[Avodah] Mi Ban Siach

[Arie Folger]

On Tue, Jul 5, 2011 at 12:30 PM, Micha Berger <micha at aishdas.org> wrote:
> It seems clear to me that in all three contexts the one-in-a-minyan who
> knows how to daven is being compared to the shoshanah.

Context, context, context .. and larger context.

>From the context (as well as from traditional use of the shoshan
imagery), it is clear that the shoshana is the entire congregation of
Israel. Just look at the same midrash Shir haShirim, at the text right
before and after the paragraph we deal with 2:1, 2:2, 2:3, 2:5 and
2:6. (OK, in 2:1, the point is a bit more subtle, as Yitz'haq and
Ya'aqov have to personify all of Israel)

Rather, what is meant in 2:4 is that the one who davens knows the
language of the Shoshan, and therefore, when he comes to the fore and
blesses the couple, all of Israel becomes beautified and the contrast
keshoshana bein ha'ho'him applies.

-- 
Arie Folger,
Recent blog posts on http://ariefolger.wordpress.com/
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