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Date:
From: Russell Hendel <  rhendel@mcs.drexel.edu>
Subject: Re: Mishkan as Human Body

Rabbi Danny's comments about the Malbims theory of Mishkan are of course
welcome (that they symbolize the human body), but as I explained last time
the issue is not one of OPINION and AUTHORITY but rather of METHODOLOGY.

To repeat my example of last time---I would have thought that BIRD
symbolizes SOARING FREEDOM--But the Bible says BIRD symbolizes POVERTY.

In a similar manner the real issue in the mishkan is whether the BIBLE USES
THESE SYMBOLS HERSELF AS MALBIM OR RAV HIRSCH DESCRIBE THEM. This is the
ultimate test. We have no right reading symbols into a literary piece that
are not justified internally.

The Malbim must defend the identification of mishkan parts with human body
organs to qualify his interpretation as PESHAT. Rav Hirsch goes out of his
way in his commentary to show e.g. that BLOOD=SOUL, BIRD = POVERTY, RAM =
LEADER---these symbols are USED THROUGHOUT TNACH and that is what makes PSHAT.

His arguments about POSITION are not as strong. He argues that SOUTH =
MENORAH which was placed in south = INTELLIGENCE. A working theory but
perhaps there is another one. This is the approach which we must take.

Russell Jay Hendel; PH.d; ASA
RHendel @ mcs drexel edu

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