The Torah believes in love

Judaism’s views of love, marriage, and companionship.

Jewish texts are replete with the most beautiful sentiments of love and romance. Here are some quotes reflecting Judaism’s views of love, marriage, and companionship. The bible teaches us that Love makes the world go round. G-d’s greatest gift to man and woman was to create a sexual love for each other. Just like with food, G-d could have created everything to taste like potatoes. He created thousands of different tastes to give life variety and make it fun. He created sexual love to make a glue between husband and wife. Children are a result of the sexual love, but children are very expensive. If G-d hadn’t made the desire for men and women for each other, they wouldn’t have the strength to raise the children.

It is not good for man to be alone. Genesis 2:18

Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and cling to his wife and they shall become one flesh. Genesis 2:26

The Biblical account of Adam and Eve continues to be a profound influence on the Jewish idea of love today. Marriage is the process of two halves becoming whole.

A husband and wife are one soul, separated only through their descent to this world. When they are married, they have reunited again. The Zohar, I91a

Jacob loved Rachel, so he said, ‘I will work for you seven years… So Jacob worked seven years for Rachel and they seemed to him a few days because of his love for her. Genesis 29:18-20

“Love your neighbor as yourself” (Lev. 19:18) – this is a fundamental principle in the Torah. Rabbi Akiva (Rashi on Lev. 19:18)

Any love that depends on a specific cause, when that cause is gone, the love is gone; but if it does not depend on a specific cause, it will never cease. Pirkei Avot, 5:19

I am for my beloved, and my beloved is for me. King Solomon, Song of Songs, 2:16

Enjoy life with the wife you love. King Solomon, Ecclesiastes 9:9

King Solomon is known as the wisest person who ever lived. In our rather confusing world, all we really can be sure of is our relationships: find ways to be close to G-d and find joy in marriage.

Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth, for your love is better than wine. King Solomon, Song of Songs 1:2

King Solomon’s Song of Songs is an allegory: the passionate love of a man and a woman mirrors the depth of the Jewish people’s relationship with the Divine.

One who has found a wife has found goodness, and has brought forth favor from God. King Solomon, Proverbs 18:22

A person should always be careful about the honor of his wife, for the blessing is found in a person’s home only due to his wife…. Talmud, Bava Metzia 59a

A man should eat and drink less than his means, clothe himself according to his means, and honor his wife and children beyond his means. Talmud, Chullin 84b

Know that this union is a holy and pure thing when it is properly conducted in the proper time, and with the proper intention… God has created everything according to His wisdom, and has not created things to be ugly or shameful… He created man and woman, and created each and every organ and their functions, and there is nothing degrading in this. Ramban, Igeret Hakodesh, Chapter 2

When a man buys his wife fine clothes and jewelry, he should have in mind that he is beautifying the Divine Presence, represented in this world by none other than his wife. Rabbi Yeshaya Horowitz

The real opposite of love is not hate, but indifference. Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz

A Mother’s Work

Fifteen year old Jacob Horowitz came bounding into the house and found his mom Brenda in bed. He asked if she were sick or something. He was truly concerned.

“As a matter of fact,” Brenda replied, “I don’t feel too well.”

“Well, don’t worry a bit about dinner,” Jacob responded. “I’ll be happy to carry you down to the kitchen so you can cook.”