Altering Altars

Did you notice how many altars have already been built in the Torah?

Bereshit: Abel & Cain offer first fruits and animals on the altar
Noach: Noah builds an altar after the flood has ended and the earth is dry
Lekh Lekha: Just count ’em – Abram goes a little crazy with his altars as he becomes Abraham

Altars: Places to thank G!d, places of sacrifice, places to mark progress, places to claim territory, places to seek refuge

Last week in Hebrew school, we talked about these altars Abraham (and other) set up, especially about what these early altars looked like. The models we see and learn about have four horns, which would have been useful for containing the sacrifice. Later, though, these horns are used for people to hold onto in order to seek refuge and be spared from punishment.

The model of an ancient altar in Be’er Sheva

Altars are meant to alter our relationship with G!d – indeed, that is how our ancestors used them when they set them up. Altars can alter our future, too, especially when we consider times we need protection from our own misdeeds and hasty actions.

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Komps kaos gets hard sometimes – this week has felt a bit out of control as I face a long list of reading and language study.

However, I have finished a book – which is a small milestone! I also settled on passages to read for my Greek and Latin exam.