she enlightens the foolish—Because of this, she can give testimony. As is brought in Choshen Mishpat, Laws of Witnesses 35:14: The sages of old instituted that in a place which men do not frequent, women are trusted.
This is known: In the main, desires are [fulfilled] in secret, as in (Proverbs 9:17), “Stolen waters are sweet.” And although people do not frequent there, the Torah stands there and calls to him (ibid.:16): “Whoever is foolish, let him turn here.” But because of the passion of his desires, he does not hear her call.
Yet, after the desire has passed, he immediately takes note of her call and instantly regrets the sin. This remorse is an aspect of “enlightens the foolish,” because at the time of the sin he had within him a spirit of folly. But after the sin passed, he paid attention to the Torah’s words, became wise, and felt remorse.
This is why the Torah, though she is a “woman,” can give testimony. For she stands in a place which men do not frequent, as above. {From Lesson #144 until here is leshon Rabbeinu.}
עֵדוּת ה' נֶאֱמָנָה וְכוּ': (תהילים י״ט:ח׳)
“Edut Hashem Ne’emanah (The testimony of God is trustworthy), she enlightens the foolish.” (Psalms 19:8)
כִּי הַדָּבָר קָשֶׁה, אֵיךְ הַתּוֹרָה, הַנִּקְרֵאת אִשָּׁה, יְכוֹלָה לְהָעִיד, הֲלֹא אִשָּׁה פְּסוּלָה לְעֵדוּת. וְהַתֵּרוּץ עַל זֶה, שֶׁהִיא
It is a difficult matter: How can the Torah, which is called “woman,” give testimony? Is not a woman disqualified as a witness? But the answer is:
מַחְכִּימַת פֶּתִי, בִּשְׁבִיל זֶה יְכוֹלָה לְהָעִיד, כְּמוֹ שֶׁמּוּבָא בְּחֹשֶׁן מִשְׁפָּט הִלְכוֹת עֵדוּת סִימָן ל"ה סָעִיף י"ד: תַּקָּנַת קַדְמוֹנִים הוּא, דִּבְמָקוֹם שֶׁאֵין אֲנָשִׁים רְגִילִים לִהְיוֹת, נָשִׁים נֶאֱמָנוֹת.
she enlightens the foolish—Because of this, she can give testimony. As is brought in Choshen Mishpat, Laws of Witnesses 35:14: The sages of old instituted that in a place which men do not frequent, women are trusted.
וְזֶה יָדוּעַ, שֶׁעִקַּר תַּאֲווֹת הֵם בַּסֵּתֶר, בִּבְחִינַת (משלי ט׳:י״ז): מַיִם גְּנוּבִים יִמְתָּקוּ וְכוּ', וְאֵין בְּנֵי אָדָם רְגִילִים שָׁם. אֲבָל הַתּוֹרָה הִיא עוֹמֶדֶת שָׁם, וְקוֹרֵאת אוֹתוֹ (שם): מִי פֶּתִי יָסוּר הֵנָּה וְכוּ' (זוהר אחרי דף נח), וּמֵחֲמַת תְּשׁוּקַת תַּאֲוָתוֹ אֵינוֹ שׁוֹמֵעַ קְרִיאָתָהּ, וְאַחַר גְּמַר תַּאֲוָתוֹ הוּא מַרְגִּישׁ תֵּכֶף קְרִיאָתָהּ,
This is known: In the main, desires are [fulfilled] in secret, as in (Proverbs 9:17), “Stolen waters are sweet.” And although people do not frequent there, the Torah stands there and calls to him (ibid.:16): “Whoever is foolish, let him turn here.” But because of the passion of his desires, he does not hear her call.
וּמִתְחָרֵט תֵּכֶף עַל הָעֲבֵרָה. וְזֹאת הַחֲרָטָה, זֶה בְּחִינַת מַחְכִּימַת פֶּתִי, כִּי בִּשְׁעַת הָעֲבֵרָה הָיָה בּוֹ רוּחַ שְׁטוּת, וְאַחַר גְּמַר הָעֲבֵרָה הִטָּה אָזְנוֹ לַאֲמָרֶיהָ שֶׁל הַתּוֹרָה, וְהֶחְכִּים וּמִתְחָרֵט.
Yet, after the desire has passed, he immediately takes note of her call and instantly regrets the sin. This remorse is an aspect of “enlightens the foolish,” because at the time of the sin he had within him a spirit of folly. But after the sin passed, he paid attention to the Torah’s words, became wise, and felt remorse.
בִּשְׁבִיל זֶה הַתּוֹרָה אַף־עַל־פִּי שֶׁהִיא אִשָּׁה יְכוֹלָה לְהָעִיד, כִּי הִיא עוֹמֶדֶת בְּמָקוֹם שֶׁאֵין אֲנָשִׁים רְגִילִים שָׁם כַּנַּ"ל: (מִסִּימָן קמ"ד עַד כָּאן – לְשׁוֹן רַבֵּנוּ זִכְרוֹנוֹ לִבְרָכָה)
This is why the Torah, though she is a “woman,” can give testimony. For she stands in a place which men do not frequent, as above. {From Lesson #144 until here is leshon Rabbeinu.}