על הגירת אברהם י״זOn the Migration of Abraham 17
א׳
1[95] I admire also all-virtuous Leah, because when Asher was born, symbol of counterfeit wealth the outward and visible, she cries “Happy am I, for the women will call me happy” (Gen. 30:13). She aims at being favourably regarded, thinking praise due to her not only from thoughts masculine and truly manly, by which the nature that has no blemish and truth impervious to bribes is held in honour, but also from those which are more feminine, which are wholly at the mercy of appearances and powerless to understand anything presented to contemplation outside them.
ב׳
2[96] It is characteristic of a perfect soul to aspire both to be and to be thought to be, and to take pains not only to have a good reputation in the men’s quarters, but to receive the praises of the women’s as well.
ג׳
3[97] It was for this reason that Moses gave in charge not to men only but to women also to provide the sacred appointments of the Tabernacle: for it is the women who do all the weavings of blue and scarlet and linen and goat’s hair (Ex. 35:22 f.), and they contribute without hesitation their own jewellery, “seals, ear-rings, rings, bracelets, hair-clasps,” all that was made of gold, exchanging the adornment of their persons for the adornment of piety.
ד׳
4[98] Nay, in their abounding enthusiasm, they dedicate their mirrors for the making of the laver (Ex. 38:26), to the end that those who are about to perform sacred rites, as they are washing hands and feet, that is, the purposes which they take in hand and which form the base and support of the mind, may be helped to see themselves reflected by recollecting the mirrors out of which the laver was fashioned: for if they do this they will not overlook any ugly thing shewing itself in the appearance of the soul, and being thus purified will dedicate the most sacred and perfect of offerings, the offering of fasting and perseverance.
ה׳
5[99] These, in whose eyes Leah, that is virtue, desires to be honoured are citizen women and worthy of their citizenship; but there are others without citizenship who kindle a fire to add to the misery of the wretched mind; for we read that “women further kindled in addition a fire against Moab” (Num. 21:30).
ו׳
6[100] Is it not the case, that each one of the fool’s senses, kindled by the objects of sense, sets the mind on fire, pouring upon it a great and impassable flame, in violent and resistless current? It is best, then, that the array of women, that is of the senses, in the soul, should be propitiated, as well as that of the men, that is of our several thoughts: for in this way shall we feel the journey of life better than it else would be.