Blessing for Torah Study
Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu melech ha-olam, asher kid’shanu b’mitzvotav v’tzivanu la'asok b’divrei Torah. Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Sovereign of all, who hallows us with mitzvot, charging us to engage with words of Torah.
Beginning with Our Own Torah
1) When you think of wheels, what comes to mind? What wheels do we interact with frequently and how do they function in our lives?
2) Can wheels be sacred?
Ofanim
How are wheels related to God?
(טו) וָאֵ֖רֶא הַחַיּ֑וֹת וְהִנֵּה֩ אוֹפַ֨ן אֶחָ֥ד בָּאָ֛רֶץ אֵ֥צֶל הַחַיּ֖וֹת לְאַרְבַּ֥עַת פָּנָֽיו׃ (טז) מַרְאֵ֨ה הָאוֹפַנִּ֤ים וּמַֽעֲשֵׂיהֶם֙ כְּעֵ֣ין תַּרְשִׁ֔ישׁ וּדְמ֥וּת אֶחָ֖ד לְאַרְבַּעְתָּ֑ן וּמַרְאֵיהֶם֙ וּמַ֣עֲשֵׂיהֶ֔ם כַּאֲשֶׁ֛ר יִהְיֶ֥ה הָאוֹפַ֖ן בְּת֥וֹךְ הָאוֹפָֽן׃ (יז) עַל־אַרְבַּ֥עַת רִבְעֵיהֶ֖ן בְּלֶכְתָּ֣ם יֵלֵ֑כוּ לֹ֥א יִסַּ֖בּוּ בְּלֶכְתָּֽן׃ (יח) וְגַ֨בֵּיהֶ֔ן וְגֹ֥בַהּ לָהֶ֖ם וְיִרְאָ֣ה לָהֶ֑ם וְגַבֹּתָ֗ם מְלֵאֹ֥ת עֵינַ֛יִם סָבִ֖יב לְאַרְבַּעְתָּֽן׃ (יט) וּבְלֶ֙כֶת֙ הַחַיּ֔וֹת יֵלְכ֥וּ הָאוֹפַנִּ֖ים אֶצְלָ֑ם וּבְהִנָּשֵׂ֤א הַחַיּוֹת֙ מֵעַ֣ל הָאָ֔רֶץ יִנָּשְׂא֖וּ הָאוֹפַנִּֽים׃ (כ) עַ֣ל אֲשֶׁר֩ יִֽהְיֶה־שָּׁ֨ם הָר֤וּחַ לָלֶ֙כֶת֙ יֵלֵ֔כוּ שָׁ֥מָּה הָר֖וּחַ לָלֶ֑כֶת וְהָאוֹפַנִּ֗ים יִנָּֽשְׂאוּ֙ לְעֻמָּתָ֔ם כִּ֛י ר֥וּחַ הַחַיָּ֖ה בָּאוֹפַנִּֽים׃ (כא) בְּלֶכְתָּ֣ם יֵלֵ֔כוּ וּבְעׇמְדָ֖ם יַעֲמֹ֑דוּ וּֽבְהִנָּשְׂאָ֞ם מֵעַ֣ל הָאָ֗רֶץ יִנָּשְׂא֤וּ הָאֽוֹפַנִּים֙ לְעֻמָּתָ֔ם כִּ֛י ר֥וּחַ הַחַיָּ֖ה בָּאוֹפַנִּֽים׃ (כב) וּדְמ֞וּת עַל־רָאשֵׁ֤י הַחַיָּה֙ רָקִ֔יעַ כְּעֵ֖ין הַקֶּ֣רַח הַנּוֹרָ֑א נָט֥וּי עַל־רָאשֵׁיהֶ֖ם מִלְמָֽעְלָה׃ (כג) וְתַ֙חַת֙ הָֽרָקִ֔יעַ כַּנְפֵיהֶ֣ם יְשָׁר֔וֹת אִשָּׁ֖ה אֶל־אֲחוֹתָ֑הּ לְאִ֗ישׁ שְׁתַּ֤יִם מְכַסּוֹת֙ לָהֵ֔נָּה וּלְאִ֗ישׁ שְׁתַּ֤יִם מְכַסּוֹת֙ לָהֵ֔נָּה אֵ֖ת גְּוִיֹּתֵיהֶֽם׃ (כד) וָאֶשְׁמַ֣ע אֶת־ק֣וֹל כַּנְפֵיהֶ֡ם כְּקוֹל֩ מַ֨יִם רַבִּ֤ים כְּקוֹל־שַׁדַּי֙ בְּלֶכְתָּ֔ם ק֥וֹל הֲמֻלָּ֖ה כְּק֣וֹל מַחֲנֶ֑ה בְּעׇמְדָ֖ם תְּרַפֶּ֥ינָה כַנְפֵיהֶֽן׃ (כה) וַיְהִי־ק֕וֹל מֵעַ֕ל לָרָקִ֖יעַ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עַל־רֹאשָׁ֑ם בְּעׇמְדָ֖ם תְּרַפֶּ֥ינָה כַנְפֵיהֶֽן׃ (כו) וּמִמַּ֗עַל לָרָקִ֙יעַ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עַל־רֹאשָׁ֔ם כְּמַרְאֵ֥ה אֶבֶן־סַפִּ֖יר דְּמ֣וּת כִּסֵּ֑א וְעַל֙ דְּמ֣וּת הַכִּסֵּ֔א דְּמ֞וּת כְּמַרְאֵ֥ה אָדָ֛ם עָלָ֖יו מִלְמָֽעְלָה׃ (כז) וָאֵ֣רֶא ׀ כְּעֵ֣ין חַשְׁמַ֗ל כְּמַרְאֵה־אֵ֤שׁ בֵּֽית־לָהּ֙ סָבִ֔יב מִמַּרְאֵ֥ה מׇתְנָ֖יו וּלְמָ֑עְלָה וּמִמַּרְאֵ֤ה מׇתְנָיו֙ וּלְמַ֔טָּה רָאִ֙יתִי֙ כְּמַרְאֵה־אֵ֔שׁ וְנֹ֥גַֽהּ ל֖וֹ סָבִֽיב׃ (כח) כְּמַרְאֵ֣ה הַקֶּ֡שֶׁת אֲשֶׁר֩ יִהְיֶ֨ה בֶעָנָ֜ן בְּי֣וֹם הַגֶּ֗שֶׁם כֵּ֣ן מַרְאֵ֤ה הַנֹּ֙גַהּ֙ סָבִ֔יב ה֕וּא מַרְאֵ֖ה דְּמ֣וּת כְּבוֹד־ה׳ וָֽאֶרְאֶה֙ וָאֶפֹּ֣ל עַל־פָּנַ֔י וָאֶשְׁמַ֖ע ק֥וֹל מְדַבֵּֽר׃ {פ}
