קונטרס תכלא דפזלון – Kuntreis Tichla DePilazon

Kuntres Tekhala D’Pilazon

A remarkable kuntres has come into my hands, called “Tekhala D’Pilazon” (so named after those who squint their eyes and each one sees what he wants to see[1]), and it brings great and terrible proofs before our eyes that there were actually two Chilazons: one in the Mediterranean Sea, called the Purpura, which is not kosher for tzitzis, and one in the Kinneret, which is kosher for tzitzis. And with this, we can resolve the contradiction in Chazal regarding where the Chilazon is found[2].

And proof that the Chilazon of the Kinneret is the kosher Techeiles? Simple! The Gemara says it is domeh l’yam (resembles the sea)[3], and anyone can see that the Chilazon of the Kinneret resembles the sea exactly—like two drops of water! So much so, that no one in the world could tell the difference between them.

And know that when we find that Shevet Zevulun used to catch Chilazon[4]—both in the Mediterranean and in the Kinneret—that’s because there were actually two Shevatim of Zevulun! That’s why it’s written in the plural form, “Zevulun,” unlike any other Shevet[5]. Really, it should have been just “Zevul,” but since there were two Zevuluns, one for each Chilazon, it’s all a perfect match (Keptor V’Ferach).

And with this, we can resolve the contradiction in Parshas Vayigash, where it says the children of Leah were thirty-three, even though we only count thirty-two[6]. Obviously, that missing one was the second Zevulun! And don’t ask, “But doesn’t it say that Bnei Yaakov were twelve[7]? Wouldn’t that make them thirteen if there were two Zevuluns?” Simple answer: there were actually two Yaakovs! After all, the pasuk says, Vaya’akveini zeh pa’amayim—he has tricked me twice[8]! And guess what? There were also two Yitzchaks! It’s clear as day in the Torah: “Eileh toldos Yitzchak ben Avraham, Avraham holid es Yitzchak”[9]—if Avraham had to be mentioned twice, it must mean there were two Yitzchaks as well! And it’s even written explicitly: “Echad haya Avraham”—meaning, only Avraham was one, but not Yitzchak[10]!

And with this, we can also resolve the contradiction in Chazal regarding how old Yitzchak was at the Akeidah. Simple—each Yitzchak was sacrificed at a different time! And at the same time, we can also answer whether Rivkah was three years old or fourteen years old when she married Yitzchak. Simple—each Yitzchak had his own Rivkah![11]

And really, it’s now perfectly clear that when Hashem promised to give Eretz Yisroel to Yitzchak, He meant each Yitzchak! That means there were actually two Eretz Yisroels! And with this, we can finally resolve many questions: Chazal say Eretz Yisroel is the highest land[12], but our Eretz Yisroel isn’t the highest. The Gra made a map of Eretz Yisroel, but it doesn’t look like the land we have today. Chazal say Avira D’Eretz Yisroel Machkim (the air of Eretz Yisroel makes a person wise)[13], yet I haven’t seen this work for everyone… So it must be that there’s a second Eretz Yisroel, one for each Yitzchak and Yaakov! And if you ask why we don’t see the second one anywhere in the world, simple—there must be two worlds! And really, this world of ours isn’t at all like the one described in Chazal. Our world is round, but Chazal say the world is shaped like an aksadra (portico)[14]. So they were talking about the other world, where there’s a square Eretz Yisroel, and there, in the Kinneret portion of the second Zevulun, there’s a kosher Chilazon—complete with bones and sinews[15]—and from its blood, they dye the real Techeiles. And it’s very possible that the second Bnei Yisroel are using it!

And all these things are simple and clear proofs. And don’t think this is something new, because we find something just like this by Iyov. There’s a contradiction in Chazal—some say Iyov never existed, while others say he did exist[16]. The only possible answer? There must have been two Iyovs—one who existed, and one who never existed! And it’s all an open pasuk: “Achas diber Elokim, shetayim zu shamati” (Hashem spoke one thing, but I heard two!)[17].

[1] See Pesikta Rabbasi (Piska 14, Parah): “And another sign in her: Before a yoke comes upon her, her eyes are even; once the yoke comes upon her, her eyes become crooked and wandering…” See also Rambam’s Peirush HaMishnayos (Bechoros 7:3), “The one who squints, that is someone who, while speaking to his friend, is also looking at someone else…”—and this is exactly the state of one who squints.

[2] Zohar (Terumah 149b), “And Techeiles, said Rabbi Yitzchak, comes from that fish from the Sea of Ginosar, which is in the portion of Zevulun…” and Shabbos (26a), “The poor of the land Nebuzaradan left as vine-workers and Yogvim (dyers)—these are the Chilazon hunters, from Sulamos of Tzur until Haifa.”

[3] Menachos (44a), “The Chilazon’s body is like the sea, its form is like a fish… and its blood is used to dye Techeiles. That’s why it’s so expensive.”

[4] Megillah (6a), “Shfunei Temunei Chol (Devarim 33:19)—Rabbi Yosef said: Shfunei refers to the Chilazon…”

[5] And if you ask, “What about Shimon, which is also written in the plural?”—we can’t say there were two Shimons, because the pasuk clearly says, “And the two sons of Yaakov, Shimon and Levi,” implying there were only two, not three. So Shimon must have been only one. (Editor’s note.)

[6] See Rashi (Bereishis 46:15), “Thirty-three, but when you count, you only find thirty-two…”

[7] Bereishis (35:22).

[8] Bereishis (27:36).

[9] Bereishis (25:19).

[10] Yechezkel (33:24).

[11] See Chida’s Pnei David, Parshas Toldos.

[12] Zevachim 54b.

[13] Bava Basra 158b.

[14] Menachos (29b), “Why was this world created with a Hei? Because it’s shaped like an Aksadra…”

[15] See Kuntres Tekhala D’Chilazon.

[16] Bava Basra 15a.

[17] Tehillim (62:12).