Rabbi Moshe Cordovero on Arousal of the Righteous Towards Shekhinah

"There is a need for the arousal of the righteous in this lower world towards the Shekhinah in order for the righteous to be the throne and dwelling for the emanation pouring into this world from the Shekhinah. It is because of their merit that this emanation from above flows to the lower ones. Come and see: what is the meaning of 'I am my beloved's and his desire is towards me' (Shir haShirim 7:2)? 'I am my beloved's' ─ I first turn to God and then, as a consequence, 'His desire is towards me'. Thus, it is clear that arousal is needed in order to have a sanctuary, a fixed place and a throne for emanation. So, the principle of arousal indicates that there should be a fixed place and a preparation for emanation. It means that the light of emanation does not appear unless it has some kind of receptacle in which to be stored. When there is a receptacle and a fixed place in which to be stored in the world, light and emanation descend. Then, the light is revealed and seen; much emanation descends into Malkhut in order to feed the lower ones, giving delight and peace."

-- Rabbi Moshe Cordovero, Pardes Rimonim 8.20

Midrash Rabbah Shir haShirim - Aggadic Story of Rabbi Chanina ben Dosa

"An interpretation of the verse 'Have you seen a man diligent at his work?' (Mishlei 22:29): This is an allusion to Rabbi Chanina ben Dosa.

"It was said that Rabbi Chanina ben Dosa once saw the men of his city bringing burnt-offerings and peace-offerings up to the Temple in Jerusalem. He said to himself: They are all bringing burnt-offerings and peace-offerings up to Jerusalem, while I bring up nothing. What shall I do?

"Immediately, he went to the outskirts of his city and entered into an abandoned ruin of his city, where he found a certain stone. He emerged from the ruin, and painted the stone, transforming it into a beautiful work of art. He then declared, 'It is hereby incumbent upon me to bring the stone up to Jerusalem and consecrate it for the upkeep of the Temple.'

"He sought to hire some workers to transport his stone to Jerusalem for him. He asked them, 'Will you bring this stone up to Jerusalem for me?' They replied to him, 'Give us our fee of one hundred gold coins and we will bring your stone up to Jerusalem for you.' He said to them, 'And from where do I have a hundred gold coins, or even fifty gold coins to give you?' He could not find the amount of money at that time, whereupon the workers immediately went on their way.

"Immediately, the Holy One, blessed is He, prepared for him five angels in the form of people, and they said to him, 'Our teacher, give us five sela'im and we will bring your stone up to Jerusalem, provided that you place your hand on the stone together with us. Rabbi Chanina placed his hand on the stone with them, and they were immediately found to be standing in Jerusalem!

"Rabbi Chanina sought to pay them their wage for transporting the stone, but could not find them. The incident was brought before the Sanhedrin, who sat in the Chamber of Hewn Stone in the Temple, and they said to Rabbi Chanina, 'Our teacher, it appears to us that ministering angels brought the stone up to Jerusalem for you.' Rabbi Chanina immediately gave the wage for which he had hired the angels to the Sages."

-- Midrash Rabbah, Shir haShirim 1.4

Midrash Rabbah Shir haShirim on Words of Torah in the Heart

" 'The heart of a wise man enlightens his mouth, and adds learning on his lips' (Proverbs 16:23). The heart of a wise man is full of wisdom. Who enlightens others about him? Who informs others about him? His mouth. When he speaks words of wisdom, his mouth informs others of him; his mouth apprises others of him. '... and adds learning on his lips'. Because the wise man extracts the words of Torah from his heart and enunciates them with his lips, he adds to the learning of Torah."

-- Midrash Rabbah, Shir haShirim 1.6

Sefer haZohar on Shir haShirim (Song of Songs)

"This song is a song encompassing the whole Torah, a song aroused by those above and those below, a song resembling the world that is entirely Sabbath, a song by which the supernal Holy Name is adorned. So it is Holy of Holies."

-- Sefer haZohar, 2:143b (transl. D. Matt, Pritzker ed. vol. 5, p. 310)

This "song" is the Shir haShirim, the Song of Songs in the Ketuvim.

Compare with:

"The whole world is not worth the day on which the Shir haShirim (Song of Songs) was given to Israel; for all the Ketuvim (Writings) are holy, but the Shir haShirim is the Qodesh Qadoshim (Holy of Holies)." -- attributed to Rabbi Akiva in Mishnah, Yadayim 3:5