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Why does Shir HaShirim shift confusingly between speakers without clear dialogue markers? The three songs correspond to the three stages of Jewish marriage - erusin, nissuin, and yichud - reflected in Shabbos (שבת)'s structure and varying Shemoneh Esrei language. This teaches that kedusha emerges from intimate union with Hashem (ה׳), transforming mitzvos from obligations into expressions of love.
Rabbi Zweig begins by addressing the confusing nature of Shir HaShirim's structure, where the perspective suddenly shifts between Hashem (ה׳) speaking and the Jewish people responding without clear dialogue patterns. He explains that Chazal recognized this as intentional, teaching that Shir HaShirim contains three songs, unlike Az Yashir (Jewish people to Hashem) and Ha'azinu (Hashem to the Jewish people). The rabbi explores the husband-wife relationship between Hashem and Klal Yisrael, breaking down Jewish marriage into three stages: erusin (engagement/kiddushin), nissuin (chuppah), and yichud (union). These correspond to the three parts of Shabbos (שבת) - Friday night (erusin), Shabbos morning (nissuin), and Mincha (yichud). The three different Shemoneh Esrei prayers of Shabbos reflect these stages with their varying language of 've'yanuchu bah' (rest in her), 've'yanuchu vo' (rest in him), and 've'yanuchu vam' (they should rest together). Rabbi Zweig explains how Rabbi Akiva declared Shir HaShirim as 'Kodesh HaKodashim' because it describes the most intimate level of relationship - not individual feelings expressed to the other, but the unified feeling of oneness itself. The name 'Shlomo' throughout the text refers to Hashem as the source of shalom (completeness and harmony). He connects this to the story of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, who found peace with the world upon seeing someone running with two hadassim (myrtles used at weddings), recognizing that people understood Shabbos as a real relationship with Hashem rather than mere ritual observance. The shiur concludes by linking Shir HaShirim to Sefer Vayikra's theme of kedusha, explaining that holiness comes from our intimate relationship with Hashem, making all mitzvos expressions of love rather than mere obligations.
Shir HaShirim (Song of Songs)
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