I Am My Beloved's \ Shir HaShirim
“I am my beloved’s, and My beloved is mine” (Shir HaShirim 6:3).
This verse expresses the unbounded love that HaShem holds for Klal Yisrael. The following parable reveals the inner meaning of this verse.
The king sent word that he is coming to inspect the troops in a certain army base. Two weeks before the king’s arrival the base went into high speed preparations. They cleaned the entire base, painted the barracks, polished their weapons, and shined their shoes. On the day of the king’s visit all the soldiers stood in rank, from the chief of staff, to the officers, and down to the lowest ranking soldier.
As the king entered the base with his entourage, he reviewed the troops with the utmost seriousness. He checked the officers, special forces, artillery units, and foot soldiers. When he came to the lowest ranking soldier, he beamed with a great smile and embraced him. The king exclaimed, “I love you! You are the best soldier in this base!” The soldier was so stunned that he become tongue tied, and did not respond. After the king left, the other soldiers gathered around him and said, “You are so foolish. If you would have said, ‘Long live the king,’ he would have taken you to be his special assistant for the rest of your life.”
Each day, HaShem reviews His creations. He starts with the holy angels, the heavenly hosts, and then comes to earth to check Klal Yisrael. When He sees us in Shul with our Talit and Tephillan, He exclaims, “I love you! You are precious to Me and I share My Torah with you.” We respond by reciting, “Hear O’ Israel, HaShem is our G-d, HaShem is One!”
In turn, HaShem showers us with His unbounded love, praises us, and proclaims, “I am my beloved’s, and My beloved is mine.”
(Based on the writings of Rabbi Yaacov Neiman)
