It pops up in unexpected places, carrying layers of meaning far beyond just a tasty fruit. Take the Shir HaShirim Rabbah, the rabbinic commentary on the Song of Songs. It uses the image of the apple tree to explore the relationship between God, Israel, and the nations of the world.
The verse in question is Song of Songs 2:3: "Like an apple tree among the trees of the forest, so is my beloved among the boys. In its shade I delighted and I sat, and its fruit was sweet to my palate.”
Rabbi Huna and Rabbi Aḥa, citing Rabbi Yosei ben Zimra, offer a fascinating interpretation. They say that "just as this apple tree, everyone flees from it during the heat...because it does not have shade," so too, the nations of the world fled from the shadow of the Holy One, blessed be He, on the day of the giving of the Torah.
Think about that for a moment. Why would the nations flee from God's presence? The implication is that they weren't ready, or perhaps willing, to accept the responsibility that came with the Torah. The Torah, while a gift, also demands a commitment.
But what about Israel? Did they also flee? The verse continues, "In its shade I delighted and I sat." The rabbis explain that it was Israel who delighted in God’s shade, not the other nations. This highlights the special bond between God and the Jewish people, a bond forged through acceptance of the Torah.
There's a beautiful nuance here. It's not about superiority, but about a unique readiness and willingness to embrace the divine.
Rabbi Aḥa ben Rabbi Ze’eira adds another layer to this apple tree metaphor. He points out that the apple tree produces its blossom before its leaves. Similarly, he says, Israel achieved faith before hearing. He bases this on Exodus 4:31: “The people believed, and they heard that the Lord had remembered.”
What does this mean? That the Israelites had a deep-seated belief, a tradition passed down from their ancestors, that they would be redeemed from Egypt. According to Midrash HaMevoar, they believed in this redemption even before they heard God's specific promise to Moses. They had faith in the promise of redemption before they even knew the details of God's plan.
Tosafot (in Shabbat 88a) offer a slightly different perspective, suggesting that the tree in question might actually be a citron, not an apple tree. While the specific fruit might be debated, the core message remains potent.
So, the apple (or citron) tree becomes a symbol of faith, commitment, and the unique relationship between God and Israel. It's a reminder that sometimes, belief comes before understanding, and that embracing the divine, even when it's challenging, can lead to profound sweetness. What kind of shade are we seeking? And are we ready to blossom, even before we fully understand what the future holds?