Скачать или смотреть The Staff and the Serpent: The Unity of Divine Creation in the Torah

This text explores the profound philosophical and theological symbolism of Moses’ staff and its transformation into a serpent in the context of the confrontation with Pharaoh. The author connects this biblical episode to the primordial temptation in the Garden of Eden, presenting the image of the serpent as an embodiment of human intellect, creative drive, and passions—forces that require spiritual guidance. Drawing on the teachings of Rav Kook and Eliahu Benamozegh, the article explains that the swallowing of the Egyptian magicians’ staffs by Aaron’s staff symbolizes the supremacy of divine unity over fragmented natural forces and pagan polytheism. Ultimately, the sources emphasize the necessity of harmonizing material powers and human intellect with the moral values of the Torah in order to achieve true redemption. Thus, the miracles in Egypt are interpreted not merely as a political struggle, but as a process of subjugating the chaotic energies of the world to a higher divine order.