Learn the Laws of Megillah and Chanukah Chapters 3 & 4 (from the Rambam)

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Introduction to Mitzvot 213 - 214, 216 - 220

Jewish Marriage

It was the year 2448 after the creation of the world.

A grand wedding was taking place around a mountain in the Sinai desert. Everyone had heard the engagement announcement and many had witnessed the "shower" of gifts and special attention given to the bride to be.

All were excited and anxious about the upcoming event.

The Shofar was blowing the wedding tune, the skies themselves "flashed" with lightening, as if taking pictures, and a heavenly fire accompanied the bridegroom to the chuppah.

It was Matan Torah - the giving of the Torah.

HaShem, the bridegroom, was joined by the bride, the Jewish nation, united by the wedding ring, the Torah, that was being presented to them.

This holy union serves as a model for all Jewish marriages throughout the generations.

At that time, HaShem instituted laws and rules (expressed by the following Mitzvot) that enable every Jewish marriage to reflect that original sacred bond.

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Positive Mitzvah 213: Marriage
Deuteronomy 24:1 "When a man takes a wife and marries her"

The groom is commanded to marry and live with his wife according to the law of the Torah.

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Joseph was imprisoned in Egypt. He knew there was purpose in his being there and that when the time came he would be released. Eventually, it happened: The Pharaoh's cup-bearer asked Joseph to interpret his dream. Joseph thought, "This is the opportunity! This man is the means by which I shall be redeemed." He interpreted the dream favorably, telling the cup-bearer he would soon be released. He then asked the man to return him the favor by pleading before Pharaoh on his behalf. But when the dream was fulfilled, and the cup-bearer was released from prison, he promptly forgot Joseph for two years. The wise men say that had Joseph not relied on the Egyptian, but solely on G-d alone, he would have been released two years earlier. There is no person, no thing, no scheme upon which your livelihood or your fate rests. There is only the flow of blessing from Above. True, that flow enclothes itself in tangible means, in job opportunities, in new clientele, in fresh markets, in well-connected acquaintances -- but all these are only channels, not the source. Grasp any one of them and it may crumble in your hands. Grasp the Source of Life.

From: Bringing Heaven Down to Earth by Tzvi Freeman - tzvif@aol.com