The Sanhedrin as Israel's Eyes and the Dove's Surrendered Neck

"Behold, you are beautiful, my love" (Song of Songs 1:15). Rabbi Simon ben Pazzi said: She praises Him with a single expression, and He praises her with a double expression. Why does He praise her with a double expression? Because if she does not do His will, He is able to exchange her for another. But she praises Him with a single expression, because she is not able to exchange Him for another, as it is said, "Behold, you are beautiful, my beloved, also pleasant" (Song of Songs 1:16). Therefore, "Behold, you are beautiful, my love; behold, you are beautiful; your eyes are doves" (Song of Songs 1:15). These are the Sanhedrin. Just as the whole body walks after the eyes, so Israel would walk after the Sanhedrin concerning whatever they say to them: "impure, impure," "pure, pure." "Your eyes are doves." Just as this dove, when all the birds are slaughtered they convulse, but the dove does nothing except stretch out its neck, so none gives his life for the Holy One, blessed be He, except Israel, as it is said, "Indeed, for Your sake we are slain all the day; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter" (Psalms 44:23). "From behind your veil" (Song of Songs 4:1). This woman, when she grows the hair of her head, she places the hair behind her, and it is becoming to her. So Israel — their Sanhedrin would sit in the Chamber of Hewn Stone, restrained "from behind your veil."