(15) As I gazed on the creatures, I saw one wheel (ofan) on the ground next to each of the four-faced creatures. (16) As for the appearance and structure of the wheels (ofanim), they gleamed like beryl. All four had the same form; the appearance and structure of each was as of two wheels (ofanim) cutting through each other. (17) And when they moved, each could move in the direction of any of its four quarters; they did not veer when they moved. (18) Their rims were tall and frightening, for the rims of all four were covered all over with eyes. (19) And when the creatures moved forward, the wheels moved at their sides; and when the creatures were borne above the earth, the wheels were borne too. (20) Wherever the spirit impelled them to go, they went—wherever the spirit impelled them—and the wheels (ofanim) were borne alongside them; for the spirit of the creatures was in the wheels (ofanim). (21) When those moved, these moved; and when those stood still, these stood still; and when those were borne above the earth, the wheels (ofanim) were borne alongside them—for the spirit of the creatures was in the wheels (ofanim). (22) Above the heads of the creatures was a form: an expanse, with an awe-inspiring gleam as of crystal, was spread out above their heads. (23) Under the expanse, each had one pair of wings extended toward those of the others; and each had another pair covering its body. (24) When they moved, I could hear the sound of their wings like the sound of mighty waters, like the sound of Shaddai, a tumult like the din of an army. When they stood still, they would let their wings droop. (25) From above the expanse over their heads came a sound. When they stood still, they would let their wings droop. (26) Above the expanse over their heads was the semblance of a throne, in appearance like sapphire; and on top, upon this semblance of a throne, there was the semblance of a human form. (27) From what appeared as the loins up, I saw a gleam as of amber—what looked like a fire encased in a frame; and from what appeared as the loins down, I saw what looked like fire. There was a surrounding radiance. (28) Like the appearance of the bow that shines in the clouds on a day of rain, such was the appearance of the surrounding radiance. That was the appearance of the semblance of the Presence of GOD. When I beheld it, I flung myself down on my face. And I heard the voice of someone speaking.
