The Hasdic Anthology page 24
Rabbi Isaiah Kalman Halberstadt said: “We read in the Talmud (Taanith 30b): Said Rabban Simeon ben Gamaliel: ‘There were no holidays in Israel Like Yom Kippur and the Fifteenth of Ab.’ On the latter day (Midsummer Day) the maidens were privileged to ask young men in marriage. They would arrange an open air dance in the vineyards; all were dressed in pure white garments, and when youths would approach, the maidens would divide into three groups. The handsome girls would say: ‘Observe beauty for it is fitting a wife should be of comely appearance’. Those of noble family would say: ‘Observe or high-born, lineage for this forebodies good children’. Those of unpreposseing countenance would say: ‘Take to yourselves wives for the sake of the will of God, and adorn us with gold’.
“The phrases of the handsom maidens and the last words spoken by the unhandsome may seem frivolous. But they will not appear thus on closer scrutiny and explanation.
“When a man wishes to donate a Scroll of the Torah, he usually, desires to do so in a generous fashion. He may either spend additional money to obtain excellent parchment and fine script. This may be accounted ‘beauty of the body’. Orhe may seek fpr a scroll written by a man of rare piety and holiness. This may be accounted associations. Or he may strive to obtain a beautiful coverlet, or a fine pair of holder, or decorative adorments for the Scroll. This may be accounted as ‘beauty of exterior’. In each instance the man endeavors to perform the Mitzvah in a beautiful manner.”
“So it is with the maidens. The first group says: ‘When you seek to perform the Mitzvah of taking a wife to youself in a fitting manner, consider ‘beauty of the body’.
The second group says: ‘Consider the beauty of noble decent’.
The third group says: ‘We have neither beauty of the body or noble decent. But if you wish to marry soley for the sake of the Mitzvah and not for the ulterior motives, then demonstrate this by marring us. As for the beauty you may wish to add to the Mitzvah, it will be sufficient to adorn us with costly garments and jewels.” Tif. Haz., pp 66-67
More On Marriage
- Marriage (The Legal Framework)From the Jewish Marriage Page 23 – 24 Love and commitment are not enough to get married, and for more than one reason. There is no guarantee that today’s love will not go sour. Nor is there a necessary connection between love and capacity to protect one’s future partner from the contingencies noun (plural) a […]
- Shalom BayitFrom the Jewish Marriage page 41 – 44 Shalom, as the word which is used to describe “peace”, relates in a fundamental sense to the word shlemut, or “completeness.” Shalom disconnected from shlemut peace disconnected from “completeness” is a peace which manifest itself as mutual nonaggression, peace as the absence of war. Shalom with shlemut […]
- Husband & Wife (General Rights & Duties)From the Encyclopaedia Judaica 8:1120 A husband has ten obligations toward his wife (or her descendants) and four rights in respect of her, The obligations are: To provide her with sustenance or maintenance. To Supply her with clothing and lodging To cohabit with her To provide the Kethbbah (i.e. the sum fixed for the wife […]
- Husband & Wife (the main Ketubbah)Medical Care Ransom from captivity
- Birth ControlFrom Jewish Marriage pages 21-22 The woman’s position regarding birth control emanates directly from extreme sensitivity of the Torah The first five books of the Bible or also called “the books of Moses” Torah sometimes interpreted “THE LAW” would be better interpreted the teachings. Torah comes from an archery term meaning to shoot. to her […]
- Niddah“Menstrous Woman” According to Jewish law, a woman is forbidden to maintain sexual relations with her husband during and for sometimes both before and after her menses.
- Womens “Place”Jewish Alternative in Love, Dating and Marriage by Pinchas Stolper Page 77-78 98% of the first book of Genesis, is devoted to narratives describing the creation of the world, the beginnings of mankind, and mankind, and Abraham, Isaac. Jacob and the Tribes of Israel. The reason Genesis dwells on biography, personalities, events and not laws […]
- Marriage (Hasdic View)The Hasdic Anthology page 24 Rabbi Isaiah Kalman Halberstadt said: “We read in the Talmud (Taanith 30b): Said Rabban Simeon ben Gamaliel: ‘There were no holidays in Israel Like Yom Kippur and the Fifteenth of Ab.’ On the latter day (Midsummer Day) the maidens were privileged to ask young men in marriage. They would arrange […]
- The WeddingA wedding celebration is considered a sacred time in Jewish culture, enriched with deep tradition and meaning. During the Torah reading, the groom is respectfully called up to the Bimah, surrounded by the wholehearted love and support of his community. This time-honored ceremony links us to our history and showcases our bright future brimming with […]
- Husband & Wife (Cohabitation)From the Encyclopaedia Judaica 8:1122 The Husband’s duty to cohabit with his wife stems from biblical law (Exodus 21:10) and he is obliged to do so according to his physical abilities and so far as it is possible for him having regard to the requirements of his occupation (Yad, Ishut 14: 1,2 ; Sh. Ar., […]
- Husband (The Legal Obligations)Jewish Marriage (A Halakhic Ethic) The Husband has ten essential obligations. Briefly, they are as follows: to sustain his wife to provide adequate clothing to provide conjugal visitation to fulfill the essential ketuvah obligations to pay her medical bills to redeem her if she is kidnapped upon her death, to ensure her proper burial, assuming […]
- The Tradition Of MarriageThe first of the 613 mitzvoth (commandments) in the Torah is“peru ur-vu” (Be Fruitful and multiply). Judaism sanctifies every dimension of human experience from birth to death, from eating eliminating. Sexuality and procreation are sanctified by marriage, the primary purpose of which is the creation of life. Every wedding sets the stage for the next […]
- BetrothalFrom When a Jew Celebrates In the Bible and the Talmud there were two separate ceremonies Connected with marriage. There was the ceremony of betrothal and the actual marriage. The two ceremonies could be a year apart. In Betrothal the couple were legally bound together although the bride lived in her father’s house. They couldn’t […]
- Husband & WifeThe act of marriage creates certain rights and duties between husband and wife. In performing them both parties have to conduct themselves according to the following rules, comprising the fundamental principles for the relationship between husband and wife in Jewish Law :” This the sages laid down that a man shall honor his wife more […]
- Marriage (the concept)In Jewish teaching, marriage , is the ideal human state and is considered a basic social institution established by God at the time of creation. In the Bible. The purposes of marriage and procreation: “It is not good that the man should be alone ; I will make him a help meet for him… Therefore […]