Part 1
How can we control our emotion of love? (how do we create a love for someone) *hint ahava comes from the word hav
Hav means give. We give to someone which causes us to love them
Why is it important that it was Rabbi Akiva who said that Shir Hashirim is kodesh kdoshim?
Rabbi Akiva gave up his entire life to Hashem
Mayim Rabim: so much water cannot extinguish my love for you. We saw this by which historical event?
Har Sinai - our love for Hashem is unlike others
Semolo tachas leroshi veyimino techabkeni: The power of the left vs. the right hand.
We push away with the left hand since its weaker and pull in with the right hand/embrace since it is stronger
First Hashem started with a daughter but she has limits and can be punished, then He switched to a sister but you can still get upset by a sister, so Hashem switched to a mother since she has no limits and can't do anything wrong.
When was Shir Hashirim said & who composed it?
During the construction of the Beit Hamikdash & Shlomo Hamelech said it
How does the torah view intimacy *hint: the more physical an act, the more potential...
"Chadarav" what did Hashem do for us?
Hashem protected us by granting us his protective clouds that surrounded us from all angles
What was the greatest open miracle and how did it show us Hashem's love? Is it able to be performed again today?
The miracle of mann. For 38 years Hashem gave us mann daily. If we sinned the mann would be further from our door since Hashem loves us and wanted us to be good and wanted the mann to be closer for us.
יֽוֹנָתִ֞י בְּחַגְוֵ֣י הַסֶּ֗לַע
“My dove, in the cracks of the rock”
What does the analogy of the love between a man and women represent?
The love between Hashem and Klal Yisrael
How is this sefer about yiras shamayim? .... it seems to be about ahava, not yirah.
The more you love, the more you fear of severing the relationship.
A bride will follow her groom wherever he goes just like we followed Hashem wherever he went like into the desert.
Hateena chnta fageha: when we left Egypt it was a great time to travel. What was Hashem telling us?
Hashem seduced us with flowers and beauty and we followed Him into the desert
ק֣וֹל דּוֹדִ֔י הִנֵּה־זֶ֖ה בָּ֑א מְדַלֵּג֙ עַל־הֶ֣הָרִ֔ים מְקַפֵּ֖ץ עַל־הַגְּבָעֽוֹת:
“The sound of my beloved! Behold, he is coming, skipping over the mountains, jumping over the hills”
Why are we reminiscing about our love during difficult times when we feel distanced from Hashem? *hint the true test of a relationship
The true test of a relationship is through difficult times and enduring challenges. A true and strong relationship will be able to survive through a challenge.
We crave that closeness. How can we find in it Galut (through what medium)?
Through learning Torah
Shechora Ani: what are we saying is skin deep and who are we really? What do we carry within us?
Our averot are only skin deep but inside we are beautiful and the four fathers are within us.
Yonasi bechagvei hasela: the dove is between the rock with a snake and a hawk... what does it represent and what is so special about Hashem hearing our voice when we are in distress?
The Egyptians were in front of us, water on the sides of us, and fierce animals all around. We called out and cried to Hashem to save us and had emuna that He would.
מַ֣יִם רַבִּ֗ים לֹ֤א יֽוּכְלוּ֙ לְכַבּ֣וֹת אֶת־הָֽאַהֲבָ֔ה
"Many waters cannot quench the love”
It's an intense love that we are passionate for Hashem, love sickness... What are the two types of Ishonos: from the windows and peeking through the cracks?
Windows: when we see Hashem clearly and he is obviously present
Cracks: during Galut when Hashem was there but seemed to be hidden
Yishakeni: the power of a kiss. Name 2 other places in the torah where a kiss was given and its repercussions.
1. When Naomi gave Ruth a kiss all of the bad went out of her but when Naomi gave Orpah a kiss all of the good went out of her.
2. Yaakov gave Rachel a kiss when they first met. This was not allowed since kissing while unmarried was not permitted since the mabul. The shepherds were shocked but Yaakov knew they would get married and that they would eventually be buried separately.
Kashoshana Bein Hachochim: the other nations try to assimilate/destroy us but we remain with our emunah. How do we see this today amongst all the assimilation (when given an opportunity to learn torah what happens?)
We crave to learn torah/ are thirsty to learn torah. We see this through parnasa today.
Al mishkave baleilos: 38 years in the midbar and the dor deah was in darkness from finding Hashem. How is that possible?
It is hard to find Hashem but the more you search, the more you realize that the journey is longer and you want to look further and build a stronger connection.
כְּשֽׁוֹשַׁנָּה֙ בֵּ֣ין הַֽחוֹחִ֔ים
"As a rose among the thorns”