Noting YHVH telling the Israelites to make an altar out of earth and to sacrifice on it and stating that wherever YHVH’s name is commemorated, YHVH would come to them and bless them, we discussed the idea of local gods in contrast to YHVH who comes to people where they are. YHVH comes to those who commemorate YHVH’s name. Rabbi Ben mentioned the idea of being grounded. The earthy altar and God’s presence ground us.
We discussed the idea that if the altar is made from stones, they should be uncut stones. Perhaps this is because, as some of our medieval commentators suggest, cut stones suggest violence. Or maybe it is because uncut stones are simple—a simple altar made of earth or a simple altar of uncut stones. Cutting them, we noted YHVH says, profanes the altar. We also noted the prohibition of ascending by steps to the altar because doing so would expose nudity. We discussed the idea of seeing under their cloaks and that they might not have had underwear or that they had minimal underwear. The prohibition suggests modesty.
