Hashem does not have human emotions. And as Mrs. Wittlin said today in class, we have to be careful when explaining Hashem's actions with emotions. So what, is Hashem mad? Can He take away our free choice. I mean, clearly, Hashem is G-d, so yes, He can, but is this what we believe?
• If this is what we believe, or is in fact true, then what does that mean for us? Do we want to sit in a classroom and discuss and serve a G-d who acts like that?
• Fine, Hashem is teaching a lesson. But first off, why does He really care? I mean, they are violating Torah, but does this make Him sad? Why can't they enjoy themselves?
• Why is it fair that Jews, who are doing the same thing as every other nation in the world at the time, are going to be punished just because they are Jews? Why aren't the other nations punished? Just because they aren't Jews doesn't mean they're any less or more in the wrong. So why punish us?
• Why is there even a chosen nation? Why does G-d care about the Jews so much?
• Why can't we choose to be Jewish? At birth you are nothing and you learn all religions and choose the one that makes the most sense.
• It isn't fair for someone who is born Jewish, and is such a good, honest, moral person, but because they are Jewish will be punished for eating non kosher and not keeping shabbat. You can still be a moral person. Why should the whole nation/your family reject you because you don't believe in the same thing, but still, you're a moral person.
• Why can't there just be good people? why is it that the Jews are the one? Why are you born Jewish? 
• Okay, Hashem will destroy all but a remnant. And I know all of Israel looks out for one another and cares about one another. But let's be honest- if G-d says He will destroy all the Jews [for our purpose using example from class, sorry if you don't want your name up!] aside from Racheli, Jamie, Sharon, Alex, Emma, Mirel, and Orly, I won't care. Yay, some Jews are spared, but what about me? My family? That's no comfort to say a remnant will remain. Because honestly when it comes down to it, I want my family and lineage to survive, I'm not really concerned with the rest of the class.
• Hashem punished them to teach them a lesson but still loves them and isn't even necessarily angry. Well obviously the lesson hasn't been learned because here we are thousands of years later and we read Yeshayahu's and everyone elses prophecies, we know the sins of the people in the past, we even recognize our sins today, but we don't do anything about it and it obviously doesn't matter because there is still no mashiach

 There were other really important, pressing questions, but I can't remember them. I have them written down at school. If you remember, post as a comment.
As Mrs. Wittlin said during chumash, don't stop asking these questions until you are satisfied, because it is important.
So even though it seems like this is far off topic, each question really flows one after the other [or it did in class] to justify this pasuk.
And for other readers not in our class- that is how special our navi class is! One pasuk sparks a LOT of conversation!