Week 24 (Book 5): the Intoxicating Power of Food and Drink

SONG OF SONGS:

9. "What is your beloved more than another beloved, O fairest of women? What is your beloved more than another beloved, that you have so adjured us?"

10. "My beloved is white and ruddy, surrounded by myriads.

11. His head is as the finest gold; his locks are curled, [they are as] black as a raven.

SOULS THAT DESCENDED TO EGYPT: Issachar

TALMUD SHEVUOTH: DAF 23 – Oaths on Forbidden Foods

BOOK OF JEREMIAH: Chapter 24

Week 24 in the Jewish calendar is the week of Purim. The verses of Shir HaShirim of this week speaks of the “fairest of women,” a likely reference to Queen Esther, who was chosen above all the women of the Persian Empire. The reference to Israel’s Beloved being white and “ruddy,” appears to be connected to the wine of Purim. (See Week 23, Book 4a: “Do not look at wine when it is red; when he puts his eye on the cup, it goes smoothly.” (Proverbs 23:31))

Of the seventy souls of the Jewish people that descended to Egypt, the twenty-fourth mentioned is Issachar. Issachar was conceived on the night that Rachel exchanged for the dudayim of Leah. The intoxicating nature of the dudayim seem to parallel the intensity of Purim, which is brought about as well through physical intoxication.

Daf Kaf Dalet (Folio 24) of Shvuot continues to discuss forbidden foods, and speaks about how one can violate more than one law in a single act of eating. One of the main points of contention of the Purim story was the fact that the Jews partook of Achashverosh’s festive meal.

Chapter 24 of the Book of Jeremiah contains a similar theme to the above. It speaks about duda’ey te’enim, translated as “pots of figs,” but which literally mean dudayim of figs. Some of the figs could be eaten – others not at all. This dichotomy, especially between the very good (Mordechai) and the very bad (Haman) is also symbolic of Adar. In this case, Jeremiah’s vision is referring to those that willingly go to exile in Babylon, and those that stubbornly decide to stay in the Land of Israel.

1. The Lord showed me two pots of figs, prepared before the Temple of the Lord after Nebuchadrezzar, king of Babylon, had exiled Jeconiah son of Jehoiakim king of Judah and the princes of Judah and the craftsmen and the sentries of the gates from Jerusalem and brought them to Babylon. 

  

2. One pot [contained] very good figs like the first ripe figs, and the other pot [contained] very bad figs that could not be eaten because they were so bad. (…)

The end of this chapter also has language very similar to Haazinu’s verse for Week 24 in Book 2:  “They will sprout hair from famine, attacked by demons, excised by Meriri. I will incite the teeth of livestock upon them, with the venom of creatures that slither in the dust.” (Deuteronomy 32:24)

10. And I will send forth the sword, the famine, and the pestilence against them until they are consumed from upon the land that I gave them and their forefathers.

Week 25 (Book 5): Learning Torah and Listening to the Leader of the Generation

SONG OF SONGS:

12. His eyes are like doves beside rivulets of water, bathing in milk, fitly set.

13. His jaws are like a bed of spice, growths of aromatic plants; his lips are [like] roses, dripping with flowing myrrh.

14. His hands are [like] wheels of gold, set with chrysolite; his abdomen is [as] a block of ivory, overlaid with sapphires.

70 SOULS THAT DESCENDED TO EGYPT: Tola

TALMUD SHEVUOTH: Daf 25 - Oaths for the Past and Future

BOOK OF JEREMIAH: Chapter 25

Week 25 in the Jewish calendar is the last week of Adar. The verses of Shir HaShirim of this week speak of various spices and aromatic plants, including myrrh, which Talmud is a reference to Mordechai. Rashi explains that the above verses are primarily a reference to the study halls of the Jewish people and how there they clarify and uncover the mysteries of the Torah. Our sages explain that it was the efforts of Mordechai and the Jews at the time to strengthen the public study of Torah that led to our redemption. As also mentioned previously, the month of Adar is about Megillat Esther, uncovering (Legalot) the hidden (Nistar).

Of the seventy souls of the Jewish people that descended to Egypt, the twenty-fifth mentioned is Tola. Tola is also later the name of one of the Judges, who was from the Tribe of Issachar. Tola’s sons are mentioned in Chronicles (7:1), about which Rashi has a fascinating comment:

And of the sons of Issachar: Tola, and Puah, and Jashub, and Shimron: In the Pentateuch (Gen. 46:13) it is written: “and Job.” Job was his name [originally], but since they settled themselves (נִתְיַשְּׁבוּ) to learn Torah, as it is written (below 12: 33): “And of the sons of Issachar, who possessed understanding of the times,” he merited and was called Jashub (יָשוּב).

The role for Tola appears very much related to Mordechai (who was the leader/judge during the time of Purim) and the public study of Torah as described above.

