What are the connotations of "ve'Ra'u Kol Amei ha'Aretz ki Shem Hashem Nikra alecha, ve'Yar'u Mimeka"?
Rashi (in Shir ha'Shirim, 7:6) and Targum Yonasan: It means that when the people of the land will see the Tefilin on your head, 1 they will be afraid of you. 2
Seforno: It refers to the occasion when Alexander the Great dismounted from his horse and prostrated himself before Shimon ha'Tzadik when the latter came from Yerushalayim to greet him.
Rashbam: It means that the nations will be afraid of you when they see how Hashem demonstrates that you are His people when He fulfills your requests.
Divrei Eliyahu: It means that, when the people of the land will see how we are going in Hashem's ways - 'Just like He is merciful, also you should be merciful; just like He is gracious, also you should be gracious' - thereby adopting Hashem's Names (His Midos) - they will learn from us to fear Hashem. 3
See Peirush Yonasan and also Ba'al ha'Turim. Moreshes Avos: A case occurred in which robbers saw the Sha'agas Aryeh wearing Tefilin, and fled in fear. When his wagon driver asked why they did flee from him - since he was also wearing Tefilin, the Sha'agas Aryeh replied that the fear is due - not to Tefilin she'al ha'Rosh (that are worn on the head) but - to Tefilin she'be'Rosh (that are worn in the head - with reference to the Kavanah with which the Sha'agas Aryeh wore his Tefilin. Refer to note 2.
See Torah Temimah, citing Menachos, 35b and note 14, where he elaborates. See also Oznayim la'Torah.
We will teach by example, all the inhabitants of the world and open their blind eyes and illuminate the land with clear Emunah, pure Torah and coveted Midos.
What is the word "ve'Ra'u Kol Amei ha'Aretz" coming to include?
