{"id":50441,"date":"2021-09-17T08:00:34","date_gmt":"2021-09-17T08:00:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/holidays\/?p=50441"},"modified":"2021-09-17T12:26:34","modified_gmt":"2021-09-17T12:26:34","slug":"a-mystery-of-authorship","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/holidays\/a-mystery-of-authorship\/","title":{"rendered":"A Mystery of Authorship"},"content":{"rendered":"

And Moshe ascended, from the Plains of Moav, Mount Navo to the peak that faces Yericho.\u00a0 And Hashem showed him the entire land from the Gilad to Dan.\u00a0 (Sefer Devarim 34:1)<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

I. The recording of Moshe\u2019s death<\/strong><\/p>\n

This passage introduces the final chapter of Sefer Devarim and the Torah.\u00a0 Moshe ascends Mount Navo.\u00a0 From its peak, Hashem reveals to Moshe the Land of Israel that he will not enter.\u00a0 The chapter describes Moshe\u2019s death, burial, and the nation\u2019s mourning for the loss of its great leader.\u00a0 It describes Yehoshua assuming his role as the new leader of the nation.\u00a0 The final passages of the Torah tell us that Moshe was the greatest of prophets \u2013 greater than those who preceded him and those who would follow.<\/p>\n

Rabbaynu Avraham ibn Ezra explains that this final chapter of the Torah is unique.\u00a0 The rest of the Torah was written entirely by Moshe.\u00a0 Yehoshua wrote this last chapter.\u00a0 He did not observe the events it describes.\u00a0 Moshe ascended the mountain alone.\u00a0 Yehoshua did not witness Moshe\u2019s vision of the Land of Israel.\u00a0 He did not observe his death and burial.\u00a0 He composed these closing verses based upon prophecy.[1]<\/a><\/p>\n

II. Moshe\u2019s authorship of the Torah<\/strong><\/p>\n

Rabbaynu Bachya disputes this position.\u00a0 He insists that Moshe is the author of the entire Torah.\u00a0 He wrote this last chapter and described the final moments of his life, his death, and burial.[2]<\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0Rabbaynu Bachya\u2019s position is consistent with the position of Rambam \u2013 Maimonides.\u00a0 Rambam delineates thirteen convictions that are the foundation of the Torah.\u00a0 He explains that one who accepts these convictions or principles has embraced our faith or religion.\u00a0 If the person commits sins, he is a sinful Jew \u2013 but a Jew, nonetheless.\u00a0 One who rejects any one of these principles has abandoned the Torah.\u00a0 Regardless of his or her meritorious deeds, this person is not a member of the Torah community.\u00a0 The eighth principle is that the Torah is from Hashem.\u00a0 Included in this principle is Moshe\u2019s authorship.<\/p>\n

The eighth foundation is that the Torah is from Hashem.\u00a0 [The principle] is that we should believe that this entire Torah that we have today is the Torah that was given to Moshe.\u00a0 (<\/em>Rabbaynu Moshe ben Maimon (Rambam \/ Maimonides) Commentary on the Mishne, Mesechet Sanhedrin 10:1)<\/em><\/p>\n

Rambam\u2019s position and Rabbaynu Bachya\u2019s criticism of Ibn Ezra reflect the conclusion of the Talmud.\u00a0 However, the Talmud acknowledges the position taken by Ibn Ezra.<\/p>\n

And Moshe, the servant of Hashem, died there in the Land of Moav, at the direction of Hashem.\u00a0 (Sefer Devarim 31:6)<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

III.\u00a0 The problem of the final passages<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Talmud records a dispute between Ribbi Yehudah and Ribbi Shimon:<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd Moshe, the servant of Hashem, died there.\u201d\u00a0 Is it possible that Moshe was alive and wrote, \u201cAnd he died\u201d?\u00a0 Rather, [the explanation is that] to this point, Moshe wrote [the Torah].\u00a0 From this point forward, Yehoshua bin Nun [is the author. These are] the words of Ribbi Yehudah\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n

Ribbi Shimon said to him: Is it possible that the Torah lacked [even] a single letter?\u00a0 It is written, \u201cTake this Torah scroll and place it\u2026\u201d Rather, until this point, The Sacred One, blessed be He, stated [the words of the Torah] and Moshe stated and wrote them.\u00a0 From this point, The Sacred One, blessed be He, stated [the words of the Torah] and Moshe wrote in tears.\u00a0 This is as it says, \u201cThen Baruch answered them, He pronounced all these words unto me with his mouth, and I wrote them with ink in the book.\u201d\u00a0 (Mesechet Menachot 30a)<\/em><\/p>\n

