Welcome to NachDaily. Today we’re beginning the 5 Megilos, starting with an introduction to Shir Hashirim, Song of Songs, written by Shlomo Hamelech, King Solomon, the wisest man of all time.

In Melachim Aleph, perek 5, we are told that Shlomo authored 1,005 songs for Hashem. Shir Hashirim is the most exalted of them all.

In fact, the Medrash Tachuma in Tetzave 5 says that all of Kesuvim, the accepted writings after the Chumash, are kadosh, holy, but Shir Hashirim is Kodesh Kedoshim. It has a unique place amongst the rest of the scriptures.

Similarly, the Shir Hashirim Rabba, perek aleph letter 12, says that the whole world was worth being created for the sake of Shir Hashirim.

The Medrash Lekach Tov tells us that Shlomo wrote it when he was younger, reflecting the passion of a young person. Mishlei, Proverbs, which deals with wisdom, was written when he reached middle age, while Koheles, Ecclesiastes, was written at the end of his life when he saw the fleetingness, emptiness, and temporary nature of this world.

It should be noted that the sefer is a metaphor about a husband and wife who want very much to return to the passionate love and intimacy of their youth. The woman, Am Yisrael, reminisces about the love they had for each other and how much she desires to come close to her husband again.

On the other hand, the husband, Hashem, expresses his deep desire to be reunited with her. He recalls her beauty, kindness, and righteousness, the traits which made her so attractive. In expressing his longing for his wife, he affirms that he has not left her, and that one day they will ultimately be together.

The Jewish people in exile have an immense desire to unite with their lover, Hashem. Thankfully, Hashem awaits and longs for our reunification with Him as well.

Ultimately Hashem has not forgotten His nation. The chasson will one day be together with the kallah when Hashem and Am Yisrael will

reunite as husband and wife. There will be complete yichud, unification, between them.

The content of Shir Hashirim is most explicit, as it deals with the passionate intimacy and relationship between a husband and wife. Perhaps this is why it is called Kodesh Kedoshim.

Some of the Meforshim and English translations explain the text according to its allegorical form. Avos D’Reb Nosson tells us that it was initially thought to simply consist of metaphors, and was hidden away. However, once the Anshei Kn’esset Hag’dolah, the Men of the Great Assembly, recognized its deeper meaning, they restored it as part of the Kesuvim.

The Shir Hashirim Rabba brings a litany of opinions as to when it was said: at the Yam Suf, at Har Sinai, Hashem Himself sang Shir Hashirim, the melachim sang it, it was sung at the Mishkan, and in the Kodesh Kedoshim.

The Living Nach notes that according to all the opinions, Shir Hashirim was said in the most exalted state of prophecy, yet the author chose to graphically describe the physical beauty and love between and husband and wife for future generations.

Our present culture is filled with sexual innuendoes and perversion of the most sacred relationships. This leads to deep distortion and misunderstanding of the intimacy between husband and wife. Previous generations understood and appreciated the sanctity and purity of intimacy.

The Gemarah in Yoma 54A says that when Am Yisrael would come to the Temple on the festivals of Pesach, Shavuous, and Succos, the Kohen would open up the curtains to the Kodesh Hakedoshim, the Holy of Holies, and show the Kruvim, Cherubs, in a loving embrace. The Kohanim would then announce, “Hashem’s love for you is like the love between man and woman!”

On Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the year, the Kohanim would also display the Kruvim hugging, giving us a sense of confidence and love towards Hashem.

Yoma 54b tells us that when the gentile troops entered the Kodesh Kedoshim and saw the kruvim embracing, they dragged them around the marketplace, saying, “See with what the Jewish people occupies itself!” They completely and utterly distorted the holiest and most sacred concepts in Yiddishkeit.

I’m really looking forward to learning this sefer with you all, to learn about this impassioned and intimate relationship.

Stay tuned to the next episode of NachDaily, when we’ll begin the first perek.

Thank you for listening, and have a wonderful day.