Torah Sweet as Apples and the Hunger for Learning Under Rome

Yalkut Shimoni on Torah 271:4

Another interpretation: "these" are the well-founded laws. "Spread me about with apples" - these are the words of Torah, whose fragrance is good as apples. "For I am sick with love" - Rabbi Isaac said: at first, when the small coin was readily found, a person longed to hear a matter of Mishnah and a matter of Talmud; now that the small coin is not readily found, and all the more since we are sick from the kingdom, a person longs to hear a matter of Scripture and a matter of Aggadah.

Themes