Ribbi Yehudah explains that Moshe did not write the closing passages of the Torah.\u00a0 He could not be alive and truthfully record \u201cAnd Moshe, the servant of Hashem, died there.\u201d\u00a0 The closing passages were added by Yehoshua after Moshe died.\u00a0 Ribbi Shimon objects.\u00a0 The Torah tells us that Moshe gave the Torah scroll he had written to the Levites to place alongside the Tablets of the Decalogue.\u00a0 Certainly, Moshe did not give the Levites an incomplete Torah scroll.\u00a0 Hashem dictated the text of the Torah to Moshe.\u00a0 He repeated the text and then recorded it.\u00a0 When the time arrived to record these final passages, Hashem dictated them to Moshe.\u00a0 These passages Moshe did not pronounce.\u00a0 He silently and tearfully recorded them.<\/p>\n

The Talmud\u2019s further discussion focuses on Ribbi Shimon\u2019s position.\u00a0 This indicates that his position is the one accepted by the Talmud.\u00a0 Rambam adopts this position and Rabbaynu Bachya criticizes Ibn Ezra for proposing that Yehoshua authored the Torah\u2019s closing passages.<\/p>\n

IV. Special treatment of the final passages<\/strong><\/p>\n

The final eight passages of the Torah receive special treatment.<\/p>\n

Ribbi Yehoshua bar Abba said\u2026 [that] Rav said: [The last] eight passages of the Torah are read in the synagogue by a single individual.\u00a0 (Mesechet Menachot 30a)<\/em><\/p>\n

Rav ruled that the last eight passages of the Torah are read by a yachid<\/em> \u2013\u00a0 a single individual.\u00a0 Rav\u2019s meaning is not clear and is disputed by the commentaries.\u00a0 Rabbaynu Menachem Me\u2019eri, cites various interpretations.\u00a0 One interpretation is that the Talmud\u2019s term yachid <\/em>does not mean \u201ca single individual\u201d.\u00a0 It means \u201ca singular individual\u201d \u2013 a special person.[3]<\/a>\u00a0 Why must the passages be read by a special person?\u00a0 Rav David Tzvi Hoffman suggests that this position reflects concern that these passages might be treated with less deference than the rest of the Torah.[4]<\/a>\u00a0 Because they describe Moshe\u2019s last moments, death, and burial, the reader may conclude that Moshe did not compose them, and they lack the full sanctity of the Torah.\u00a0 As a precaution, only an educated and serious person is permitted to read these passages for the congregation.<\/p>\n

According to this opinion, these passages are treated with special respect or deference.\u00a0 Rambam proposes an interpretation of the Talmud that adopts the opposite perspective.<\/p>\n

The eight passages at the conclusion of the Torah may be read in the synagogue with less than ten people [present].\u00a0 Even though the entire Torah is from Moshe [who received it] from Hashem, since their implied meaning is that they are from after the death of Moshe, they are rendered different [from the rest of the Torah].\u00a0 Therefore, a single individual may read them.\u00a0 (<\/em>Rabbaynu Moshe ben Maimon (Rambam \/ Maimonides) Mishne Torah,<\/em> Hilchot Tefilah 13:6<\/em>)<\/em><\/p>\n

The Torah is read in the synagogue only when a congregation is present \u2013 at least ten men.\u00a0 However, Rambam explains that these passages may be read by an individual.\u00a0 In other words, a minyan \u2013 a quorum of ten is not required.\u00a0 Even if fewer people are present, these passages may be read in the synagogue.\u00a0 Why are these passages treated differently?\u00a0 It is not because Moshe did not compose them.\u00a0 Rambam tells us that Moshe is their author.\u00a0 Rather, the wording of the passages suggests that they were written after Moshe\u2019s death.\u00a0 In this sense, they are different from the rest of the Torah.\u00a0 Because of this difference, they receive special treatment and may be read in the synagogue without a quorum.<\/p>\n

