Passover תרנ”ה-תרנ”ו 21
במד’ שה”ש נשיר למי שעשאנו שירים בעולם שבנ”י נעשו משוררים להקב”ה כדכ’ עם זו יצרתי כו’ תהלתי יספרו.
In the Midrash on Song of Songs: “We will sing to the One who made us songs in the world,” meaning that the children of Israel became singers to the Holy One, as it is written, “This people I formed for Myself, they will recount My praise.”
The Sefat Emet opens by explaining that Israel’s very existence is meant to express divine song, because their creation was oriented toward revealing God’s praise.
כי הנה השירה בא מכח דביקות אל השורש.
For song comes from the power of cleaving to the Root.
Song is not merely emotional expression; it emerges from spiritual attachment to the divine source.
לכן הלוים בשיר שהם בחי’ דביקות וחיבור לשורש.
Therefore the Levites sing, for they embody the quality of attachment and connection to the Root.
The Levites’ role in the Temple reflects their intrinsic capacity for deeper spiritual connection.
ובקי”ס דכ’ וירא ישראל כו’ ויאמינו בה’. לכן אז ישיר שנדבקו בשורש העליון.
And at the splitting of the sea, as it is written, “Israel saw… and they believed in God.” Therefore they sang, for they cleaved to the supernal Root.
Their song at the sea emerged only after achieving full faith and connection to God.
ובאמת כל מה שברא הקב”ה לכבודו ברא.
In truth, everything the Holy One created was created for His glory.
All existence is oriented toward manifesting divine honor.
וכל ברי’ כשנגמר מכוון הבריאה שלה יש בה בחי’ שירה.
And every creature, when it fulfills the purpose of its creation, contains a dimension of song.
Song is the natural expression of creation reaching its intended state.
ובנ”י בכלל מכירים את בוראם ומתדבקין בשורשם.
And Israel in particular recognize their Creator and cleave to their Root.
Israel’s spiritual awareness fosters a special capacity for song.
לכן נמצא בהם השירה.
Therefore song is found within them.
This explains why Israel is uniquely associated with sacred song.
וז”ש אשר לשלמה למי שהשלום שלו.
And this is what is meant by “which is Solomon’s” — to the One to whom all peace belongs.
The name “Solomon” (Shlomo) alludes to divine peace, the harmony of all existence in its source.
כי בחי’ שלום הוא התדבקות בשורש.
For the quality of peace is the cleaving to the Root.
True peace is achieved when all aspects return to their source.
כמ”ש במ”א כי החלק שלמטה אינו דבר שלם רק בהתדבקות אל השורש שלמעלה.
As explained elsewhere, the lower part is not complete except through attachment to the higher Root.
Wholeness is attained only when the lower realms are connected upward.
ולכן נק’ בנ”י השולמית שיש בהם הדביקות.
Therefore Israel are called “the Shulammite,” for they possess this attachment.
The feminine name symbolizes Israel’s receptive, unifying relationship with God.
וכל שיר השירים נתיסד על זה.
And the entire Song of Songs is founded on this idea.
The book expresses the dynamic of union between Israel and God.
כי שלמה המע”ה דכתיב בו ויחכם מכל.
For Solomon, of whom it is written that he was wiser than all others…
Solomon’s wisdom granted him insight into the deepest spiritual structures.
הבין הפנימיות למעלה מכל הדברים שלמטה.
…understood the inner dimensions above all things below.
He perceived the upper spiritual realities that animate the lower world.
ותיקן שיר השירים.
And he established the Song of Songs.
He composed it as an expression of the bond between human and divine.
וז”ש ישקני מנשיקות פיהו.
And this is the meaning of “Let Him kiss me with the kisses of His mouth.”
The opening plea of Song of Songs refers to the intimate spiritual connection that produces song.
כי השיר תלוי בזה.
For song depends on this.
The capacity for song emerges from this spiritual intimacy.
וכ’ פיהו.
And it says “His mouth.”
The wording highlights direct divine communication.
ופירשנו במ”א פיו ופי סירסורו שהרי כתיב ויאמינו בה’ ובמשה אז ישיר.
And we explained elsewhere: “His mouth” and “the mouth of His intermediary,” for it is written, “They believed in God and in Moses His servant — then they sang.”
Moses serves as the conduit enabling Israel’s attachment that leads to song.
כי מרע”ה הוא הסירסור לזה הדביקות שיש לבנ”י לאביהם שבשמים.
For Moses our teacher is the intermediary for the attachment Israel has to their Father in Heaven.
Moses facilitates the spiritual connection necessary for true song.
נשיקה כח הנשמה דכ’ ויפח באפיו כו’ ויהי כו’ לנפש חיה לרוח ממללא.
A kiss is the power of the soul, as it is written: “He breathed into his nostrils… and he became a living soul,” a speaking spirit.
The breath of God placed speech — and therefore song — within the human soul.
לכן כפי התעוררות הנשמה באדם נעשה רוח ממללא לומר שירה לפניו ית’.
Therefore, according to the awakening of the soul within a person, there arises a speaking spirit to offer song before the Blessed One.
The purity and vitality of one’s soul determine one’s capacity to sing sacred song.
Summary: Song emerges from attachment to the divine Root. Israel embodies this connection, and through Moses as intermediary they achieve the spiritual union that produces song, as reflected throughout the Song of Songs.
