It’s Tuesday, and we have a special Tuesday TorahTutors Tidbit for you; real Torah, from real TorahTutors sessions.
Sometimes teachers actively look for ways to help their students find relevance in what they’re learning, and sometimes the relevance presents itself, just like that.
One small group of TorahTutors students experienced the latter when they found themselves in Yehoshua Chapter 10 during the week of Yom Ha’atzmaut, Israel’s Independence Day. Verse 12 contains the famous line, “Stand still, O sun, at Gibeon, O moon, in the Valley of Aijalon!” and according to many, it is not simply a line of narrative but actually part of a song of praise and thanksgiving that Yehoshua sang *after* that tremendous miracle took place.
Yehoshua was expressing his gratitude for God’s miraculous help in a war against a powerful alliance – a theme that certainly resonates on Yom Ha’atzmaut.
It is still Yom Hazikaron in most of the world, and we must take time to recognize the unfathomable losses that do occur in even victorious battles – and, somehow, even in times that seem peaceful.
Tonight, we will transition to focus on emulating Yehoshua, as well as others who have said shira in Tanach and since; we will express our gratitude to God for His hidden and revealed miracles, then and since.
**Challenge: How many “shirot” (songs of praise/thanksgiving) can you list from Tanach, by whom and on what occasions?
Of course, we would be happy to learn more about those shirot or any other topic with you – anytime, anywhere. Check us out!
