“Your eyes are like doves.” “Your eyes,” these are the Sanhedrin, who are the eyes of the congregation; that is what is written: “It shall be, if from the eyes of the congregation” (Numbers 15:24). There are two hundred and forty-eight limbs in a person, and all of them go and come only after the eyes. Similarly, Israel is unable to do anything without their Sanhedrin.
“Doves,” just as this dove is flawless, so too, Israel is graceful in their walking when they ascend on the occasion of the pilgrim festivals.293Several commentaries add to the text, based on parallels from other midrashic sources, such that it reads: Just as this dove is flawless, so is Israel flawless in its faith; just as the dove is graceful, so is Israel graceful in its walking… (see Maharzu; Etz Yosef).
Just as the dove is distinguished [by its appearance], so too, Israel is distinguished regarding shaving, circumcision, and ritual fringes. Just as the dove is chaste, so too, Israel is chaste. Just as the dove extends its neck to be slaughtered, the same is true of Israel, as it is stated: “For we are killed for You all day” (Psalms 44:23). Just as the dove atones for iniquities,294The dove is sacrificed as a sin-offering under certain circumstances. so too, Israel atones for the nations, as all those seventy bulls that they sacrifice on the festival of Sukkot correspond to the seventy nations, so the world will not be desolate of them.
That is what is written: “In return for my love, they accuse me; I am prayer.” (Psalms 109:4). Just as the dove, from the moment it becomes familiar with its mate, it does not exchange it for another, so too Israel, from the moment that they became familiar with the Holy One blessed be He, they did not exchange Him for another. Just as the dove enters its nest and recognizes its nest and its cote and its fledglings, its chicks, and its openings, so are the three rows of Torah scholars when they sit before them,295They sit before the Sanhedrin listening intently, prepared to join them if the need arises. each and every one recognizes his designated place.
Just as the dove, even if you take its fledglings from beneath it, it never forsakes its cote, so too Israel, even though the Temple was destroyed, they did not abolish the three annual pilgrim festivals. Just as each and every month, the dove renews the product of its cote,296It lays eggs and hatches them. so too, each month, Israel renews its Torah and good deeds. Just as the dove dispatches many297It dispatches many of the occupants of its cote to gather food. on foot and returns to its cote, the same is true of Israel.
That is what is written: “They will stir like a bird from Egypt” (Hosea 11:11); this is the generation of the wilderness, “and like a dove from the land of Assyria” (Hosea 11:11); these are the Ten Tribes. Both these and those “I will settle them in their homes, the utterance of the Lord” (Hosea 11:11). Rabbi says: There is a species of dove that one feeds it, and its counterparts smell it and come to it in its cote.
So too, when the elder is sitting and expounding, many proselytes convert at that moment, such as Yitro, he heard and came, Raḥav heard and came. Similarly in the case of Ḥananya, Mishael, and Azarya, many proselytes converted at that time. What is the reason? “When he sees his children… [who will sanctify My name]” (Isaiah 29:23). What is written thereafter? “Those of misguided spirit will attain understanding” (Isaiah 29:24).