Rambam\u2019s position is difficult to understand.\u00a0 When contrasted with the position cited by Me\u2019eri and explained by Rav Hoffman, it seems far less reasonable.\u00a0 As Rav Hoffman points out, the special character of these closing passages \u2013 acknowledged by Rambam \u2013 is a reason to treat them with caution and excess deference.\u00a0 Rambam\u2019s position is that we ignore concern that these passages may be treated dismissively.\u00a0 We allow them to be read without the normal requirement of a quorum!<\/p>\n

V. The Prophets and Sacred Writtings<\/strong><\/p>\n

Rav Yitzchok Zev Soloveitchik \u2013 GRIZ \u2013 explains Rambam\u2019s position based upon a comment of his father, Rav Chaim Soloveitchik.\u00a0 Rav Chaim was bothered by a simple problem.\u00a0 TaNaCh \u2013 the Jewish Canon or Bible \u2013 is composed of three parts.\u00a0 These are Torah, Nevi\u2019em or Prophets, and Ketuvim or the Sacred Writings.\u00a0 The Torah was dictated by Hashem to Moshe.\u00a0 It has greater sanctity than the other parts of TaNaCh.\u00a0 However, Neve\u2019im and Ketuvim have the same degree of sanctity.[5]<\/a>\u00a0 Why are some works part of Neve\u2019im and others part of Ketuvim?<\/p>\n

Then Baruch answered them, He pronounced all these words unto me with his mouth, and I wrote them with ink in the book. (Sefer Yermiyahu 36:18)<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Rav Chaim explained that the answer is provided by the passage cited by the Talmud in its discussion of the concluding eight passages of the Torah.\u00a0 Rav Shimon cites this passage in support of his position that Moshe composed the final passages of the Torah.\u00a0 To understand how this passage supports his opinion, we must know its context and meaning.<\/p>\n

The prophet Yermiyahu foresaw and prophesied the destruction of the first Bait HaMikdash<\/em> \u2013Sacred Temple.\u00a0 His prophecy also included a vision of the devastation and misery that would accompany its destruction.\u00a0 His vision of the destruction of the Temple and Yerushalayim is recorded in Sefer Eichah \u2013 the Book of Lamentations.\u00a0 The passage cited by Ribbi Shimon describes the creation of this book which is included in Ketuvim.<\/p>\n

Baruch ben Neriah explains that Yermiyahu received the text as a prophecy.\u00a0 Hashem did not instruct his prophet to recite the prophecy before the people.\u00a0 Instead, he was directed to record it.\u00a0 Yermiyahu summoned Baruch.\u00a0 He recited the prophecy to him and instructed him to record it.\u00a0 The resulting text is Sefer Eichah.<\/p>\n

Rav Chaim explains that this episode captures the difference between Neve\u2019im and Ketuvim.\u00a0 Neve\u2019im records prophecies that the prophet was instructed to first orally deliver to the people.\u00a0 It is the written record of these prophecies.\u00a0 Baruch\u2019s description of the creation of Sefer Eichah demonstrates that the material that composes Ketuvim was given to the prophet as a written text.\u00a0 He was not instructed to first deliver it orally.\u00a0 It was to be recorded in writing and then recited to the people from this written text.[6]<\/a>\u00a0 In short, the prophecies in Neve\u2019im were given as oral texts.\u00a0 Neve\u2019im is a record of the oral communications.\u00a0 Ketuvim is composed of material that is essentially a written text.\u00a0 This material, from the moment of its origin, was intended as a written text.<\/p>\n

VI. The special character of the concluding passages<\/strong><\/p>\n

GRIZ explains that according to Rav Shimon, the concluding passages of the Torah share the character of Ketuvim.\u00a0 The Torah is a written record of Moshe\u2019s prophecy. He explains that Hashem dictated the Torah to Moshe.\u00a0 Moshe then \u201cstated and wrote\u201d each section.\u00a0 GRIZ explains Ribbi Shimon\u2019s meaning.\u00a0 Moshe was given the Torah by Hashem and instructed to orally deliver the prophecy to the people.\u00a0 Each section of the Torah was first orally delivered by Moshe and then recorded.\u00a0 The Torah is the record of the prophecy that Moshe first orally delivered.\u00a0 The Torah \u2013 up to its concluding passages \u2013 is akin to Neve\u2019im.<\/p>\n