Daf Kaf Heh (Folio 25) of Shvuot continues tod to it discuss different laws related to oaths, and whether they can apply to the past as well as to the future. Week 25 is the midway point of the “Counting of the Omer” of the weeks of the entire year.

Chapter 25 of the Book of Jeremiah is very much related to the above and the general themes of this month. The chapter speaks of the importance of listening to the leader of the generation, in this case the king, as well as to the prophets and to the words of Hashem (the Torah). It also speaks much of drinking and getting drunk. It also discusses future destructions of other peoples (related to the destruction of Amalek). There is also a reference to Jerusalem, the levitical city related to this week. (See Book 2)

3. From the thirteenth year of Josiah son of Amon, king of Judah, until this day, these twenty- three years the word of the Lord has come to me, and I spoke to you, arising early and speaking, but you did not hearken.                    

4. And the Lord sent to you all His servants, the prophets, sending them early, but you did not hearken and you did not incline your ear[s] to listen. (…)

8. Therefore, so said the Lord of Hosts: Since you have not hearkened to My words, (…)

15. For so said the Lord God of Israel to me; Take this cup of the wine of fury from My hand, and you shall give it to all the nations to whom I send you, to drink.

16. And they shall drink and reel to and fro and be like madmen because of the sword that I am sending among them.            

17. And I took the cup from the hand of the Lord, and I gave it to all the nations to whom the Lord had sent me, to drink.

                       

 (...)

26. And all the kings of the north, both near and far, one after the other, and all the kingdoms of the earth that are upon the face of the earth; and the king of Sheshach shall drink after them.

27. And you shall say to them: So said the Lord God of Israel; Drink, become drunk, and vomit, fall and you shall not rise, because of the sword that I am sending among you.      

28. And it shall be, if they refuse to take the cup from your hand to drink, that you shall say to them: So said the Lord of Hosts: You shall surely drink.

Week 26 (Book 5): The Importance of Speech

SONG OF SONGS:

15. His legs are [as] pillars of marble, founded upon sockets of fine gold, his appearance is like the Lebanon, chosen as the cedars. 

16. His palate is sweet, and he is altogether desirable; this is my beloved, and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem."               

1. "Where has your beloved gone, O fairest of women? Where has your beloved turned, that we may seek him with you?" 

70 SOULS THAT DESCENDED TO EGYPT: Puvvah

TALMUD SHEVUOTH - Daf 26: The Importance of Verbalizing an Oath

BOOK OF JEREMIAH: Chapter 26

Week 26 in the Jewish calendar is the week of Rosh Chodesh Nissan. Nissan is the month of Passover. The verses of Shir HaShirim are very much connected to the mouth and to and speech, which are the primary symbols of Passover itself. Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev states that Pesach stands for Peh - Sach, “a mouth converses,” as it is a special mitzvah to recount and ponder over the miracles of our liberation during the Passover Seder as much as possible. The Megaleh Amukos states that Pharaoh stands for Peh Rah (evil mouth).[1] Here is Rashi’s commentary on the verses:

15. his appearance is like the Lebanon: One who reflects and ponders over His words finds in them blossoms and sprouts, like a forest which blooms. So are the words of Torah-whoever meditates over them constantly finds new explanations in them.   

16. His palate is sweet: His words are pleasant...

Of the seventy souls of the Jewish people that descended to Egypt, the twenty-sixth mentioned is Puvvah. Puvvah also appears to come from the Hebrew word for mouth (Peh), related to Pessach. This seems related to the name  Puah (spelled with an Ayin instead of an Aleph), mentioned in connection to Miriam in the very beginning of the Exodus story. “The name Puah, comes from a Hebrew root that implies a particular gift of speech. Rashi comments that Puah was able to soothe a crying baby to sleep with her special way of talking.”[2] Puvvah is also the name of the father of Tola, a Judge from the Tribe of Issachar.

Daf Caf Alef (Folio 21) of Shvuot continues to discuss oaths, particularly addressing whether an oath needs to be “spoken.” Again, the idea of “Peh - Sach.”

Chapter 26 of the Book of Jeremiah contains a similar theme to the above. It gives emphasis to the physical saying of the prophecy, not so much regarding the mouth, but the ear:

11. And the priests and the prophets said to the princes and to all the people, saying, "This man is liable to death, for he prophesied concerning this city, as you have heard with your ears. "          

12. And Jeremiah said to all the princes and to all the people saying, "The Lord sent me to prophesy concerning this house and concerning this city all the words that you have heard. (…)     

15. But you should know that if you put me to death, that you are bringing innocent blood upon yourselves and upon this city and upon its inhabitants, for indeed God sent me concerning you, to speak into your ears all these words."

---

[1] http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/137089/jewish/Pei-Communication.htm

[2] http://www.torah.org/learning/women/class45.html

Week 27 (Book 5): Faith in the Shepherd

SONG OF SONGS:

2. "My beloved has gone down to his garden, to the spice beds, to graze in the gardens and to gather roses.

