Commentaire de citation sur Les Proverbes 1:20

And he said “How goodly are your tents, O Jacob.” He saw that their openings were not aligned facing each other, so that no one would look into their fellow’s tent and they would not be harmed by the evil eye. He said, “How is it possible that they would be harmed by the evil eye, since it is something they themselves are careful about?” Rather, like streams stretched out — he is saying that the tents of Jacob and his dwellings are compared to streams that cover the fish so that the evil eye has no power over them. Similarly, the tents in which they sit and engage in Torah study protect from the [evil] eye, for the evil eye has no power over those who dwell in tents who are not seen at the head of all streets. Nevertheless, their Torah proclaims them in the streets, giving its voice, and their wellsprings spread outward in the streets [like] streams of water. Therefore it says, like streams stretched out, like gardens planted by the Lord, for the tents and the streams have the same property.

Behold, I have room to further explain “from inside and from outside,” according to what we find in the tractate Moed Katan (16a) where Rabbi [Judah HaNasi] decreed to his students that they should not study [Torah] in the marketplace, etc. And it concludes there: But is it not written Wisdom cries out in the streets (Proverbs 1:20)? Rava said: Anyone who engages in Torah study indoors, his Torah proclaims about him outdoors. According to this, there is more perfection in Torah [study] inside the house than in Torah that is taught outside. Therefore, the verse mentioned pure gold regarding the inside but did not mention this regarding the outside. And perhaps for this reason, the verse prioritized the inside before the outside, as it began with pure gold from inside, and from there we can also learn about the outside. Similarly, one who engages in Torah study in his house — from there the matter will spread to the head of all streets.