The final eight passages Moshe could not orally deliver to the people.\u00a0 He could not describe his last moments, death, and their mourning as a past event while he was alive and standing before them.\u00a0 These passages were given to Moshe as a written text.\u00a0 They were not to be first delivered orally.\u00a0 They are akin to the Ketuvim.<\/p>\n

GRIZ\u2019s comments are a creative application of Rav Chaim\u2019s brilliant insight into the difference between the Neve\u2019im and Ketuvim.\u00a0 However, he does not completely explain Rambam\u2019s position.\u00a0 How does this distinctive character of the Torah\u2019s concluding passages, account for their special treatment?\u00a0 Why does their similarity to Ketuvim allow for them to be read in the synagogue without a quorum?<\/p>\n

VII.\u00a0 The quorum requirement for reading the Torah<\/strong><\/p>\n

Rav Yosef Dov Soloveitchik Zt\u201dl<\/em> \u2013 the Rav \u2013 suggests a different approach to explaining Rambam\u2019s position.\u00a0 One element of his explanation is relevant to and complements GRIZ\u2019s comments.\u00a0 The Rav basis his comments on a careful reading of a ruling of Rambam.<\/p>\n

Moshe established that they should read the Torah in public on Shabbat, Monday, and Thursday so that they should not remain three days without hearing Torah\u2026 They do not read the Torah in a congregation with less than ten adult men\u2026\u00a0 <\/em>(<\/em>Rabbaynu Moshe ben Maimon (Rambam \/ Maimonides) Mishne Torah, Hilchot Tefilah 12:1-3)<\/em><\/p>\n

Rambam explains that Moshe established the practice of reading the Torah be\u2019rabim<\/em> \u2013 in public \u2013 three times each week.\u00a0 The term be\u2019rabim<\/em> more literally means among the many.\u00a0 Then, he explains that a group of ten men satisfies the requirement.\u00a0 The Rav concludes that ten men are a minimum.\u00a0 Ideally, more people should be present.\u00a0 A larger assembly \u2013 a greater many \u2013 enhances the performance of the practice.<\/p>\n

This is a strange formulation.\u00a0 Various parts of the prayer service require a quorum.\u00a0 A quorum is required for any portion of the service that is a davar she\u2019be\u2019kedushah<\/em> \u2013 endowed with special sanctity.\u00a0 For example, the Kadish<\/em> and Kedushah<\/em> are each a davar she\u2019be\u2019kedushah<\/em> and require a quorum.\u00a0 In these instances, a larger assembly does not directly enhance the performance.\u00a0 Why does Rambam rule that for Torah reading a minimum of ten men is required but the presence of more people enhances the performance?<\/p>\n

VIII.\u00a0 Recreating the giving of the Torah<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Rav explains that Torah reading is not a davar she\u2019be\u2019kedushah<\/em>.\u00a0 An assembly of ten or more is not required for Torah reading because of the sanctity of the performance.\u00a0 Instead, the requirement reflects the unique character of Torah reading.\u00a0 When we read the Torah in public, we are recreating the original drama of the Torah\u2019s transmission to the nation.\u00a0 Moshe assembled the nation, and he delivered his prophecy to the people.\u00a0 The significance of ten men, in the context of Torah reading, is that this is the minimum number required to render the group a representative body of the Jewish people.\u00a0 Fewer than ten men are a collection of individuals.\u00a0 When ten men are assembled, they become more than individuals; they are a representative body of our people.\u00a0 For this reason, a larger assembly enhances the performance.\u00a0 The more people gathered, the more representative the assembly.[7]<\/a><\/p>\n

This insight nicely complements GRIZ\u2019s explanation of Rambam.\u00a0 GRIZ explained that the Torah was given to Moshe with the instruction to orally communicate it to the nation.\u00a0 Moshe presented the prophecy and then recorded it as part of the Torah.\u00a0 However, the concluding passages were not first delivered orally to an assembly of the nation.\u00a0 They were given to Moshe with instructions to record them in the Torah without reciting them to the people.\u00a0 Ten men or a larger assembly are required to read the Torah in a synagogue.\u00a0 The Torah portion read was given to Moshe to communicate to the assembled nation.\u00a0 We recreate this when we assemble and hear the Torah read.\u00a0 However, the final eight passages can be read in the synagogue without a quorum.\u00a0 Even fewer than ten individuals are adequate.\u00a0 This is because these passages were given to Moshe with the instruction to record them in the Torah immediately.\u00a0 He was not instructed to first present them orally to the assembled nation.\u00a0 When we recreate the giving of this final portion of the Torah to the nation, we do not need an assembly.\u00a0 They were not given to the nation in an assembly.<\/p>\n

