Acharei Mot: Chapter 46

Tamar

Synopsis

Rabbi Yitzchak says that the Holy Name is both concealed and revealed, that the Torah is both concealed and revealed, and that every verse and portion of the Torah is both concealed and revealed, there is always both a literal explanation and its mystery. The rabbis talk about Tamar, and Rabbi Aba wonders about "the entrance of eyes" spoken of in scripture. Rabbi Shimon explains that it has to do with the door or entrance by which one can see God. He interprets the story of Tamar as told in Beresheet, and it is obvious that there are both literal and esoteric explanations. Rabbi Aba says that the concealed matters of the Torah are given to saintly people, while the revealed, or obvious, matters are given to the rest of the people.