On the Inside of the Inside: Marc Gafni

Song of Songs, Holy of Holies
Holy= Inside
Holy of Holies = on the Inside of the Inside

posted by Gafni assistant

The Zohar teaches that Akiva used to read the song of songs on the Sabbath and cry.
Tears of Ecstasy. I have asked my assistant to post this blog in honor of the Sabbath.

Akiva had a second teaching which takes us one step farther on the path of eros and love. Akiva participated in a great debate with the other sages over whether to include the Song of Songs in the biblical cannon of Sacred Books. It is written as a dialogue between two lovers. “Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth…His fruit is sweet to my mouth….His thrust is upon me in love” The man responds, “Your lips are like the thread of scarlet …Your breasts are like two roes…. Your closed garden, your secret fountain…”

The Song of Songs appears to be a sexual love song, perhaps to be sung in ancient taverns and beer halls; what place could it have in the sacred writ? To this argument of the sages, Akiva has a two-fold response. First, he says, know that all of the Song of Songs is a mashal, an allegory. Second, know that while all the books are holy the Song of Songs is the Holy of Holies.

One way to read the text, and a way that it is usually read, is that Akiva is saying two distinct things. First, he says do not be afraid of the content of this book; it is not about sexuality. The sexual is but an allegory for the spiritual love between the human being and God. Second, know that this great spiritual love is central to the religious endeavor. This book therefore is not only holy but the Holy of Holies.

marc gafni
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