IX. Our blessing<\/strong><\/p>\n

Every morning we recite a benediction acknowledging that Hashem selected us from among the nation and gave us His Torah.\u00a0 These are amazing \u2013 an inexplicable \u2013 phenomena.\u00a0 Hashem, the Creator of the entire universe, selected the Jewish people and entered into a special and intimate relationship with us. Then, He gave us His Torah.\u00a0 The Torah is the words of Hashem.\u00a0 Hashem \u2013 Who is infinite and unfathomable \u2013 revealed Himself to us in words, lessons, and commandments that we can understand and make our own.\u00a0 We are blessed.<\/p>\n

[1]<\/a> Rabbaynu Avraham ibn Ezra, Commentary on Sefer Devarim<\/em>, 34:1.<\/p>\n

[2]<\/a> Rabbaynu Bachya ben Asher ibn Halawa, Commentary on Sefer Devarim<\/em>, 34:1.<\/p>\n

[3]<\/a> Rabbaynu Menachem Me\u2019eri, Bait HaBechirah<\/em>, Mesechet Baba Batra 15a.<\/p>\n

[4]<\/a> Rav David Tzvi Hoffmann, Commentary on Sefer Devarim<\/em>, pp 578-9.<\/p>\n

[5]<\/a> For example, one may not place a scroll of Neve\u2019im or Ketuvim on top of a Torah scroll.\u00a0 One may place a scroll of Neve\u2019im on top of one of Ketuvim or a scroll of Ketuvim on one of Neve\u2019im.<\/p>\n

[6]<\/a> Rav Y. Hershkowitz, Netivot Raboteynu<\/em>, vol 2, pp. 271-2.<\/p>\n

[7]<\/a> Rav Yosef Dov Soloveitchik, Shiurai HaGRID: Tefilin, S\u2019tam, and Tzitzit<\/em>, 112-113.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

