A wilderness.
Notable Sources
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Moses in the WildernessTANAKH
Moses in the Wilderness
TANAKH
Moses' journey into the wilderness and his encounter at Horeb marks a pivotal moment in the biblical narrative. The book of Exodus describes Moses leading his flock into the wilderness, where he arrives at Horeb, the mountain of God, and experiences a divine revelation.
Lost in the DesertMUSAR
Lost in the Desert
MUSAR
What should one do if they are lost in the desert and lose track of time? Rabbi Isaiah HaLevi Horowitz’s 17th-century work, the Shenei Luchot HaBerit, provides a halachic ruling for this situation, instructing the person to observe six days of work and rest on the seventh day, starting from the moment they realize they have lost track of the days.
Secrets of the Judean DesertCOMMENTARY
Secrets of the Judean Desert
COMMENTARY
The Judean Desert holds immense historical and archaeological significance, especially with the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls, which shed light on the socio-political environment of the Second Temple period. Tamar Weissman introduces her work on the relationship between the land of Israel and the personalities and histories of the biblical tribes of Israel with an anecdote about her experience as a tour guide in the Judean desert.
The Contradictions of the DesertJEWISH THOUGHT
The Contradictions of the Desert
JEWISH THOUGHT
The word 'midbar' (wilderness, desert) in the Torah is rich with dual meanings, representing both silence and language, existence and potentiality. Dr. Erica Brown discusses the wilderness setting of the Book of Numbers in the preface to her book Leadership in the Wilderness.
Spiritual Battles in the WildernessKABBALAH
Spiritual Battles in the Wilderness
KABBALAH
The journey through the desert was a profound spiritual battle against the forces of the 'Other Side' (Sitra Achra), according to the Zohar. The Zohar, a foundational work of Jewish mysticism, delves into the metaphysical struggles faced during the forty years in the desert.
The Inclusive TorahMIDRASH
The Inclusive Torah
MIDRASH
The Torah was given in the wilderness, an ownerless place accessible to all people. The Midrash Tanchuma, an early medieval collection of midrash, emphasizes the universal inclusivity of the Torah, making it an inheritance for anyone who dedicates themselves to it.
Commemorating the Wilderness JourneyGUIDES
Commemorating the Wilderness Journey
GUIDES
The experience of wandering in the wilderness is a profound narrative of survival, faith, and divine miracles. Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz, in his introduction to the tractate Sukkah, discusses the nature of the holiday of Sukkot as commemorating that period in the nation's development.
Miraculous SustenanceTANAKH
Miraculous Sustenance
TANAKH
The miraculous sustenance and protection provided by God to the Israelites during their forty years ensured they lacked nothing. The book of Nehemiah recounts how the Israelites' clothes did not wear out and their feet did not swell, highlighting God's provision.
The Desert as a Public DomainTALMUD
The Desert as a Public Domain
TALMUD
The legal definition of a 'public domain' is relevant for many areas in Jewish law, including for matters of carrying objects on Shabbat. The Gemara in tractate Shabbat discusses the desert's status as a public domain, distinguishing between the time when Israel was dwelling in it and the Talmudic time.
Shelter in the WildernessHALAKHAH
Shelter in the Wilderness
HALAKHAH
Building and dwelling in the sukkah connects us to the divine protection experienced during the journey through the wilderness. The Shulchan Arukh, the authoritative 16th-century code of Jewish law, explains the meaning behind the practice of sukkot.
The Blossoming WildernessLITURGY
The Blossoming Wilderness
LITURGY
The wilderness, often seen as barren and desolate, is depicted as a place of joy and blossoming in this text. Perek Shirah, an ancient text, attributes verses of praise to various elements of nature, including the desert.
The Letter י in the Desert of SinaiCOMMENTARY
The Letter י in the Desert of Sinai
COMMENTARY
The Torah names both the 'Desert of Sin' and the 'Desert of Sinai', with a difference of only one letter, the letter yud, in Hebrew. The medieval Torah commentary Chizkuni by Rabbi Hezekiah ben Manoah claims that they are the same place, and explains the significance of the added letter yud
Life in ParanTANAKH
Life in Paran
TANAKH
The personal life of Ishmael, a significant biblical figure, unfolds in Paran, where his mother arranges a marriage for him. The book of Genesis, the first book of the Torah, narrates the origins of mankind and the Israelites, including the story of Ishmael.
Judah's Southern BorderTANAKH
Judah's Southern Border
TANAKH
Each of the tribes of Israel settled in a different area of the land, with different natural features and proximity to foreign nations. The book of Joshua details the division of the Promised Land among the tribes of Israel, including the southernmost allocation to Judah by the desert of Zin.