13 Attributes of Mercy

BS"D


When exploring topics for this week's torah study, I discovered that I had outlined 13 seperate themes in the Torah readings for the Pesach season. One of the topics is the 13 Attributes of Mercy....hmmmmmm.... 13 topics for study, 13 attributes of mercy-- clearly no maggid worth her money could resist this one. Here they are set side by side together. The translation for the 13 attributes I'm using is gifted to us by R. David Wolfe-Blank (z'l). Keep in mind that the order of torah topics is as it came to me before I thought of this exercise-- sort of an I Ching approach to torah study. I wonder what we'll make of this? Let's see:

Ad-nai, Ad-nai

1) E-L : Expanding force of kindness

Moshe Rabeynu pleas to HaShem on behalf of the people

2) Rachum: Merciful Womb

Thirteen Attributes of Mercy

3) V'Chanun: Graceful Giver

On not seeing the Face of HaShem; On seeing the Back of HaShem; The dialogue between Moshe Rabeynu and HaShem

4) Erech: Long-Stretched Web

The Offerings for Pesach

5) Apayim: Many Faceted Jewel

The relevance of the Pesach offerings to our lives today

6) V'Rav Chesed: Maestro of Generosity

Peoplehood issues, including issues of the Proselyte and Stranger amonst us


7) V'Emet: Dispatcher of Truth

Kashrut Specific Commandments: Lo! ...kid in it's mother's milk; Lo! ...slaughter young and mother on the same day; Lo! ...take young before 8th day.

8) Notzer Chesed: Funnel of Kindness

Redemption of first born; Pidyon HaBen

9) La'alafim: Helper of Thousands

Counting of the Omer and the Pesach-Shavuot cycle

10) Noseh Avon: Tolerator of Distortion

Renewal of Spiritual Life of the People

11) Vafesha: Who puts up with intentional error

Mass Circumcision

12) V'Chata'ah: Shoulders of ommision

Ressurection of Dry Bones

13) V'Nakay: And Cleanses

Messianic Redemption