Pensiero Ebraico su Ecclesiaste 4:1

The seven days of consecration which Aaron and his sons spent in isolation, away from their respective families, prior to assuming their priestly functions, were to prepare them spiritually for their task. While they had to remain on the threshold, they were neither to enter the sanctuary nor to leave the holy courtyard. This clearly demonstrated that these seven days were preparatory to their sacred task, but that until the eighth day their preparations would not be complete. Symbolically, these seven days represented the entire life cycle. Just as life on this earth is viewed as an antechamber to the world to come, (Rabbi Yaakov Avot 4,21) so Aaron and sons were to view themselves as dedicating themselves for their lives' destiny. Wherever and whenever we encounter the number seven, it is to remind us that perfection is capable of being achieved at the end of a cycle of seven. Even when we observe a period of mourning, we do so for a seven day period. We have learned this from G'd Himself, who had observed seven days of mourning for mankind when He brought the deluge upon the earth. (Genesis 7,4. see commentary of Rabbi Zeyra in Moed Katan 3,5) He who fails to observe the seven days of preparation, is as if he were already mourning his own demise during the seven days that should have prepared him to attain his goal, his purpose.

Rachel was the mother of mamzeirim. And this is as it is said, "Rachel weeps over her children and will not be comforted about her children, for they are not" (Yirmiyahu 31:14). "Her children... her children". Initially it was said "her children" - these are the children of Israel who went into exile; and afterwards it was said "her children" - these are her own children, since they were mamzerim. "She will not be comforted" - these are mamzeirim, since about them it is said "And they have no comforter" (Kohelet 4:1). "For they are not" - Rachel saw that the mamzeirim were in the future to be forbidden to enter the community, and as if they were not.

The Holy Blessed One said to her: "Hold back your voice from weeping and your eyes from tears" (Yirmiyahu 31:15). "Your voice from weeping" about the children in exile, "and your eyes from tears" about the mamzeirim, for about their tears it is said "And behold the tear of the oppressed" (Kohelet 4:1). "For there is reward for your action, says God, and they will return from the land of the enemy" (Yirmiyahu 31:15) - these are the children who return from exile. "And there is hope for your end, says God, and children will return to their borders" (Yirmiyahu 31:16) -- these are the mamzeirim, who will in the future return to enter the community of God.