Seeking advice

Shalom and thank you for your question!

If i understand correctly, you would like to understand the meaning of the phrase ‘For I am black and beautiful’ in the Song of Songs. To answer this, we must first explain what the ‘Song of Songs’ is truly about.

The commentaries explain that the Song of Songs is definitely not to be understood literally, as a love song, or in any way relating to physical intimacy.

Rather, it is a metaphor about the relationship between G-d and the Jewish people…

Regarding the phrase about ‘black and beautiful’, ‘black’ here is the concept being ‘blackened’, so to speak, by sin. Which sin? Specifically, according to some commentaries, the sin of the golden calf, and according to other commentaries, the sin of idol worship in general, (on an internal level egocentricity is a form of idol worship). So what is the ‘beautiful’ part? This is the great news! The commentaries explain that even when we sin we are still beautiful in G-d’s eyes, in other words beloved by Him. It is important to point out that in Chassidic teaching, we must not regard ourselves as ‘black’ or ‘discolored’ by our shortcomings, but rather as beautiful, that is, dear to G-d, and always capable of achieving closeness to Him by using our capacity for free choice to choose to do His will in thought, speech and deed, which are the garments of the soul.

We hope this is helpful, feel free to ask more questions…

All the best!