Rabbi Natasha Mann

This piece first appeared in Rabbi Natasha's commentary on the 929 Tanakh Project here .            When the 10 Sayings are carved into two tablets of stone, the second statement ‘you shall have no other gods’ on the first tablet is parallel with the seventh commandment against adultery, on the second. This is the primary analogy of the Book of Hosea: Israel is cast as God’s unfaithful wife. God wishes to take her back, but only if she will renew their relationship and be faithful.           This brings up a particular issue in Torah law. According to the laws of adultery, a woman who has intercourse with another man is now forbidden to her husband. This throws the analogy into some confusion, because Hosea does take Gomer back, and the Divine also plans to renew His relationship with Israel. Commentators have long debated the place of Hosea’s marriage - some saying that Hosea’s relationship issues were a dream; others saying t...

It strikes me every year, when we get to Parashat Veyeitzei, that Jacob’s interaction with the Holy One is… not particularly reasonable. Jacob, Ya’akov, in his time in the wilderness, essentially gives God an ultimatum. Fine, he says - I’ll let you be my God, as long as you keep me safe, fed, and clothed. What?! Ya’akov is the inheritor of the covenant with Avraham, and talking to the Master of the Universe. Surely there is no ‘if’! If Ya’akov wasn’t safe, fed, and clothed, would he really have given up on the covenant? Ya’akov is not the first person we see speaking with God in a slightly unreasonable manner. And, to be honest, I know for sure that he isn’t the last because I suspect I’m not always reasonable, either. And I recently stumbled across a short list of examples in the Talmud of unreasonable requests that people made of God in biblical literature. This can be found in Masechet Ta’anit, which I’ve been studying recently with Rabbi Roni Tabick of New Stoke Newington Masorti. ...

Background of Hosea Time: Mid-8 th Century BCE Place: North (Israel/Ephraim/Samaria) Kings: Judah: Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, Hezekiah; Israel: Jeroboam II (According to Hosea 1:1. However, JII died during Uzziah’s reign…) Political Backdrop: ·       Egypt and Assyria are the main political powers – Assyrian Empire is getting terrifyingly powerful ·       Israel (Northern Kingdom) is relying on foreign powers for political aid; late in the game, becomes Assyrian vassal o    Later tries to team up with other small states against Assyria, hoping for the help of Egypt ·       Israel goes through 5 kings in just 10 years after JII’s death ·       Primary sin of Israel is idolatry Metaphors of Hosea: ·       Israel as unfaithful wife ·       Israel as rebellious son ·     ...