OTE and We

Long time no post.

Last week I came across a biblical studies journal I hadn't heard of before, the OTE: Old Testament Essays. It's a South Africa-based journal, but like most academic journals includes papers by authors from around the world, including some Israelis and/or Jews. There were several fascinating articles, but something else also caught my eye: A significant number of papers over the years (I would guess a minimum of 50% of their total papers, for a journal established in the 80s!) have to do with the relationship between the Bible and Africa in general, and between South Africa in particular. Topics include: Bible studies in Africa, what portions of the Bible can be used to understand African history and culture, what portions can be used to assist various aspects of modern African society, how African culture can help interpret certain aspects of the Bible, the Bible as a guidebook for African societies, and more.

And so I thought to myself: Wow, this is impressive. Sure, we can see the many problems in African societies nowadays. This journal probably doesn't have too much of a real impact. But here is a group of people who want to put the Bible - and specifically, the Tanach ("Old Testament") before them, as a compass, or a guidebook of sorts, to lead them in life and to help them better themselves and the society around them. Wow!

We need more of that in Israel. Plenty of people respect the Tanach, but not enough see it as something that can be used as a practical guide for advancing Israeli society. More often than not, it's a some king of archaic remnant of our past. For some, it gives a sense of pride for our rich history. For others, it might be shameful to remember that Israelite society wasn't exactly based on modern conceptions of democracy, feminism and human rights. But it seems to me that relatively little see Tanach as something that can show us the future as well (and I don't mean that as in a tool for the end-times).

This reminds me of a story I heard as a high school student about one of the better known IDF officers who was killed in action (I believe either Roi Klein or Dror Weinberg, though I don't remember which exactly). Apparently, during officer training, each trainee had to choose a famous historical battle and present an analysis as a lecture in class. To everyone's surprise when Roi/Dror's turn came, he didn't open up a PowerPoint presentation. Instead, he pulled out a Tanach and started reading, and then systematically analyzing, the battle of David and Goliath. Now there was someone who really internalized the message of Tanach: נבואה שניתנה לדורות - a prophecy given for the ages. Something relevant for our day to day lives, every day in every period of time.

May we merit to live more by the Tanach.