Why God Set Israel Apart and Left a Door Open for Converts

Another interpretation of "His palate is sweetness" (Song of Songs 5:16): Rabbi Abbahu said: See what is written, "And I have set you apart from the peoples" (Leviticus 20:26). See the attributes of the Holy One, blessed be He. Had it been written, "And I have set the peoples apart from you," there would have been no hope for a gentile who worships stars, and no convert would convert. How so? A person who has figs before him: if he sorts out the bad ones from the good ones, in the end he will not go back over the bad ones; but if he sorts out the good ones, then if he wishes to sort from the bad ones, he sorts them. Therefore the Holy One, blessed be He, said, "And I have set you apart from the peoples"—He gave a hint to the gentiles, to whoever wishes to convert: there is a palate more beautiful than this! Thus, "His palate is sweetness."