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Why do we read Shir HaShirim on Pesach (פסח)? The Abudarham traces it to the Red Sea, where Hashem (ה׳) appeared anthropomorphically to establish a love relationship with us—"demisich rayosi." The shiur explains that God's appearance in human form was necessary so we could love Him, since love requires relatability. This foundation of divine love shapes how we serve Hashem and relate to our families.
The shiur explores the custom of reading Shir HaShirim on Pesach (פסח), which explicitly speaks of love between God and the Jewish people. The Abudaram explains that this custom stems from the connection between Shir HaShirim and the splitting of the Red Sea, which is the central event celebrated on Pesach. The verse "besusosi berichvei Pharaoh demisich rayosi" (In the involvement with the chariots and horse of Pharaoh, I let everybody know that I love you) serves as the textual link. The shiur emphasizes that by the time of the Red Sea, the Exodus was already complete. The Jewish people were already free from Egypt, Hashem (ה׳) had fulfilled His promise to Avrohom, and the Egyptians had been punished with the ten plagues. Everything had been accomplished from a technical perspective. Yet Hashem didn't stop there—the entire episode at the Red Sea was designed to create a feeling of divine love. This was not merely about liberation or justice, but about establishing an emotional, loving relationship.
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Why does Moshe respond to the splitting of the sea with shirah rather than praise or thanksgiving? Rashi's use of "al libo" reveals that shirah is an emotional expression—a response of love to love. When Hashem shows personal care, the only adequate response is "I love You too," not mere gratitude or praise, and this principle applies to all relationships.
Parshas Beshalach - Splitting of the Red Sea, Shir HaShirim
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Why didn't Noach daven for his generation while Avrohom advocated for Sedom? Noach viewed each person as an independent island responsible only for their own teshuvah. Avrohom understood that all humanity is interconnected through shared perspective and values, making prayer for others both possible and necessary.
