In my Rabbi Blog for Winter, 2012, I offer reflective insights about Marriage.
Marriage, of course, has the potential to be a loving, sacred union, depending on the Kavanah (Spiritual Intent) and Minhag (Customary Practice) of the partners. In Hebrew, the word for marriage is Kiddushin, denoting the holiness involved in this binding of souls.
What makes marriage a crime? Should the gender of the partners make it a crime or invalidate the use of the legal term? Are the age, actions and number of partners considered in criminal judgement? Polygamy and adultery have each been considered crimes: which would you say is the worse of the two? Many folks would not be nearly as shocked about hearing that someone they know has committed adultery as they would be to find that an acquaintance is a polygamist.... And why is it somehow more kosher to cheat on your spouse than to openly claim marriage with several spouses? What makes having multiple affairs less threatening than having multiple wives or husbands?
Understandably, legal, fiduciary, contractual relationships begin and end with regularity in our society; however, it is clearly troubling when half of all marriages end in divorce. Perhaps the moral and spiritual commitments that constitute marriage should be considered more carefully before partners may receive a "Marriage License." Perhaps such a license should only be granted after many anniversaries of a faithful covenant between partners.... I believe that the institution of marriage in the United States, and perhaps beyond, is undergoing a significant reevaluation by many seeking union and partnership. I hope that the evolution of marriage will be a blessing for all those looking to sanctify their love.
We all learn from each other, so by answering the following question we provide each other with a wellspring of life experience that we can draw support from during the process of making our own responsible choices and carrying out our own responsible actions. Help encourage and enlighten others by sharing a story, an anecdote or any bissel of Wisdom, Understanding and Knowledge from your own life journey…..
Question for Delving: Can you name some tools, qualities, resources, techniques to help friends and community members to renew their faith and share spiritual inspiration in challenging circumstances that you/they face or situations that you/they encounter?
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באור אין סוף .... אליה
In the Light of the Infinite,
Rabbi Alyjah Navy
