Tu B'Av
„Only from the mouth of the man whose soul departed at the word 'One' is it fitting to say that all the Scriptures are holy, and the Song of Songs is the Holy of Holies!”From Introduction to the Song of Songs
What is love? In his introduction to the Song of Songs, the Rav explains the deep holiness of the love-song of the people of Israel to the Holy One. In the Song of Songs there appear images of a man and a woman. The Rav explains that this is the source of its holiness. One who is in lowliness of spirit will find only external descriptions in love. But one who has eyes of depth, like Rabbi Akiva, will understand that the holiness of love is the holiest thing in the world – and all this at a time when we know how to fit it and use it with the proper tools, in the way and manner that is fitting and correct in the world of the Holy One. To build a love of depth, between a man and his wife, between a person and his fellow, between a person and his world and the whole of reality. And between a person and his God.
From the community archive of Mishpetei HaRav Kook — studying Rav Kook's teachings since 2011.