Rabbi Dr. Julia Watts Belser, Loving Our Own Bones: Disability Wisdom and the Spiritual Subversiveness of Knowing Ourselves Whole
God has wheels. When I think of God on Wheels, I think of the delight I take in my own wheelchair, the satisfaction I find in my own disabled life. My wheels set me free and open up my spirit. I draw a powerful, sensual joy in tandem with my chair: the way her tires grip into asphalt or concrete, the way I lean into a curve and flow down a gentle grade, the way I feel the twinned vibration of earth and wheel through the soles of my shoes or the balls of my feet. My sense of Spirit is bound up with this bone-deep body knowledge: the way flesh flows into frame, into tire, into air. This is how the Holy moves through me, in the intricate interplay of muscle and spin, the exhilarating physicality of body and wheel.
This recognition of God on Wheels is the ground of a powerful theological claim: that God knows disability experience from the inside out. It's an affirmation that God knows and shares the pleasures of disability life and that God also knows the shape of its pain, its loneliness, its frustrations and loss. (215)
Ezekiel's angels are propelled by spirit; they move according to its direction and desire. Most readers understand this spirit as the will of God, a kind of disembodied force. But the verse uses the Hebrew word ruach, a word that literally translates as breath. It's an image that calls to mind the way some disabled folks move, using a puff of breath to power an electric wheelchair. In the Bible, ruach is God's creative force, the power of life unfolding itself.... In Ezekiel's vision, the wheels of the chariot likewise move through spirit, through the ebb and flow of the divine breath. As the heavens open for Ezekiel, the wheels are a site of awe and wonder. (219-220)
Maimonides, Guide to the Perplexed, Part III: Chapter 2, 254
He thus distinctly states that the Ofannim form a body, of which the one part touches the Hayyot, and the other part the earth; and that the Ofan has four faces....By speaking of four Ofannim, after having mentioned only one Ofan, the prophet indicates that the "four faces" and the "four Ofannim" are identical....The Hayyot are partly joined, according to the words, "they were joined one to another": whilst in reference to the Ofannim it is stated that they are partly intermixed, "as it were a wheel in the middle of a wheel."
