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...Rabbi Aba said: This parsha is bound with the secret of the wisdom of the Torah, and it is all in hidden and revealed [esoteric and simple meanings], and all Torah is likewise. You have no word in Torah in which the Holy High Name is not engraved, hidden and revealed. In this way, the secrets of Torah - the Holy High Ones inherit them, and reveal them to the rest of the people of the world. In this way it is written " that the name of Ad-nai may be recounted in Zion, His praises in Jerusalem " (Ps. 102:22) - behold, "in Zion" [means] in the Temple, [where] they were permitted to say the Holy Name as revealed. And in other [places] in its accepted form. And in this, all is hidden and revealed. We are taught: whoever diminishes a letter from the Torah, or adds a letter to the Torah, is like one who lies with the King's Holy and High Name.
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1The first 5 lines of the Hebrew text are not found in our translation.R. Isaac said: ‘The Egyptians used to serve the power called “handmaid” and the Canaanites the power called “the captive which is behind the mill”, and all used to misuse holy words and practise their arts therewith; therefore the Israelites were commanded: “After the doings of the land of Egypt shall ye not do”, etc.’ R. Judah said that they caused evil demons to rule over the land, as it says, “and the land was defiled”.
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We have learnt that one day God will purify His land of all the uncleanness wherewith the heathen have defiled it, like one who cleans a garment, and will cast out all those that are buried in the holy land, and purify it from the “other side”, since, if one may say so, it went a-whoring after the Chieftains of the peoples and received their uncleanness.