3. I am my beloved's, and my beloved is mine, who grazes among the roses."

4. "You are fair, my beloved, as Tirzah, comely as Jerusalem, awesome as the bannered legions.

70 SOULS THAT DESCENDED TO EGYPT: Iob

TALMUD SHEVUOT: Daf 27 - Oaths on Bread

BOOK OF JEREMIAH: Chapter 27

Week 27 in the Jewish calendar is in the beginning of the month of Nissan, and is the week of the yahrzeit of the Rebbe Rashab. The verses of Shir HaShirim mention Hashem as a Shepherd, grazing in the gardens, among the roses. As mentioned in Book 1, these weeks of Nissan are very much related to our relationship with G-d being one of a faithful flock with its Shepherd. Nissan represents the month of Aries, symbolized by the ram.

Of the seventy souls of the Jewish people that descended to Egypt, the twenty-seventh mentioned is Iob.  Iob’s name brings to mind Job (although without the aleph). Job is closely connected to the events leading up to the Passover redemption, as the Midrash teaches that he was one of Pharaoh’s three top advisors when the decision was made to throw the Jewish male children into the Nile. Job is also very much a symbol of the need for faith and humility.

Daf Caf Zayim (Folio 27) of Shvuot discusses oaths regarding a mitzvah. It also discusses two oaths made over the same loaf of bread. Here we have a clear reference to preparing the house for Passover.

Chapter 27 of the Book of Jeremiah contains a similar theme to the above. The chapter mentions behemot (domesticated animals, as above) as well as chayot (wild animals) It has many references to Passover themes, such as “an outstretched arm,” and “God’s servant,” Nebuchadnezzar, a term usually reserved for Moses himself.

5. I made the earth, the man and the beast [behemah] that are upon the face of the earth, with My great strength and with My outstretched arm, and I gave it to him that pleased Me.  

6. And now, I have given these lands into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, My servant, and even the beasts of the field [chayot] I have given to him to serve him.

The chapter also mentions the “yoke” of Babylonian oppression, and various other aspects and impacts of this exile. As also explained in Book 1, during Nissan we re-experience various exiles we endured, and our redemption from them.

Week 28 (Book 5): Shimron and the "Night of Vigil" (Leil Shimurim)

SONG OF SONGS:

5. Turn away your eyes from me, for they have made me haughty; your hair is like a flock of goats that streamed down from Gilead.                     

6. Your teeth are like a flock of ewes that came up from the washing, all of which are perfect and there is no bereavement among them.

7. Your temple is like a split pomegranate from beneath your kerchief.

70 SOULS THAT DESCENDED TO EGYPT: Shimron

TALMUD SHEVUOTH: Daf 28 - Oaths over bread.

BOOK OF JEREMIAH: Chapter 28

Week 28 in the Jewish calendar is the week of the first night of Passover. The verses of Shir HaShirim of this week are from Hashem’s perspective. Again, there is a reference to domesticated animals – the goat and the ewe. There is also a reference to the need to stay away from haughtiness, which is the essential aspect of Passover: ridding oneself of chametz and eating the matzah.

Of the seventy souls of the Jewish people that descended to Egypt, the twenty-eighth mentioned is Shimron. The name Shimron appears to have at its root the word Shomer, to keep, to guard. Matzah needs to be Shmurah, guarded: “You shall guard the matzot.” (Exodus, 12:17) The matzot need guarding to ensure that it does not become chametz. Otherwise, it may not been eaten on Passover. The main mitzvah of eating matzah is on the first night of Passover. That night is called, “Leil Shimurim,” a night in which we feel G-d watch over us to such an extent that it is even common custom to keep doors unlocked.

Daf Kaf Chet (Folio 28) of Shvuot continues to discuss different laws related to oaths made over a loaf of bread, and what happens if one ate such a bread. Again, there’s a clear connection to Passover and not eating bread at this time of the year.

Chapter 28 of the Book of Jeremiah contains a similar theme to the above. It again mentions the “yoke” of Babylonian exile, similar to that carried by a domesticated animal. It also gives the prime example of someone who is filled with spiritual chametz to the point of believing his own false prophecies, compared to Jeremiah, who maintains his humility throughout:   

10. And Hananiah the prophet took the bar off the neck of Jeremiah the prophet and broke it. (…)

13. Go and say to Hananiah, saying: So said the Lord: Bars of wood have you broken, and you shall make in their stead bars of iron.  

15. And Jeremiah the prophet said to Hananiah the prophet: The Lord did not send you, and you assured this people with a lie.

16. Therefore, so said the Lord: Behold I send you off the face of the earth; this year you shall die, for you have spoken perversion against the Lord.  

17. And Hananiah the prophet died in that year, in the seventh month.

Nissan is the seventh month counting from Rosh Hashanah.