Galgalim
What is the relationship between wheels and power?
(ט) חָזֵ֣ה הֲוֵ֗ית עַ֣ד דִּ֤י כׇרְסָוָן֙ רְמִ֔יו וְעַתִּ֥יק יוֹמִ֖ין יְתִ֑ב לְבוּשֵׁ֣הּ ׀ כִּתְלַ֣ג חִוָּ֗ר וּשְׂעַ֤ר רֵאשֵׁהּ֙ כַּעֲמַ֣ר נְקֵ֔א כׇּרְסְיֵהּ֙ שְׁבִבִ֣ין דִּי־נ֔וּר גַּלְגִּלּ֖וֹהִי נ֥וּר דָּלִֽק׃ (י) נְהַ֣ר דִּי־נ֗וּר נָגֵ֤ד וְנָפֵק֙ מִן־קֳדָמ֔וֹהִי אֶ֤לֶף (אלפים) [אַלְפִין֙] יְשַׁמְּשׁוּנֵּ֔הּ וְרִבּ֥וֹ (רבון) [רִבְבָ֖ן] קָֽדָמ֣וֹהִי יְקוּמ֑וּן דִּינָ֥א יְתִ֖ב וְסִפְרִ֥ין פְּתִֽיחוּ׃ (יא) חָזֵ֣ה הֲוֵ֔ית בֵּאדַ֗יִן מִן־קָל֙ מִלַּיָּ֣א רַבְרְבָתָ֔א דִּ֥י קַרְנָ֖א מְמַלֱּלָ֑ה חָזֵ֣ה הֲוֵ֡ית עַד֩ דִּ֨י קְטִילַ֤ת חֵֽיוְתָא֙ וְהוּבַ֣ד גִּשְׁמַ֔הּ וִיהִיבַ֖ת לִיקֵדַ֥ת אֶשָּֽׁא׃ (יב) וּשְׁאָר֙ חֵֽיוָתָ֔א הֶעְדִּ֖יו שׇׁלְטָנְה֑וֹן וְאַרְכָ֧ה בְחַיִּ֛ין יְהִ֥יבַת לְה֖וֹן עַד־זְמַ֥ן וְעִדָּֽן׃ (יג) חָזֵ֤ה הֲוֵית֙ בְּחֶזְוֵ֣י לֵֽילְיָ֔א וַאֲרוּ֙ עִם־עֲנָנֵ֣י שְׁמַיָּ֔א כְּבַ֥ר אֱנָ֖שׁ אָתֵ֣ה הֲוָ֑א וְעַד־עַתִּ֤יק יֽוֹמַיָּא֙ מְטָ֔ה וּקְדָמ֖וֹהִי הַקְרְבֽוּהִי׃ (יד) וְלֵ֨הּ יְהִ֤ב שׇׁלְטָן֙ וִיקָ֣ר וּמַלְכ֔וּ וְכֹ֣ל עַֽמְמַיָּ֗א אֻמַּיָּ֛א וְלִשָּׁנַיָּ֖א לֵ֣הּ יִפְלְח֑וּן שׇׁלְטָנֵ֞הּ שׇׁלְטָ֤ן עָלַם֙ דִּֽי־לָ֣א יֶעְדֵּ֔ה וּמַלְכוּתֵ֖הּ דִּי־לָ֥א תִתְחַבַּֽל׃ {פ}
(טו) אֶתְכְּרִיַּ֥ת רוּחִ֛י אֲנָ֥ה דָנִיֵּ֖אל בְּג֣וֹא נִדְנֶ֑ה וְחֶזְוֵ֥י רֵאשִׁ֖י יְבַהֲלֻנַּֽנִי׃ (טז) קִרְבֵ֗ת עַל־חַד֙ מִן־קָ֣אֲמַיָּ֔א וְיַצִּיבָ֥א אֶבְעֵֽא־מִנֵּ֖הּ עַֽל־כׇּל־דְּנָ֑ה וַאֲמַר־לִ֕י וּפְשַׁ֥ר מִלַּיָּ֖א יְהוֹדְעִנַּֽנִי׃ (יז) אִלֵּין֙ חֵיוָתָ֣א רַבְרְבָתָ֔א דִּ֥י אִנִּ֖ין אַרְבַּ֑ע אַרְבְּעָ֥ה מַלְכִ֖ין יְקוּמ֥וּן מִן־אַרְעָֽא׃ (יח) וִֽיקַבְּלוּן֙ מַלְכוּתָ֔א קַדִּישֵׁ֖י עֶלְיוֹנִ֑ין וְיַחְסְנ֤וּן מַלְכוּתָא֙ עַד־עָ֣לְמָ֔א וְעַ֖ד עָלַ֥ם עָלְמַיָּֽא׃ (יט) אֱדַ֗יִן צְבִית֙ לְיַצָּבָ֗א עַל־חֵֽיוְתָא֙ רְבִיעָ֣יְתָ֔א דִּֽי־הֲוָ֥ת שָֽׁנְיָ֖ה מִן־[כׇּלְּהֵ֑ין] (כלהון) דְּחִילָ֣ה יַתִּ֗ירָה (שניה) [שִׁנַּ֤הּ] דִּֽי־פַרְזֶל֙ (וטפריה) [וְטִפְרַ֣הּ] דִּֽי־נְחָ֔שׁ אָֽכְלָ֣ה מַדְּקָ֔ה וּשְׁאָרָ֖א (ברגליה) [בְּרַגְלַ֥הּ] רָֽפְסָֽה׃ (כ) וְעַל־קַרְנַיָּ֤א עֲשַׂר֙ דִּ֣י בְרֵאשַׁ֔הּ וְאׇחֳרִי֙ דִּ֣י סִלְקַ֔ת (ונפלו) [וּנְפַ֥לָה] מִן־[קֳדָמַ֖הּ] (קדמיה) תְּלָ֑ת וְקַרְנָ֨א דִכֵּ֜ן וְעַיְנִ֣ין לַ֗הּ וּפֻם֙ מְמַלִּ֣ל רַבְרְבָ֔ן וְחֶזְוַ֖הּ רַ֥ב מִן־חַבְרָתַֽהּ׃ (כא) חָזֵ֣ה הֲוֵ֔ית וְקַרְנָ֣א דִכֵּ֔ן עָבְדָ֥ה קְרָ֖ב עִם־קַדִּישִׁ֑ין וְיָכְלָ֖ה לְהֹֽן׃ (כב) עַ֣ד דִּֽי־אֲתָ֗ה עַתִּיק֙ יֽוֹמַיָּ֔א וְדִינָ֣א יְהִ֔ב לְקַדִּישֵׁ֖י עֶלְיוֹנִ֑ין וְזִמְנָ֣א מְטָ֔ה וּמַלְכוּתָ֖א הֶחֱסִ֥נוּ קַדִּישִֽׁין׃
(9) As I looked on,
Thrones were set in place,
And the Ancient of Days took His seat.
