{"id":4207,"date":"2018-09-25T12:27:06","date_gmt":"2018-09-25T12:27:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/batkol.info\/?p=4207"},"modified":"2018-09-25T12:27:06","modified_gmt":"2018-09-25T12:27:06","slug":"parashat-chol-hamoed-sukkot","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ratisbonne.org.il\/bk\/2018\/09\/25\/parashat-chol-hamoed-sukkot\/","title":{"rendered":"Parashat Chol HaMo\u2019ed Sukkot"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\n
\n
<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

Shabbat Table Talk<\/strong><\/p>\n

Parashat Chol HaMo\u2019ed Sukkot – Erev Shabbat 28th September 2018<\/strong><\/p>\n

Week of 23rd \u2013 29th September, 2018<\/strong><\/p>\n

Torah Portion: Exodus 33:12-34:26 Haftarah: Ezekiel 38.18-39.16<\/strong><\/p>\n

Theme: In Crisis, Creation Takes Place<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n

 <\/p>\n

Download<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"Today\u2019s readings fall on the 20th of Tishrei of Sukkot VI. At first glance, we might not see the connection of the Torah portion with today\u2019s Haftarah, and it is worthwhile to see these readings\u2019 close connection. The Israelites in both accounts of the book can be said were in their troubled times, that is in exile: in the wilderness in Exodus, and a seemingly \u201cwilderness\u201d in Babylon at the time of Ezekiel. Nonetheless, there is a promise of an exodus, a \u201cdrawing out\u201d and this settles them to their \u201chome\u201d, to the Promised Land and a return to Israel. In this case, both readings depict, exile and exodus, of a promise, of G-d\u2019s presence, and of hope. Let us appreciate the readings\u2019 parallelism.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

It was on the mountain that G-d manifested the Divine presence to Moses, when the latter requested G-d to include in the Divine favor the entire people of Israel. Surely, G-d promises to bestow favor on the people and this is sealed with a covenant. Moses, I suppose made the plea in solidarity with his people who seem to experience a sense of loss and are on the edge of hopelessness. G-d\u2019s assurance of the Divine presence in the midst of crisis through the covenant is enough for them to move forward and hope for the moment. The people must remember the covenant with G-d to sustain them through their sojourn in the \u201cwild\u201d. The Israelites who are in \u201cexile\u201d will soon experience \u201cexodus\u201d from the unsafe territory to a land flowing with milk and honey. On the one hand, Ezekiel assures the people of a return to Jerusalem, for they who are in exile will soon find themselves in \u201cexodus\u201d. Ezekiel\u2019s prophecy is to bring hope to the people and portrays a dramatic and graphic pictorial of G-d\u2019s redemptive action, which is fiery and furious towards Gog (which in Hebrew means, \u201cmountain\u201d). Gog\u2019s downfall and destruction will manifest Israel\u2019s G-d, but more that this is a revelation of the Divine presence, not on a mountain but against Gog (mountain). Ezekiel describes the destruction that is apocalyptic beginning with a terrible earthquake, mountains overthrown, cliffs topple and walls crumble, there will be pestilence and bloodshed, torrential rains, hailstones and sulfurous fire. It seems that they who are in exile are being prepared for their future exodus from crisis, and it matters that the land be cleansed, for them to start anew.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

How can we make sense of this in our lives today? There are varied ways to seeing all these, yet I would like to focus on Gog, which as mentioned above also means \u201cmountain\u201d. A mountain can represent either our inflated ego or humongous crises in life; and in both cases, we can fail to sense G-d\u2019s reality in our midst, because the mountain has blocked our sight of the Divine presence. We could forget that G-d is on \u201ctop\u201d of everything, thus we at times will be tempted to lose hope and even doubt G-d\u2019s presence. Yet G-d\u2019s way for us to see the Divine presence is to allow a quake that will crumble, swipe and consume to ashes our worries, crises, or inflated ego. It is only when we crash that we see and know where we stand, and who stand beside us, who never fail to lift us up, gives us a chance to begin anew.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Remember: God\u2019s presence to Israel is not a promise, but a reality, which forever will be a guarantee. In crises, or troubled times, hope sustains, because G-d remains.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Reflection and Discussion: 1. What is the \u201cGog\u201d in my life? 2. Are you experiencing as sort of \u201cexile\u201d today? Is this about your relationship with others, self-struggle, a decision to make, emotional turmoil, or something else (identify it)? 3. How do you want G-d to intervene in this poignant point in your life? (Suggestion: express all to G-d, who will sustain, and who surely remains)<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

