Presence

A few weeks ago, I came across a column in The Forward entitled Philologos. The author explores the etymology of both Hebrew and Yiddish phrases. The particular column that caught my eye detailed the etymology (and entomology) of the Hebrew name for ladybugs: parat Moshe Rabbeinu. Turns out the ladybug has some serious religious affiliations in its etymological history (the lady refers to the Virgin Mary). But why Moshe Rabbeinu? Philologos answers:

Yiddish was no different from other European languages. It too had names for ladybug bearing religious associations, such as mashiakhl ("little Messiah"); Moyshe rabbeynus beheymele or Moyshe rabbeynus kiyele ("Moses' little cow"), and moyshe rabbeynus ferdele ("Moses' little horse"). These names are interesting, because while they show clear Slavic and German influences, they are Judaized forms of them in which not only — as would go without saying — is the Virgin Mary shunted aside, but God's name is considered too holy to be coupled with a lowly creature like a beetle. Instead, the ladybug is named for the messiah or for Moses (literally, Moyshe rabbeynu, "Our master Moses," which is how Jewish tradition always refers to him), Judaism's most revered figures...The modern Hebrew parat Moshe rabbenu is, therefore, a translation of Moyshe rabbeynus beheymele or kiyele.

A good enough explanation. This Shabbos, however, I couldn't help thinking that there might be a bit more to the name. In Parshas Chukas, the Torah describes the Parah Adumah, the Red Heifer. The tradition states that, throughout history, only nine red heifers were sacrificed; the first by Moshe himself. It is subsequently referred to as parat Moshe Rabbeinu (cf. Rashi s.v. v'yikchu alecha). When transposing the name from the Christian symbology to the Jewish, Moshe was the obvious choice, since the red color and bovine reference suggested the existing tradition of the parat Moshe Rabbeinu. QED.

Anyway, check out Philologos if you have the time (a recent column engages in the requisite Da Vinci Code bashing required of all respectable journalism). Wish they had an RSS feed.