Shoftim:

Shoftim: memories of egla arufa

 

Every art has  receptor, a sense that that the art appeals to. Music: hearing, dance: motion. Literature appeals to memory. 

 

The egla arufa is calf that is killed in an unusual, cruel manner as expiation for a cold case murder.   The evoked memories includes the murder committed by Cain, where he is asked, Where is your brother?  ( Breshith 4:9).  The story of Cain and Hevel involves a denial of responsibility and a denial of place. the  egla arufa  involves identification of place ( measuring the distance to the nearest city)  and acceptance of responsibility by the elders of  that city.  Note that Cain must then wander and is banished form the city....and he becomes a city builder (4:17)

 

The story of the brothers attempting the murder of Joseph is strongly evoked.  The Rabbis say that Joseph and Jacob were studying the law of egla arufa just before Joseph was sent to find the brothers who tried to kill him. ( Breshith  45: 27 Rashi)  When Joseph sent wagons ( agaloth) to carry Jacob and his household down to Egypt, Jacob was reminded of his last interaction with Joseph.

 

 Any aygel must remind the listener of the golden calf. The loss of the vision that  a single being sees all allows the murderer to do his evil deed.