Chapter 2:3
And my beloved among the young men is
Like an apple tree among the trees of the wood;
In that shade I delight to sit
Tasting his sweet fruit.
In my frustration I struggle to reach it.
But when I stop
And sit and sigh and finally come to stillness…
Suddenly I am resting in Your shade.
The taste of Your sweet fruit fulfills me.Looking out from the center of this garden,
Even my thorny life
Makes perfect sense.
In the Fever of Love ©2008 Shefa Gold. All rights reserved.
Illustration ©2009 Phillip Ratner, courtesy of the Dennis & Phillip Ratner Museum and the Israel Bible Museum collection. All rights reserved.
Practice
Chant: In His Shade
Commentary
This is a practice of reconnecting with and remembering the essential beneficence of Reality. Sometimes when it feels as if the whole world is my enemy and I am struggling with my predicament, I can stop and rest in the blessing of pure Being. With this practice I receive the gift of feeling held by Reality itself. Imagine leaning back against the trunk of a sturdy tree on a hot summer day. This is The Tree of Life, offering protection, inspiration and unending generosity. At the end of the chant, tune into your breath as you receive the sweet fruit of Being. Let each breath nourish, delight and renew.
Bridge to Torah
Joseph is the “beloved among the young men” and like an apple tree, he eventually bears fruit, regardless of the “trees of the wood” that surround him. Sitting in his shade means remembering that even though our dreams may get us in a lot of trouble, we need to stay true to those dreams. Sitting in his shade and tasting his sweet fruit means remembering how special, unique and deserving we are, even when wearing our coat of many colors seems dangerous. Sitting in his shade means resting in the faith that everything (all of our dreams and even difficult circumstances) are from God, and will eventually lead us towards expanded Love and Freedom.
Click to see Genesis 37:1–40:23 in Hebrew and English (JPS 1985) or the associated Torah Journeys page.
Question for Contemplation
Can I rest in a sense of nourishing pleasure and safety, delighting in Being itself?
Resources
View Love at the Center Resources.
Click to see Song of Songs Chapter 2:3 in Hebrew with the English JPS (1985) translation.