And Moshe ascended, from the Plains of Moav, Mount Navo to the peak that faces Yericho.\u00a0 And Hashem showed him the entire land from the Gilad to Dan.\u00a0 (Sefer Devarim 34:1) I. The recording of Moshe\u2019s death This passage introduces the final chapter of Sefer Devarim and the Torah.\u00a0 Moshe ascends Mount Navo.\u00a0 From its […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":843,"featured_media":50447,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_cloudinary_featured_overwrite":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[342],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-50441","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-shmini-atzeret"],"yoast_head":"\nA Mystery of Authorship - Jewish Holidays<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/holidays\/a-mystery-of-authorship\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"A Mystery of Authorship - Jewish Holidays\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"And Moshe ascended, from the Plains of Moav, Mount Navo to the peak that faces Yericho.\u00a0 And Hashem showed him the entire land from the Gilad to Dan.\u00a0 (Sefer Devarim 34:1) I. The recording of Moshe\u2019s death This passage introduces the final chapter of Sefer Devarim and the Torah.\u00a0 Moshe ascends Mount Navo.\u00a0 From its […]\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/holidays\/a-mystery-of-authorship\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Jewish Holidays\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/OrthodoxUnion\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2021-09-17T08:00:34+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2021-09-17T12:26:34+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/holidays\/files\/shutterstock_1706789.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"500\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"334\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Rabbi Bernie Fox\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Rabbi Bernie Fox\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"14 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/holidays\/a-mystery-of-authorship\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/holidays\/a-mystery-of-authorship\/\",\"name\":\"A Mystery of Authorship - Jewish Holidays\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/holidays\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/holidays\/a-mystery-of-authorship\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/holidays\/a-mystery-of-authorship\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/holidays\/files\/shutterstock_1706789.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2021-09-17T08:00:34+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2021-09-17T12:26:34+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/holidays\/#\/schema\/person\/17b470dfae6f636707434a3151626e74\"},\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/holidays\/a-mystery-of-authorship\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/holidays\/a-mystery-of-authorship\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/holidays\/a-mystery-of-authorship\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/holidays\/files\/shutterstock_1706789.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/holidays\/files\/shutterstock_1706789.jpg\",\"width\":500,\"height\":334},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/holidays\/a-mystery-of-authorship\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/holidays\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"A Mystery of Authorship\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/holidays\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/holidays\/\",\"name\":\"Jewish Holidays\",\"description\":\"Learn about Jewish holidays\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/holidays\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/holidays\/#\/schema\/person\/17b470dfae6f636707434a3151626e74\",\"name\":\"Rabbi Bernie Fox\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/holidays\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"http:\/\/www.ou.org\/torah\/files\/Rabbi-Bernie-Fox_avatar-74x96.jpeg\",\"contentUrl\":\"http:\/\/www.ou.org\/torah\/files\/Rabbi-Bernie-Fox_avatar-74x96.jpeg\",\"caption\":\"Rabbi Bernie Fox\"},\"description\":\"Rabbi Bernie Fox has served on the faculty of Northwest Yeshiva High School since 1980. He was appointed Head of School in 1986. Rabbi Fox is a member of the first smichah class of Yeshiva Bnai Torah of Far Rockaway and earned Masters of Business Administration Degree from Long Island University, Brooklyn.\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/holidays\/author\/rabbi_bernie_fox\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"A Mystery of Authorship - Jewish Holidays","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/holidays\/a-mystery-of-authorship\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"A Mystery of Authorship - Jewish Holidays","og_description":"And Moshe ascended, from the Plains of Moav, Mount Navo to the peak that faces Yericho.\u00a0 And Hashem showed him the entire land from the Gilad to Dan.\u00a0 (Sefer Devarim 34:1) I. The recording of Moshe\u2019s death This passage introduces the final chapter of Sefer Devarim and the Torah.\u00a0 Moshe ascends Mount Navo.\u00a0 From its […]","og_url":"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/holidays\/a-mystery-of-authorship\/","og_site_name":"Jewish Holidays","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/OrthodoxUnion","article_published_time":"2021-09-17T08:00:34+00:00","article_modified_time":"2021-09-17T12:26:34+00:00","og_image":[{"width":500,"height":334,"url":"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/holidays\/files\/shutterstock_1706789.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Rabbi Bernie Fox","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Rabbi Bernie Fox","Est. reading time":"14 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/holidays\/a-mystery-of-authorship\/","url":"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/holidays\/a-mystery-of-authorship\/","name":"A Mystery of Authorship - Jewish Holidays","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/holidays\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/holidays\/a-mystery-of-authorship\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/holidays\/a-mystery-of-authorship\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/holidays\/files\/shutterstock_1706789.jpg","datePublished":"2021-09-17T08:00:34+00:00","dateModified":"2021-09-17T12:26:34+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/holidays\/#\/schema\/person\/17b470dfae6f636707434a3151626e74"},"breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/holidays\/a-mystery-of-authorship\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.ou.org\/holidays\/a-mystery-of-authorship\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/holidays\/a-mystery-of-authorship\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/holidays\/files\/shutterstock_1706789.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/holidays\/files\/shutterstock_1706789.jpg","width":500,"height":334},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/holidays\/a-mystery-of-authorship\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/holidays\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"A Mystery of Authorship"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/holidays\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/holidays\/","name":"Jewish Holidays","description":"Learn about Jewish holidays","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/holidays\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/holidays\/#\/schema\/person\/17b470dfae6f636707434a3151626e74","name":"Rabbi Bernie Fox","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/holidays\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"http:\/\/www.ou.org\/torah\/files\/Rabbi-Bernie-Fox_avatar-74x96.jpeg","contentUrl":"http:\/\/www.ou.org\/torah\/files\/Rabbi-Bernie-Fox_avatar-74x96.jpeg","caption":"Rabbi Bernie Fox"},"description":"Rabbi Bernie Fox has served on the faculty of Northwest Yeshiva High School since 1980. He was appointed Head of School in 1986. Rabbi Fox is a member of the first smichah class of Yeshiva Bnai Torah of Far Rockaway and earned Masters of Business Administration Degree from Long Island University, Brooklyn.","url":"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/holidays\/author\/rabbi_bernie_fox\/"}]}},"acf":[],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/holidays\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/50441","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/holidays\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/holidays\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/holidays\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/843"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/holidays\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=50441"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/holidays\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/50441\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":50448,"href":"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/holidays\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/50441\/revisions\/50448"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/holidays\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/50447"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/holidays\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=50441"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/holidays\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=50441"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/holidays\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=50441"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}