Jewish traditions had a way of finding meaning on four levels.15 The first was the peshat, the literal and simple understanding of Scripture as found in the Mishnah (the oral interpretations of the Torah and Writings). The second was the remez, the more complex typological meaning, represented by the studies of well-known rabbis in the Talmud or gemara. The third was the derash, the metaphoric or parabolic meaning and in-depth exegesis associated with the studies of the midrash. The sod was the fourth and deepest level of meaning. The most spiritual in nature, it contained the very secrets of
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