The BiG Story

featuring some dashing knight)
14. While the Torah does, of
course, what God feels for the Jewish
with each passing day.
appeared around the 15th century. In
course, refer to God as "He" (who in
people — and they for Him.
25. The great Jewish sage Mai-
the 16th century, Elijah Levita translat-
Hebrew), on two occasions it
21. While Jewish women are cer-
monides, also known as the Ram-
ed into Yiddish two Italian works
describes God's love for the Jewish
tainly encouraged to find a mate, in
bam, said that a husband should
called Paris un Viene and Bove Bukh.
people as like that of a mother for her
fact there is no Halacha, Jewish law,
never be sad in front of his wife.
The latter, the story of an almost unbe-
child. See Isaiah 49:15, and
that they must marry. Jewish law does
26. Jewish marriages do not have
lievable adventure, evolved into a
Deuteronomy 32:1 1.
obligate Jewish men to wed.
to be performec by a rabbi.
popular Yiddish expression, bubbe-
15. Marriage is regarded as SO
22. God created the universe
27. The text of the ketuba, or Jewish
maise, or exaggeratec story.
vital in Judaism that a man.is
and every-
marriage contract, outlines the finan-
11. The most romantic book in the
even allowed to sell a Torah if
thing in it,
cial obligations a man undertakes
Tanach? Without a doubt, Shir
it will help him secure a wife.
and while
toward his wife. Its sole purpose,
HaShirim, The Song of Songs. This
16. What did the rabbis
watching
according to the Talmud, is to protect
collection of love songs includes such
believe a man should look for
over it cer-
a woman, "so that [her husband] shall
tender words as:
in a wife? She should be
tainly must
not regard it as easy to divorce her"
The roundings of thy thighs are like
even-temperec, modest, care-
be
(because he will be obligated to pay
the links of a chain, The work of the
ful with her words, attractive,
demand-
her a high financial figure should their
hands of a skilled workman. Thy
the daughter of a wise father,
ing, doesn't
marriage end).
navel is like a round goblet, Wherein
respectful and responsible
even He
28. The first time the Torah uses the
no mingled wine is wanting. Thy belly toward her family, of a similar
need a few . word "love" is in reference to a par-
is like a heap of wheat set about with
age and social background.
happy
ent's affection for a child. See Gene-
lilies. Thy two breasts are like two
17. While almost everyone
diversions?
sis 22:2, 25:28, 37:3, 44:20;
fawns that are twins of a gazelle.
is familiar with the biblical
According
Proverbs 13:24; and Ruth 4:15
Now some suggest that Shir HaShir- directive to "be fruitful and
to tradition,
29. The word shadchan, match-
Flowers for one's bashed.
im is an allego-
multiply" (Genesis
He spends
maker, comes from the Hebrew "to
ry for the love
1:28), did you
some of his
persuade" or "to influence." There are
between the
know this applies only to
time these days as a matchmaker.
references to the hard-working shad-
Jewish people
men — though, of course,
23. Probably the most popular
chan as early as the Middle Ages.
and God, but
his wife will need to be
term in Jewish romantic language is
The profession was a frequent sideline
most scholars
there to help him out.
bashert, meaning one's intended.
of rabbis, who did not accept any
agree the text is
18. When Jewish cou-
The rabbis said that one's bashert
pay for their services. Not surprisingly,
about a man
ples wed, it's traditional
is determined 40 days before
New York was the home of the first
and a woman.
for them to face toward
his/her conception.
American shadchan organization,
Interestingly,
Israel, and in Israel they
24. Why do we love? The Vilna
founded in 1929.
The Torah is replete with refer-
love and pas-
face toward Jerusalem,
Gaon said that one of the reasons we
30. How did anyone come up with
ences to God's love.
sion are the
and in Jerusalem they
love another is because he or she has
the whole idea of marriage, anyway?
only themes of
face toward where the
helped us accomplish a goal, and so
Actually, it's in the Torah. Genesis
Shir HaShirim — there's no discussion
Holy Temple stood.
we are grateful. We also love those
2:1 8 states that "God created them
of commandments, what Jews should
19. When a Jewish bride and
with whom we are striving toward the
male and female," which the rabbis
and should not do, no history of the
bridegroom stand under the chuppa,
same objective. We love because we
said means that human beings were
Jewish people; in fact, God is not
the first step in the ceremony is to hear
recognize extraordinary, noble quali-
not meant to be alone.
even mentioned in this lyrical and
the cantor or rabbi state a blessing:
ties in another, or because someone
31. The rabbis stated that the Torah
lovely text.
"He who is supremely mighty; He
loves us. The highest form of love, he
begins with love: God's creation of
12. One of the great mysteries
who is supremely praised; He who is
said, is reciprocal love, where iwo
the world — and ends with love:
surrounding Shir HaShirim: Who
supremely great; May He bless this
partners respect, trust and honor each
Goc burying Moses. ❑
wrote it? While it often is called
bridegroom and bride."
other, and this love grows deeper
The Song of Solomon, in fact most
20. In the Torah, the same word,
scholars doubt the king had any-
ahava is used to describe what a par-
n act A Day, AppleTree pro-
thing to do with it.
ent feels for a child, what sweethearts
- 01.goyslewish subject, past or
13. While some Jews will read Shir
have in their hearts for each other, the
et
.siti
tkar-la:nd
of 31
one far each
HaShirim before Friday services wel-
relationship between a husband and
coming Shabbat, traditionally this love
a wife, a man's physical passion for a
't r f =act-?lf so, please drop us a
song is recited on Pesach, either on
woman, the closeness between two
the Saturday between the first two and
friends, how a servant regards the
last two days of the holiday, or on the
family who cares for him, the affection
016@e0
„ rth
.:
last day if Pesach begins on Shabbat.
of his admirers for King David and, of

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