(Rashi) God’s Great Hand (Man Ray)

man ray hand

[Man Ray, Hand on Lips, 1926] Most translations in English elide the anthropomorphism. “And Israel saw the great hand…”  (Ex. 14:31). According to Rashi, “hand” refers to the great power done by the hand of the Holy one Blessed be He. Also according to Rashi, there are many meanings that apply to the word “yad” and they all mean hand, literally. Still with Rashi, it is up to the interpreter to fix the word according to the matter of the expression. As for the woman’s hand in the photograph by Man Ray, consult the Zohar where it is quite plan that God’s work at the Red Sea upon Egypt reflects the power of Shechinah.

About zjb

Zachary Braiterman is Professor of Religion in the Department of Religion at Syracuse University. His specialization is modern Jewish thought and philosophical aesthetics. http://religion.syr.edu
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