Take the Levites…. This indicates that it was needful to cleanse them and draw them on that they might be linked to their own proper place. For they symbolize the Left Arm, identical with the side of Judgement, and whoever proceeds from the side of Judgement ought not to let his hair grow, as he thereby strengthens Judgement in the world. For the same reason a woman may not have her hair exposed to view, but it behoves her to cover her head and keep her hair concealed. When this is done, all those who proceed from the side of Judgement are blessed; and thus is explained the significance of the command saying: And thus shalt thou do unto them to cleanse them… and let them cause a razor to pass over all their flesh…. Furthermore, the Levites could not take up their post until the priest had offered them up for a wave-offering, inasmuch as it is the right that has to lead the left.
Said R. Simeon: The Levites, on entering into their assigned places, had to bring as an offering two bullocks, symbolic of the left side, as they themselves were of the left side. On the other hand, power and adjustment are vested in the priest, inasmuch as the power of the body is chiefly displayed in the right arm. The priest was therefore the right arm of all Israel, charged to set right Israel and all the world. Nevertheless he, together with the left side, was part of the body, the body being the all-in-all.
(במדבר ח׳:ו׳) קַח אֶת הַלְוִיִּם וְגוֹ', הָא אוּקְמוּהָ דְּבָעֵי לְדַכְּאָה (ס"א לדברא) לוֹן, וּלְאַמְשָׁכָא לוֹן, לְאִתְקַשְּׁרָא בְּאַתְרַיְיהוּ, בְּגִין דְּאִינּוּן דְּרוֹעָא שְׂמָאלָא, וְסִטְרָא דְּדִינָא, וְכָל מַאן דְּאָתֵי מִסִּטְרָא דְּדִינָא, בָּעֵי דְּלָא יַרְבֵּי שַׂעֲרָא, בְּגִין דְּאַסְגֵּי דִּינָא בְּעָלְמָא. וְעַל דָּא אִתְּתָא כְּהַאי גַּוְונָא, דְּלָא יִתְחֲזֵי שַׂעֲרָא לְבַר, וּבַעְיָיא לְאִתְחַפְּיָיא רֵישֵׁהּ, וּלְכַסֵּי שַׂעְרָהָא, וְאוֹקִימְנָא, וְהָא אִתְּמַר. וּכְדֵין אִתְבָּרְכָן כָּל אִינּוּן דְּאַתְיָין מִסִּטְרָא דְּדִינָא. וְעַל דָּא בְּלֵיוָאֵי כְּתִיב, וְכֹה תַעֲשֶׂה לָהֶם לְטַהֲרָם וְגוֹ', וְהֶעֱבִירוּ תַעַר וְגוֹ'. וְאִתְּמַר לֵיוָאֵי לָא סַלְּקִין לְאַתְרַיְיהוּ, עַד דְּיָרִים לוֹן כַּהֲנָא, בְּגִין דִּימִינָא מַדְבַּר תָּדִיר לִשְׂמָאלָא.
Take the Levites…. This indicates that it was needful to cleanse them and draw them on that they might be linked to their own proper place. For they symbolize the Left Arm, identical with the side of Judgement, and whoever proceeds from the side of Judgement ought not to let his hair grow, as he thereby strengthens Judgement in the world. For the same reason a woman may not have her hair exposed to view, but it behoves her to cover her head and keep her hair concealed. When this is done, all those who proceed from the side of Judgement are blessed; and thus is explained the significance of the command saying: And thus shalt thou do unto them to cleanse them… and let them cause a razor to pass over all their flesh…. Furthermore, the Levites could not take up their post until the priest had offered them up for a wave-offering, inasmuch as it is the right that has to lead the left.
רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן אָמַר, בְּיוֹמָא דְּסַלְּקִין לֵּיוָאֵי בְּדוּכְתַיְיהוּ, בִּתְרֵין פָּרִים. מַאי טַעְמָא פָּרִים. אֶלָּא אִינְהוּ כְּפָרִים, לְקַבְּלָא בִּשְׂמָאלָא לְהַאי פָּרָה דְּאִקְרֵי פָּרָה אֲדוּמָה. כַּהֲנָא כָּל חֵילָא וְכָל תִּקּוּנָא בֵּיהּ תַּלְיָיא, בְּגִין דְּכָל חֵילָא דְּגוּפָא בִּדְרוֹעָא יְמִינָא קַיְּימָא. וְעַל דָּא כַּהֲנָא דְּרוֹעָא דְּיִשְׂרָאֵל כֻּלְּהוּ הֲוִי. וּבֵיהּ קַיְּימָא לְאַתְקְנָא כֹּלָּא וּלְאַתְקְנָא עָלְמָא (ס"א מאי טעמא פרים אלא אינהו שמאלא כפרים לקבלא בשמאלא. תא חזי כהנא דרועא ימינא דישראל כלהו הוה וביה קיימא לאתתקנא עלמא ולאתתקנא כלא בגין דכל חילא דגופא בדרועא ימינא קיימא וכל תקונא ביה תלייא) וְעִם כָּל דָּא, לָא אִשְׁתְּכַח בִּלְחוֹדוֹי, אֶלָּא בְּגוּפָא וּשְׂמָאלָא, וְגוּפָא עִקָּרָא הוּא דְּכֹלָּא.
Said R. Simeon: The Levites, on entering into their assigned places, had to bring as an offering two bullocks, symbolic of the left side, as they themselves were of the left side. On the other hand, power and adjustment are vested in the priest, inasmuch as the power of the body is chiefly displayed in the right arm. The priest was therefore the right arm of all Israel, charged to set right Israel and all the world. Nevertheless he, together with the left side, was part of the body, the body being the all-in-all.