Read the text of Shir Hashirim 7
Transcription
Welcome back to NachDaily with Shir Hashirim, perek 7.
In this chapter, after hearing his wife’s remorse, the husband
expresses his intense desire to return to her.
Verse 1 sets the tone for the whole chapter, with “Shuvi shuvi
hashulamis, shuvi shuvi v’nechezeh bach. Mah techezu bashulamis
kim’cholas hamachanayim – Return, return, o perfect maiden!
Return. Return and let us look after you. How will you look after the
perfect maiden? With rings of dancers!”
Rashi notes that “Shulamis” is referring to Am Yisrael who are shalem,
perfect, in their faith in the Creator, while the Vilna Gaon explains
that it is a direct reference to Yerushalayim.
The Metsudos explains, metaphorically, that God is calling out to Am
Yisrael to return to Eretz Yisrael. Similarly, there’s an amazing Targum
that translates the passuk as Hashem saying, “Return to Me Am
Yisrael, return to Yerushalayim, return to learning Torah, return to the
Prophets who prophesy in God’s name.”
The Bereishis Rabba 66:2, explains that each of the 4 times it says
Shuvi, return, in this passuk, refers to the 4 exiles through which Am
Yisrael will ultimately live and from which they will escape, until they
finally return and reunite with their True Love.
The Ramad Walli notes that these words are meant to be
comforting. Just as the husband says to his wife in an endearing
manner, “I want you to return to me,” so too Hashem is giving us
comfort by promising us that one day we’ll be reunited.
B’H, according to the current census, we currently have
approximately 6.5 million Jews living in Eretz Yisrael. Considering that
there are only around 12 million of us in the world, most of Am Yisrael
has already returned as part of the process of the final redemption.
This will take place in slow stages, like a flower blooming or like the
slow and steady rise of the morning star.
Additionally, the Ramad Walli goes on to explain, the reference to
circle dancing is that when people dance, sometimes they are far
from each other, sometimes they are close, sometimes they hold
hands or hug each other, and sometimes there is great distance
between them. So too is Hashem’s relationship with Am Yisrael,
sometimes and sometimes close. Sometimes it seems loving and
other times not but, the Ramad Walli notes, the separation at times is
only for God to come closer in a warm embrace.
This is similar to what Rav Kook explains in Oros: one of the good
things Am Yisrael developed in galus is the intense desire and
longing to return to its land. It was precisely because of the distance
that there was an increase of our yearning to resettle the ancient
ruins of old. Once our collective ratson, will and desire, was so strong,
intense and developed, it was only natural that we would return. The
distance of exile is what brought about our nation’s unified desire to
return to the warm embrace of God.
In verses 2 through 10, the husband describes the beauty of the
woman. He compliments her “feet in sandals, her perfect legs and
body. He continues to compliment her, expressing his desire for
intimacy. Obviously, this is all very deep, referring to the yichud,
Oneness, of us and Hashem, united as lovers.
Verse 11 says, “Ani l’dodi, v’alai teshukaso – I am my beloved’s, and
his desire is for me!” The Metsudos explains metaphorically that we
have long known about Hashem’s relationship with us, that He’ll
never transfer His affection to another nation.
From verses 12 until 14, which end the perek, the woman continues
to express her longing to be with her husband in the garden with all
the beautiful fragrances and fresh blossoming flowers. Again, this
can be understood as the times of the final redemption, when Am
Yisrael will return to its land and fully blossom there.
Stay tuned to the next episode of NachDaily, as we finish this holy
Megilah
In this chapter, after hearing his wife’s remorse, the husband
expresses his intense desire to return to her.
Verse 1 sets the tone for the whole chapter, with “Shuvi shuvi
hashulamis, shuvi shuvi v’nechezeh bach. Mah techezu bashulamis
kim’cholas hamachanayim – Return, return, o perfect maiden!
Return. Return and let us look after you. How will you look after the
perfect maiden? With rings of dancers!”
Rashi notes that “Shulamis” is referring to Am Yisrael who are shalem,
perfect, in their faith in the Creator, while the Vilna Gaon explains
that it is a direct reference to Yerushalayim.
The Metsudos explains, metaphorically, that God is calling out to Am
Yisrael to return to Eretz Yisrael. Similarly, there’s an amazing Targum
that translates the passuk as Hashem saying, “Return to Me Am
Yisrael, return to Yerushalayim, return to learning Torah, return to the
Prophets who prophesy in God’s name.”
The Bereishis Rabba 66:2, explains that each of the 4 times it says
Shuvi, return, in this passuk, refers to the 4 exiles through which Am
Yisrael will ultimately live and from which they will escape, until they
finally return and reunite with their True Love.
The Ramad Walli notes that these words are meant to be
comforting. Just as the husband says to his wife in an endearing
manner, “I want you to return to me,” so too Hashem is giving us
comfort by promising us that one day we’ll be reunited.
B’H, according to the current census, we currently have
approximately 6.5 million Jews living in Eretz Yisrael. Considering that
there are only around 12 million of us in the world, most of Am Yisrael
has already returned as part of the process of the final redemption.
This will take place in slow stages, like a flower blooming or like the
slow and steady rise of the morning star.
Additionally, the Ramad Walli goes on to explain, the reference to
circle dancing is that when people dance, sometimes they are far
from each other, sometimes they are close, sometimes they hold
hands or hug each other, and sometimes there is great distance
between them. So too is Hashem’s relationship with Am Yisrael,
sometimes and sometimes close. Sometimes it seems loving and
other times not but, the Ramad Walli notes, the separation at times is
only for God to come closer in a warm embrace.
This is similar to what Rav Kook explains in Oros: one of the good
things Am Yisrael developed in galus is the intense desire and
longing to return to its land. It was precisely because of the distance
that there was an increase of our yearning to resettle the ancient
ruins of old. Once our collective ratson, will and desire, was so strong,
intense and developed, it was only natural that we would return. The
distance of exile is what brought about our nation’s unified desire to
return to the warm embrace of God.
In verses 2 through 10, the husband describes the beauty of the
woman. He compliments her “feet in sandals, her perfect legs and
body. He continues to compliment her, expressing his desire for
intimacy. Obviously, this is all very deep, referring to the yichud,
Oneness, of us and Hashem, united as lovers.
Verse 11 says, “Ani l’dodi, v’alai teshukaso – I am my beloved’s, and
his desire is for me!” The Metsudos explains metaphorically that we
have long known about Hashem’s relationship with us, that He’ll
never transfer His affection to another nation.
From verses 12 until 14, which end the perek, the woman continues
to express her longing to be with her husband in the garden with all
the beautiful fragrances and fresh blossoming flowers. Again, this
can be understood as the times of the final redemption, when Am
Yisrael will return to its land and fully blossom there.
Stay tuned to the next episode of NachDaily, as we finish this holy
Megilah