''As the rose among the thorns, so is my love among the
maidens. " (Song of Songs 2:2)
What is the rose-it is Knesset Yisrael, the Community of
Israel. For there is a rose (above) and a rose (below) . Just as the
rose, which is among the thorns has red and white, so does
Knesset Yisrael have justice and mercy. Just as a rose has
thirteen petals, so does Knesset Yisrael have thirteen measures
of compassion encompassing it on all its sides .
. . . Five strong petals surround the rose, and these five,
called salvations, are five gates. Concerning which secret it is
written: "I will lift up the cup of salvation . " (Psalms n6:13)
- Professor: Dr. Conny Williams