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Question of the Week: Which U.S. president refused to
appoint a foreign minister to Austria after the country object-
ed to his first choice — because the appointee had a Jewish
connection?
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Let Me Call You
Sweetheart
Judaism on love, romance and marriage.
1. In Hebrew, the word for "love" is ahava,
which also is the name of a line of pricey skin-
care products from the Dead Sea. If you want to
whisper sweet Hebrew nothings into the ear of
your beloved, say Anee ohevet otcha (female to
male) or Anee ohev otach (male to female).
2. The most popular decorations on ketubot,
Jewish marriage contracts, are flowers and trees,
especially palm and cypress.
3. In addition to ahava, another word the
Torah uses for "love" is richam, which may
sound familiar because of its relationship to
rachamim (also, rachmanis), mercy or compas-
sion. The root of this word is actually rehem, or
womb.
4. One of the most oft-quoted passages from
the Torah is "Love thy
neighbor as thyself." In
fact, a more proper
translation would be
"Love your fellow citizen
as yourself:" This verse,
which Rabbi Akiva
called the epitome of the
Torah, has been debat-
autiful flowers often
ed and discussed and
orn ketubot.
variously translated by
scholars throughout his-
tory. No one argued that it meant Jews must
love everyone, for indeed we are command-
ed to "hate" idolaters. But does the word
re'akha, or "fellow citizen," mean specifically
other Jews — or Jews and gentiles, as well?
There's no consensus, though certainly mod-
ern commentators — and even a very
theme of the Torah is God's love for the Jewish
people, it does state, as well, in Psalms 145:9
that God loves all His creatures.
7. While procreation is one purpose of mar-
riage, the rabbis also stressed the importance of
the camaraderie, passion and completeness that
one could find with a partner. One text states,
"He who has no wife is not a proper man,"
who lives without "joy, blessing, goodness ...
Torah ... and peace."
8. In morning davening (praying), Jews ask
God to "unify our hearts to love and fear Thy
name," and numerous Torah passages make
mention of both the love and fear Jews feel
for God — but not in equal abundance.
Actually, the terms describing our fear of
God are much more frequent than those that
speak of a Jew% love for God. (At the same
"May He bless the bridegroom and bride."
time, however, "fear" is almost always used
to define God as the master of the universe,
ancient one, Hillel — tend to inclusion,
and often is followed by descriptions of God
rather than limiting "love" to Jews alone.
as compassionate and forgiving.)
5. Despite rabbinical protestations, numerous
9. That being said,
legends continue to surround
you might be surprised
one of Israel's most ubiquitous
to learn that the rabbis
herbs, the mandrake, includ-
rarely suggest obeying
ing that it can help women
God's
commandments
conceive and that its aroma
because of fear. Instead,
is "intoxicating" to sweet-
they
said, one should
hearts. Comprised of large
serve God because we
leaves and a thick root, this
love Him.
perennial grows violet flow-
10. The first romance
ers at its center and procuces
novels
in Yiddish (trans-
a yellow fruit that looks much
lated from other lan-
like a tomato.
Rabbi Akiva would approve of examples
guages,
and always
6. Although the central
of brotherly love.
.
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