The Jewish people are G‑d’s bride in two ways, by self-sacrifice that consumes the self and by yearning love in which a self remains, and these draw down two “grooms”: G‑d’s great Name clothed in the Torah’s supernal wisdom, and the Torah and mitzvos brought into the lower worlds. G‑d’s love revealed through them reaches His very essence, and so it is “better than wine,” better than any revelation that comes out of concealment.
שיר השירים אשר לשלמה ישקנו מנשיקות פיהו כי טובים דודיך מיין. הנה נודע שהקב״ה נקרא חתן.
“The Song of Songs, which is Solomon’s. Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth, for your love is better than wine.” Now, it is known that the Holy One, blessed be He, is called a groom (chassan).
ExplanationThe maamar opens with the first two verses of the Song of Songs, which it will explain phrase by phrase. It begins from a familiar idea: the Song is a love song between G‑d, the groom, and the Jewish people, His bride.