1The first 12 lines of the Hebrew text are not found in our translation.THE NAKEDNESS OF THY FATHER AND THE NAKEDNESS OF THY MOTHER SHALT THOU NOT UNCOVER. R. Hiya cited the verse: “As the apple tree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved among the sons” (S.S. 2, 3). ‘Why’, he said, ‘does the Community of Israel praise God by comparing Him to an apple tree?
Because it combines all excellences. As it is healing for all, so is God healing for all; as it combines two colours, so God combines two attributes; as the apple has a more delicate scent than other trees, so of God it is written, “His scent is like Lebanon” (Hosea, XIV, 5); as the apple has a sweet taste, so of God it is written, “His mouth is most sweet” (S.S. 5, 16).
And the Holy One, blessed be He, praises the Community of Israel by comparing her to a lily, for reasons which have been explained elsewhere.’ R. Judah said: ‘When the righteous abound in the world, the Community of Israel emits sweet odours and is blessed in the Holy King and her face shines. But when the wicked abound she does not send forth good odours, and she receives a bitter taste from the other side, and her face is darkened.’
R. Jose said: ‘Of the time when the righteous abound it is said, “His left hand is under my head and his right hand doth embrace me” (S.S. 2, 6). But of the time when sinners abound it is written, “He hath drawn back his right hand” (Lam. 2, 3).’ R. Hizkiah said: ‘The King separates from the Matrona, and in regard to this it is written, “the nakedness of thy father and thy mother shalt thou not uncover”.’
(ויקרא ח"י) עֶרְוַת אָבִיךָ וְעֶרְוַת אִמְּךָ לֹא תְגַלֵּה רִבִּי חִיָּיא פָּתַח. (שיר השירים ב׳:ג׳) כְּתַפּוּחַ בַּעֲצֵי הַיַּעַר כֵּן דּוֹדִי בֵּין הַבָּנִים וְגוֹ'. הַאי קְרָא אוּקְמוּהָ חַבְרַיָּיא, אֲבָל כַּמָה חֲבִיבָה כְּנֶסֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל קָמֵי קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא. דְּהִיא מְשַׁבַּחַת לֵיהּ בְּהַאי. הָכָא אִית לְאִסְתַּכְּלָא, אֲמַאי מְשַׁבַּחַת לֵיהּ בְּתַפּוּחַ, וְלָא בְּמִלָּה אָחֳרָא, אוֹ בִּגְוָונִין אוֹ בְּרֵיחָא אוֹ בְּטַעְמָא.
1The first 12 lines of the Hebrew text are not found in our translation.THE NAKEDNESS OF THY FATHER AND THE NAKEDNESS OF THY MOTHER SHALT THOU NOT UNCOVER. R. Hiya cited the verse: “As the apple tree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved among the sons” (S.S. 2, 3). ‘Why’, he said, ‘does the Community of Israel praise God by comparing Him to an apple tree?
אֲבָל הוֹאִיל וּכְתִיב תַּפּוּחַ, בְּכֹלָּא הִיא מְשַׁבַּחַת לֵיהּ, בִּגְוָונִין, בְּרֵיחָא, וּבְטַעְמָא. מַה תַּפּוּחַ הוּא אַסוּותָא לְכֹלָּא, אוּף קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא אַסוּותָא לְכֹלָּא. מַה תַּפּוּחַ אִשְׁתְּכַח בִּגְוָונֵי, כְּמָה דְּאוֹקִימְנָא, אוּף קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא אִשְׁתְּכַח בִּגְוָונִין עִלָּאִין. מַה תַּפּוּחַ אִית בֵּיהּ רוּחָא דָּקִיק מִכָּל שְׁאָר אִילָנֵי, אוּף קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא כְּתִיב בֵּיהּ (הושע י״ד:ז׳) וְרֵיחַ לוֹ כַּלְּבָנוֹן. מַה תַּפּוּחַ טַעְמֵיהּ מְתִיקָא, אוּף קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא כְּתִיב בֵּיהּ (שיר השירים ה׳:ט״ז) חִכּוֹ מַמְתַּקִּים.
Because it combines all excellences. As it is healing for all, so is God healing for all; as it combines two colours, so God combines two attributes; as the apple has a more delicate scent than other trees, so of God it is written, “His scent is like Lebanon” (Hosea, XIV, 5); as the apple has a sweet taste, so of God it is written, “His mouth is most sweet” (S.S. 5, 16).
וְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא מְשַׁבַּח לָהּ לִכְּנֶסֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל כְּשׁוֹשַׁנָּה, וְהָא אוֹקִימְנָא מִלֵי, אֲמַאי כְּשׁוֹשַׁנָּה, וְהָא אִתְּמַר. רִבִּי יְהוּדָה אָמַר, בְּשַׁעֲתָא דְּאַסְגִּיאוּ זַכָּאֵי בְּעָלְמָא, כְּנֶסֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל סַלְּקָא רֵיחִין טָבִין, וּמִתְבָּרְכָא מִמַּלְכָּא קַדִּישָׁא, וְאַנְפָּהָא נְהִירִין. וּבְזִמְנָא דְּאַסְגִּיאוּ חַיָּיבִין בְּעָלְמָא, כִּבְיָכוֹל כְּנֶסֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל לָא סַלְּקָא רֵיחִין טָבִין, וְאַטְעָמַת מִסִּטְרָא אָחֳרָא מְרִירָא. כְּדֵין, כְּתִיב (איכה ב׳:א׳) הִשְׁלִיךְ מִשָּׁמַיִם אֶרֶץ וְגוֹ', וְאַנְפָּהָא חֲשׁוֹכָן.
And the Holy One, blessed be He, praises the Community of Israel by comparing her to a lily, for reasons which have been explained elsewhere.’ R. Judah said: ‘When the righteous abound in the world, the Community of Israel emits sweet odours and is blessed in the Holy King and her face shines. But when the wicked abound she does not send forth good odours, and she receives a bitter taste from the other side, and her face is darkened.’
רִבִּי יוֹסֵי אָמַר, בְּשַׁעֲתָא דְּאַסְגִּיאוּ זַכָּאִין בְּעָלְמָא, כְּתִיב (שיר השירים ב׳:ו׳) שְׂמֹאלוֹ תַּחַת לְרֹאשִׁי וִימִינוֹ תְּחַבְּקֵנִי. וּבְזִמְנָא דְּאַסְגִּיאוּ חַיָּיבִין בְּעָלְמָא, כְּתִיב (איכה ב׳:ג׳) הֵשִׁיב אָחוֹר יְמִינוֹ. רִבִּי חִזְקִיָּה אָמַר מֵהָכָא, (משלי ט״ז:כ״ח) וְנִרְגָּן מַפְרִיד אַלּוּף, כְּלוֹמַר פָּרִישׁ מַלְכָּא מִן מַטְרוֹנִיתָא, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב עֶרְוַת אָבִיךָ וְעֶרְוַת אִמְּךָ לֹא תְגַלֵּה.
R. Jose said: ‘Of the time when the righteous abound it is said, “His left hand is under my head and his right hand doth embrace me” (S.S. 2, 6). But of the time when sinners abound it is written, “He hath drawn back his right hand” (Lam. 2, 3).’ R. Hizkiah said: ‘The King separates from the Matrona, and in regard to this it is written, “the nakedness of thy father and thy mother shalt thou not uncover”.’