ספר בראשית

Concerning the dream: "Seven cows, fair of appearance, etc., and they were grazing in the achu." And in the Midrash: "Achvah (brotherhood) and peace in the world" - see there. The allusion is to the aspect of Joseph, who is peace, and he is the aspect of Shabbat, which encompasses the six days in a unity of oneness. Therefore he elevates everything to the root. This is what is said concerning Joseph: "A son of seventeen years, he was shepherding et achav (his brothers)." But concerning the [other] tribes it is written "to shepherd the flock," and the Sages expounded: et is dotted to [teach] "to shepherd themselves" - that they were not in proper unity, for they are the aspect of particularity. Similarly, the abundance that comes during the days of action - each day is unto itself. Therefore the allusion was from the seven cows that came after them, which were not in achvah (brotherhood/unity). But concerning Joseph it is written et achav (his brothers). Therefore it alludes to "seventeen." The explanation is: the seven have unification in the first three [sefirot], for so is Shabbat - the light of the seven days. In truth, Shabbat prepares the abundance also for the days of action, as it says "from it all six days are blessed." But it is not in revelation, as it is said that the manna did not fall on Shabbat. On the contrary, the weekdays prepare for Shabbat. This is the allusion: "And it was not known that they had come into their midst." But in truth, Shabbat sustains all the days. This is what is said concerning Joseph: "Fair of form and fair of appearance" - that the righteous one is "good of eye" (tov ayin), and through him all are blessed.

In the Shabbat hymns [it says]: "And the he-goat of the goats increased, etc., through His priests from those who rose up against him." For the Greeks were exceedingly brazen and breached breaches in the Temple, and the Holy One, Blessed be He, took vengeance for His Temple. Therefore their downfall was through the priests, the servants of the Sanctuary. And the priests are the emissaries of the Merciful One. It is possible that because of this it is called Chanukah - which is an opening (petach) and an inauguration (chinuch) - upon the downfall of the wicked kingdom that sought to completely destroy the Temple, as it is written: "Raze it, raze it to its very foundation!" (Psalms 137:7). And the vengeance will increase, so that, as it were, the Holy One, Blessed be He, Himself will take vengeance from them, as it concludes: "Who is this coming from Edom, with crimsoned garments, etc." (Isaiah 63:1).

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