His garment was like white snow,
And the hair of His head was like lamb’s wool.
His throne was tongues of flame;
Its wheels (galgilohi) were blazing fire. (10) A river of fire streamed forth before Him;
Thousands upon thousands served Him;
Myriads upon myriads attended Him;
The court sat and the books were opened. (11) I looked on. Then, because of the arrogant words that the horn spoke, the beast was killed as I looked on; its body was destroyed and it was consigned to the flames. (12) The dominion of the other beasts was taken away, but an extension of life was given to them for a time and season. (13) As I looked on, in the night vision,
One like a human being
Came with the clouds of heaven;
He reached the Ancient of Days
And was presented to Him. (14) Dominion, glory, and kingship were given to him;
All peoples and nations of every language must serve him.
His dominion is an everlasting dominion that shall not pass away,
And his kingship, one that shall not be destroyed. (15) As for me, Daniel, my spirit was disturbed within me and the vision of my mind alarmed me. (16) I approached one of the attendants and asked him the true meaning of all this. He gave me this interpretation of the matter: (17) ‘These great beasts, four in number [mean] four kingdoms will arise out of the earth; (18) then holy ones of the Most High will receive the kingdom, and will possess the kingdom forever—forever and ever.’ (19) Then I wanted to ascertain the true meaning of the fourth beast, which was different from them all, very fearsome, with teeth of iron, claws of bronze, that devoured and crushed, and stamped the remains; (20) and of the ten horns on its head; and of the new one that sprouted, to make room for which three fell—the horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spoke arrogantly, and which was more conspicuous than its fellows. (21) (I looked on as that horn made war with the holy ones and overcame them, (22) until the Ancient of Days came and judgment was rendered in favor of the holy ones of the Most High, for the time had come, and the holy ones took possession of the kingdom.)
"El Adon," Piyyut (poem) from the medieval era attributed to Yordei Merkavah often sung in services
God is the Lord of all creation
He is praised by the breath of all life
His greatness and goodness fills the universe
Knowledge and wisdom surround his presence
Exalted is He by the celestial beings
Adorned in the glory by the mysteries of heaven
Purity and justice guard his throne
Kindness and mercy abound in his glory
Good are the luminaries which our God created
Made with understanding, wisdom, and insight
He endowed them with energy and power
To dominate within their sphere of the universe
Full of splendour, they radiate brightness
Their brilliance adorns the universe
Rejoicing in rising and exalting in setting
With reverence they obey the will of their creator
Glory and honor they give to his name
And sing his sovereignty with joyous praise
He summoned the sun, and it shed its light
He set the cycle of the moon's phases
All the armies of heaven give him praise
His glory and grandeur they proclaim - all the various celestial beings (serafim)
אל אדון על כל המעשים
ברוך ומבורך בפי כל הנשמה
גדולו וטובו מלא עולם
דעת ותבונה סובבים הודו
...
ראה והיתקין צורת הלבנה
שבח נותנים לו כל צבא מרום
תפארת וגדולה שרפים, וחיות ואופני הקודש
El Adon 'al kol ha-ma'asim.
Barukh u'mevorakh be'fi kol ha-neshama
God'lo ve'tuvo male 'olam.
Da'at u'tvonah sovevim hodo
...
Ra'ah ve'hitkin tzorat ha-levanah
ShevaH notenim lo kol tz'va marom
Tiferet u'gdulah serafim, ve'Hayot, ve'ofanei ha-qodesh.
"Chariots." Belly of an Attic Geometric amphora, Late Geometric IIB. Workshop in Athens. ~720-700 BCE, Terracotta, 8.8 inches
