The 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 to 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 generation of “the children of Israel”. The Talmud records that “one who does not participate in ‘be fruitful and multiply’ causes God’s Presence to vanish”. Indeed, marriage is seen as the prototypical act of creation.
The Zohar, the great book of Jewish Mysticism, states: “God creates new worlds constantly. In what way? By causing marriages to take place.”
In the Midrash, the imaginative rabbinic literature “somewhere between commentary and fantasy… that sprouts up between the consecrated words of Scripture,” the creation of male and female inspired a fabulous tale about the first wedding.
The wedding of the first couple was celebrated with pomp never repeated in the whole course of history. God Himself, before presenting Eve to Adam, attired and adorned her as a bride… The angels surrounded the marriage canopy, and God pronounced the blessings upon the bridal couple, as the hazzan does under the huppah. The Angels then danced and played musical instruments for Adam and Eve in the ten bridal chambers of gold, pearls and precious stones that God had prepared for them.
The Hasdic View
The Commandment to marry is directed toward men. According to the Talmud a wife can save a young man from “sinful thoughts”, and “Any man who has no wife is not a man (a complete human being)”. Marriage to a good woman is often described as the source of happiness and blessing for a man. (the Talmud seems generally less concerned with a woman’s happiness.) Still, Halakhah was undisputedly progressive for it’s time in establishing certain rights for women: minor girls may not be betrothed, women have the legal right to refuse any suitor, no matter what their parents command. Although only men can grant divorces, women are entitled to sue for divorce on some grounds, including sexual incompatibility. conjugal rape, a legal conundrum in our time is explicitly prohibited in the Talmud. And despite the fact that wives are “acquired” in much the same manner as property, men are required to treat them with respect and tenderness or risk God’s wrath.
More On Marriage
- Niddah“Menstrous Woman” נִדָּה 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. For info on the word click here
- Womens “Place”Jewish Alternative in Love, Dating and Marriage by Pinchas StolperPage 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 Abrahamאַבְרָהָם/ˈeɪbrəhæm, -həm/; , Modern: ʾAvraham, As recounted in the Torah, his name was originally Avram which means “High Father” – […]
- 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 to 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 […]
- 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 […]
- 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 […]