burial

Found 11 Search results

  1. The Function of Shevna

    Dr. Tova Ganzel

    תאריך פרסום: תשעב | |

    In this class we will study the relationship between Shevna's act of hewing a tomb in an unsuitable location and his punishment. We will also explore how Shevna's realm of responsibility as second only to the king sheds light on our understanding of the punishment that Yeshayahu predicts for him in vv. 15-25 as a result of Shevna's construction of the tomb.

  2. The Tears of Yosef (Audio)

    Rabbi Chanoch Waxman | 22 minutes

    The description of the final days—and deaths—of Yaakov and Yosef share linguistic and symbolic similarities, but these similarities show that many details are missing in the death of Yosef. Why does his death and burial seem to involve less honor? The textual juxtaposition of these stories hints that the reason for the disparity is more than the many intervening decades. There is a message about relationships, family, and the tension between vision vs. destiny.

  3. The Legacy of Sarah

    Rabbi Alex Israel | 35 minutes

    Parashat Hayyei Sarah is comprised of three main stories: purchasing the cave, finding a wife for Isaac, and Abraham’s third marriage. Why is the Machpela purchase so lengthy? This shiur examines parshanut, literary and philosophic approaches. It emerges that this episode allows Abraham to establish roots, further ensuring that Isaac continues the legacy and values of Sarah.

  4. Tanakh in the News: An Amazing Philistine Find

    HaTanakh.com Staff

  5. Menasheh and Ephraim: Who Was Being Blessed?

    Rabbi Yitzchak Etshalom

    תאריך פרסום: תשע"ה | |

    This shiur analyzes Yaakov's vision and strategy through the lens of the penultimate blessing scene in Beresheet, drawing on parallels with other scenes of blessings or instructions involving the forefathers. Yaakov wants to create a symbiosis such that there are two counterbalancing forces within the family.

  6. Yehezkel’s Prophecy regarding Gog and Magog

    Part 2 - The Purification of the Land

    Dr. Tova Ganzel

    The corpses of the armies of Gog defile the land and must be buried in order to purify the land. However, the valley in which they are buried alludes to the valley of Ben Hinom, the valley in which children were sacrificed to Molekh. Thus, on a deeper level the prophet is hinting that the passing of children through fire - which had been common in the land - is what truly caused the land’s defilement. In addition to purifying the land from the casualties of war, this ceremony also purifies the land from the sins of the past.

    Although burying the dead bodies can stop those bodies from causing impurity, the burials cannot stop the graves from becoming a pilgrimage site. In these verses, the dead themselves become flesh for consumption. Those who consume them – the birds and the beast of the field – could have been sacrificed as offerings to the dead, while here the situation is reversed: they themselves eat the flesh and drink the blood of God’s enemies, thus ensuring that the graves do not become places of worship.

    Whereas in Yirmiyahu’s prophecy of destruction, the flesh of the sinners from the nation of Israel is eaten by the birds and the beasts of the field, in Yehezkel’s prophecy of revival it is God’s enemies who succumb to this fate.

  7. Greed or Wisdom: What is Efron Saying?

    Rabbi David Silverberg

  8. Ibn Ezra and Ramban on the Forefathers' Land in Eretz Yisrael

    Rabbi David Silverberg

  9. Hayyei Sarah: Life Cycle Events and the Land of Israel

    Rabbi Jonathan Snowbell |

    Parashat Hayyei Sarah includes significant life-cycle events, such as death, burial, (implied) mourning, and marriage. It also seems to place significance on these events taking place in Eretz Yisrael. Avraham's process of arranging for the burial for Sarah is detailed, and his efforts to also purchase a burial plot is emphasized. In addition, Avraham says in no uncertain terms that Yitzhak is not to leave the Land of Canaan, even in order to find a wife. Why is this?

     

  10. Masei - Death and Responsibility

    Rabbi Jonathan Snowbell | 12 minutes

    There are various interesting topics in Parashat Masei. After exploring a few strange pesukim and their placement within the summary of the journeys, we move on to the topic of the Cities of Refuge for the "accidental killer." It is noteworthy that at times this killer is referred to as a killer ("makkeh"), and at times as a murderer ("rotzei'ah."). This terminology relates to the ideas of responsibility that the Torah has. When using dangerous equipment, we cannot take a lackadaisical attitude - we must be very careful. One who is not sufficiently careful in life-threatening situations can be much worse than negligent.

  11. VaYishlach: Where Was Rivka?

    Rabbi Jay Kelman