This week\u2019s Chol HaMo\u2019ed Sukkot Commentary was prepared by<\/p>\n

Kristine Meneses, Ph.D., Philippines; Bat Kol Alumna 2016<\/p>\n

Email address: krstn.rw@gmail.com<\/p>\n

[Copyright \u00a9 2018]<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026.\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026..\u2026\u2026<\/p>\n

PLEASE NOTE: The weekly Parashah commentaries represent the research and creative thought of their authors, and are meant to stimulate deeper thinking about the meaning of the Scriptures. While they draw upon the study methods and sources employed by the Bat Kol Institute, the views and conclusions expressed in these commentaries are solely those of their authors, and do not necessarily represent the views of Bat Kol. The commentaries, along with all materials published on the Bat Kol website, are copyrighted by the writers, and are made available for personal and group study, and local church purposes. Permission needed for other purposes. Questions, comments and feedback are always welcome.<\/p>\n

\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026….\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Bat Kol Institute for Jewish Studies, Jerusalem<\/p>\n

1983-2018<\/p>\n

\u201cChristians Studying the Bible within its Jewish milieu, using Jewish Sources.\u201d<\/p>\n

Website: www.batkol.info Parashat Admin: gill@batkol.info<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

@import url(https:\/\/www.ratisbonne.org.il\/bk\/wp-content\/plugins\/siteorigin-panels\/css\/front-flex.min.css); #pgc-4207-0-0 , #pgc-4207-0-2 { width:10%;width:calc(10% – ( 0.9 * 30px ) ) } #pgc-4207-0-1 { width:80%;width:calc(80% – ( 0.2 * 30px ) ) } #pl-4207 #panel-4207-0-1-0 { } #pl-4207 .so-panel { margin-bottom:30px } #pl-4207 .so-panel:last-child { margin-bottom:0px } #pg-4207-0.panel-no-style, #pg-4207-0.panel-has-style > .panel-row-style { -webkit-align-items:flex-start;align-items:flex-start } @media (max-width:780px){ #pg-4207-0.panel-no-style, #pg-4207-0.panel-has-style > .panel-row-style { -webkit-flex-direction:column;-ms-flex-direction:column;flex-direction:column } #pg-4207-0 .panel-grid-cell { margin-right:0 } #pg-4207-0 .panel-grid-cell { width:100% } #pgc-4207-0-0 , #pgc-4207-0-1 { margin-bottom:30px } #pl-4207 .panel-grid-cell { padding:0 } #pl-4207 .panel-grid .panel-grid-cell-empty { display:none } #pl-4207 .panel-grid .panel-grid-cell-mobile-last { margin-bottom:0px } } <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Shabbat Table Talk Parashat Chol HaMo\u2019ed Sukkot – Erev Shabbat 28th September 2018 Week of 23rd \u2013 29th September, 2018 Torah Portion: Exodus 33:12-34:26 Haftarah: Ezekiel 38.18-39.16 Theme: In Crisis, Creation Takes Place   Download   Today\u2019s readings fall on the 20th of Tishrei of Sukkot VI. At first glance, we might not see the…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":46,"featured_media":4208,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ghostkit_customizer_options":"","ghostkit_custom_css":"","ghostkit_custom_js_head":"","ghostkit_custom_js_foot":"","ghostkit_typography":"","_coblocks_attr":"","_coblocks_dimensions":"","_coblocks_responsive_height":"","_coblocks_accordion_ie_support":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ratisbonne.org.il\/bk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4207"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ratisbonne.org.il\/bk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ratisbonne.org.il\/bk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ratisbonne.org.il\/bk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/46"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ratisbonne.org.il\/bk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4207"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.ratisbonne.org.il\/bk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4207\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ratisbonne.org.il\/bk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4208"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ratisbonne.org.il\/bk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4207"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ratisbonne.org.il\/bk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4207"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ratisbonne.org.il\/bk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4207"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}